Ozempic (semaglutide) is a brand-name injection that's prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes in adults. As with other drugs, Ozempic can cause side effects, such as gas, burping, dizziness, and nausea.
If you're on Ozempic or considering taking it, it's important to understand why gas, burping, and bloating can happen as a side effect. 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.
Burping and gas or flatulence
This air build-up is a totally normal part of how your body digests food. Our bodies release the air through passing gas or burping. As Ozempic slows the rate at which your stomach digests food, it may cause a small amount of additional gas build-up.
Because semaglutide slows down your digestion, eating large or high-fat meals can lead to symptoms like bloating and indigestion. Ensure that you take plenty of fluids. With a slower digestive process, your gut pulls more water out of your food.
More often than not, foods outlined above make it harder for semaglutide medications to control insulin release, making it well worth your time to limit your exposure to added sugar, fatty, greasy meals, refined carbohydrates, alcohol and excessive sodium.
Your blood glucose (sugar) levels should start to fully decline within the first week after you start using Ozempic (semaglutide) at your regular maintenance dose. However, the full effect can take 8 weeks or longer, as this is a long-acting medication that is injected only once per week.
Burping and flatulence can occur when you swallow too much air, which can happen when you eat too quickly. Slowing down while you eat can minimize these side effects, while also relieving the potential nausea that can occur with Ozempic. Drinking lots of water and limiting carbonated beverages can also help.
The side effect may go away with time as you continue taking Ozempic. However, if you have gas or burping that's bothersome to you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may recommend an over-the-counter medication, such as simethicone (Gas-X), to treat these side effects.
Ozempic can cause nausea and vomiting if taken after eating foods high in fat or sugar. It is recommended that you take Ozempic before meals, rather than after, to minimise any potential side effects from eating high-fat or high-sugar foods.
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.
Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus) can cause side effects that some people are unable to tolerate. Following dosing guidelines can help manage these side effects. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are the most common semaglutide side effects. But they usually subside after a few weeks of using the medication.
Other long-term symptoms of semaglutide treatment for weight loss is a rapid heartbeat that doesn't decrease when rested, dehydration, dizziness, rashes, itching, and swelling around the face. Always consult with your doctor to help manage these symptoms and diagnose any developing conditions at an early stage.
People all over the world are reporting that the widely disseminated semaglutide Ozempic, a Type 2 diabetes drug people are using for weight loss, is causing them to poop their pants.
The most common side effects of Ozempic, according to the drug's website, are nausea, stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea and vomiting. Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, told CBS News that the drugs "are a well-established class of medicines, which have demonstrated long-term safety in clinical trials.
Excessive burping, often described as smelling like rotten eggs, is believed to be caused by the medications slowing down the digestive system and leading to a build-up of air. Other side effects reported include acid reflux, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation.
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.
Ozempic starting dose
Ozempic treatment for weight loss starts at 0.25mg once per week. You stay at that low dose for at least the first 4 weeks of treatment whilst your body gets used to the drug.
Still, Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications will be most effective for weight loss and blood sugar control when combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise. Generally, eating healthy foods and avoiding foods high in sugar, calories, and unhealthy fats while taking Ozempic helps.
It is important you discuss your alcohol use with your doctor while taking Wegovy; your provider may recommend avoiding alcohol completely. While not well studied in humans, animal models of alcohol addiction have shown that the active compound in Wegovy (semaglutide) reduced alcohol intake.
Semaglutide improves body composition by helping patients lose weight and reduce excess fat, including stubborn belly fat. It also increases the proportion of lean body mass. In general, the more weight you lose with semaglutide, the greater the improvements you'll see in your overall body composition across all areas.
Based on the results of our weight management program, our patients have lost an average of 7.7 pounds in only 4 weeks on the lowest, introductory dose of semaglutide!