Ozempic is all the rage right now, with millions taking the prescription weight loss drug – but it’s important to know the side effects.
The weekly semaglutide injection was originally designed for people with type 2 diabetes, but is now being used to tackle obesity.
Ozempic side effects you ‘will get’
Plastic surgeon Dr. Jonathan Kaplan, who has performed many reconstructive surgeries following weight loss, has gone viral on TikTok after explaining the common side effects you are bound to get while taking Ozempic, Wegovy or similar.
“What you will get from delayed gastric emptying is nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, sulphar burps, bloating and abdominal pain,” he said. “Hopefully not all at the same time.”
Ozempic contain semaglutide, a synthetic version of a naturally occurring hormone called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), which is released in the gastrointestinal tract when you eat, Harvard Health explains. This aids weight loss by reducing your appetite and keeping you feeling fuller for longer.
The drug also slows down the movement of food through your stomach and intestines, known as gastric emptying, which further aids weight loss – but also causes the negative side effects.
However, Kaplan explained that all of these side effects are very treatable, time-limited and usually go away the longer you stay on the medication.
How to treat Ozempic nausea
The most common side effect that many experience is nausea, and Ozempic suggests these general tips to help with sickness:
- Eat bland, low-fat foods, like crackers, toast, and rice
- Eat foods that contain water, like soups and gelatin
- Avoid fried, greasy, or sweet foods
- Avoid lying down after you eat
- Go outdoors for fresh air
- Eat more slowly
- Drink clear or ice-cold drinks
One severe Ozempic side effect
Ozempic has been linked to gastroparesis, also known as stomach paralysis, a long-term condition that reduces the stomach’s ability to empty its contents, MedlinePlus explains.
A 2023 study examined the association between semaglutide and reports of gastrointestinal adverse events and found that rates were “elevated” in people taking the drug.
“Use of GLP-1 agonists compared with bupropion-naltrexone was associated with increased risk of pancreatitis, bowel obstruction and gastroparesis,” they concluded.
However, Kaplan said that it’s an “extraordinarily rare” side effect that you shouldn’t worry about too much.
Dr. Jonathan Kaplan (MD, MPH) is a board-certified plastic surgeon who has his own clinic in San Francisco. He graduated with a medical degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine and completed his plastic surgery fellowship at Cleveland Clinic.
