In summary, Ozempic can make you feel tired, but it's a rare side effect. In the long-term, you may notice the opposite: energy increases and you're less tired, as you lose weight and improve cardiovascular health while taking Ozempic combined with physical activity and diet changes.
Yes, Ozempic® can make you tired. Why the medication has this effect in some people is not fully understood. It could be because Ozempic decreases appetite which leads a person to eat less and therefore get less energy from food.
People might experience fatigue more often within the first few weeks of treatment. However, the feeling typically decreases over time as your body adjusts to Ozempic.
The side effects of Semaglutide may be temporary. As mentioned, the most common side effects include feeling tired, itchy skin, and diarrhea. However, these should stop after a few weeks of continuously taking the medications.
Ozempic works by adjusting the way your body processes glucose (sugar). This can lead to slower digestion, which means food stays in your stomach longer as it's being broken down. As your stomach works on digesting, it produces additional gas, which can lead to that uncomfortable bloating feeling and stomach pain.
You're more likely to have nausea when you first start Ozempic treatment or after your doctor increases your dose. For most people, this side effect goes away within a few days or weeks.
Semaglutide works for weight loss by making you feel less hungry. And eating fewer calories may cause you to feel more tired. Feelings of fatigue should subside as your body adjusts to potential changes in your diet.
In rare cases, the use of Ozempic may cause anxiety and mood swings, irritability, shakiness, and confusion. However, when you take other medications along with Ozempic, it may escalate anxiety or mood change.
The most common side effects with Ozempic include stomach problems like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain and constipation. These tend to be mild-to-moderate and usually clear up in a few weeks in most people.
In combination with lifestyle changes like diet and exercise, Ozempic may also be prescribed off-label for weight management in people with obesity and overweight. Gastrointestinal side effects from Ozempic are common, but manageable. They include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and constipation.
You can get Ozempic nausea relief by eating small, frequent meals and choosing bland, soft, low-fiber foods.
The most common side effects when using Ozempic® are diarrhoea and nausea. These side effects are usually mild and normally decrease with continued use. Speak to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects and they worry you.
Ozempic and its sister medication, Wegovy — approved for weight loss for people who are obese or overweight with weight-related medical conditions — are considered long-term or lifelong treatments.
For example, greasy foods can slow down the absorption of Ozempic, making it less effective at controlling your appetite and blood sugar levels. Similarly, sugary foods can cause a spike in blood sugar levels, counteracting the effect of Ozempic and potentially leading to weight gain.
You may need a higher dosage of Ozempic
The same holds true for Ozempic's weight loss results. People taking higher doses of Ozempic tend to lose more weight. In the landmark study we cited above, people lost 7% of their body weight, on average, within a year and a half of taking 1mg of semaglutide.
It's used to lower blood glucose (sugar) levels in adults with Type 2 diabetes. The starting dose of Ozempic is 0.25 mg injected once weekly for 4 weeks. Then, your dose is moved up to 0.5 mg once weekly.
On average, a user can lose about 3 to 5% of their body weight after using Ozempic for a month regularly. This equates to about 4 to 6 pounds on average. Using a higher potency of the drug may result in more weight loss, but it isn't recommended that you start taking it right away.
Semaglutide will make you feel full on far less food, so plan to eat small meals throughout the day. If you eat too much in one sitting, you can end up with nausea, heartburn, or other unpleasant GI issues. And always keep some over-the-counter medicines at hand in case you need them.
The drugs may also affect your sleep, which can tank your energy levels. And adverse GI events — the most commonly listed side effect of the drugs — can easily cut into your sleep, making you feel tired.
It is important to have your blood sugar levels checked regularly. This is the only way to know if Ozempic is working properly for you. Your doctor will recommend how frequently you should do this.
A 2022 study found that most individuals gain weight back a year after stopping the medication.
Ozempic is a long-acting medication, and it may take up to eight weeks for you to fully feel its effects. Health providers prescribe Ozempic at a lower starting dose, such as 0.25 mg. The lower starting dose may make it easier for your body to adjust to using Ozempic, which can help reduce side effects.