Semaglutide and Constipation: What Users Say

• Zel...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 29, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "I started Ozempic 9 months ago. At the time, I was a little over 200 lbs and was taking 1000 mg of metformin daily. Metformin had worked for me for almost 20 years, so I didn't expect that it had suddenly stopped working. For 3 years, I gained weight even though I worked out, and I thought it was just my appetite out of control. One random day, I realized my metformin was the problem. I saw a new doctor who prescribed Ozempic. What a miracle! 9 months later, and I’m down 40 lbs, my A1C dropped from 8.1 to 5.6, and I have virtually no symptoms from the drug other than fullness. The symptoms in the beginning did not last long either. Nausea, headache, fatigue...all cleared up within a week or 2 each time my dose was increased. It can cause what feels like constipation, but for me, it’s just that I simply haven’t eaten enough. This drug feels too good to be true. I’m so pleased with my experience so far!"

• Bac...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 9, 2023

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started Wegovy 6 weeks ago at 0.25 mg for 4 weeks, and for the last 2 weeks at 1 mg. I started at 211 lbs and am now 197 lbs, so have lost 14 lbs and counting in 6 weeks. Not bad! Symptoms I've experienced include being slightly more tired than usual on the day of the injection, and some constipation at first but I use Miralax if there's an issue and it works fine for me. I haven't had any extreme nausea, but the injection definitely makes me less hungry and there are certain foods that I feel slightly queasy even considering eating-like high-fat foods-so I don't eat them. I eat a lot more fruits and vegetables and get full very quickly. I work out 4-5 days a week, my energy has been good and I feel like I'm getting back to my old self. I'd like to be about 135 lbs eventually. Wegovy has been a lifesaver. I'm 55 years old and had considerable cravings, especially at night. I'm happy to be free of them. I hope to make my new habits permanent."

• Kit...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 20, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "I'm a 54-year-old female whose A1C was 8.3 at the end of March. So, after 4 months on Ozempic, my A1C is now 6.3, and I've lost 34 lbs. Definitely curbs my appetite, and I have been logging my food. My side effects have been minimal - a little nausea in the beginning and constipation. This med has been a game-changer for me. My hope is that many others will have the same results I have."

• 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."

• Con...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 1, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "I started Ozempic in late December at 0.25 injection. I also take 500mg metformin per day. Soon after I started Ozempic, I had decreased appetite and my sugars improved, but I had reflux, gas, bloating, nausea, and diarrhea. After 4 weeks, I started 0.50. 2 weeks in, I have bouts of painful constipation then diarrhea, nausea, bloating, gas, reflux, and cramping. I've almost vomited a few times. When I eat, it feels like the food just sits and sits, barely moving through my gut. My doctor wants me to stick with it, saying that these side effects usually improve, but it's been pretty miserable. I'm thinking I'm going to stop taking it. While Ozempic has been effective in regulating my sugars and losing weight, I don't think it's worth the suffering that I've been enduring on this medication. I understand that studies showed it causing thyroid cancer in mice, but no one knows if it causes thyroid cancer in humans. I don't want to be the guinea pig the drug makers use to find out it does."

• 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."

• Mar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 1, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "I started taking Ozempic in June 2020, initially lost 20 pounds by August. Total of 30 pounds so far, last 10 have been a lot slower. I went from 186 pounds to 156 pounds. A1c went from 6.5 to 5.6. Minimal side effects include occasional nausea and constipation. Started using Miralax, which has helped. Side effects I have experienced are worth the benefits. I consistently wake up with glucose levels in 80-90 range, never out of the green zone on a glucometer. I cannot overeat. If I do, I feel ill or get heartburn, so I have learned my lesson. I am really happy with this medication."

• Ski...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 31, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "My husband began taking Ozempic for his Type 2 diabetes several months ago and experienced minimal unpleasant side effects. His food consumption is down approximately 2/3 (no more 'first breakfast and second breakfast' and 'first dinner and second dinner') and he has been able to reduce his diabetes medications. He has been steadily losing excess weight. A bonus is the chronic loose stools he used to suffer have been eliminated. I started taking Ozempic for my Type 2 diabetes 6 weeks ago. My food consumption is down significantly and I've been able to discontinue all other diabetes medications. I've had some slight nausea and a mild bit of constipation, both of which have been easily alleviated through dietary changes (much smaller meals, more fiber and more spicy food). We absolutely love this medication."

• fin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 17, 2022

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Took it for 8 weeks, made it through the 2nd titrated dose and couldn't handle it anymore. Nausea, gas, bloat, constipation, diarrhea, and it was worse at night while lying down. Never improved, but actually got worse by week 8. Not sure how anyone makes it to the full dose. Also did not drop a single pound. There were days I only consumed 600 calories and still felt awful. I read another review very similar and agree that you absolutely cannot eat anything spicy. Bland food days were better but there are not enough antacids and constipation meds in the world to make me want to lose 20 pounds this badly. Took my last dose 10 days ago and am still dealing with residual GI upset. Hope physicians are more forthcoming about the side effects and do not tell patients they happen but subside in a couple of days - they do not."

• Slw...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 11, 2022

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I'm on my 13th week at 1mg now. I love it. Yes, I was nauseated at first, but the quick weight loss results made me want to continue. At this dosage, I am not really hungry for food, and if I do feel hungry, it doesn't take much food for me to feel satisfied. I have really cut my portions and also use high fiber, high protein foods. Constipation is real, people, laxatives help. I make good food choices now and am down 25 lbs. I want to keep going, but the coupon has run out, and now my out-of-pocket cost with insurance is around $900. I am so disappointed to have to stop and worried about gaining back or not losing anymore. Novo really needs to make this affordable. The price is ridiculous, and millions of people are dying from comorbidities to obesity every day. I have high-end insurance, and still cannot afford the copays."

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

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have been taking Wegovy since August 2021. I am down 45 pounds. I did low carb with this which has really helped me to lose the weight I have wanted to lose. The side effects are very real, extreme constipation and nausea for two days after injection. The doctor prescribed Zofran for the nausea and I have taken a stool softener for the constipation. All things said, it really helped curb my appetite. But you have to diet with it."

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

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "57-year-old on this for 3 1/2 weeks. I'd like to tell you how much I lost (was 4 pounds at 3 weeks), but I am so constipated for 4 days I cannot be sure what my real weight is (it could be 6 pounds now). Get a telemedicine provider to send you a vial of semaglutide (not the pre-loaded syringes) and use an insulin syringe to administer 1/2 the dose on one day with an ODT Zofran, then take the second half of the dose 24 hours later with another ODT Zofran. I administer in my outer thigh, like you would give insulin. The provider will tell you exactly how many 'units' to administer per week, just cut it in half, say Saturday and Sunday. Take a stool softener on Sunday, which I forgot to do this week! I have had zero gastrointestinal issues, no nausea, no vomiting. The Zofran may be causing some of the constipation, and I don't consider this a real issue, just a minor side effect with an easy fix. I am a Nurse Practitioner, so I have been watching everything for real side effects. I'll update."

• 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."

• Jan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 15, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "My doctor gave me Ozempic 0.5 to start with. I always had upset stomach, diarrhea with most foods, and an overall sick feeling all the time. I was able to 'live' with it until now. She decided to up my dose to the 1.0 and my body went into total chaos. I am always nauseous, constipated, got reflux, feels like my food is stuck in my stomach and doesn't go anywhere. I'm constantly burping and feeling bloated. The sick feeling feels intensified and I cannot function at work. I took my last one this past Friday night and was miserable all weekend long. Today I am at work unable to function at my best because the nausea is bad. I would say it is effective in lowering your blood sugar numbers and helping you lose weight but not worth feeling horribly sick over. I will not be using this medication any longer."

• 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."

• KCF...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 25, 2025

For Chronic Kidney Disease "I have been on Ozempic for the past 1 1/2 months. Gradually increased from 0.25 mg for 4 weeks, then 0.5 mg since then. After reading other reviews, the best tip I found was injecting into my thigh instead of the abdomen. Mild nausea, backache, and constipation the first 2 weeks, and nothing now but the feeling of fullness soon after eating, about 75% as much as usual. I have less interest in sugary or fried foods and have lost 12 pounds, about 2 pounds a week. At 74, my Type 2 diabetes is diet-controlled with good A1C's, so my primary use is for weight loss and preserving kidney functioning. The tiny 27 gauge needle is painless, just wish I had discovered Ozempic sooner!"

• Mel...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 25, 2021

For Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "I have been on Ozempic for weight loss for 10 months and I have lost 66 pounds!! This drug has been amazing. At first, I had a few side effects which included nausea and constipation but they did resolve. I noticed almost immediately how much better I felt on this drug. Not only was my appetite significantly decreased, I felt better overall, sort of like my metabolism was more even and my body utilized what I ate more efficiently. I lost my work insurance in November and also lost the coverage for Ozempic. This is the only downfall. I do have private insurance through HealthPartners but not one cent is covered by them. The price per month is around $800. With results this good, all insurance companies should be covering the cost 100% because it will save them millions, billions, even trillions possibly in the future. If they were smart, they would get behind this drug."

• 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."

• Tan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 12, 2022

For Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "I have been taking Ozempic since March 12, 2022. I started at the .025 dose for 4 weeks. I had a little nausea, but nothing serious, and some constipation. I have now been on the .050 dose and have very little appetite, and no other symptoms have remained other than occasional constipation. I have to remind myself at times to eat. I have more energy than I have had in years and feel so much better in my clothes. Since March, I have lost 25 lbs. This has been a life changer for me as I feel so much better. I am still 45 pounds from my goal weight, but this drug has definitely helped me. I give the shot in my thighs, as I have read many comments on here to do so for fewer symptoms, and I believe that is why I have done so well."

• 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."

• Bit...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 23, 2025

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started Wegovy in April 2024. I was 193 lbs at just between 5’1”-5’2.5. I had tried everything, but food noise and the fact that being so short, the calorie intake had to be so low to lose weight. Anyway, the first thing I noticed was a bit of nausea. That went away after a few days. I have had very minimal side effects. Sometimes a little nausea, constipation, or diarrhea. Nothing to really disrupt my life. For the first time in my life, I actually can tell when I am full. My IBS has been almost non-existent. I’m more awake. I have fewer sweet cravings. The food noise is still there, but my stomach is able to signal my brain that if I eat more, I will feel sick. I have lost to date 4/2024-3/2025, 63 lbs. I am just about to hit my normal weight goal. I knew how to lose the weight. I am someone who has a very difficult time shedding the weight with exercise and diet. I am super grateful for this opportunity to prove that a drug works so well."

• Lau...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 1, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have been prescribed Ozempic for weight loss secondary to type 2. I got nauseated with some loss of appetite at 0.25 mg dosage and adapted to it over a month. Lost 9 lbs in that month. I increased to 0.5 mg last Friday (it is Tuesday), and I am miserable. Non-stop nausea, burping, some pain in the stomach, constipated. I feel miserable. I am worried about the stomach pain being pancreatitis starting, so I am increasing my water. I haven't eaten in two days. I will not continue with this drug as I think this just cannot be a good thing to do to one's body."

• Mac...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 14, 2019

"I am pre-diabetic with high blood pressure, high triglycerides, and high cholesterol. I’ve taken Ozempic for 3 1/2 months to help me lose weight. My weight loss is 32 lbs. I am never hungry, and when I eat, my tummy gets full very quickly. Because I’m not hungry, I have used this time to learn the art of healthy eating. No fad diets or keto. My blood pressure is now normal, and I am off BP pills. My triglycerides dropped 150 points. I have had no side effects other than constipation. I now drink 3 liters of water each day and eat insoluble fiber to control it. My husband is diabetic and has been on it for 6 months. He experienced side effects such as nausea and dizzy spells, but it lasted around 3 months, and he no longer has them. His A1C was 9.5 before Ozempic and is now 6.7."

• Bar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 24, 2023

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have been taking Ozempic for six weeks. This will be my second week at 0.50 mg, and I have lost 10 lbs. At 0.25 mg, I had minor nausea and was very tired but felt fine otherwise. After my first 0.50 mg injections, I could not drink, eat, or do anything for the first day. I had a lot of nausea and felt like I was going to be sick constantly. By day 3, I had to go to the bathroom about nine times, which was good because constipation is a real thing with this medication. By day 4 and on, I felt perfectly fine. I do watch what I eat, and the medication has cut my food intake by half. You have to pay attention to what your stomach is telling you."

• Jan...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 26, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "I started Ozempic in July 2020. The first few weeks, I had slight nausea. Now, 10 months in, I’ve lost 50 lbs - from 210 lbs to 158 lbs, and my sugar levels, if anything, are on the low side. I’ve just stopped taking my Metformin as they were dropping too much. I didn’t even make it to the 1 mg, stopping at the 0.5 mg. If you can last the first 4 weeks, it’s amazing. The only side effect I have is a little constipation, which I control with PEG when needed. It has changed my life! I feel like a brand new woman!"