What can I do about constipation?

If your digestive system has switched to economy shipping, you are in very large company. But discomfort is not a membership requirement for taking a GLP-1.

Eating less can mean less fiber and fluid, and these medications can change how your gut moves. First, notice what “constipated” means for you: hard stools, straining, or feeling unfinished matter as much as the number of bathroom trips.

Start gently. Your gut dislikes surprise parties.

Add fiber gradually through foods you tolerate—oats, beans, fruit, vegetables—and drink regularly. Going from almost no fiber to a mountain of powder overnight can leave you more bloated. A little daily movement and an unhurried bathroom opportunity after breakfast can also help. A footstool may make the position more comfortable. These are practical steps recommended by NIDDK.

If that isn’t enough, ask your pharmacist or prescriber about treatment. The 2023 AGA–ACG guideline gives polyethylene glycol a strong recommendation for adults with chronic idiopathic constipation, based on randomized trials. That isn’t a GLP-1-specific study, but it’s useful evidence for discussing an option beyond buying a different “gut cleanse” every Tuesday.

Know when fiber is the wrong next move

Severe or worsening abdominal pain, vomiting, a swollen abdomen, or inability to pass gas needs urgent assessment. Don’t keep adding fiber or laxatives to that situation. Blood in the stool, unexplained persistent symptoms, or a major change in your usual pattern also deserves medical attention.

My take: a comfortable, sustainable bathroom routine beats a dramatic cleanse. Review your medications and supplements, too—sometimes another item in the lineup is contributing.

NIH emphasizes that probiotic effects depend on the strain and the problem being studied. A promising result for one strain is not a gold star for every box on the shelf, or proof of benefit in people taking GLP-1s. My rule is simple: start with the problem you are trying to solve, then choose one tool with a clear job. If you are seriously ill or immunocompromised, discuss probiotics with your clinician first.

Sources checked September 19, 2026. General education; your own care plan comes from your clinician.