Ozempic and Headaches: What Users Say

• Sti...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 21, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "I did one injection and have been ill since. I have had acid reflux, burping, vomiting, constipation, headache, and dizziness. I tried to eat small meals and drink plenty of water as directed by my physician, but I have been unable to hold anything down. Five days after my first injection, I'm off work, drinking Pedialyte, trying to get my strength back, and avoid being hospitalized. This is the worst that I have ever felt in my life."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 24, 2023

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Horrible experience. I only took 2 dosages because I had difficulty functioning with headaches, eye pain, nausea, dizziness, and overall feeling awful. The additional issue is I've been off the drug for a week and can't get rid of the symptoms. I'm nauseous every day, with headaches, and dizziness. How long until all of this goes away?"

• Val...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 14, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "I’m a nurse. I started this med and unfortunately the nausea, gastritis, dizziness, and headache continuing into week 4 is simply not worth it. I can’t lay in bed and be miserable, which is what this does to me. At first, I actually thought I had a GI Bug. If there is any other choice, do not put yourself through this."

• Dan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 4, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "Two days after the injection, I get a pretty bad headache, indigestion, and a bloated feeling that lasts the day. This week (6th shot) has been different. It’s the second week the dose was raised from .25 mg to .5 mg. I felt like I had to throw up. The indigestion, burping, constipation, sore muscles, aches, and heavy sweating all felt like I had a horrible flu. I stayed home from work. I went back to work today, when I normally get the headache, and had heavy sweating, burping, indigestion, cold clammy skin, bloating, diarrhea, and depression and anxiety (years since I had either one). Tonight I still have bloating, wrists and shoulders sore, and indigestion with burps. My neck is really stiff. The normal headache has started with a little dizziness. I am still debating what to do as this has been an effective medicine. My blood sugar has gone from 290 to 90 to 140 when I check it. I have lost weight as well."

• Lax...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 26, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "Update: since my last report, I have not taken another dose. I’m on day 11 of feeling sick and miserable. I have indigestion from the smallest amounts of food, steady low-grade headache, sweats, fatigue, nausea, but the worst is extreme dizziness every time I stand up. This drug may work for some, but my experience from one small dose was horrible."

• Liz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 16, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "On the fence. Took my first shot of Ozempic .25 last Wed at the doc's office. I was nervous as I couldn't tolerate Metformin's side effects. But she reassured me this was gonna be the answer to my prayers, so I agreed to try it. First day I was fine, then they hit. Woke up feeling dizzy, nauseous, and shaky. My fasting blood sugar was 157. Lower than it's been in quite some time. Ozempic does its job. My BS has been managed quite well. I definitely don't have an appetite. Have to make myself eat and drink. Have very low energy. Tired all the time. Aside from that, it's the other side effects I'm having trouble living with. Waking up in the wee hours of the morning clammy with severe nausea, mild headache, and dizzy. But it's only been 6 days. The constant nausea, dizziness, and headaches are almost unbearable. Not sure if I'm gonna continue. If the effects are like this now, what are they gonna be with the increased dose? There's gotta be a better way!"

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

For Type 2 Diabetes "I've been on Ozempic 0.25 for five weeks, it's great for losing weight, but the side effects are not worth it. Let me review what Ozempic has been like. The first three weeks were okay, and then I started noticing nausea, stomach burning, headache, dizziness, upper back pain, severe constipation, and feeling very tired and depressed. I ended up in the ER with a mild pancreatic attack and high lipase levels. I've had no desire to eat or even drink water. It makes me gag, and I used to drink a lot of water. I'm done with these injections. I will stay on my metformin, but I can do better on a healthy eating lifestyle than on Ozempic and all the negative side effects. Quality of life has gone from a 10 to a 1, and that is not me. I'm taking my life back. It's really just healthy eating, and we can all do that with willpower. Good luck to everyone else."

• Hoo...
• May 17, 2018

For Type 2 Diabetes "Initially began Ozempic 0.25mg for 4 weeks. Side effects were tiredness, constipation. My fasting blood sugar numbers were lower in the morning. When I began the 0.50mg dose at 5 weeks, I had nausea, dizziness, and lethargy the day following the first dose. The second day following that dose, I felt about 70% better. With the second dose of 0.50mg, side effects were less severe, some minor nausea, headaches, and the tiredness continued. I hope that these side effects disappear. I plan to take this medication until I get my 3-month labs, and I expect that my A1c will be down significantly. It was at 5.9 in July of 2017. Due to the stress of caring for a dying relative from September through December, it jumped to 9.3. At my next appointment, my doctor suggested I try Ozempic in combination with Metformin 500mg twice a day. I received a 3-month discount card and have not yet checked with my health insurance provider to see if it will be covered. I am an active 61-year-old female, but type 2 diabetes does run in my mother’s family."

• Kel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 20, 2021

For Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "Was Ozempic for 4 weeks. Giving myself a weekly injection. Week 1 and 2, I was okay. The end of week 2, I was really nauseous. By the 3rd week, I couldn't eat or drink anything. My prescriber assured me I would be okay, so I went on with my 4th week. I spent 3 separate days in A&E, and I was diagnosed with a clot in the lung (PE). Now, maybe this wasn't directly caused by the injection, but due to the severe nausea and dehydration, that is how I got a clot. The nausea still continued for 4 weeks after my last injection. I would never recommend this at all. If my clot hadn't been picked up, goodness knows what may have happened. I also had bad dizziness and severe headaches."

• Wri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 21, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have been taking Ozempic for 10 weeks for both weight loss, which I have struggled with for years, and diabetes. I experienced nausea, constipation, slight dizziness, and headaches, but nothing that I couldn't manage, and only for 1 or 2 weeks of each increased dose. Went from 0.25 to 0.5, and now I'm on week 2 of the highest dose, 1.0, and currently have no side effects. I have also lost 19 lb so far, the doctor advised a 1200-calorie diet, and I couldn't be happier. My blood levels have come down from high 7's to 6.4, and the doctor is considering taking me off my usual diabetic medication, Empagliflozin. Some folks are saying, 'don't take it,' but just because their body didn't take to it doesn't mean you won't! And you could be missing out on what I would say is a game-changing medicine. I would say give it a go. And I wouldn't give up now for anything. My health has significantly improved. (Free to diabetics in the UK)."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 23, 2022

For Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "Started at 0.125. The first two weeks, I experienced dizziness and nausea. My nausea was mainly at night, I would dream about being sick. I was slightly less motivated than normal. I'm normally a healthy eater, but eat big portions. Not sure if it was the nausea, but I find myself eating slightly less healthy but smaller portions (for example, I used to eat big salads, and that sounds gross to me, so I might eat a small portion of pasta/bread, etc. I have lost 6 pounds in almost 4 weeks, but I am on the smaller side. I am not sure if it is related or not, but I have experienced more frequent headaches since beginning, and I have also experienced more side effects from alcohol (normally, I can have a few glasses of wine without a hangover, but I feel slightly hungover if I have more than one drink). I am excited to continue, and I would recommend trying! Just know the nausea does stop!"

• Lee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 22, 2021

For Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "I took my first injection a week ago. I've already lost 10 lbs but feel horrible. Headaches, dizziness, and feel like vomiting. I'm going to keep trying. I'm not a diabetic but was willing to try anything for weight loss. Any advice?"

• WDL...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 26, 2024

For Type 2 Diabetes "Headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, low blood sugar when used with Glipizide."