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Semaglutide and Burping: What Users Say

Brand names: Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy

Reviews for Semaglutide

Commonly mentioned side effects
  • Mom...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • December 29, 2021

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Just took my last injection of month 5, 1.7. I have lost about 25-30 lbs along with 3-5 days a week at the gym. Definitely curbs your appetite. The nausea is very real! Each month I thought it would get easier. It never does. A couple times I puked for hours. Lots of belching. In the beginning, a little constipation. The first day or 2 after the injection, you can feel fatigue. It works for weight loss if you can tolerate the nausea. This will be my last month. I have a 6-month prescription but I can’t deal with the nausea anymore."

8 / 10
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  • 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."

3 / 10
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  • Soo...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • July 8, 2021

For Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "I've been on Ozempic for just over a week now as part of a physician-run weight loss program. I was told to expect some GI upset, but I had no idea it would be this bad. Seven days after taking it, I started with diarrhea. One day after injection number 2 (2.5mg), I was up all night with diarrhea, nausea, severe reflux, belching, and eventually vomiting. Medications like Pepto can't seem to touch it. I am going to talk to the doctor next week and see what he thinks. I really don't think it is worth this kind of suffering."

2 / 10
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Frequently asked questions

  • Tou...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 14, 2023

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I am on my 3rd 0.25 dose of Wegovy. I feel terrible most of the time. I have lost 5 lbs and am definitely not hungry due to nausea. My prescriber will not prescribe Zofran with Wegovy because she feels nausea that severe should be considered a negative side effect and the medication stopped. That's reasonable. I read the reviews before I began the med and take Omeprazole daily, as well as Miralax. I am 57, menopausal, and used to feel really good most of the time. Sadly, this med is not worth the side effects for me. I really, really wanted to tough it out, but as a nurse, I feel it's creating problems that I did not have before taking this medication. The nausea is constant, the belching/burping is so frequent that it's embarrassing, stools are like a rock, and the worst feeling is chest tightness. I had so hoped I would be one of those without adverse side effects, but I am not."

3 / 10
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  • Tou...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 14, 2023

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I am on my 3rd 0.25 dose of Wegovy. I feel terrible most of the time. I have lost 5 lbs and am definitely not hungry due to nausea. My prescriber will not prescribe Zofran with Wegovy because she feels nausea that severe should be considered a negative side effect and the medication stopped. That's reasonable. I read the reviews before I began the med and take Omeprazole daily, as well as Miralax. I am 57, menopausal, and used to feel really good most of the time. Sadly, this med is not worth the side effects for me. I really, really wanted to tough it out, but as a nurse, I feel it's creating problems that I did not have before taking this medication. The nausea is constant, the belching/burping is so frequent that it's embarrassing, stools are like a rock, and the worst feeling is chest tightness. I had so hoped I would be one of those without adverse side effects, but I am not."

3 / 10
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  • Dan...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • March 24, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "I’ve been on this med for 7 weeks. I’ve lost 25 lbs and my daily blood sugars range from 60 - 90. I use it along with 500 mg Metformin. The first couple of weeks were hard with nausea and stomach cramps. I also had the headaches that others have mentioned in the first couple of days. In week 3, I increased from 0.25 to 0.50. Then came the diarrhea. It wasn't too bad, I was just happy that I could go. I’m now taking 1.0 and experiencing sulfuric burping. Ugh! After doing some research on home remedies to help with the burping, I’m trying a spoon of apple cider vinegar. If you can make it through the first few weeks and you can be somewhat disciplined, you will notice a huge difference in how you feel. In my opinion, the side effects are manageable when I compare the weight gain while taking Insulin. BTW - I’m not severely obese. Prior to being on this drug, my weight was 205, and I’m 5’9 and 47 years old. I hope this is helpful to someone."

9 / 10
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  • JAO...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • June 14, 2023

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I had been on this drug for 4 months. Typical escalation dose until month 4, I stayed on the 1 mg. The side effects were rough since increasing to 1 mg. So much nausea, worsened reflux, constipation, bloating, burping, and indigestion. I vomited once, but there were a few times I almost did. In the last few weeks, I noticed hair loss. Noticed skin tags that I have never had...like 3 grew since the med. Weird. Oh, and I had serious issues with certain smells. I had to change out the hand soaps in my house 5 times. If I smell rubbing alcohol, I am instantly nauseous. Just looking at the Wegovy box before injecting would make me dizzy and nauseous. So weird. Difficult to eat healthy on this med due to side effects, and only able to tolerate simple carbs, low-fat diet. Also hard to work out when feeling so nauseous...so didn't think it was contributing to my health. Has not really contributed to weight loss, and appetite is almost the same as before med."

1 / 10
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More FAQ

  • Fif...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • August 29, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "On week 4 now, honestly, the first 2 weeks were a nightmare. Doctors don’t tell you to stay away from fatty foods and not to overeat. If they did, I wouldn’t have had the most horrible sulfur burps that made my eyes water, projectile vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain, not to mention constant nausea even during the night. I finally figured out not to eat too much and to avoid fatty foods completely! This was a game changer, and now I’m doing okay. I've lost 21 pounds so far, which is mad, but mostly because in 2 weeks I’ve eaten probably 4000 calories. I’m back to wanting to eat again but have to control myself or face the terrible consequences. Blood sugars are all over the place, as you can imagine, however, insulin sensitivity is way better. It just takes time to get used to. Hope this helps."

6 / 10
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  • Me ...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • January 25, 2022

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Nausea, diarrhea, constipation, sulfur burps, fatigue, loss of appetite, super sensitive to smells, I have to make myself eat enough. It's like morning sickness, only it's 24/7. Zofran helps for about 6 hours. Cannot tolerate much besides chicken broth and Brussels sprouts. No fried, fatty, oily, spicy foods. Need to stay hydrated with water. Ginger ale helps. I'm up to a 1 mg dose and 14th week. This nausea is constant and impacts my daily routine significantly. However, it is the only effective weight loss option that's worked in 26 years of diets and exercise and eating healthy. I will not give up. The weight is killing me, and I needed this medication. I started at 221 lbs. and now I'm at 194.3 lbs. BMI is close to pre-obesity, and I know I'll cry the day I hit it. Full disclosure, I'm disabled in part due to my weight. There is no way I could have worked and taken Wegovy with the severity of my nausea and fatigue. But the mobility and breathing issues are improving."

10 / 10
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  • Bak...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • May 24, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have been on Ozempic for 3 months now, and I find this drug works like none I have tried before. The first 6 weeks were rough: burping, headaches, fatigue, nausea, but I stuck it out. I’m so glad I did. My A1C has gone from 8 to 6.8 in three months. I have lost 20 pounds, going from 180 to 160 lbs. My daily sugars have seen a vast improvement. The major thing I have noticed after being on the drug for this long is that recovery time after eating high-carb or high-sugar foods is back to normal. Appetite is still lacking, but it’s mostly an aversion to ‘bad’ food. I can no longer sit and eat an entire burger, it’s just way too much, but a healthy salad, I can eat the whole thing! I have seen major benefits from this drug. I have way more energy and no more 3 pm crash. Tips while adjusting to the drugs: Tums, Gravol, lots of sleep, light healthy meals, and remember to drink water! Also, I found injecting Ozempic in the hip lessened the symptoms for the first while."

10 / 10
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  • Cal...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • May 12, 2023

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "My experience with Wegovy has been a rollercoaster. In the first week, the 0.25 mg dose was great. In the second week, I started feeling the side effects of nausea, burping, gas, diarrhea, and bloating. I noticed that I did eat more. Make sure your portions are small and stick to fruit and vegetables. Soups and not greasy processed foods. You may feel sick and will take longer to digest. I am currently reconsidering if I should continue. I am not sure if I want to experience the side effects at a higher dose. I feel terrible all the time and have a headache. I feel exhausted all the time."

5 / 10
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  • JDM...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • October 4, 2018

For Type 2 Diabetes "I started on the low dose .25, had nausea, loss of appetite, little loose stool, tired, and just didn't feel good. Lasted for 3-4 days. Next dose, the symptoms increased, especially the loose stool, lasted most of the day for 4 days. The next dose, the doctor had me go to .5, and I say OMG, it was the worst I have ever felt. Couldn't eat, watery diarrhea, burping horribly, tired, and just felt so sick. I told my doctor I can't do this. Symptoms still going after being off for a week and a half. I just hope it stops soon. I do not recommend it to anyone."

1 / 10
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  • Gra...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • January 1, 2022

For Type 2 Diabetes "If you have any form of stomach or bowel disorder or a history of pancreatitis, you may want to steer clear of Ozempic or any of the other similar drugs in its class. They slow gastric emptying, which can really get your system out of order and wreak havoc. If you start having sulfur burps, extreme nausea, horrific vomiting, and diarrhea, you’ll know it isn’t for you. For me, it got so bad, I was having to resort to wearing adult diapers. I initially thought I was having episodes of food poisoning or giardiasis, but it turned out to be medicine-induced gastroparesis and pancreatitis. Ozempic and the drugs like it may work great in some people, but be downright dangerous in others. Use with caution and pay attention to the warning signs. I just hope this will help someone else not have to go through what I did."

1 / 10
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  • mew...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • August 27, 2024

For Type 2 Diabetes "I’m 63 F with T2 diabetes, and I started on Oz mid-May 2024. Symptoms: nausea, fatigue, GERD, sulfur burps, stomach cramping from severe constipation, constipation, feeling like I need to vomit, ringing in my ears has increased significantly, loss of appetite, reduction of inflammation, occasional migraines, feeling “off” most days, bouts of dizziness, and feeling faint, but blood sugar and blood pressure are normal, improved blood sugar readings, weight loss of 13 lbs. There are some perks: rheumatoid and osteoarthritis inflammation has lessened, though I still feel pain daily, it’s more tolerable. I take no painkillers but will take CBD as needed. Loss of appetite has led to a loss of 13 lbs so far, blood sugar improved so I’m confident that my A1C has improved also. I struggle with what to do: stay on for the inflammatory reductions, weight loss, and blood sugar improvement benefits, or quit because I feel sick most days, so I have no real pleasure in life anymore. No, I’m not depressed."

6 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • July 7, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "Loved the weight loss, everything else sucked! Nausea, diarrhea, heartburn, sulfur burps, no appetite. I ended up with a nasty gallbladder that was poisoning my body. I turned septic and ended up hospitalized. The doctors, nurses, and hospital were wonderful, but my ordeal was not over. Ten days later, I had seizures and two small strokes. Had no calcium or magnesium left in my body. The most horrible experience ever! Yes, this medicine may be great. Please be vigilant about getting your blood work done on a monthly basis, especially if you are losing fluids through digestive upset. Like I said, the drug worked as far as weight loss (47 lbs) and A1C (6.6). But I came close to losing my life and am still recovering and working with my doctors to get back to a healthy life."

3 / 10
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33 Report
  • LFI...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • April 26, 2023

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "What I’ve always dreamt of. This is a miracle drug. Lost 6 or 7 kgs in 8 weeks, finally feeling the way I’ve always wanted to feel. Comfortable in my body and not a gluttonous pig. Slight nausea and burping, but so worth it."

10 / 10
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  • Tur...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • July 10, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have been on Ozempic for 2 months, and it has done wonders for me. I had been on insulin for 1.5 months prior to starting it and gained 20 lbs. I started on Ozempic, and my A1C dropped along with my daily numbers. I just stopped all insulin! I read reviews prior to starting on it and work really hard at not overeating and eating low carbs. I get bouts of nausea and burps at times, so I carry sugar-free mints with me. Nothing major. I’ve dropped 10 lbs and am on a 0.5 dose. This drug has been amazing for me. Watch portions, carbs, and greasy foods! So happy to be off insulin!"

9 / 10
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30 Report
  • Hat...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • July 19, 2022

For Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "This is the worst medication I have ever had. Side effects of egg burps, vomiting, bloating so bad. DO NOT TAKE THIS. 30% of people that try this drug end up having problems with it. DO NOT TAKE. You can't eat, everything that goes into you makes you want to throw up. DON'T TAKE! Never-ending nausea and weakness. DON'T USE, SAVE YOURSELF. Headaches....."

1 / 10
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  • Sal...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • July 8, 2018

For Type 2 Diabetes "I started Ozempic exactly one week ago. The nausea hit by the second day but only seemed to happen in the morning. However, 5 days in, the diarrhea hit. It has been absolutely horrendous. The gurgling sounds can be heard from across a huge room. I have woken up to bowel leakage and been running to the bathroom about 10 times a day for the last 3 days. Then there’s belching, which is worse than a typical 'burp.' It’s happening regularly too. I’m really sad and afraid. I really thought this was going to help me bring down my A1c. But I don’t see how I can continue taking it. I’m calling my endo tomorrow. I need something to work, but these side effects are just not livable. Especially because I work in a corporate atmosphere."

4 / 10
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  • Nan...
  • September 17, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "I started a little over 2 months ago. I was excited when the doctor told me that this would help me lose weight. I was 235 at the time, and PCOS makes it hard to lose. Was warned of nausea but figured I'd be okay. Wasn't warned about sour stomach and sulfur belches. I started with the .25 mg dose. I learned what I could eat to steer clear of the sulfur burps. After 4 weeks, I moved to .5 mg and again had the sulfur burps. Had to re-learn eating limits. Last week, I moved up to 1.0 mg and didn't really have any issues until the day I was supposed to take the next dose. The discomfort was bearable. I took my injection and for the last 2 days have been nauseous. Went to bed this evening and am having trouble staying asleep. Anytime I move, the contents of my stomach shift and I feel like I'm going to be sick. 2 days prior to the last dose, I was told that my sugar has gone from the 350s to 88-120, but my weight loss is nowhere near what it should be. I hope it gets better soon."

8 / 10
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  • Rox...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • May 16, 2024

For Type 2 Diabetes "User, I followed the prescribed regimen of 3mg daily for two months, taking the pill with minimal water between 5 and 8 AM. However, I experienced persistent nausea, burping with a peculiar taste, and a sharp decline in appetite, particularly for sweets. I lost around 10-12 lbs and struggled to drink water, feeling as if my throat was constricted at times. This led to dehydration and widespread body cramps. Trying Gatorade alleviated the issue temporarily, but the discomfort persisted. Upgrading to 7mg exacerbated the symptoms, causing extreme fatigue, body aches, and lightheadedness. I stopped three pills short of completing the 30-day dose to restore my well-being. In total, I've shed 19 lbs."

7 / 10
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  • 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."

1 / 10
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  • Dix...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • June 11, 2022

For Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "Two days after my first injection, I had horrible sulfur burps that were making me feel sick. By that evening, I had horrific stomach cramps; by 11:30 pm, I had uncontrollable diarrhea! My prescriber advised me to eat six small meals a day and that the symptoms would improve with each injection. I left it twelve days before my next one (as I had a couple of social things I didn’t want to miss if it happened again) and thought at first it was better. A headache day one, nausea on day two, but sulfur burps again by day three. I got indigestion medicine, but it didn’t even touch it. That night, same again; cramps, diarrhea, more burps, and this time intense nausea too. I decided at that point it might not be for me! I really hope it helps some people lose weight, but don’t expect a quick easy fix! I actually felt fatter the whole time I was on it as I was so bloated and tender."

3 / 10
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  • 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."

3 / 10
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  • nau...
  • December 30, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "I started Ozempic .25 mg subcut 8 days ago. I took my second dose yesterday. My first week, I ended up in the ED. I thought I had a bowel blockage or ileus. The ED visit was preceded by 6 hours of constant, sickening, odiferous belching, constant flatus, eruptive vomiting, cramping, and pain. A CT scan revealed gastric paresis. The event was precipitated by a fatty meal. I have since learned that the decreased gastric motility demands drastic changes in the volume of food intake, fat content, and most importantly, patience with what I consider to be major side effects. Now, I have no appetite. I am nauseated all the time, taking Zofran 4 mg before any meal. The belching is greatly reduced, same with flatus. I feel constipated, but that is easing off. I am avoiding high-fat foods and eating smaller portions. I am profoundly fatigued. Tomorrow, I am getting on the treadmill for 30 minutes each day to stimulate endorphin release to feel better. I have read the symptoms are reduced after 4-6 weeks."

3 / 10
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Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or remove inappropriate content. Reviews appearing to come from parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any medication and should not replace the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals.