Rybelsus and Diarrhea: What Users Say

• Ann...
• December 28, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "I started taking Rybelsus at the beginning of August for weight loss. The biggest con for me is that it causes constipation and then usually diarrhea when I finally do go to the restroom. I have only had issues with nausea when I try to eat past the point of being comfortable. It is also important to try to eat something within an hour of taking the medication. When I first started on the medicine, I could only eat a few bites of food and then would feel extremely full and bloated and would have to stop. Now, it is 4 full months later, and I am on the 14mg, and I can continue to eat beyond a few bites without feeling miserable, but I try to stop as soon as I am full. I have, so far, lost 30 lbs with no exercise and have gone from a size 12/14 to a size 6/8. Diabetes does run in my family, so I am hoping continued use of this drug may help prevent the development of diabetes in the future."

• The...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 6, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "It’s been a week on Rybelsus 3mg. I feel pretty good (except for seasonal allergies). No nausea, no vomiting, no diarrhea, smaller appetite. I am prediabetic with BMI >30. I would like to lose 30 to 40 pounds. I think Rybelsus will help me. (Prior to taking Rybelsus, I was fasting (16-hour/8-hour) and exercising EVERY day and STILL gaining weight.) I think Rybelsus will help. I weigh daily, and I am beginning to see the numbers ever so slightly trend down. I am optimistic. I will start 7mg after 30 days. I hope to come back here and share my journey with you."

• Dor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 21, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "I started taking Rybelsus 3mg. I was nauseous at first and constipated. I was also belching a lot. After 2 weeks, that seemed to stop. I've been on the 7mg for 17 days and the nausea, indigestion, stomach pain, and now diarrhea have been almost unbearable and are getting worse. I've also started feeling panicky and anxious in the middle of the night with rapid heartbeat. I'm stopping the 7mg tomorrow and calling my doctor. I can't feel like this at Christmas. Going to see if she will put me back on 3mg. My A1C was 9.0. I have no idea what it is now. I've also lost 18 lbs because I can barely eat anything. This isn't worth it."

• CAD...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 13, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "I’m prediabetic, HbA1c 5.7. And I’ve been struggling to lose weight for 20 years. I have an excellent diet, but I eat too much. I’m hungry all the time. I started Rybelsus (paying out of pocket - Ouch) to see if it’s worth hassling my insurance company. On 3 mg, I felt nothing - no nausea, but experienced loose stools. When I went to 7 mg, I felt nausea for 1 hour after taking the pill and decreased appetite the rest of the day. I am easily staying on my 1400-1500 calorie diet, which has never been easy for me in the past. At 1 month of 7 mg, I’ve lost 8 pounds (255 to 247) and feel very encouraged. The science behind this medicine is inspiring."

• siv...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 10, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "My doctor put me on Rybelsus as I had high blood sugar. I had too much difficulty taking the 3 mg with nausea, diarrhea, and headache. I planned to quit, but I read the reviews here. I somehow managed my symptoms and tried harder. My doctor then increased the dosage to 7 mg. Rybelsus was able to bring my blood sugar levels from 10.6 to 5.6, almost normal levels in a period of 3 months. If anyone is planning to quit, please persevere, and the results are amazing. It practically stops your cravings for food and helps you stabilize. Another miracle was that I was finally able to quit coffee in the morning as I get migraines without it. Compared to the nausea, diarrhea, and the churning of the stomach, migraine wasn't a big deal, and I finally went without taking coffee. This is really a miracle drug for diabetes. Thank you."

• Won...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 9, 2022

For Type 2 Diabetes "Was placed on this medication to help with PCOS-caused insulin resistance and obesity. The first two months were a bit uncomfortable - I was nauseated a lot and had bouts of constipation and diarrhea. Fortunately, immediately starting it, my sugar cravings disappeared. I think I had a rough couple of months because of my old eating habits since this medicine slows how fast your stomach empties. As I developed better eating habits, this has gone away completely. I’ve been on this for almost a year now and have lost almost 60 lbs. I’m about 5 lbs away from being a normal weight and I’m barely making any effort at this point; the weight is just coming off. I feel the healthiest I’ve felt in over a decade and have been seeing my PCOS symptoms reduce as the weight comes off. This medicine was a miracle for me. I’ve struggled for a decade trying to get my weight under control. Once the insulin resistance was resolved, it literally fell off."

• Psy...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 28, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "Started on Rybelsus 20 days ago after I went in to see my doctor and my A1C was 11. This is while I was also taking pioglitazone and 2000 mg of metformin. After being on it for only 20 days, it has brought my blood sugar average down from 269 to 131. My 14-day glucose is 114, and my 7-day average is down to 109. I am hopeful that my next A1C reading will be 5.6. I did notice a little looser stool when I started it, but nothing worse than when I started Metformin. So far, so good. My only complaint is how expensive it is! I may not be able to continue it because of the cost."

• Ash...
• May 12, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "My endocrinologist prescribed this to help with PCOS. I weighed 211 lb and started on 3 mg and lost 6 lbs while walking for 2 miles a day most days for a month. I was bumped up to 7 mg, but insurance wouldn't cover it, and I ended up gaining the weight back after trying Victoza and Byetta. My insurance changed, and my endocrinologist started me back on it at 7 mg since I already had Byetta in my system. During this time, I found out I have Ehlers-Danlos and was recommended to start weight lifting to help strengthen my muscles and lost 13 lbs in a little over a month, which I'm sure exercise has helped contribute. My menstrual cycle has been regular and on time for the first time in 4 years. I haven't had any major side effects other than a little nausea when I first take it in the morning and diarrhea, but I had that issue beforehand. I know a lot of people have said the side effects are terrible, but it hasn't been for me, and you should certainly give it a try. It's honestly been wonderful."

• Ali...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 16, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have been exercising, dieting, counting every calorie, weighing food, and meal prepping. No weight loss and fasting blood sugar is still over 160 after 24 hours of fasting. I tried metformin, I got diarrhea, but no weight loss and no decrease in appetite. I need to lose 30 lbs and have lost 8 by skipping breakfast, having lunch, and skipping dinner some days. If I eat before 5 pm, I don't get reflux and I sleep better. I am having night sweats, but I'm 56, so I'm menopausal. I'm not taking hormones. I increased the dose to 7 mg and had diarrhea for 3 days, I'm now up to 14 mg on an empty stomach. No more diarrhea, and I have energy. I am 142 now and trying to eat healthy, but mostly eating no more than the size of my fist and staying as active as I can. I'm feeling cravings go away."

• Bir...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 12, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "Bad news: I started taking the 3 mg Rybelsus for 30 days, did well. Have been taking the 7 mg for the past 3 weeks, and I have had diarrhea, stomach bloating, nausea, and can barely eat anything or drink. Even the smell of food makes me sick. I am extremely exhausted and hate feeling like this. Calling doctor tomorrow. Good news: dropped A1C from 8.4 to 7.3 in 6 weeks and lost 10 pounds, and also cut back on my 24 hr insulin and fast acting due to not eating. — Is it really worth it though???"

• Rit...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 17, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "For the first three weeks on this drug, I had oscillating constipation and diarrhea. I felt very nauseous and did not want to eat much. After upping the dosage, the digestive problems have decreased, but I still feel nauseous and don't have much of an appetite. I have been on it since November and have lost 16 lbs. with Metformin, diet, and exercise."

• Cha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 16, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "I am on the 23rd day of the 3 mg dosage. Looks like most of the reviews have the same common denominator: nausea, bloating, diarrhea, and I’m about to add myself to the list with those same side effects. I’ve lost a few pounds, and my glucose numbers are dropping. I don’t like being too nauseous to want to eat, but underneath, I feel very hungry. I’m hoping this will resolve itself, and maybe it’s just an adjustment. Otherwise, I might have to rethink this."

• TN ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 5, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "I've been taking Rybelsus, along with metformin and Farxiga, for over 3 months. I had some minor diarrhea/constipation with the 3 mg that worked itself out quickly, but I lost over 5 lbs and A1C went down over 1 pt (8.3 to 7.2). Just started the 7 mg dose 5 days ago. So far, the diarrhea is a lot worse, and I'm having a lot of dizziness/nausea/fatigue/headaches, but I'm hoping it'll stop soon. I seem to start feeling worse about 5-6 hrs after taking the pill, so I'm sick in bed for hours in the afternoon and evening lately. Not good, as I'm a disabled housewife with two special needs adult children who depend on me. Not sure how someone who works a 9 to 5 job would be able to handle this transition period. If it doesn't sort itself out within a couple of weeks, I'll call my doctor. One tip: keep some saltine crackers and eat a few every hour or so. I know, against diabetic diet, but that and plenty of water help the nausea."

• MDG...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 8, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "First, I started on Rybelsus, the 3mg dose, my blood sugar went up over 200. I stopped on the third day, went back to my old meds, and my levels returned to normal. No nausea, no diarrhea, no side effects of any kind. (I did follow the directions to take it first thing on an empty stomach and not eat for thirty minutes.) Dr. switched me to the 7mg dose, so far my blood sugar is running higher than my old meds. I am on day four, so I want to give it plenty of time. I do notice a lack of appetite. At this point, I am not impressed, but I am willing to give it more time before throwing in the towel."

• Sar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 17, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "My A1C was slowly creeping up, and at 6.9, the Dr. wanted to start Rybelsus (3 mg). I took it exactly as directed. The side effects were immediate: constipation followed by diarrhea and extreme nausea. As I continued on the medication, nausea was constant and actually turned into stomach pain. If I ate anything, my stomach hurt worse, and I started to have an aversion to food. Any activity or exercise that involved using my core muscles was very painful. Still, I persevered knowing that it can take a few weeks to adjust to a medication. But in week 3, after side effects continued to worsen and I vomited for several days in a row, I stopped the medication. I have been off for 3 weeks now, and my stomach has not returned to normal as I have constant discomfort and it hurts after eating. I lost 10 lbs in 3 weeks, but it came at a high cost. The physical side effects were extreme, and I hope I have not permanently harmed my body. I can still only eat a few bites at any one time. Beware!"

• 47...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 8, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "On this medication, Rybelsus, only one day. I took the 3 mg at 7 a.m., and all started out good. It controlled my appetite, and I felt fine. Then, around 3 p.m., I started feeling chest pains, not severe, just steady pinches for about 12 hours until 3 a.m. I got extreme anxiety (which I never get) and was unable to sleep until around 8 a.m. the next day. Still, I did not feel hungry the whole next day, and then the diarrhea came and lasted around 6 hours. The only meds I take regularly are heartburn and a low-dose blood pressure med. I was absolutely miserable on this medication, and I seriously considered checking into the hospital."

• Joe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 3, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "1st, I did not take Rybelsus to lose weight, only trying to get A1C down. For 10 days on this, I did not vomit, but the feeling is there, sometimes I have to gag myself to get that feeling to go away. Felt tired all the time, trouble sleeping, and my stomach always feels full. I don't have much of an appetite either, and oh boy, diarrhea the first 3 days almost seems like you can't leave the house and almost like uncontrollable, need to stay near the throne. 4-5 days later, the diarrhea seems to be better, but the nausea and vomiting feelings keep me away from this med. Also, if anyone likes to try this med, I suggest getting some ginger chew candy, it does help the nausea feelings. One more thing: if you are a guy, beware of this, your libido will go down :-("

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

For Type 2 Diabetes "My A1C inched up to 6.1 from 5.9. I've been on 2,000 mg metformin/day. Started on Rybelsus 3 mg. Days 1-4 were OK. Day 5 I started vomiting profusely and could not hold down any food or liquid. Did not take another one. Today is day 4 that I'm off the pills, and I still vomited this morning. And this set my diarrhea issues with metformin backward. Very upset as I don't think I needed this. I've never had these types of issues, terrible."

• don...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 15, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "I started this drug 2 weeks ago. First week okay, then the trouble began! Horrible abdominal pains, diarrhea, chills, hands became very cold, felt like I had a fever, nausea, just felt horrible. In my case, the cure was worse than the disease! Called my doctor, quite obviously, I am off this medication. May you have better luck than me!"

• AJa...
• July 4, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have been taking 3 mg Rybelsus since June 4th. I am not experiencing nausea nor diarrhea, however, I am experiencing constipation and loss of appetite. Since I have been taking this medication, I notice I get tired very quickly. Overall, I notice that it has helped my diabetes tremendously, and I have lost 8 lbs with very little exercise. I also take metformin 750 ER. Before starting Rybelsus, my A1C was 8.1, I do expect it to be much lower on my next visit in September."

• NP2...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 24, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "28 days in! Started on 7 mg and will continue with 7 mg. I am also on Metformin 500 mg daily and have been for years. To be fair, my A1c was never above 6.3, and my weight was 179 lbs and height is 5-6. I have a strong family history of insulin-dependent diabetics, and I don’t want to go there! I’ve been losing weight like crazy with no exercise, which is why I came to read some of these reviews to see if this is common. Current weight is 164. Lost 15 lbs in 28 days! Mild nausea and dry mouth after taking the med in the morning. Pill is also bitter and not overly large, but a little hard to swallow. Nausea disappears with ginger ale or fruit. Appetite is gone! I have to force myself to eat at times. I suggest a vitamin supplement. Mild stomach ache and loose stool later in the day, but have solid soft stool in the morning. Want to continue to reach the weight goal of 155 lbs and A1c below 5.8. Then maybe go to a reduced dose if necessary. I definitely recommend this drug."

• Mic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 5, 2022

For Type 2 Diabetes "My first 30 days at 3 mg weren't bad. I enjoyed not feeling hungry and only experienced mild diarrhea after eating occasionally, though it wasn't triggered by specific foods, so I always needed a bathroom plan. In my last week of Month 1 on the 7 mg, I had watery diarrhea with nausea for 24-hour periods, 3 times in 10 days. I vomited one of those days. I haven't had my bloodwork checked, and I know I lost weight, but I also lost more than 3 days of my life sitting on a toilet. I ate nothing that would have triggered these episodes. Rybelsus has done one good thing - inspired my butt to get serious about my health without drugs."

• Mic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 5, 2022

For Type 2 Diabetes "My first 30 days at 3 mg weren't bad. I enjoyed not feeling hungry and only experienced mild diarrhea after eating occasionally, though it wasn't triggered by specific foods, so I always needed a bathroom plan. In my last week of Month 1 on the 7 mg, I had watery diarrhea with nausea for 24-hour periods, 3 times in 10 days. I vomited one of those days. I haven't had my bloodwork checked, and I know I lost weight, but I also lost more than 3 days of my life sitting on a toilet. I ate nothing that would have triggered these episodes. Rybelsus has done one good thing - inspired my butt to get serious about my health without drugs."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 28, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "I was on Metformin and had an A1c of 8. The doctor told me to get off Metformin and gave me a sample of 3 mg Rybelsus and prescribed the 7 mg dose after 1 month. My morning blood sugars with Metformin were 111 to 88. With Rybelsus, my blood sugar in the morning has been 148 to 208! I had diarrhea with Metformin, but that went away with Rybelsus, however, my stomach has become bloated, lots of burping, slightly nauseous, no appetite, a tightness in my chest, and now that I am using the 7 mg dose, I have become exceedingly tired with zero appetite. Today my blood sugar was 177. This is unacceptable. It was way lower with Metformin. I am quitting this. I can't be this tired and feeling so ill. I used to have energy with Metformin, but Rybelsus has completely drained it. I feel the doctor had just been visited by the Big Pharma salesman and gave her the sales pitch, and she started prescribing it. Is she getting a kickback? This Rybelsus is not good and causes cancer."

• Ann...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 7, 2023

"I started this medication on Dec 20th, 2022, 3 mg when my doctor told me I was diabetic. I weighed 206 lbs. A1C 6.5. The first month on this, I was nauseous and felt sick. At 30 days, I told him what I felt. He said, 'I am putting you on 7 mg now. Your body will get used to it.' Here I am now, 3 months later, and I am so sick. I get nauseous still, have constipation, diarrhea, and loss of appetite, and the smell of food at times is so nasty. I am constantly feeling sick, dizziness, and I feel lightheaded, always exhausted, no energy, which scares me. My A1C is lower now, 6.1. I have pretty much stopped having sweets, carbs, or anything bad. Weight loss is out of control. My current weight is 157 lbs today when I went to the doctor. I have lost 49 lbs in 4 months. I told him I can’t take this anymore. He changed me to metformin 500 mg, let’s see how this one works. This medication hurt me more than it helped me."