Ozempic side effects
Most common side effects
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Stomach (abdominal) pain
- Constipation
Warnings in the label
- Possible thyroid tumors, including cancer (a boxed warning). Tell your doctor about a lump or swelling in the neck, trouble swallowing, hoarseness or shortness of breath.
- Inflammation of the pancreas: severe stomach pain that does not go away, with or without vomiting.
- Gallbladder problems: pain in the upper stomach, fever, yellowing of the skin or eyes, clay-colored stools.
- Low blood sugar, mainly when used with insulin or a sulfonylurea.
- Kidney problems, which can follow dehydration from vomiting or diarrhea.
- Serious allergic reactions.
- Changes in vision, in people with type 2 diabetes (diabetic retinopathy).
Questions
What are the most common Ozempic side effects?
The US label lists nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach (abdominal) pain, constipation among the most common.
How long do Ozempic side effects last?
The label reports stomach and gut side effects most often when starting Ozempic or stepping up a dose, and for many people they ease over the following weeks. If they last, are severe or stop you eating and drinking, talk to your doctor.
Which Ozempic side effects are serious?
The label warns about severe stomach pain that does not go away, gallbladder problems, low blood sugar with some other diabetes medicines, kidney problems from dehydration, serious allergic reactions and a possible risk of thyroid tumors. These need a doctor; an emergency needs emergency services.
Does Ozempic cause nausea?
Nausea is in the label’s list of the most common Ozempic side effects. Tell your prescriber if it is severe or does not settle.
Does Ozempic cause constipation?
Constipation is in the label’s list of the most common Ozempic side effects. Tell your prescriber if it is severe or does not settle.
Does Ozempic cause diarrhea?
Diarrhea is in the label’s list of the most common Ozempic side effects. Tell your prescriber if it is severe or does not settle.
Why are side effects worse after a dose increase?
The labels note that stomach and gut side effects are more common while the dose is being stepped up. That is one reason doses rise gradually. Your prescriber decides the pace.
Do Ozempic side effects change through the week?
Some people notice a pattern around dose day. Logging each symptom with its strength in Steady, next to your doses, is the easiest way to see whether yours do.
How do I track Ozempic side effects?
In Steady, pick the symptom and how strong it was. Steady shows it on the same timeline as your doses, dose steps and weight, week by week.
Is Steady medical advice?
No. Steady records what you log and does arithmetic on it. It does not diagnose, prescribe or recommend a dose, and it is not a substitute for your prescriber or pharmacist.
Source: Ozempic prescribing information (DailyMed)
This guide is general information from product labels and public sources. It is not medical advice. Follow your prescriber’s instructions and your medication’s label, and ask your doctor or pharmacist about anything specific to you.