Ozempic and Gas: What Users Say

• Con...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 1, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "I started Ozempic in late December at 0.25 injection. I also take 500mg metformin per day. Soon after I started Ozempic, I had decreased appetite and my sugars improved, but I had reflux, gas, bloating, nausea, and diarrhea. After 4 weeks, I started 0.50. 2 weeks in, I have bouts of painful constipation then diarrhea, nausea, bloating, gas, reflux, and cramping. I've almost vomited a few times. When I eat, it feels like the food just sits and sits, barely moving through my gut. My doctor wants me to stick with it, saying that these side effects usually improve, but it's been pretty miserable. I'm thinking I'm going to stop taking it. While Ozempic has been effective in regulating my sugars and losing weight, I don't think it's worth the suffering that I've been enduring on this medication. I understand that studies showed it causing thyroid cancer in mice, but no one knows if it causes thyroid cancer in humans. I don't want to be the guinea pig the drug makers use to find out it does."

• val...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 29, 2020

For Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "I have been using this medication Ozempic for several months. My dose is 1mg per week. This medication has made me feel sick from my first dose. I've lost 15 lbs but have bloating, gas, burping, and most recently hiccups for over a week. I will not be using this medication anymore."

• Big...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 16, 2022

For Type 2 Diabetes "Ended up in the emergency room on the day of the second dose. Triggered a gallbladder issue and ended up elevating my liver enzymes. Symptoms mimicked a heart attack or pancreatitis. Hard to tell the difference. Severe abdominal pain radiating to the back, elevated heart rate, nausea, gas, bloating. For some people, this type of medication is very, very bad medicine and totally not worth it. I lost 10 pounds in two weeks because it made me so sick I could not eat or drink. One day this will also have an FDA black box label on it like Byetta. A class action lawsuit will be on your TV commercials. I would be seriously careful if you plan on taking this medication for anything, weight loss or glucose control. Not worth it. Once you get sick, you will be longing to get the stuff out of your system and will be physiologically impacted by the experience. No antidote. Have to wait it out. Never again. The Russian roulette of diabetes medication. Taker beware."

• Bal...
• March 4, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "I currently take 1000 mg of Metformin twice a day, Lantus at night, and Humalog before I eat a meal and snacks. I started taking 0.25 mg of Ozempic on 01/03/2020. By the first evening, I was cramped up so bad, I didn’t want to eat or move. This really didn’t change for 3 weeks. At that time I called my doctor and told her what I had experienced, and then we moved to 0.5 mg. All I can tell you is that I have been miserable since starting to take this drug. Excessive gas in my stomach that leads to bloating, abdominal discomfort, and waking up every 1 or 2 hours to belch away the gas. OMG, the smell of the gas from my stomach could wake the dead, and that terrible taste I have in my mouth most of the time. I will find out about A1C in the coming weeks. I have been able to reduce my Lantus from 70 units to 40 units, and Humalog from 1 unit/5 carbs to 1 unit/10 carbs."

• Dis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 5, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "I only did 2 lowest dose injections and stopped. The side effects were awful and still linger. The worst thing about the medication has been the gas, bloating, diarrhea, and awful taste/smell when I burp. I’m 6 days in after my last injection, and I still have all symptoms and continued diarrhea."

• Cau...
• March 3, 2022

For Type 2 Diabetes "I took .25 for about 6 months and thought this was a miracle drug. Caused slight constipation, but I dealt with it. When they increased me to .5 mg, I started violently vomiting the next day. No one could figure out what was wrong with me. Pancreatic enzymes were high, but not high enough to diagnose pancreatitis. I could barely eat for two months. Gas, bloating, side pain, back pain, stomatitis pain, non-stop burping, constipation, nausea, vomiting off and on. My food perpetually felt like it was backed up into my mouth. They had to take me off of the drug, and now my sugars are higher than ever, and no one can help me. They were okay before, but now doctors consider me as failing two types of drug classes because of this, won't give me my old meds back, and I may have to go on insulin. I am gaining weight like never before and am so tired that I can barely function. They now believe it gave me gastroparesis, and I can't get better. I would recommend this medicine to no one."

• Nei...
• April 16, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "Month 1, I was started on Ozempic at 0.25 mg and had very mild symptoms of bloating and reduced appetite. Month 2 & 3, uncomfortable. Stomach cramps, gas, and diarrhea probably for 4 days after injection. This can be really embarrassing in a small office. By the end of Month 3, I was feeling quite a bit better. At this point, my HbA1c was down to 5.2 from 9.4, I had virtually no diabetic symptoms. No blurred vision, no numbness in fingers and toes, and I was sleeping through the night without visits to the bathroom. And I lost 16 kilo in weight. Month 4 to 7. OMG. Increasing to 1 mg, the side effects are horrendous. Weight loss has stalled, though this is probably due to lockdown. The sickness and eggy burps are constant, and now my doctor says it will be at least 6 months before the side effects could be gone. But I have no diabetic symptoms, my HbA1c is pretty much normal, and I think the effort has been worth it. Not an easy journey, but worthwhile."

• Lau...
• January 21, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "I started Ozempic mid-November, with my first injection at 25 mg. Within two days, I had the worst bloating, my stomach bulged. I felt horrible. I had nasty sulfur burps and gas. This lasted for 24 hours. I noticed a decrease in my sweet tooth, and I cut back on my food intake. I lost 10 lbs within the first 4 weeks of taking Ozempic. After 4 weeks, my doctor told me to increase my dosage to .50 mg. I delayed increasing it by 4 weeks. On Monday, I increased my dosage to .50 mg. Day 3, I got really sick, bloating, sulfur burps, and gas were horrible. I vomited at least 2 times. I was super hungry but couldn’t hold food down. All I wanted to do was sleep. By morning, I felt 80% better. Still burping and gassy, but not nauseous or vomiting anymore. I do not plan to continue to take the .50 mg. I will just stick with 25 mg. The misery I felt was excruciating, and I can’t handle it. My next appointment is next month, and I am curious to know if my A1C had decreased or not."

• Eur...
• January 25, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "Started the Ozempic injections about 4 months ago. I did okay on the .25 dose. After 3 weeks, the doc had me do the .50 dose. I had chronic stress for 3 months (dog had cancer), so I lost myself in caring for her. After her death, I felt the effects of the RX. I had the worst sulfur burps and gas, stomach pain, bloating, and nausea I'd ever had in my life. I stopped the RX, changed to a low sulfur diet, and that didn't work, so I did a slow stomach emptying diet. After 1.5 weeks, my sulfur and gas/bloating cleared up, and I felt normal. I had a doc appointment and told him about the sulfur issues and what I did to stop it. He said I had lost 20 pounds, A1C went down to 6, and he wanted me back on it. I took another injection, and 2 days later, here I am with bad sulfur burps, gas/bloating, nausea, and stomach pain. I guess I'm going to have to eat very little to keep my stomach empty to make my doc happy-while I suffer. Not thrilled but willing to try a while longer to see if weight loss and A1C continues."

• No ...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 5, 2021

For Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "Started low dose .25, experienced discomfort in the stomach. Increased 4 weeks later to .5, symptoms got worse, blood sugar improved. Another 4 weeks after, moved to 1 mg dosage, and life is awful. I've lost all control of my bowels from the severe long-lasting diarrhea, sometimes pooping the bed. I'm wearing adult diapers at 35, and my self-esteem has taken a nosedive. The sulfur burps are horrible and constant. The gas and bloating make me look and feel horrible. I'm following a diet and doing every single thing my doctor has asked me to do for 7 months. I've lost 32 pounds but sleep in a diaper. Was it worth it? No... Nope... My A1C improved a tiny bit, but otherwise, I'm just feeling tired, weak, and totally mortified. Can't go hardly anywhere unless I KNOW there is a restroom very close. Vomit every day."

• Tan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 11, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "I’m on Ozempic for weight loss. I started at a small dose for 4 weeks, 0.25, then 2 weeks, 0.5. Now I’m on maintenance, taking 1 mg. In the beginning, straight after the injection, I would suffer from nausea, migraines, and loss of appetite. My side effects have shifted. I don’t suffer from nausea for more than a day, however, I have sulfur gas. It’s horrible. I’m bloated and very gassy. I haven’t lost a ton of weight yet, however, I do think diet is key as I am taking this for weight loss, and so far, yes, my appetite is suppressed. A day or two before it’s time to take the injection, I gain more of an appetite. This stuff is killer expensive, and my insurance doesn’t cover it. I’ll give it a couple more months and see how it goes."

• I...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 1, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "I rarely ever have side effects from any drugs that I have taken before. After my second dose, I began extreme side effects of stomach pain, bloating, sour belching, flatulence, diarrhea, zero appetite, and indigestion. These symptoms have not gone away after 10 days of discontinued use. It definitely lowered my daily sugar levels. You can use this medication if you are okay with feeling like death."

• Mal...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 1, 2019

"I've been on Ozempic for about 2 to 2.5 months now. So far, no weight loss, but horrible gas. I burp all the time, and my stomach gets so bloated. Sometimes it's sulfur burps, but others, it's just a lot of plain gas. I get a lot of gas coming out the other end too. On the advice of my doctor, I waited a few weeks extra to up my dose from 0.25 to 0.5. My appetite has gone down, but the gas is still so bad that my clothes fit worse than before! I'm on week 3 of the 0.5 and waiting for it to get better. I have a follow-up appointment in mid-July."

• Wah...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 10, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "I started taking Ozempic (semaglutide) five weeks ago to control my A1C, blood sugar, and weight loss, but I don't see any change. I got gas, bloated, stomach upset, and constipated. Out of the five weeks, three of them I got a UTI, and I am miserable. Going to see my regular doctor today because my endocrinologist who prescribed this medication is off during the weekend."

• Mar...
• March 17, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "My very first injection has made me deathly ill. The nausea, vomiting, bloating, gas, most intense hunger pains, cramping, sulfur burps that make you want to throw up, and just generally feeling miserable. The thought of food most of the time has made me want to throw up. I can't take my other meds most of the time because I end up vomiting. All this while trying to work full time. I have tried Trulicity, which made me very sick, Victoza put me in the emergency room. Ozempic has me close to the emergency room if I end up dehydrated. This is how I imagine being poisoned would feel like. Medicine should not make you feel this bad. No illness that I have had has made me feel this horrible. If you have any kind of stomach issues, really, I have GERD, think twice before injecting this nasty 'medication.'"

• hal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 4, 2023

For Type 2 Diabetes "The major side effects are all I got with this med, which includes upset stomach, heartburn, burping, gas, bloating, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite, stomach flu symptoms, headache, dizziness, and tiredness."

• fem...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 23, 2023

For Type 2 Diabetes "Serious stomach issues, cramping, bloating, severe constipation, nausea, no appetite, rashes, pain in the upper and lower bowel, gas. Loss of too much weight, no taste for food. Have had previous trouble with colitis and diverticulitis but still prescribed this medication. Only have 1 kidney and now afraid it may be damaged. I have been on this drug for approximately 7-9 months. Now worried, but the doctor is not concerned enough to take me off this medication."

• pam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 21, 2023

For Type 2 Diabetes "I started taking Ozempic at 0.025 mg for two months, primarily relying on meal replacements for diabetes twice a day along with a small amount of cereal (Grape Nuts). During those two months, I lost 30 pounds. However, I experienced dizzy spells because I was also taking high blood pressure medication. Once I stopped the blood pressure medication, the dizziness went away. I then increased my Ozempic dosage to 0.050 mg, and that's when things took a turn for the worse. I started having sulfur burps (long and frequent belching), excessive gas, diarrhea, and if I overate cereal, I would vomit. Even if I didn't eat anything, I would still experience vomiting. I lowered the insulin dosage, and it improved. After a month, I was able to handle the 0.050 mg dosage. Later, I increased it to 1 mg. At this point, I wasn't losing weight anymore, but I experienced hunger pains and started eating other things. On and off, I would have episodes of diarrhea, belching, and gas. Additionally, I started experiencing pain under both sides of my ribs, bloating, belching, diarrhea, and gas. I had blood work done, which revealed that my thyroid levels were significantly off. I am scheduled for an ultrasound to examine my thyroid, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, and GI tract, among others."

• Apr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 25, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have been on Ozempic for 20 weeks now, and I still experience bloating, flatulence, nausea, and fatigue. My A1C went back to normal, but I feel sick all the time. My most horrible side effect is the rotten egg smell of my burps. I am also taking Toujeo and Janumet."

• Juw...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 19, 2022

For Type 2 Diabetes "I started on 0.25 for four weeks, had nausea, dizziness, burping nonstop every day, off-the-wall gas, and bloating. Went on 0.5, more or less the same side effects except more abdominal pain. Then went to 1 mg, my skin started feeling like I had a bad sunburn from the waist up. It hurt when clothes touched it. Four weeks later, went on 2 mg. All same symptoms. Then I started having severe neck pain and shoulder pain. Was on 8 months and only lost 16 pounds. A1c went from 7.5 to 5.5, but a lot had to do with eating less. I have EPI, so it was not worth it to me to take it anymore. Also, thyroid cancer runs in my family. Had a friend tell me her friend got thyroid cancer after 3 months, also had a lot of diarrhea. Now I'm off, no symptoms, skin feels better, and sugar around 130."

• Lon...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 10, 2022

For Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "I have been taking Ozempic for 6 weeks. 4 weeks on .25 mg and 2 on .5 mg. It has been great at curbing my appetite and sugar cravings, and I have lost 5 kg. However, the diarrhea, vomiting, bloating, gas, and almost volcanic foul-smelling burping have made me decide not to continue. Being awake half the night with a gurgling stomach and having to sit up to burp and release the gas is not good for anyone. Back to my own devices from now on."

• Mac...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 11, 2024

For Type 2 Diabetes "1. Very good to date with stabilizing my glucose levels. 2. Unpleasant gastric conditions, i.e., bloating, burping, farting, constipation. 3. I'm taking 0.5 mg weekly and finding it very, very difficult to maintain a regular supply of the 0.025 to 0.5 mg dosage."

• Gen...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 11, 2024

For Type 2 Diabetes "Coupled with continuous glucose meter, improved A1c down to 5.8 and lost some weight. Have experienced some apparently common moderate side effects including intermittent nausea, bloating, gas, heartburn, constipation/diarrhea, dizziness. So far, benefits outweigh bothersome discomfort. Easy to use weekly."

• Kim...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 25, 2025

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have only been using Ozempic for a few months now. Just recently I am experiencing bloating, moderate pain in my lower belly, gas, and some diarrhea. I am hoping that this will subside as time goes by. I will be getting a blood test next month and I will see what my numbers are then. At that point, I will decide whether it is worthwhile to continue on this path. Fingers crossed!"

• Suz...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 20, 2025

For Type 2 Diabetes "Lower doses caused constipation, at the highest dose of 2, I experienced a full day of being sick to my stomach after injection. On these days, I ate saltine crackers and drank Coke Zero. The following days, I felt bloated and experienced burping and gas. However, I continued to lose weight, and my A1c was down to 7.6."