Risk profiles
GLP-1 safety topics
Canonical, MD-reviewed pages for the six serious-but-rare GLP-1 risks. Each cites the FDA prescribing information + peer-reviewed sources. Editorial verdict per the A-F evidence-grade rubric.
MTC thyroid risk
GLP-1 medications and medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) risk
Rodent-only signal; no human MTC cases attributed despite 10+ years of post-approval data — but MTC/MEN-2 history is a hard contraindication.
Read the safety page
Pancreatitis
GLP-1 medications and acute pancreatitis risk
Rare known risk (≤0.2%/year); not significantly elevated vs placebo in CVOTs. Personal pancreatitis history = relative contraindication.
Read the safety page
Gallbladder risk
GLP-1 medications and gallbladder events (cholelithiasis)
Weight-loss-mediated risk (1-3% incidence vs 0.5% placebo); not GLP-1-specific.
Read the safety page
Pregnancy + lactation
GLP-1 medications during pregnancy and breastfeeding
Hard contraindication in pregnancy. Stop ≥2 months before planned conception.
Read the safety page
Gastroparesis
GLP-1 medications and gastroparesis (delayed gastric emptying)
Delayed gastric emptying is the deliberate mechanism; true chronic gastroparesis after stopping the drug is rare but reported.
Read the safety page
Pre-surgery aspiration
GLP-1 medications and anesthesia aspiration risk
ASA 2023 guidance: hold weekly GLP-1 ≥1 week + daily ≥24 hours before anesthesia.
Read the safety page