A small pilot study found that most emergency department visits among people taking GLP‑1 or GIP/GLP‑1 drugs, especially tirzepatide, were actually caused by the medication itself. The risk was higher in the poorest and richest neighborhoods and in folks who also have depression. This suggests you should watch for side‑effects and be ready to manage them, especially if you have mood issues or live in a high‑risk area.

The impact of GLP-1 or GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist use on unscheduled care is not well-described. We conducted a prospective, observational study using opportunistic screening by clinicians as a first step to understanding the effect of GLP-1 or GIP/GLP-1 agonists on Emergency Department presentations and to guide future studies. Data were collected from April to August 2025 at a single centre for any nontrauma adult patient who self-reported GLP-1 or GIP/GLP-1 agonist exposure. Fifty-six cases were identified, 51 reported tirzepatide use, three subcutaneous semaglutide, one oral semaglutide and one dulaglutide. In 79% of cases (CI95% 66% to 88%), the presenting features were due to GLP-1 or agonist use. Presentations were greatest in the lowest and highest deprivation quintiles and a significant number had coexisting depression. There is a need for formal observational studies to assess the impact of GLP-1 or GIP/GLP-1 agonists on unscheduled care and explore these tentative associations.