Semaglutide and Constipation: What Users Say (Page 4)

• 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."

• 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."

• Zee...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 7, 2025

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "70 pounds down and maintained for over a year now. Wegovy in conjunction with a high-protein, low-carb food plan does it right. I am convinced that the majority of negative outcomes are due to people just shooting the drug and making no changes to their diet. Stay off the sugar, keep your carb intake to vegetables and limited fruits only. Constipation avoided by adding a magnesium citrate supplement. (I use Calm)."

• KM2...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 11, 2025

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Have lost about 10 lbs over the last 7 months, but I had lost 30 already using a behavioral modification weight loss plan and was stuck. Doctor moved me up in doses very slowly to help me maintain lose in the long run. I am happy with this approach. Insurance covers this for me as I have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and both parents have/had heart disease, and one parent already passed due to a heart attack and the other has already had two. My goal is to lose another 20 or so pounds and keep it off. Hoping to be able to step down the dose for maintenance. Biggest side effect has been constipation, but using OTC laxative at night and that keeps everything moving. Game-changing drug, especially having it covered by insurance."

• Why...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 10, 2022

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I tried the 0.25 dose and experienced constipation. The next month, my doctor prescribed 0.5. Not only did the constipation continue, there was horrible burping, severe indigestion that caused me to take a day off work. After that, I didn't eat much, just drank water, peppermint tea, smoothies. In addition to those side effects, there's also the possibility of life-threatening side effects. While it was easy to administer, I'd rather stay fat than endure the pain of side effects or additional medical issues to increase weight loss."

• Shy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 26, 2022

For Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "I always had some side effects of Ozempic. Mainly exhaustion, nauseous, occasional throwing up after eating, constipation. As month 3 came and the dose increased to 1 mg, I ended up in the emergency room. I was vomiting and had liquid diarrhea for 4 days. My heart rate was elevated, and my potassium was dangerously low. At the time, I thought it was a stomach bug-until the next injection caused the same effects. I've been on anti-nausea medication since. I can see why it takes the appetite away-being exhausted and nauseous 24/7 is terrible. Potassium is still not where it should be. Hoping this gets out of my system fast."

• Ama...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 24, 2022

For Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "I have been battling hypoactive thyroid and autoimmune disease for several years. I gained weight with hypoactive thyroid (apparently it can happen to some people) and even more with all the medication and medication side effects. My doctors decided to put me on Ozempic to aid with the uncontrollable weight gain. I have just started, it is day 6 for me and so far no side effects apart from some constipation, but this can be attributed to eating way less. I am going to be on a low dose for the first 4-6 weeks, so we started with 0.25 mg. Already a couple of hours after the injection, I had lost my appetite, I suddenly view sweets and white bread/pastries/pasta as inedible plastic, I have zero cravings, I can drink just a half a glass of water OR have just a couple of olives OR a small piece of goat cheese and I feel full (as if my stomach has shrunk into a tiny one) and do not want to eat for hours or at all, so I have reminders set that I need to have a bite. It feels amazing."

• 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."

• 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."

• Pat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 4, 2024

"I have been on Metformin for many years and A1C kept climbing. MD prescribed Ozempic. Started 0.025 1x per week for 4 weeks. Really decreased my appetite. Continued 2nd month on 0.50 with no side effects. Now on max dose of 2.0 mg per week for the last 4 months and have lost a total of 25 lbs. Main problem is constipation, but once taking 1 dose of Miralax per day, eat Raisin Bran and fruit, and more veggies and lots of water, it improved. Has cleared that up. Also got the doc to prescribe Zofran for nausea, and all is great! Take the Zofran in the am and you prevent it altogether! I have never read a review where anyone said they took steps to help their side effects, so thought I'd let you know what works for me! I have gone down 2 pants sizes after losing just 25 lbs. A1C is down from 6.4 to 5.7, cholesterol and triglycerides normal. It's a game changer, just get what you need from your doc to prevent the nausea and constipation, and you will be amazed!"

• CRK...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 16, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "My doctor gave me a sample box of 3 mg Rybelsus for T2D. I could only tolerate it for 10 days. The first thing I noticed was my appetite was gone. As days went on, I felt like I was in my first trimester of pregnancy, although I didn’t ever feel like vomiting. Continuous nausea, lack of appetite, lethargy, and horrible constipation were my friends during the time I took the drug and for about a week afterward. I ended up in the ER with terrible IBS with very painful cramps. I thought I had a blockage from no BMs for 12 days. After being off the drug for about a week, one day I woke up and the symptoms were gone (about a week after I stopped taking it). I felt like myself again. During that short time period, the pounds just started melting off me, and I only weighed 138 going into this. I dropped down to 130. I really wanted this drug to work for me. My doctor tried to prescribe Trulicity after this. No way. It’s too similar. My A1C is 8. Not sure where to go from here."

• boo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 15, 2022

For Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "Working with a board-certified obesity physician who suggested I try Ozempic. I am not diabetic but was pre-diabetic in 2015 and was on 1,000 mg Metformin until February of this year. I LOVE Ozempic. I feel like a normal human who doesn't think about food constantly, who can now leave food on my plate (because of Ozempic) and not pick at other people's plates. I've lost 32 pounds in 19 weeks!! I never had any gastrointestinal problems with the exception of being constipated, so I take something for that a couple of times a week. It is much better than the diarrhea I had with Metformin. I started on .025 mg for the first four weeks, then went to .05 mg and plan to stay on that as long as it works. BUT PLEASE BE AWARE, you have to cut down on carbs like breads, pastas, and sweets. I don't have a craving for sweets anymore. My doctor said Ozempic doesn't work as well if you keep eating those kinds of carbs, and I have noticed that when I cheat. I'm 74, something about 'old dog new tricks'"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 11, 2024

For Type 2 Diabetes "2024 I am 75 years old and my doctor prescribed Ozempic for me. My A1C was 7.6 and climbing. I was overweight and could not keep the weight off even with exercise. My first dose was 0.5 mg, which I injected into my stomach. I was very sick after that - nausea and just feeling sick. So, I Googled the medication and found out I could inject it into my thigh, so I did that the next time - no symptoms this time. I have been on it for about 5 months now. My last A1C was 6.3, and I have lost weight. At times, I still have symptoms of nausea and constipation, but they go away. The worst one is low libido, and that's hard to fix. Also, muscle wasting - you must exercise to keep your muscles strong. Loss of energy might be due to eating less. I only eat small meals throughout the day. I hope this review was able to help."

• cat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 23, 2023

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have been taking Rybelsus for about 3 months. I have had nausea and weight loss. My blood glucose level is much better. It's even sometimes low. I now wear a continuous glucose monitor. I have random nausea after taking the medication in the mornings and can experience nausea during the day if I eat too much or greasy food. I think this is what causes some of the weight loss. You just don't want to eat if you have nausea. I do occasionally get a headache and constipation if I don't drink lots of water. The drug makes me not want to eat, but it also makes me not want to drink, so I have to force myself to drink water, or I get dehydrated and constipated. This drug makes me forget to eat or drink. It's strange. The good side effect is weight loss. Bad is nausea. My insurance does cover it."

• 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."

• M J...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 16, 2022

For Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "I started with 0.25 at 170 lbs and was hopeful. 1st and 2nd injection, no problem, I thought, but I had gained 2 pounds, very constipated. 3rd injection, everything changed, less than 12 hours, the worst stomach cramps ever, on the stool every 20 minutes for the next 10 hours, bearing down so hard it was like labor pains. I started passing blood, and my urine became so dark it looked like apple juice. I took the last injection on Friday, that problem did not clear up until late Tuesday afternoon. I did call the doctor, he put me on antibiotics. There is no reversal for this medication. It was not for me."

• Jol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 24, 2024

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started on Wegovy .25 mg mid-August and felt no side effects but no weight loss neither. Difficult stool movement right away. After 6 weeks, I started taking .50 mg after difficulty finding this dose in any pharmacy in Miami. I stayed on this dose for 4 weeks without any weight loss or bad side effects, other than constipation. Then I started taking 1 mg and immediately started feeling very bad: severe nausea and indigestion and bad diarrhea. Obviously, you can’t eat anything, so yes, I finally started losing weight, but felt so bad, I could not function, slept a lot, did not eat, was on the toilet a lot, and decided this was not worth it and stopped after two injections. Perhaps other people can deal with these kinds of side effects or they just react easier. Since I started on low doses for so long, I was disappointed the side effects were still so strong. After about three days (after stopping), I feel normal again but weight comes back quickly if you don’t have an iron will!"

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 15, 2024

For Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "Ozempic has greatly reduced how much I eat. I feel full earlier. I do snack between meals but choose healthier foods like raw nuts or fruit. The only side effects I have experienced are constipation (relieved with Senna Plus) and a bit of indigestion, especially if I eat beyond being satisfied. I have been taking the medication for about 7 weeks and have lost 23 pounds. I'm very happy with how well the medication is working for me. The cost is a concern because my insurance refuses to cover it if it is being used to reduce weight and cardiac risks. But to me it's worth it."

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

For Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "I am using it for weight loss, and so far after three months, I’ve lost 10 pounds and have really lost belly fat. I still suffer from some heartburn occasionally and some constipation, but mild compared to at the beginning. Before this, I tried everything to lose the weight I put on going through menopause, including the keto diet, intermittent fasting, and a vegan diet. I also was doing high-intensity interval training 4-6 times per week. Nothing worked until my specialist put me on Ozempic. My one concern is in regard to my fingernails, which have become quite discolored (a dark yellow) since being on the medication. Has anyone else noted this side effect?"

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

For Type 2 Diabetes "25-year-old female taking Ozempic for PCOS and insulin resistance. I take Ozempic along with a strict paleo diet and workout regime. Started on 0.25 for 3 weeks with severe nausea and flu-like symptoms for the first 1.5 weeks. Felt terrible. Only remaining symptoms are constipation and upset stomach if I make a bad food choice. I have been taking 0.5 since May, Dr. not upping my dose to 1. Started taking Ozempic in April 2019 and was 193 lbs and last week weighed in at 177.4 lbs. Lots of people seem to have very severe symptoms, but I have been lucky and have not had any issues with ongoing problems or anything serious enough to skip work or end up in a hospital."

• 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."

• Pri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 15, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have been on Ozempic for about a month, and the only problem I have is constipation, and I take stuff for it. I love my blood sugar level, it never reaches the 200 and higher range, and I love how I can't eat much anymore because before Ozempic, I would eat, but after each meal, I still would be hungry and eat some more. But since Ozempic, I can't eat a whole lot. My meal portion really went down. I no longer can eat a whole chicken breast, half of one with a small serving of cooked vegetables, and if we have a T-bone steak, half or even smaller size, I cut off and eat the rest the following day as two meals. I've lost already 15 lbs, and I feel wonderful, and I have energy again too. Can't wait to see what my A1C is next month."

• ric...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 28, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "I've been on Rybelsus for a little over a month for PCOS and have had an overall positive experience - just started the 7 mg dose. My doctor recommended it since I am at risk for type 2 diabetes (>30 BMI, borderline high fasting glucose with a normal A1C, and signs of insulin resistance from PCOS). I get some pretty extreme nausea whenever I eat junk food (fatty and/or sugary), but otherwise feel good. I'm hoping that the nausea I do get helps instill better long-term eating habits. I've also experienced appetite suppression, which has helped me prioritize proteins and vegetables. I did get alternating bouts of constipation and diarrhea when starting this medicine and am expecting that I'll experience the same with the dose increase. I have felt far more energy, and my cravings for junk food have drastically reduced. So far, I've lost slightly more than 10 lbs and am shooting for another 50 to help get my PCOS under control."

• Kas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 29, 2021

For Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "I have been on Ozempic for 3 months now, the first day I vomited but haven’t since, nausea for the first month or so, and I got very constipated, but now all is good and I suffer no side effects anymore. So far, I have lost 22 kg, I have no sugar cravings, and my appetite is right down, making sure I eat healthy meals is the only challenge as I do not feel like eating. But I could not recommend this enough to anyone who really struggles with food and weight loss."