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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 27, 2023

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I just completed my first 2 weeks. I want to lose 35-40 pounds. In the past year, I have gained a pound a month and have been steadily gaining weight every year for the past 7 years. I have previously tried Weight Watchers, increased activity, and calorie watching, and the only time I lost any weight was on less than 1300 calories a day. The first week, I lost 3.5 pounds, more weight than I had lost in the past 5 years even with calorie restriction. I inject in alternating thighs on Friday nights, just in case I have symptoms I can recover without work demands. I have always been gassy, so I cannot comment if there is a difference in the amount. I am noticing increased chest tenderness and muscle spasms. Restless legs are a thing! Taking magnesium once or twice a week also helps with moderate constipation. Reduced appetite, reduced sugar craving, but no impact on munchies. Makes it easier to choose healthier choices. Overall, happy with almost a 5-pound weight loss in 2 weeks. Minimal side effects and well worth it."

• Dim...
• April 7, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "Been using Ozempic for 7 weeks, lost 12 pounds. I also take Xigduo and Lantus at night. Gas, nausea, headache, and a few low A1c. But my number is down from 8.1 to 5.4. For the gas, I find that Gas-X helps. And for the nausea, I sip on cold water and keep my meals small. I haven't thrown up yet and no constipation or 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."

• D J...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 29, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "I am on week 6. First 4 doses at .25, and now the second week of .5. I've had the constipation but have learned to just take a laxative once a day with my metformin. This drug brought my sugar down from the 600s to the 90s in 5 weeks. I had an A1C of 17.1, I'm now down to a 9 and can't wait for my next reading. Yes, the cramping and gas have been bad at times, but I'm hoping it mellows out. But for me, it has saved my life more than likely."

• 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."

• ACD...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 27, 2023

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have experienced severe gas, belching, flatulence, moderate nausea all night, not heartburn but feels like seasickness, and moderate constipation. Have had about a 7-pound weight loss in a month. Simple to use with no problems injecting or at the injection site."

• ACD...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 27, 2023

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have experienced severe gas, belching, flatulence, moderate nausea all night, not heartburn but feels like seasickness, and moderate constipation. Have had about a 7-pound weight loss in a month. Simple to use with no problems injecting or at the injection site."

• Ano...
• May 23, 2025

For Chronic Kidney Disease "Took .25 for 4 weeks, now on week 3 of .5. Hardly eating, feel full all the time. A lot of burning, hiccups during the night, general tired feeling, losing some weight, some constipation. Supposedly will get balance at 12 weeks. Will see. So far, not comfortable. Pharmacist recommended Prilosec for gas, hiccups, etc."

• Edd...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 3, 2023

For Type 2 Diabetes "Around November 1, 2022, my doctor told me I had to face the fact I was a Type 2 diabetic. Although my A1C was 5.9, my fasting glucose was 147, and my triglycerides were close to 600. I am 6' 1" tall, and my weight was 278 pounds, which made me obese. It is now June 1, 2023. I am 68 years old. After 6 months, without even dieting, my weight is 231 pounds, my fasting glucose was 92 and 100 (measured on two occasions), my triglycerides were down below 200, and my A1C was 4.6. The side effects from Ozempic are as others say-- gas (which is countered by taking Gas-X chewable pills), constipation, and sometimes diarrhea. It is manageable. I was raised to 2 mg of Ozempic within 3 months, which is what I am on now. One thing I have learned is that you cannot overeat. If you do, you will regret it. You must eat manageable portions spread out throughout the day. I plan to increase my exercise routines, but Ozempic is working without it."

• Mik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 22, 2022

For Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "Off-label for weight loss. Overall, very happy, in 10 weeks, have lost 13 lbs. with minimal side effects. Now on the 1 mg dose for 2 weeks, and no increase in side effects. The first couple of weeks, there were some intestinal issues, gas, cramps, and constipation, but they have cleared up, and overall, I feel much better than before. The 5% weight loss has increased my energy. Weight loss has been gradual and fairly steady, just what you want."

• Kar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 19, 2025

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have been using for 10 months proximately (0.5 mg). It has steadied glucose with less insulin (Lantus), and I have lost about 25 lb (started at 302 lb). I would like a higher dosage to help with the weight issue, as it's been very helpful with appetite reduction. The doctor has not raised it for fear of hypoglycemia issues. I've had no real side effects beyond occasional nausea and constipation. Slower movement through the gastrointestinal system gives me a rather hard-packed stool. I have consistently had flatulence since week one."

• PDW...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 11, 2023

For Type 2 Diabetes "Nauseous, can be reduced by eating smaller portions. Gas and belching, I use Gas-X and it helps. For constipation, MiraLAX helps. Weight loss, about 10%. At 1 mg on my to 2 mg. Still taking tablets and insulin for the best glucose control. Lowered my A1C by one (1) full point so far!"

• 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."

• Bar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 3, 2024

For Type 2 Diabetes "I had already lost 60 lb before taking Ozempic. I've been on Ozempic for about 5 months and have lost another 10 lbs (now at 220#). I have found that eating oatmeal and taking an OTC anti-diarrheal, I handle these problems very well. The good news is my A1c is now 6.3. My morning finger sticks run between 95 and 107. Once a week very easy to use. I don't even feel the injections. The bad news: recurring diarrhea, constipation, and stomach gas and belching."

• Nat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 29, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "Been on Ozempic over 3 months. I had gas that stunk so bad it was like I was dying from the inside out. Had constipation, then diarrhea, then it went into severe back and leg pain. Leg cramps from dehydration. I think it has a reaction with metformin. Eyes got blurry. And I wanted to sleep a lot. I feel like it is so bad for my body. I stopped, now I have to feel like this for 5 weeks till it goes away."

• 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."

• 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."