The popular drug Wegovy is now the only FDA-approved pill for weight loss, and many Americans rely on it. Even though so many individuals had success from this drug for helping them meet their weight loss goals, for others, it has been a nightmare. Why? Wegovy is actually associated with some serious side effects in some individuals. These include the potential for gastroparesis, gallbladder issues, pancreatitis, and more. One Ohio woman speaks out after Wegovy took away almost an entire year of her life because of the horrible side effects she experienced.
Hayley (@H8yley0) shared a TikTok video about how “a glp-1 ruined my 2025!!!” When Hayley graduated from college in 2023, she said she wasn’t happy with the weight she gained during that time. She wasn’t working out like she wanted to because of her mental health being at an all-time low, like so many Americans face each year. How you feel mentally is truly tied to how you feel physically in so many ways. Her doctor put her on Wegovy in 2024, and she was initially feeling really great about the decision.
However, this didn’t last long for Hayley. Exactly one year from when she started Wegovy, she lost a total of 50 pounds. She decided it was exactly what she wanted to lose and that she didn’t have to ‘maintain’ it by staying on the drug. However, her doctor told her to stay on it for maintenance anyway. In July 2025, she had two instances where she drank a single cocktail and couldn’t stop throwing up all night. She didn’t really think much of it at that point. But then, she ate movie theater popcorn one night and couldn’t stop throwing up throughout the night. That’s when she decided to go to the ER.
When Hayley was examined at the ER and given stomach tests, she didn’t get any answers. They gave her fluids and sent her off. Hayley finally decided to get off Wegovy and return to a normal life. By September 2025, she started getting spells of throwing up once again. She spent the entire month of September unable to keep down any solid foods. This left her feeling incredibly worried, and on top of that, she lost a ton of extra weight.
After a few stomach tests, Hayley finally discovered that she was showing symptoms of gastroparesis. This is a chronic, lifelong condition. When it happens, your stomach muscles don’t move food, and you end up not digesting as your body should. It’s quite literally stomach paralysis, and it can be debilitating. It left Hayley feeling weak and as if she were fighting for her life. All of this was because she just wanted to take charge of her health and lose the weight she wanted to. Hayley’s doctor said that it was the Wegovy causing all of her symptoms. It was quite literally causing her stomach to not function like it previously did.
Wegovy does have a black box warning, to be clear. It’s for the risk of thyroid cancer cells, but not for the stomach-related issues it can cause. Perhaps the FDA needs to take a closer look at this drug and the devastation it can wreak on a person’s stomach. For Hayley, she wants others to know about the dangers of Wegovy and these horrendous possible side effects. Her brain-gut connection is forever severed, and she will have to live with this for life. She did say, however, that her life is getting better every day with the right medication. It’s still imperative to be wary and question everything before you take this drug, as you’d do with any drug.
One commenter said, “I’ve been feeling like long term GLP1 side effects are gonna be the next ‘have you or a loved one been diagnosed with mesothelioma’ commercial.” Another commenter shared, “As an RN, seeing gastroparesis ruin lives first hand was enough for me to swear off GLP’s forever.” It’s also important to remember that GLP-1 medications can save lives for people with diabetes or who are insulin-resistant. However, as a weight loss drug, it might not work how you expected… even when it’s being marketed that way.
