Stomach pain: when it’s serious
Stomach pain is a listed side effect, but the NHS lists an inflamed pancreas, with severe pain in your stomach or back that does not go away, among the serious ones. Mounjaro’s, Wegovy’s and Ozempic’s leaflets say stop the medicine and seek urgent medical help for severe, persistent stomach pain.
In their own words
What each leaflet and label says to do about severe stomach pain, quoted as written.
| Medicine | Severe stomach pain |
|---|---|
| Mounjaro | Stop using this medicine and seek urgent medical help if you experience: Severe, persistent pain in the stomach area (abdomen), with or without nausea and vomiting.Mounjaro KwikPen patient leaflet |
| Zepbound | Stop using ZEPBOUND and call your healthcare provider right away if you have severe pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that will not go away, with or without nausea or vomiting.Zepbound prescribing information |
| Wegovy | Stop using this medicine and seek urgent medical help if you experience: Severe, persistent pain in the stomach area (abdomen), with or without nausea and vomiting.Wegovy FlexTouch patient leaflet |
| Ozempic | Stop using this medicine and seek urgent medical help if you experience: Severe, persistent pain in the stomach area (abdomen), with or without nausea and vomiting.Ozempic patient leaflet |
| Rybelsus | Stop using this medicine and seek urgent medical help if you experience: Severe, persistent pain in the stomach area (abdomen), with or without nausea and vomiting.Rybelsus 3, 7 and 14mg patient leaflet |
What the NHS lists
The serious side effects on the NHS pages that can cause stomach pain, in its words.
| Side effect | As the NHS describes it | Listed for |
|---|---|---|
| An inflamed pancreas | an inflamed pancreas (acute pancreatitis), which can cause severe pain in your stomach or back, which does not go awayNHS: Tirzepatide | Semaglutide and tirzepatide |
| Gallstones or gallbladder | gallstones or swelling of the gallbladder (cholecystitis), which can cause severe tummy painNHS: Tirzepatide | Tirzepatide |
Also in the sources
Gallbladder signs
Zepbound’s label lists signs to tell your provider about: upper stomach pain, fever, yellow skin or eyes, clay-colored stools.
Bowel obstruction
Wegovy, Ozempic and Rybelsus list bowel obstruction: a severe form of constipation, with stomach ache, bloating or vomiting.
Everyday stomach pain
Stomach pain is common with tirzepatide, the NHS says. Severe pain that does not go away is different: see above.
Had pancreatitis before?
The leaflets ask you to tell your doctor if you’ve had pancreatitis; Zepbound’s label asks about pancreas problems.
Questions
Is stomach pain normal on these medicines?
Stomach pain is on the NHS’s common list for tirzepatide, and the Mounjaro, Wegovy, Ozempic and Rybelsus leaflets list it too. The NHS says speak to a pharmacist or doctor if a side effect bothers you; severe pain that won’t go away is the urgent case below.
When is it urgent?
Mounjaro’s, Wegovy’s, Ozempic’s and Rybelsus’s leaflets say stop the medicine and seek urgent medical help for severe, persistent stomach pain. The NHS says call 111 if you think you might be having serious side effects.
Can the pain go through to the back?
Yes, the sources say. The NHS describes severe pain in your stomach or back, and Zepbound’s label says sometimes you may feel the pain from your abdomen to your back.
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Sources
- NHS: Semaglutide
- NHS: Tirzepatide
- Mounjaro KwikPen patient leaflet
- Zepbound prescribing information
- Wegovy FlexTouch patient leaflet
- Ozempic patient leaflet
- Rybelsus 3, 7 and 14mg patient leaflet
General information, not medical advice. Follow your prescriber’s guidance.
Getting real advice
We’re not doctors. This page sums up what the NHS and the official medicine information say, and can’t tell you what’s right for your body: your prescriber’s instructions and the leaflet in your box come first. More in our terms.
- Quoted from official sources, each one linked
- Sources checked 12 October 2026
- No dosing advice; your prescriber comes first
- A pharmacist, your doctor or NHS 111If you’re not sure how to use your medicine, or a side effect bothers you or won’t go away. NHS 111 if you think you might be having serious side effects, or you’ve used too much.NHS: SemaglutideNHS: TirzepatideNHS 111 online
- Report a side effectAnyone can, not only doctors.Yellow Card (UK)MedWatch (US)