How to track GLP-1 side effects in a diary

Why timing and context matter

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, constipation, and other symptoms can have many possible causes. A date and a description do not prove that a medicine caused a symptom, but they can help a clinician ask better follow-up questions. MedlinePlus’ semaglutide information lists common and serious symptoms and advises patients to contact a doctor for symptoms that are severe, persistent, or concerning.

Write down the observation before adding an interpretation. For example: “loose stools twice in the afternoon; drank less than usual” is a more useful starting point than “the medication is unsafe.”

What to include in a symptom entry

• Symptom: use your own words and note the body area involved.
• Start and end: record approximate times and whether it is ongoing.
• Severity: use a consistent personal scale, such as mild, moderate, or severe.
• Frequency: note how often it happened rather than only the worst episode.
• Related context: record meals, fluids, sleep, activity, illness, and any other change that may help explain the day.
• Medication context: record the date of a prescribed dose and any question you have—without using the diary to change the dose.
• Action taken: note who you contacted and what guidance you received. Do not record an app-generated suggestion as professional advice.

When should you contact a professional?

Use the medication guide and your clinician’s instructions for product-specific warnings. If a symptom is severe, worsening, persistent, or worrying, contact a healthcare professional. MedlinePlus lists symptoms that require immediate medical attention for semaglutide injection, including certain allergic reactions, vision changes, decreased urination or swelling, and severe or ongoing abdominal pain.

If you think you may be experiencing an emergency—such as trouble breathing, collapse, or another life-threatening symptom—use local emergency services. Do not wait for a website, an app, or an email reply.

Avoid turning a diary into a dosing tool

A symptom pattern can be worth discussing, but it does not tell you what treatment action is correct. Do not stop, restart, repeat, or change a medicine based only on a diary or an app estimate. The FDA has warned about dosing errors with some compounded injectable semaglutide products, which is another reason to use the exact instructions and product information provided by your clinician and pharmacist.

How PenPal can organize the notes

PenPal provides a place to record symptoms alongside medication, nutrition, hydration, weight, and progress notes. You can review the entries you choose and create a report for a healthcare conversation. The app does not determine whether a symptom is a side effect or provide medical advice.