What it means
Common causes include long-standing diabetes, some surgeries and certain medicines. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting undigested food, bloating, feeling full after a few bites and upper belly pain.
GLP-1 medicines slow stomach emptying on purpose, which is part of how they reduce appetite. Their labels say they are not recommended for people with severe gastrointestinal disease, including severe gastroparesis.
Reports of severe stomach problems on GLP-1 medicines have been studied, and the evidence is still developing. Tell your prescriber if you have a history of gastroparesis, and report severe or lasting vomiting or belly pain.
Diagnosis usually involves a gastric emptying study, where you eat a small test meal and imaging tracks how fast it leaves the stomach. Your doctor may ask whether you take a GLP-1 before ordering one, since it can affect the result.
Why it matters
It is one of the conditions that can rule a person out of GLP-1 treatment.
Related terms
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