When should I call 999 or 111 on a GLP-1?

Which symptoms mean you should call 999?

Call 999 or go to A&E for sudden or severe stomach pain, bloody or green vomit, a severe allergy, or sudden loss of sight.^3,8,9,5,7

The UK leaflets for Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Ozempic (semaglutide) say to stop the medicine and "seek urgent medical help" for severe, lasting stomach pain. It can be a sign of a swollen pancreas (acute pancreatitis).^1,2 The NHS treats each sign below as a 999 or A&E emergency.

When should you use NHS 111 instead?

Use NHS 111 when you need help today but it isn't life-threatening, such as vomiting that stops you keeping fluids down.^11,9

The NHS lists these as urgent, for 111 or an urgent GP appointment:

• you keep being sick and can't keep fluids down, have vomited for more than 2 days, or had diarrhoea for more than 7⁹
• stomach pain lasting more than 30 minutes, or bloating that won't go away^4,8
• blurred or double vision⁷
• dizziness on standing that won't pass, or dark yellow pee⁶

You can use 111 online at 111.nhs.uk (age 5 and over), in the NHS App, or by calling 111.¹¹ If you're not sure whether to call 999, 111 can check your symptoms.¹⁰ Scotland's 111 is NHS 24, and Wales has NHS 111 Wales.¹¹

The MHRA adds that anyone on semaglutide whose eyesight suddenly worsens should contact a doctor urgently, through 111, eye casualty or A&E.¹³

What if you live in Northern Ireland?

Call 999 for emergencies; for urgent help when your GP practice is closed, nidirect says to phone the GP out-of-hours service.¹²

The NHS 111 page sends Northern Ireland readers to nidirect rather than to a 111 service.¹¹ The out-of-hours service runs from 6pm on weekdays until your practice opens, and all day at weekends and on public holidays.¹² A doctor or nurse assesses you by phone first.¹² Each area has its own number, listed on nidirect.¹²

Once you're safe, you can report the side effect: see How do I report a side effect to the Yellow Card scheme? Everyday stomach effects are in Guide 5.