Important Differences in Side Effects Tirzepatide side effects: Tirzepatide tends to cause fewer stomach side effects despite showing more weight loss Some people find it easier to tolerate than semaglutide Higher doses may increase the chance of stomach upset Semaglutide side effects: May cause more pronounced nausea for some people Side effects often improve as your body gets used to the medication Generally well-tolerated when doses are increased slowly Serious Side Effects to Know About Both medications have important safety warnings from the FDA: Both have boxed warnings about the risk of thyroid C-cell tumors Dont use if you have a personal or family history of certain thyroid cancers Can cause inflammation of the pancreas (rare but serious) May slow stomach emptying too much in some people Cost and Insurance Coverage Brand Name Medication Costs Weight loss medications can be expensive without insurance

Youll also need needles that are compatible with the Ozempic pen, typically a 32-gauge, 4mm needle for subcutaneous injections
Eli Lilly, which spent $2.2 million on federal-level lobbying during the fourth quarter of 2025, an increase from the $1.9 million it spent at the same time in 2024, declined to comment on their GLP-1 lobbying goals
How long do individual side effects last
Observational studies have reported that weight-loss interventions are associated with reduced circulating prolactin levels, whereas dopamine agonists, which suppress prolactin secretion, improve metabolic and endocrine abnormalities in patients with established hyperprolactinemia