Constipation is one of the most common and least glamorous parts of the GLP-1 experience. It is also one of the most predictable, which means it is one of the most manageable once you understand the mechanism.
Why it happens
Three things stack up. These medications slow gastric emptying, which is part of how they curb appetite, but slower transit through the gut also means stool sits longer and dries out more. On top of that, you are eating less total food, so you are taking in less fiber and less fluid than you used to. Less fiber, less water, and slower transit is a recipe for hard, infrequent stools. It is not a sign something is wrong. It is the arithmetic of the situation.
When to stop troubleshooting on your own
Constipation can occasionally signal something that needs attention, especially if it is severe, comes with significant pain or vomiting, or represents a sharp change. That is a prescriber conversation, not a supplement one. Do not white-knuckle a symptom that is escalating.