How to Relieve Nausea While Taking Ozempic

Ozempic is a medication used for treating type 2 diabetes and is sometimes prescribed off-label for weight loss.

It works by helping your body make more insulin and slowing the rate of digestion.

While this can result in improved blood sugar levels and weight loss, it can also cause gastrointestinal (GI) side effects, such as nausea.  

Nausea is the most common side effect of Ozempic.

Though it often lessens with time, it can be challenging to eat nutritious foods when you're feeling sick, and feeling nauseous may start impacting your quality of life. 

Continue reading to learn more about Ozempic side effects and how to get Ozempic nausea relief. 

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How Does Ozempic Work?

Ozempic, also known as semaglutide, is a once-weekly injectable medication approved for treating elevated blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes.

It helps lower the risk of heart attack and stroke in people with type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

The medication is also prescribed off-label for weight loss in individuals without diabetes. 

It’s a GLP-1 receptor agonist medication.

This means it activates the GLP-1 receptor in the body, which causes more insulin and less glucagon to be released. These are two hormones involved in blood sugar management.

The result of these changes is improved blood sugar levels and often weight loss. 

Another way Ozempic works is by delaying gastric emptying or slowing down the rate your stomach contents move into your intestines.

This causes slower digestion of the carbohydrates you eat, helping to minimize blood sugar spikes.

It also helps you feel full for longer after eating, which can support weight loss efforts. 

Though Ozempic is not currently FDA-approved for treating people with obesity or elevated weight, studies suggest it may help with weight loss.

Another type of semaglutide medication called Wegovy is approved for weight loss.

Wegovy has a similar mechanism of action to Ozempic, and also commonly causes other GI side effects.

Side Effects of Ozempic

Many people experience side effects of Ozempic, especially when initiating treatment or increasing the dose.

Most of the common side effects are gastrointestinal (GI) related as a result of slower stomach emptying on the medication.

In clinical trials, three to four percent of people stopped Ozempic treatment because of these side effects. 

Below is a list of the most common side effects of Ozempic, meaning they occur in at least five percent of people taking the medication. 

• Nausea.
• Vomiting.
• Diarrhea.
• Stomach pain.
• Constipation.
• Low blood sugar (typically in patients also taking insulin).

Many people also report a lower appetite and early satiety (getting full before finishing a meal), one reason Ozempic is sometimes prescribed off-label for weight loss.

However, in some cases, these effects, combined with GI symptoms, may make it challenging for people to eat enough to meet their nutritional needs while on medication.

Less common side effects and complications occurring in less than five percent of people taking Ozempic include: 

• Indigestion. 
• Belching and gassiness. 
• Acid reflux.
• Gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining).
• Fatigue. 
• Altered sense of taste. 
• Dizziness.
• Gallstones.
• Pancreatitis. 

If you experience any concerning side effects after starting Ozempic, talk to your doctor for further assessment and treatment. 

Do Ozempic Side Effects Go Away?

Mild side effects are expected to resolve after a few days. If they persist or if they worsen, you should stop taking the medication and speak with your doctor.

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Why Does Ozempic Cause Nausea? 

Nausea occurs as a result of the delayed gastric emptying caused by Ozempic.

According to clinical trials, 15 and 20% of participants who received an Ozempic dosage of 0.5 mg and 1 mg, respectively, experienced nausea.

Food sitting in the stomach longer before digesting can contribute to many of the digestive side effects listed above. 

With Ozempic, nausea does not always lead to vomiting, and less than 10% of people experienced vomiting during clinical trials.

However, chronic nausea can be very disruptive to your quality of life and ability to eat normally. 

When starting Ozempic, the doctors usually recommend slowly increasing the dose over a few weeks.

This helps your body get used to the medication and reduces the severity of gastrointestinal side effects. 

Most people find that the longer they are on Ozempic, nausea becomes less noticeable.

In some cases, your doctor may recommend increasing your Ozempic dose to help maximize its effects. You'll likely experience a resurgence of nausea and other side effects when your dose goes up.

Is Nausea a Known Side Effect of Ozempic?

Nausea is a known side effect of Ozempic. You may experience nausea when you are first prescribed the medication, and it may recur if your dosage increases.

While experiencing serious side effects, such as kidney failure, are rare, nausea has been noted as one of the related symptoms.

How Long Does Nausea on Ozempic Last? 

The good news is that nausea may be a mild and temporary side effect. It may go away within a few days or weeks when your body adjusts to the Ozempic dosage. How long nausea may vary between individuals.

You may also experience nausea again if you increase your Ozempic dosage.

Eventually, your body will adapt to this change and symptoms should resolve. 

Do All Weight Loss Medications Cause Nausea?

Zepbound and Wegovy are two FDA-approved weight loss medications. Other GLP-1 receptor agonists approved to treat type 2 diabetes, which may also lead to weight loss, include Saxenda and Trulicity. All of these drugs have been known to cause nausea. 

A key mechanism of these medications is delaying gastric motility, or how quickly food moves through your digestive system. 

However, these medications, all of which are GLP-1 receptor agonists, may also increase the risk of gastroparesis, also known as stomach paralysis.

Gastroparesis slows down food moving from the stomach to the small intestine, creating constant pressure on your stomach that could make you feel nauseous. 

A 2023 research noted that GLP-1 receptor agonist medications are a 3.67 times greater risk of stomach paralysis.

Clinical trials showed that:

• 47% of patients who received 2.4 mg of Wegovy experienced nausea.
• 25%, 29%, and 28% of patients who received 5 mg, 10mg, and 15 mg of Zepbound, respectively experienced nausea.
• 12.4% and 21.1% of patients who received 0.75 mg and 1.5 mg of Trulicity, respectively experienced nausea.
• 39% of patients who received Saxenda experienced nausea.

Why Do I Feel Sick on Ozempic?

It’s hard to feel well while you’re experiencing bouts of nausea and low appetite.

Many people don’t eat enough calories when they’re feeling sick, and not having enough energy can make it harder to feel better. 

The best thing you can do is monitor your symptoms and make small changes to increase your quality of life. 

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How to Relieve Nausea with Ozempic

Ozempic can cause appetite suppression, taste changes, and reduced food cravings, which, combined with nausea and other common GI side effects, can make eating challenging.

It can also make it difficult to complete your daily activities.

You can follow a few simple strategies to get Ozempic nausea relief. 

Eat Smaller, More Frequent Meals

For many people, the natural reaction when experiencing nausea is to avoid or delay eating until the nausea resolves.

However, with Ozempic, you may experience frequent nausea that doesn't go away.

This makes it important to do your best to continue eating normally throughout the day and learn to manage the nausea. 

Nausea can worsen on an empty stomach, meaning the longer you wait to eat, the more severe your symptoms will become.

If your appetite is suppressed on Ozempic, you may not experience early signs of hunger, like stomach grumbling, making it easy to forget to eat.

If you have type 2 diabetes, going long periods without eating can increase your risk of experiencing low blood sugar, which is already increased while on Ozempic. 

Try eating something shortly after waking in the morning, then aim to eat every three to four hours throughout the day. This will typically look like five to six small meals per day.

If your appetite is suppressed, you may need to set alarms or reminders to eat.

Though this may feel challenging, the more regularly you eat, the sooner you will get Ozempic nausea relief. 

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Modify Your Food Choices

You may need to choose different foods than you might normally eat in order to manage your nausea.

Dry carbohydrates, like crackers and toast, can be better tolerated. Also, you may prefer bland foods with minimal seasonings and aromas. 

On days where your nausea is strong, try including soft, low-fiber foods, like potatoes, fish, ground meat, tofu, or yogurt. 

If your usual foods don’t interest you anymore due to appetite or taste changes, brainstorm a list of meal and snack ideas that sound appetizing.Then you can cycle through the list to help you stay interested in food and prevent boredom. 

You can also explore additional food options by working with a registered dietitian.

Reduce your intake of foods that worsen Ozempic side effects 

Since Ozempic causes digestion to slow down, high-fiber or high-fat foods may worsen your symptoms as these foods naturally take longer to digest. However, some of these foods are nutritious and your registered dietitian can teach you how to incorporate them into your diet while preventing side effects.

Here are a few examples of high-fiber of high-fat foods that may trigger side effects: 

• Avocado. 
• Heavy creams and full-fat dairy.
• Nuts and nut butter. 
• Large portions of raw fruits and vegetables. 
• Whole grains. 
• Beans and legumes. 

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Try home remedies for nausea

Ginger root has long been used to naturally treat nausea.

You can make your own ginger tea at home by pouring boiling water over a slice of fresh ginger. Some people also add peppermint which can be soothing and delicious.  

If you can’t tolerate hot beverages, you may want to try sipping on ice-cold water.

Some people may find this easier to drink while feeling nauseous.

Try to limit your fluid intake during meals. This can help minimize early satiety from filling up on liquids during your meal.

Talk to your healthcare provider about your dosage

Your healthcare provider can suggest a new dose if your symptoms don’t improve.

They may suggest a temporary reduction to help you feel better. 

In the future, you may need to follow a slower titration schedule to help manage your symptoms. 

Other Strategies

It's best to avoid lying down after eating.

Instead, staying upright or sitting at an incline can help your body digest food easier and reduce symptoms of acid reflux. 

If nausea is so severe that you’re struggling to function or eat enough daily, talk to your doctor about your options.

You may be able to take an anti-nausea medication or change the way you take Ozempic (i.e. dosage, timing, etc.). 

If your nausea is accompanied by other symptoms, like severe abdominal pain, it may indicate a more serious side effect of Ozempic, such as pancreatitis.

Seek medical attention immediately if you have any concerns. 

Listen to your body

When you first start Ozempic, your appetite will change due to the effects of the medication. 

As your body adapts to the medication, pay attention to your body’s signs and cues by adjusting your food intake to minimize feelings of nausea.  

To begin this new routine, try serving half the amount of food you would normally eat onto your plate. Enjoy this serving slowly by savoring every bite. 

If you’re still hungry, eat another half portion slowly, and stop when you’re full.

Try to keep track of how much you have eaten when you’re full. This can act as a helpful guide to help you feel full (without feeling nauseous) while continuing to take Ozempic. 

Keep in mind that this food portion may change when your doctor adjusts your Ozempic dosage.   

Takeaway

Nausea is one of the most common side effects of Ozempic due to the medication’s ability to slow down the digestion process. This symptom may last from a few days to a few weeks, depending on your body’s reaction to the medication. 

To relieve nausea, you may need to eat smaller and frequent meals, make changes to your food choices and portion. You may also want to explore home remedies such as drinking ginger tea. 

If your nausea isn’t improving, it is best to raise this concern with your doctor who may explore a new dosage with you.‍

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