Rybelsus and Stomach Pain: What Users Say

• 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."

• owl...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 26, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "I've been on Rybelsus for eight months, and I have lost about 34 lbs. I started on the 3 mg dosage, and after two months, moved up to 7 mg, where I have stayed. However, one of the major side effects is slowed gastric emptying, which can lead to extreme stomach pain if you make the mistake of eating too much in a day. After a couple of bad episodes, I had an endoscopy just to be sure nothing else was wrong - but ultimately, my gastroenterologist said that it's just the effect of Rybelsus."

• Cla...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 12, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "I just got my A1C after 3.5 months on Rybelsus (one month at 3 mg and 2.5 at 7 mg), and I’m very excited that it’s dropped from 7.8 to 6.5! I have had some side effects - mainly stomach pain, gas, and occasional constipation - but the results are worth it. I haven’t had any significant weight loss, but my BMI was under 27 to start with, and because we had Thanksgiving recently, I normally would have gained a couple of pounds. If you have just started and are having side effects, try to hang in there. The first month was the worst for me."

• 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!"

• CMa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 11, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "I began taking this drug in late August 2020. It was prescribed to me by an endocrinologist to address significant weight gain over the prior two years (partially thanks to anxiety medication). The weight gain had pushed me into prediabetes, which was scary. After four and a half months, I've lost 20 lbs through reduced appetite (no real exercise). I have also seen my blood sugar levels drop. There have been occasional side effects: constipation, stomach pain, nausea. However, I have consulted my doctor, and her suggestions to manage these issues have generally helped."

• DLy...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 7, 2022

For Type 2 Diabetes "Have been taking the low dosage for 2 weeks now. I have no appetite and have dropped about 7 lbs during that time. The problem is constant GI pain. No nausea, just never-ending constipation and gut pain. I am taking myself off this until I can find an alternative. The weight loss is nice, but the pain just isn’t worth it."

• DLy...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 7, 2022

For Type 2 Diabetes "Have been taking the low dosage for 2 weeks now. I have no appetite and have dropped about 7 lbs during that time. The problem is constant GI pain. No nausea, just never-ending constipation and gut pain. I am taking myself off this until I can find an alternative. The weight loss is nice, but the pain just isn’t worth it."

• Not...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 29, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "Feel like something is in my throat and chest. Also, the pains in my stomach would take my breath. Then I started getting bumps on my neck and one on my arm. I stopped after 1 month. Going back to the doctor, as the side effects were disturbing. I don't know."

• Pau...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 31, 2024

For Type 2 Diabetes "I started with 3 mg for a month. And I had a few days of feeling sick, but it soon passed. But when I moved onto 7 mg, I started having severe diarrhea and then stomach pains. So I stopped taking it, and my Dr put me back into 3 mg. The good news is my diabetes became more tightly controlled, and I lost weight, which was pleasing. I’m going to ask my Dr to try 7 mg again after being on the lower dose for 3 months now and no side effects."

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 7, 2022

For Type 2 Diabetes "I took only 2 pills of 3 mg of Rybelsus. The second night, I had severe stomach pain, like severe sharp pain on the lower right side. So bad I screamed softly. Could not sleep even with a sleeping pill. Today, the third day, I still feel stabbing pains even though I did not take another pill. I will not take this anymore. I hope this pain goes away and it is not serious."

• SuT...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 4, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have been on Rybelsus for 11 days now. The first few days were horrible. I had diarrhea and stomach pains, even threw up twice. I am still having side effects on day 11 but not as bad. I’m taking Zofran for the nausea. I have already lost 8 lbs, which I’m sure is not healthy, but I don’t have an appetite on this medication. Before this medication, I would eat all the time, it seemed like I never was full. My sugar levels are as low as they’ve ever been. I am tired and have lower energy. I'm hoping after another week on it the side effects will subside. I have been struggling with weight loss my whole adult life and can never break through the plateau phase. I think this medication will help if I can withstand the side effects."

• kee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 15, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "I am on 3 mg for a month, constipation and stomach pain, occasional vomiting. The next month, 7 mg and side effect symptoms are worse: belching, rotten-tasting burps, stomach pain, vomiting food still on my stomach 24 hours later. I will try to persevere since some people say it gets better. Not going up to 14 mg next month till I see my A1C levels. My daily numbers are better, but I feel like I'm wrecking my digestion."

• kee...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 15, 2022

For Type 2 Diabetes "On Rybelsus for almost a year. My A1c has improved from an 8.1 to 7.2. However, I have not lost any weight as most people have. I have chronic constipation. My gastro advised a low fiber diet -- yes, low fiber -- and laxatives every other day. My daily numbers are all over the place. When I do finally have a bowel movement, I have stomach pain followed by diarrhea. Next time I go, I'll ask what alternative medicine I could try. I can't take metformin because after many years on it, I started to have stomach problems, and eliminating metformin helped greatly."

• Liz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 6, 2022

For Type 2 Diabetes "Started on Rybelsus almost 2 months ago. At first, it did not bother me except for the diarrhea. I'm on 7 mg a day now, and I feel awful. No energy, severe stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea. Cannot even walk a short distance without starting to throw up. Calling my doctor to see if I need to go back on the 3 mg instead."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 13, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "My daughter is special needs, and her doctor put her on 3 mg, then 30 days later 7 mg. I could tell it hurt her stomach after dinner. But it did help her eat less. After 2 months, her A1C is still high. The doctor put her on 14 mg. She's still eating less and has lost 5 lbs. But her sugar levels are still too high. And she's had diarrhea a couple of days a month. She's on month two of 14 mg. If her sugar stays up after this 2nd month on 14 mg, I'll take her off."

• Ryb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 17, 2024

For Type 2 Diabetes "Very good results. Dr. originally prescribed Synjardy, and it had awful side effects: dizziness, nausea, stomach pain. It was totally debilitating."

• MDG...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 24, 2025

For Type 2 Diabetes "Went from 3 mg to 7 mg to 14 mg. At 14 mg, severe abdominal pain and nausea. Went back to 7 mg. Not as bad as the 14 mg level, but still have some nausea and stomach pain to a lesser degree."