When to get urgent help

Call 999 or go to A&E #

• Severe stomach pain which does not ease. The pain may spread to your back and can come with vomiting. This can be a sign of pancreatitis. Do not take another dose.
• Swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat. Trouble breathing or swallowing, a fast heartbeat or feeling faint can signal a severe allergic reaction.
• Fainting, confusion or a seizure.
• Chest pain or sudden shortness of breath.
• Thoughts of ending your life. You can also call Samaritans free on 116 123 at any hour.

Call 111 or see a GP the same day #

• Pain under your right ribs, a fever, or yellowing of your skin or eyes. These can point to gallstones or an inflamed gallbladder. Read our gallstones guide.
• Vomiting or diarrhoea lasting more than 24 hours, or when you cannot keep fluids down. Dark urine, dizziness and passing little urine are signs of dehydration. Dehydration can harm your kidneys.
• Signs of low blood sugar if you also take insulin or a sulfonylurea such as gliclazide. Signs include sweating, shaking, hunger and confusion. Take fast-acting sugar first, then get advice.
• Changes in your eyesight if you have diabetes.
• A racing heartbeat at rest lasting several minutes.
• A positive pregnancy test. Stop the medicine and speak to your GP or midwife. Read pregnancy and contraception.

Message your clinical team #

These problems are common and usually settle. Your clinical team can adjust your plan.

• Nausea, constipation, diarrhoea or reflux which lasts beyond the first weeks of a dose.
• Side effects which stop you eating or drinking enough.
• A missed dose and doubt about when to take the next one. Read the missed dose rules.
• A pen or pack which arrived warm, damaged or late.
• A new medicine from another clinician.
• Low mood, or worry about how you feel on treatment.

Contact options

Before an operation or procedure #

Tell the surgical or dental team you take a GLP-1 medicine before any operation, sedation or general anaesthetic. These medicines slow stomach emptying, so food can stay in your stomach longer than usual. The team may change your fasting instructions. Do not stop your medicine without advice.

What to tell the call handler #

• The name and dose of your medicine, and when you took the last dose.
• Your symptoms and when each one started.
• Other medicines you take, including insulin or diabetes tablets.
• Other conditions, such as diabetes, gallstones or past pancreatitis.

Report a suspected side effect #

Anyone can report a suspected side effect to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme. Reports help the regulator track the safety of each medicine. Tell your clinical team as well, so your record stays complete.