Nausea. Constipation. Diarrhea. Heartburn.
These are the annoying side effects that GLP-1 users complain about most often — and sometimes prompt them to discontinue the medications.
Recently, makers of over-the-counter (OTC) products have taken notice and launched campaigns aimed squarely at GLP-1 users aggravated by the drugs’ gastrointestinal (GI) side effects.
“On a GLP-1? Discover products to power your progress,” reads a page on Amazon devoted to products by Haleon. It features a suite of the company’s long-standing products— Gas-X, Tums, and Benefiber — and its recently launched Centrum Nutrient Replenish, a vitamin and mineral blend marketed specifically to GLP-1 users as a way to fill in the “nutrient shortfalls” that can happen with eating less.
The marketing campaign, launched in 2025, isn’t only about side-effect relief, according to Haleon spokesperson Jennifer Nadelson.
“The increased conversation around GLP-1 medications highlighted a broader, unmet need: Many people using GLP-1s are thinking more intentionally about nutrition, digestive health, and how to manage side effects as their eating patterns change,” she said.
Haleon isn’t the only company zeroing in on this patient population. The brands Vitafusion and Bariatric Fusion also have created vitamin and mineral blends marketed specifically to people taking GLP-1s.
So, are these new (or repurposed) OTC products the answer?
Gastroenterologists told Medscape Medical News that they don’t rule out the products but usually don’t turn to them first due to what they say is a lack of strong evidence for their effectiveness, specifically for the side effects reported with GLP-1 use.
Side Effects: The Problem Is Real
Taking GLP-1s does raise the risk for several GI side effects.
A 2024 study analyzing electronic medical record data of almost 300,000 patients with diabetes or obesity found those taking GLP-1s had a 9% higher incidence of nausea and vomiting (9%), GERD (7.5%), esophagitis (2.6%), and gastroparesis (0.53%) than their counterparts not taking a GLP-1.
In a 2025 study tracking more than 125,000 people with overweight or obesity initiating GLP-1 therapy, moderate or severe side effects were associated with significantly higher risk for discontinuing the medications in patients with and those without type 2 diabetes.
“Many times, the patient has to stop the medication in order for the symptoms to be resolved,” said Prateek Sharma, MD, professor of medicine at the University of Kansas School of Medicine and a physician at the University of Kansas Health System in Kansas City. Some patients have severe nausea three or four times a day, Sharma, an author on the 2024 study, told Medscape Medical News.
In a 2025 joint advisory on nutritional priorities to support GLP-1 therapy for obesity, the Obesity Medicine Association and other organizations noted that side effects, especially GI, are a challenge and that nutritional and medical management of GI side effects in GLP-1 users is critical.
Start With the Basics
Clinicians may be able to address GI side effects without turning to prescription medication or OTC products by evaluating the patient’s diet first and making adjustments. For example, Michael Camilleri, MD, DSc, professor of medicine, pharmacology and physiology at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, said that when a GLP-1 user reports constipation, he usually starts by asking about the amount of fiber in their diet.
The newest Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend prioritizing “fiber-rich whole grains” with a target of two to four servings a day. The previous guidelines recommended a goal of 22-34 g/d for adults, depending on age and sex.
Many Americans have no idea how much fiber they eat in a day, Camilleri said, so some education might be needed. For example, a cup of oatmeal has 4 grams, and a cup of boiled black beans has 15.
In Camilleri’s experience, up to 40% of patients using a GLP-1 experience nausea, “but it’s transient in most people.”
A 16-week study he co-authored that found that increasing the dose slower than usual recommendations worked well in those who reported nausea. “They were able to continue their medications,” Camilleri said.
Sharma also takes a basics-first approach. He asks patients with constipation, for instance, if they are drinking enough water and eating enough vegetables. Some may need additional protein in their diet to counter loss of muscle mass, he said.
Role of OTC Products — and Caveats
When a patient complains of GLP-1 side effects, Sharma sometimes prescribes medications already known to address their problem.
“If someone is having nausea and vomiting from GLP-1, I would try to prescribe a medication that deals with nausea and vomiting,” Sharma said.
Some of the supplements targeted at GLP-1 users “are being promoted without much evidence to back them up,” he added. Use of supplements has not been studied specifically for symptoms associated with GLP-1 use, Sharma said.
For guidance, gastroenterologists can turn to the joint advisory on nutritional priorities and recent research identifying which nutrient GLP-1 users are likely to be lacking
For instance, under the joint advisory, daily magnesium supplementation, titrated to keep bowl movements regular, can help. Magnesium citrate can normalize bowel movements. Fiber supplements and polyethylene glycol 3350 are also suggested, as well as stool softeners. In a 2025 review, researchers found justification for several dietary supplements in GLP-1 users, including multivitamins, protein to meet the goal of 1.2-2 g/kg/d, whey protein to preserve lean body mass, and fiber for regularity.
In another review, vitamin D, iron, and B vitamins were found to be the most common nutrients GLP-1 users lack.
The Need for Patient Education
When a patient asks about supplements for GLP-1 side effects, Sharma said he tries to educate patients about their regulatory status and encourages his colleagues to do the same. Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, the FDA doesn’t have the authority to approve dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness or to approve their labeling before they hit the market.
Sharma also encourages colleagues to educate themselves about OTC products targeted toward GLP-1 users and the way they’re marketed.
“All physicians who are seeing patients on GLP-1s should be aware of the different types of supplements and should not be recommending them carte blanche for all patients,” he said.
Sharma recommended a case-by-case assessment. With every patient, he reviews the list of prescription medications and asks about all OTC products taken.
Would Sharma ever recommend a supplement to treat a GLP-1 associated symptom, given the lack of specific research in GLP-1 users? He said he would, in some cases. For instance, he might recommend a fiber supplement, such as Citrucel, for constipation from GLP-1 use, he said.
Camilleri said that after evaluating a patient’s diet, he may suggest fiber supplements or commonly available osmotic laxatives to relieve constipation.
Sharma has no disclosures. Camilleri was an investigator for Vanda Pharmaceuticals.
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/can-otc-remedies-help-glp-1-adherence-2026a10006fk
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