Ozempic and Gas: What Users Say

• 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."

• Job...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 2, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have taken Ozempic for a month now, dosage being 0.25 once a week. At first, I didn’t really see any side effects or anything, but then one day I made the mistake and overate, resulting in constant gas, repeated burping, and an hour later, non-stop diarrhea. After that experience, I have learned never to do that again. I now usually eat a big breakfast and a snack later on throughout the day, which has helped me completely cut out soda. I originally started taking this because I was experiencing rapid weight gain. They checked my thyroid and said it was within normal limits, so they put me on Ozempic, and I am so glad. In the morning, I haven’t had a blood sugar reading over 130 in a month. I am looking forward to going back to my doctor to figure out my A1C. In total, I’ve lost 8 pounds in one month :)"

• Bad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 9, 2022

For Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "I am on day 4 after taking this and now bedridden. I have never been so sick in my life: nausea, vomiting, gas, headache, terrible smelly burping, dizzy, blurred vision, the list goes on. I hope this wears off soon, I have to go back to work. I am so disappointed in this product, very scary how it's destroying my body. I can't eat, sleep, barely move, just sipping water. Terrible stuff."

• 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."

• Ale...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 27, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "I'm on week 5 of the medicine, and since week 1, I have had constant daily watery poops. I have found that throughout my workday (I have not missed a single day of work because I'm stubborn), if I'm up and about, it gets the gas out (I usually go hide or go outside to do this), and I feel okay, but as soon as I'm settled at home, the worst always kicks in, and I'm constantly in the bathroom. It wakes me up in the AM hours to rush to the bathroom, and I have sulfur burps all night. It's really killing my day-to-day lifestyle, and I pride myself on being reliable at work and can't afford to feel terrible all the time. I was told the side effects would wear off, but I'm at .05 right now, not even the full dose, and it's relentless. It's like my butt is Captain America screaming, 'I can do this all day' when there's nothing left."

• Mis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 28, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "I noticed a difference in my fasting numbers, etc., but after taking the fifth dose, I felt like I had the stomach flu for 8 days. I was very nauseated, gas, burping, stomach pain, and achy. I didn't move off the couch all weekend. From what everyone says, you have to get through this, but I honestly can't take any more. I think it's time to come off of this. I can't imagine ever increasing it."

• 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."

• mbh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 4, 2018

For Type 2 Diabetes "I started Ozempic 2 months ago, and it did nothing, so the doctor upped it to 1 mg a week. That's when the vomiting started and the sulfur belches started. My doctor took me off of it, and my sugar soared through the roof. I called back 2 weeks later, and she put me back on it. I started this past Saturday, and so far my numbers are still high, and I am nauseous, having bad gas and sulfur burps. I'm not sure this is gonna work. I am also worried because I have a history of diabetic retinopathy."

• 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."

• Jca...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 25, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "Horrible, debilitating fatigue, needing naps that I’ve never needed daily! Painful intestinal pressure and gas that wakens me from sleep, that cannot be burped or passed out. No noticeable difference in my blood sugar levels (my A1C was already 5.6). A little vomiting. If this fatigue does not subside, I believe I will stop using and seek other alternatives. I hate this, I want my life back."

• cra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 24, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "I was okay on the 0.25 mg and 0.5 mg doses of this drug, Ozempic. Then, five weeks ago, I upped to 1 mg as planned. About four weeks ago, my mood changed, and I started to get pain in my joints and bones. Achy all over and no energy. Two weeks ago, the abdominal pains, gas, diarrhea, and those awful sulfur burps arrived. I feel absolutely awful, and the doctor is convinced it is this drug increasing. No appetite either and feeling sick. Was loving the drug in the beginning, but now I feel like I've got permanent flu!"

• MJa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 18, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "I was on Ozempic (0.5) for 11 months. I had all of the worst gastric symptoms the entire time. Constant diarrhea, constipation, sulfur burps, constant rumbling stomach, VERY loud and odoriferous flatulence, and no real control over bowel movements. I was wearing diapers so I could sleep because I was afraid I would not have time to get to the bathroom. My A1c went from 16+ to 6.6 in 3 months, so I stuck with it. However, I had lost 70 lb. before I started it - and gained back 40! I eat right and did exercise (until the gastric situation was too bad). It has taken 6 weeks, and I finally feel normal, but my A1c has shot up to 13 in that time (which means it's probably higher than that). I don't have any other chronic illness besides diabetes - no gastric issues before that."

• Eda...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 6, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "So I have been on Ozempic for 5 weeks. I am tired a lot. Not sure if this is the drug or my poor sleep, but now that I see others are tired a lot, it makes me wonder. I have nasty burps a lot. I started on a dose of 0.25 for 4 weeks. I had a lot of low-level nausea, but not too bad except for one day. Then last Sunday, I took the higher dose of 0.5, and I was okay on Sunday and Monday, but Tuesday the nausea was horrible, and I had explosive diarrhea all day to the point I had to take Imodium, and I got my doctor's office to prescribe an anti-nausea med, Zofran, which helped a little. The next day, less nausea, and today is Thursday of that week, and I still have the burps and more BMs than I would like, as well as a lot of gas. I know I have lost weight just by how my clothes fit. I have very little appetite. Not sure if the pluses outweigh the minuses yet. I am probably going to try one more week and see how I feel. It has had a modest impact on blood sugars. I have been using less insulin."

• PCO...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 15, 2023

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I'm 30 years old, female, and I'm terribly overweight. I have PCOS, type 2 diabetes, and an underactive thyroid. So I have several things working against me that don't allow me to lose weight as easily as others. I started my first injection of Ozempic 0.5 mg last Wednesday. So far, it's not allowed me to eat too much, it also makes me sick when I eat something I'm not supposed to. Like yesterday, I thought I would have a small cone with my mother for Mother's Day, and last night I was up all night with acid reflux, a burping egg smell, and I had gas. My stomach was hurting so bad I wanted to cry. I finally used the bathroom this morning, I hadn't gone in 4 or 5 days. But I'm not going to quit, I have faith it will help me lose the weight I need to. We've been trying to have a child for 2 years with no luck. I'll update again here once I get more knowledge on this, but no, you can't eat like you could before."

• 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."

• Jus...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 24, 2024

For Type 2 Diabetes "Ozempic worked well for me to lower blood sugar and cravings with few side effects. However, the drug removed any enjoyment of life in general for me as well. After 6 months, I had severe depression. I take 2 antidepressants already and am fairly upbeat and happy. Had to stop Ozempic, and it took a few months to regain a positive outlook. Also, food left the stomach so slowly that it would ferment and cause awful sulfur burps and flatulence. 1 ml/weekly."

• JUS...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 25, 2023

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Sulfur burps (like eggs), terrible gas, confusion, diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. Anxiety led to severe panic attacks. I did lose weight, but its side effects are not worth it. It caused me food aversion. Eating and drinking became a chore. My dose was increased each week by 0.25 mg."

• 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!!"

• Ice...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 4, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "OMG ... it’s not me. Dr. started me at .5 of Ozempic, first day after injection pretty much okay, then came nausea, stomach ache, headaches, then just dulled, gassy (didn’t know the burps were part of it but that increased), diarrhea, feeling beyond blah. I went to work and struggled through the day for 4 days like this. The first week wasn’t sure if it was the shot or some food, so I tried the Ozempic again. The second week was a little better, so I decided I’ll try the smaller dose. Today is day 2, but this morn, there’s the nausea, stomach ache, a little bit of headache, but lesser amounts. Despite the thought of weight loss, might be heading back to Januvia (Farxiga got the yeast infection, but it was cheap, $15 for 90 with insurance)."

• Pom...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 2, 2022

For Type 2 Diabetes "I've been on Ozempic for three years. Started with a .25 dose, then a .5 dose, and this week started a 1.0 dose. Throughout taking Ozempic, and before it, I also take Xigduo. I feel sick, nauseated, disgusted by food and smells of food, and more recently, extreme gas at both ends... both smell like rotting garbage or sulfur. Nothing helps with any symptoms. Gas reliever just means more gas and vomit burps. I have diarrhea regularly. My count is down to 6.9, but what is the point of taking something that clearly hinders my enjoyment of life? I'm really NOT bagging on this drug, it does what it is supposed to, but I wish there were a way to stop the side effects. If anyone has ideas, please share!"

• 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.'"

• Jac...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 17, 2025

For Type 2 Diabetes "I’m having good results as far as the type 2 diabetes. I’m losing weight, which is always a good thing. At this time, I’ve lost 20 lbs in 9 weeks. My current dose is .50 once a week. As for the side effects, I’m tolerating the medication well. No horrible symptoms, but the burping and flatulence are terrible. I’ve never dealt with anything like it. But it’s worth the little amount of nuance it causes."