Ozempic (semaglutide) helps people with type 2 diabetes lower their blood sugar if diet, exercise, and other diabetes medications haven’t worked. If you’ve just gotten a prescription for it, you might be asking if Ozempic is a high-risk medication. It can come with side effects, but not everyone who takes Ozempic will get every possible effect. This varies from person to person based on many things.
But it’s good to have an idea of what you might expect while taking this medicine. Here’s what you need to know.
What Is Ozempic?
Ozempic is the brand name for a medicine called semaglutide, which is sold under the brand name Wegovy, too. Ozempic has FDA approval to treat type 2 diabetes. Wegovy has approval to help people lose weight when they have both obesity and weight-related health problems.
Ozempic and Wegovy are part of a drug class called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They mimic a natural hormone found in the body called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). The medication, like your body’s natural GLP-1, plays a big part in managing blood sugar and appetite.
Ozempic bumps up the release of insulin from the pancreas whenever blood sugar levels rise. Insulin helps the body use sugar for energy. Without enough insulin coming from the pancreas, which is the problem for many people with diabetes, sugar builds up in the bloodstream.
Ozempic also prevents the pancreas from releasing a hormone called glucagon. This hormone prompts the liver to release glucose (sugar) into the bloodstream. Without that hormone, the liver stops dumping sugar into the bloodstream, and blood sugar levels go down.
The drug slows gastric dumping – the speed at which food leaves the stomach and enters the intestines. This makes you feel fuller longer after meals, keeps blood sugar stable, and curbs your appetite.
Gastrointestinal Side Effects of Ozempic
Because of its work in your gut, GI problems are the most common side effects of Ozempic. Luckily, they tend to be mild to moderate, and they eventually go away. You probably won’t need to stop the medicine.
These are some of the most typical GI complaints and how common they were in the clinical trial that tested Ozempic in people with diabetes. In studies of semaglutide in overweight people who did not have diabetes, these complaints were even more common.
Ozempic and nausea
Nausea is the most common Ozempic side effect. Still, not everyone has it. About 1 in 5 people in the clinical trial had it. Nausea is usually mild to moderate and at its worst when you first start the drug or when you increase your dose. It should ease up over time.
Almost 1 in 10 people in the clinical trial threw up when taking Ozempic. It could be because of the slowed digestion and extra pressure in the belly area it causes.
Both nausea and vomiting happened most in people taking Ozempic at higher doses.
Try these tips to help relieve or prevent nausea when you’re on Ozempic:
- Take Ozempic with food. Nausea is often worse on an empty stomach.
- Sip water throughout the day. Dehydration can make nausea worse.
- Eat frequent, small meals throughout the day rather than three larger ones.
- Ask your doctor if there is a time of day you could take the medicine that would help prevent nausea.
- Ask your doctor if you can lower the dose.
Ozempic and stomach pain
In clinical trials, about 1 in 14 people had belly pain. That could include cramps, aching, bloating, and gas pain. It might help if you start at a low dose and gradually go up.
You can also try to:
- Eat slowly.
- Eat frequent small meals.
- Go for bland foods like crackers, toast, and rice.
- Avoid greasy, fried foods and sweets.
- Eat water-based foods like soup and gelatin.
- Drink clear liquids.
- Don’t lie down after eating.
Ozempic and diarrhea
About 1 in 12 people in Ozempic clinical trials had diarrhea regardless of their dose. It usually went away in about a week.
You may be able to prevent diarrhea if you stay away from:
- Sweet drinks, caffeinated drinks, alcohol, and milk
- Full-fat dairy, including yogurt, cheese, and ice cream
- Greasy, fried foods like fries, pizza, burgers, and fried chicken
Also make sure you drink plenty of water when you have diarrhea.
Ozempic and constipation
The slow digestion caused by Ozempic could leave you a little backed up. This happened to about 1 in 20 people in the Ozempic for diabetes trial. It seems to last around 6 to 10 weeks.
The things that you would normally do for any kind of constipation should help with Ozempic-related constipation, too.
Try these tips:
- Drink 91 to 125 ounces of fluid every day.
- Exercise every day.
- Add fiber to your diet with two servings a day of fruits, vegetables, or whole grains.
- Take an over-the-counter laxative.
You might also ask your doctor if changing your dose would help.
Ozempic burps
When your digestion slows down with Ozempic, sulfur can build up in your gut and cause your burps to smell and taste like rotten eggs. You might hear them called Ozempic burps or sulfur burps.
If you get a case of Ozempic burps, you can try to cut back on sulfur-rich foods. But you can’t cut them out completely. A lot of foods contain sulfur, and it’s a nutrient you need.
These are high-sulfur foods:
- Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and kale
- Allium vegetables, such as garlic, onion, and leek
- Dried fruits
- Red meat, fish, and eggs
You can also:
- Drink plenty of water to flush the sulfur out.
- Add probiotics to your diet through food or supplements. This could help with digestion and shift the balance of your gut bacteria for the better. Yogurt, kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut, and other fermented foods have probiotics.
- Try green, ginger, peppermint, or chamomile teas, which can aid in digestion and reduce gas.
- Use over-the-counter digestive aids like bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto Bismol) and simethicone (Gas-X).
Does Ozempic cause heartburn?
In clinical trials about 2% of people – or 1 in 50 – who took Ozempic complained of heartburn, acid reflux, or GERD, especially those taking the drug at the lower dose.
The acid might come from vomiting or from backed-up or slowed digestion.
Here are some ways to prevent or reduce heartburn:
- Avoid triggers like spicy, fried, or greasy foods.
- Eat slowly.
- Eat small meals.
- Don’t lie down after eating.
- Sleep with your head and upper body slightly raised.
- Try sleeping on your left side.
- Try an over-the-counter heartburn medicine.
- If you smoke, quit.
Mild Side Effects of Ozempic
Some other possible mild side effects of Ozempic include:
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Hair loss
Injection site reactions
Less than 1% of people in the clinical trial for Ozempic for diabetes had skin reactions where the drug was injected. They included pain, redness, and discomfort.
The irritation should clear up on its own without any action on your part. But if you need something for the pain, an ice pack, cold compress, or over-the-counter anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen should help.
Can Ozempic cause dizziness?
Ozempic can make you feel dizzy, lightheaded, or jittery. These symptoms can also be signs that your blood sugar is too low. If you feel dizzy or have other signs of low blood sugar on this medicine, you should call your health care provider.
Serious Side Effects of Ozempic
In rare cases, Ozempic can cause serious side effects. They are unlikely, but it’s a good idea to know what to look out for just in case.
Ozempic and stomach paralysis
It’s unusual, but Ozempic can paralyze the stomach – a condition called gastroparesis. The muscle contractions in the stomach become so weak that the stomach can’t digest food and push it forward into the intestines.
This can result in food sitting in the stomach for too long. It may also cause whole undigested pieces of food to move into your intestines, which can be painful and difficult to pass through a bowel movement.
The signs of stomach paralysis include:
- Indigestion
- Bloating
- Feeling full very quickly or for a long time after eating
- Upper belly pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Throwing up whole pieces of undigested food
- Loss of appetite
- Acid reflux and heartburn
- Blood sugar fluctuations
- Constipation
Untreated, stomach paralysis can lead to malnutrition, dehydration, and a blockage in your bowels. Tell your doctor if you have signs of this condition.
Ozempic and pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas that can arise suddenly and clear up on its own or become a long-term problem.
Only a few cases of pancreatitis have been seen in people taking Ozempic, and they were in people who had a history of the condition.
If you have sudden belly pain that doesn’t get better, tell your doctor. If the pain is so bad you can’t sit still, go to an emergency room or urgent care.
Ozempic and thyroid cancer
In tests of Ozempic and similar drugs in mice, some mice developed both cancerous and noncancerous thyroid tumors. It’s unknown whether the drug raises the risk of these types of tumors in people, too.
If you have a personal or family history of thyroid cancer, you should discuss it with your doctor before starting this medicine.
If you’re taking Ozempic and you have any of the following symptoms, tell your doctor:
- A lump or swelling in your neck
- Hoarseness
- Trouble swallowing
- Shortness of breath
Angioedema
In some cases, people taking Ozempic have had a severe allergic reaction called angioedema. It can cause swelling anywhere in the body, but usually in the face, hands, feet, genitals, or lips.
It usually happens within minutes or hours after the first dose. Until more is known about who is at risk of this side effect, doctors may recommend against using this medicine if you have a history of angioedema.
Hypoglycemia from Ozempic
Rarely, Ozempic can lead to dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) in people who take it along with insulin to control their diabetes. Ask your doctor if you should change how you use insulin once you start Ozempic.
Ozempic and vision changes
Changes in your blood sugar, like those that happen on Ozempic, can affect the shape of the lens of your eye and lead to blurry vision. The vision problems can last a few months. Older people who take the drug are at greatest risk.
Bowel obstruction with Ozempic
A rare but serious risk of the slow movement of food through your system with Ozempic is an intestinal blockage. This happens when your intestines don’t contract enough to move food through the digestive system completely. If not treated in time, a blockage, also called ileus, can be deadly.
The FDA has received reports of at least 20 cases of ileus, including two deaths, among people taking Ozempic. The agency ordered that the drugmaker, Novo Nordisk, add a warning label to the drug packaging.
Can Ozempic cause gallbladder issues?
Some people taking Ozempic have developed gallstones or gallbladder inflammation called cholecystitis. You shouldn’t take this medicine if you have a history of gallbladder disease.
What to know about Ozempic and kidney disease
The relationship between Ozempic and kidney disease is unclear. At first, kidney injury and poor kidney function were listed among the possible side effects of the drug. But more recent research suggests that the drug slashes the risk of kidney failure and death in people who have type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease. We’re still learning more about how this drug affects the kidneys. Discuss your individual risk of complications with your doctor.
Ozempic Weight Loss Side Effects
Ozempic causes fast weight loss all over your body. You may not realize it, but fat holds your skin up and even keeps it tight or firm in some places, such as on your face and your rear end. Fast and drastic weight loss can cause skin to hang and sag in places that it didn’t before. It might make you look older, too. That’s what the terms “Ozempic face” and “Ozempic butt” describe. But even major weight loss from diet and exercise alone would cause these changes.
Ozempic Side Effects in Females
Similarly, weight loss on Ozempic can cause sagging “Ozempic breasts.” But that’s not all women and people assigned female at birth should know about Ozempic.
Ozempic babies
There’ve been many reports of unplanned pregnancies among women taking Ozempic. Both obesity and diabetes can make it harder for women to get pregnant. These conditions can cause irregular periods and stop ovulation. Once Ozempic gets these conditions under control, it could be that you start ovulating again and suddenly you’re able to get pregnant when you never thought it would happen.
But some women taking Ozempic have even gotten pregnant while on the pill. This suggests that the diabetes drug might interfere with how your birth control works.
Ozempic and pregnancy
There’s not much research about how Ozempic might affect a pregnant woman or their unborn baby. But animal experiments suggest it isn’t safe during pregnancy at all. Until more is known, doctors recommend that women stop Ozempic when they begin trying to get pregnant and stay off it through pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Ozempic after menopause
Weight gain is common during and after menopause, and weight loss can be harder. There’s very little research into how Ozempic works in postmenopausal women. A small study showed they did lose weight on the drug, but with one caveat: women who were on both Ozempic and hormone replacement therapy lost more weight than women on Ozempic alone.
Does Ozempic Cause Suicidal Thoughts?
Early information on Ozempic said it might increase the risk of suicidal thoughts. Since then, the FDA has reviewed any reports it received from consumers about suicidal thoughts and found no clear connection between Ozempic and these types of thoughts.
In a study of more than 240,000 people with overweight and obesity, people with no prior history of suicidal thoughts were four times less likely to have them while on Ozempic than while on non-GLP-1 weight loss and diabetes drugs. As for people who’d had suicidal thoughts before, they were only half as likely to have them on Ozempic than on those other drugs.
Though Ozempic doesn’t seem to raise risk of suicidal thinking, if you have sudden or strong feelings, including feeling nervous, angry, restless, violent, or scared, tell your doctor right away.
How to Recognize an Allergic Reaction to Ozempic
It’s possible to have an allergic reaction to an ingredient in Ozempic. If you have a history of allergic reactions or any food allergies, tell your doctor before you take Ozempic.
If, after taking Ozempic, you have any of the following, go to an emergency room or urgent care:
- A rash, itching, or hives
- Swelling in your lips, tongue, or throat
- Shortness of breath, trouble breathing, or wheezing (a whistling sound during breathing)
- Dizziness or fainting
- Stomach pain, bloating, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Uterine cramps
- Feeling like something awful is about to happen
Long-Term Side Effects of Ozempic
The most common side effects of Ozempic are mild to moderate gut issues, and they may not last very long. For side effects that continue, here’s what you should know.
Managing Ozempic Side Effects
If you are not able to manage side effects such as constipation or gas on your own with dietary and lifestyle changes and over-the-counter remedies, talk to your doctor. A dose change might help.
How long do Ozempic side effects last?
How long a side effect may last varies from one side effect to another and from person to person. The most common GI side effects seem to get better in a few weeks.
Diet changes
You can help prevent or reduce some unpleasant symptoms by avoiding high-fat foods, greasy or fried foods, and sweets.
When to call your doctor
Most side effects of Ozempic aren’t serious, but you should see a doctor right away if you have:
- Prolonged or severe diarrhea or throwing up
- Intense pain or tenderness in your belly
- Inability to pass gas or have a bowel movement
- Yellowing of your skin
Even if you don’t have these serious symptoms, side effects can take a toll on your quality of life. Discuss any ongoing, bothersome problems with your doctor and see if you can find a solution. A dose change might help.
Ozempic Side Effects Takeaways
- The most common side effects of Ozempic are GI problems.
- Most GI problems go away eventually as your body gets used to the medicine.
- Serious side effects are rare but possible. If you have signs of them, tell your doctor or seek help right away.
Ozempic Side Effects FAQs
Q: What will Ozempic do to your body?
A: It will control your blood sugar by increasing insulin release and slowing digestion. It may also lead to weight loss that may cause your skin to sag.
Q: Is Ozempic a high-risk medication?
A: This medication comes with a lot of risks, but each person’s willingness to accept them is different. Discuss with your doctor both the risks of taking and not taking this medication.
Q: How long does semaglutide diarrhea last?
A: GI side effects of Ozempic usually get better in a few weeks, but it may require changes in your habits.
Q: Does Ozempic cause gastric dumping?
A: Ozempic delays gastric dumping – the time it takes your stomach to empty and move food through to your intestines.
