Ozempic and Burping: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 8, 2023

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I was prescribed Ozempic for weight loss in Nov 2022. I started on 0.25 mg for one month. I found it slightly suppressed my appetite, and the side effects I had were awful heartburn, constipation, and sulfur burps. Sometimes I felt nauseous. I decided to stick with it anyway and increased to 0.5 mg after one month. The symptoms were the same but added in fatigue. A month later, I bumped up to 0.75, and the burps, fatigue, and heartburn subsided. I went to 1 mg two months later, and all symptoms disappeared. I started at 192 lbs on Nov 15th, and as of May 1st, I weigh 152 lbs. I found my sugar cravings disappeared once I started taking 1 mg. Up until then, I still craved sugary foods. I lost all interest in greasy food (fries, anything deep-fried, etc.) from 0.5 mg and up. I personally love Ozempic. The side effects at the beginning were worth it for me, but from the sounds of it, mine weren’t that bad. I have never once thrown up."

• Haz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 18, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "Blood sugar levels started getting high 33 a year ago, tried several different prescriptions before being placed on Ozempic (4 months ago), metformin & Invokana. Now reading 6.5 levels, with a recent 7.0 A1C. In the past 4 months have gone from 170 to 141 lbs. I was told weight loss included muscle loss so I’m trying to keep on a high-protein diet and weight workouts. I don’t think I’ve had a hunger pang in 4 months, and eat way less. I do get burps after eating and occasional stomach pain that is tolerable. Perhaps it’s the combination of all bringing down my levels that gives me two things I didn’t expect, clear clarity in thinking (better memory recall) and a lot more energy (as in stable for a good 10 hours and then I start getting fatigued). I honestly am very happy to lose weight and eat off a smaller plate."

• Bak...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 24, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have been on Ozempic for 3 months now, and I find this drug works like none I have tried before. The first 6 weeks were rough: burping, headaches, fatigue, nausea, but I stuck it out. I’m so glad I did. My A1C has gone from 8 to 6.8 in three months. I have lost 20 pounds, going from 180 to 160 lbs. My daily sugars have seen a vast improvement. The major thing I have noticed after being on the drug for this long is that recovery time after eating high-carb or high-sugar foods is back to normal. Appetite is still lacking, but it’s mostly an aversion to ‘bad’ food. I can no longer sit and eat an entire burger, it’s just way too much, but a healthy salad, I can eat the whole thing! I have seen major benefits from this drug. I have way more energy and no more 3 pm crash. Tips while adjusting to the drugs: Tums, Gravol, lots of sleep, light healthy meals, and remember to drink water! Also, I found injecting Ozempic in the hip lessened the symptoms for the first while."

• Wor...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 4, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "When I started Ozempic at a dose of 0.25, I lost 10 pounds, sugar levels dropped from 6.7 to 6.3. I experienced a hard time wanting to drink water and felt water-logged after I drank water. The doctor increased the dose to 0.5, and 4 months ago I started having diarrhea, sulfur burps, bloating, fatigue, and more seriously, a lump on the right side of my throat and a sore throat. My doctor was surprised that I had these side effects a year later after taking the medicine. Ozempic is the only medication I'm taking other than vitamin D, B12, and calcium. My ultrasound shows several lumps, some larger than others, and now I'm waiting for the referral to see a nose, ear, and throat specialist. I stopped taking Ozempic 3 weeks ago. Worried about the side effects of thyroid cancers..."

• mew...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 27, 2024

For Type 2 Diabetes "I’m 63 F with T2 diabetes, and I started on Oz mid-May 2024. Symptoms: nausea, fatigue, GERD, sulfur burps, stomach cramping from severe constipation, constipation, feeling like I need to vomit, ringing in my ears has increased significantly, loss of appetite, reduction of inflammation, occasional migraines, feeling “off” most days, bouts of dizziness, and feeling faint, but blood sugar and blood pressure are normal, improved blood sugar readings, weight loss of 13 lbs. There are some perks: rheumatoid and osteoarthritis inflammation has lessened, though I still feel pain daily, it’s more tolerable. I take no painkillers but will take CBD as needed. Loss of appetite has led to a loss of 13 lbs so far, blood sugar improved so I’m confident that my A1C has improved also. I struggle with what to do: stay on for the inflammatory reductions, weight loss, and blood sugar improvement benefits, or quit because I feel sick most days, so I have no real pleasure in life anymore. No, I’m not depressed."

• Sic...
• September 7, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "Started Ozempic .25 dose 2 weeks ago. First week, ended up in the ER with dehydration from vomiting so much. Physicians didn't think it was this medication that was causing it. Endocrinologist was not available as it was Labor Day when this occurred. I didn't think anything of it, so I continued with another dose two days ago. This was a very stupid idea. I am severely nauseous with no vomiting this time, but it is miserable. Also a lot of sulfur burps. This lasted half the day today and is subsiding. But this is like a roller coaster and unsure when these symptoms will return. I am also experiencing fatigue nonstop. Hard to even move or concentrate energy. I thought this might be due to having normal blood sugar levels since taking this medication, but I don't think this is the case. Please be careful on this medication."

• nau...
• December 30, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "I started Ozempic .25 mg subcut 8 days ago. I took my second dose yesterday. My first week, I ended up in the ED. I thought I had a bowel blockage or ileus. The ED visit was preceded by 6 hours of constant, sickening, odiferous belching, constant flatus, eruptive vomiting, cramping, and pain. A CT scan revealed gastric paresis. The event was precipitated by a fatty meal. I have since learned that the decreased gastric motility demands drastic changes in the volume of food intake, fat content, and most importantly, patience with what I consider to be major side effects. Now, I have no appetite. I am nauseated all the time, taking Zofran 4 mg before any meal. The belching is greatly reduced, same with flatus. I feel constipated, but that is easing off. I am avoiding high-fat foods and eating smaller portions. I am profoundly fatigued. Tomorrow, I am getting on the treadmill for 30 minutes each day to stimulate endorphin release to feel better. I have read the symptoms are reduced after 4-6 weeks."

• Nes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 3, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "Was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in March 2019. Doctor put me on Ozempic rather than insulin, although it's not recommended. He thought it was worth a try along with 500 mg metformin twice daily. The first 3 weeks of 0.25 mg Ozempic were just fine. Very minimal side effects - occasional diarrhea, some gas, and belching. Nothing I couldn't handle. The fourth week of 0.25 mg was worse. Constant diarrhea for four days, nausea, some vomiting. I went to a different doctor thinking I had a stomach virus, he prescribed me an anti-diarrheal, and I felt better. I took the Ozempic at 0.5 mg then, as prescribed. Two days later, nightmare. Diarrhea again, vomiting, nausea, and serious fatigue. I'm in the throes of it right now, and I'm going to be contacting my doctor to see what I can do to counteract this. Besides the side effects, though, it's working beautifully. My blood sugar is down from the high 300s to the low 100s in just a month."

• Goa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 20, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have taken 7 doses of Ozempic. The first week wasn't too bad. A little nausea and fatigue. I did feel like my food stuck in my throat, and every time I burped, there it was. As I continued to take it each week, the side effects got worse. I was just diagnosed with diabetes in May, and since then, I've been able to come off of my insulin on my own, before Ozempic. I still take Metformin twice a day. This past week, the seventh dose made me so sick! If I wasn't nauseous every day, I was running to the bathroom at all hours of the day and night. I had horrible heartburn, gas, burping, jitters, and dizziness the whole time and thought I could continue, but after this past week, my doctor said to come off of it. It will take a while to get out of my system, I know, but I hope it does so quickly. I need my life back!!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 30, 2024

For Type 2 Diabetes "After 4-6 weeks, I still suffer various levels of intensities of nausea, but short-lived diarrhea, plenty of burping, and fatigue that is often overwhelming. Some days, no problems. I manage the symptoms by enduring until they ease up, or I may choose to seek fast relief using what's available. Its benefits are now close to 'tight control' and significant weight loss (overcoming the stagnant plateau of a period of weight loss)."

• jud...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 15, 2025

For Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "2-3 days per week I suffer from poor sleep and fatigue accordingly. Trying to get to sleep is bad, with body noises making it impossible. Also, constant burping with gas buildup, farting at night is awful, watery eyes. The other 4 days is fine. The days are not in a row and often vary each week. My rating of the medicine would vary on different days, bad days, bad rating."

• Ris...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 15, 2025

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have been on Ozempic for about 3 months. Started at 0.25, then went to 0.5, then went to 1.00 2 weeks ago. Had some minor side effects (a little stomach upset, fatigue) with the lower doses, but just this past week, I have started severe diarrhea. I literally can't keep anything in my system. It is working okay... I have lost almost 15 pounds, but I am going to adjust the dosage down if the diarrhea doesn't stop. I also have had a huge increase in burping, which is manageable. Overall, I have positive things to say about this medication, but I think that dosing is pretty specific to the person and should be discussed with your primary doctor if severe side effects continue."

• Sme...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 9, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "Been on a few weeks at .25. Biggest side effect is sulfur burps, nauseous, and extreme fatigue that start the day after the weekly injection and lasts for a few days."