Semaglutide and Diarrhea: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Bon...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 13, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "Started Ozempic about 7 weeks ago. Dosage .25. First week noticed some nausea, a lot of gas, some reflux, and diarrhea. Each week, side effects were getting worse. Nausea very bad, pains in left side, waves of heat, no energy at all. In all, just feeling BAD! Diarrhea is bad and a bit uncontrollable. Have not raised dosage due to being afraid of worse side effects. Have lost 5 pounds. Appetite is definitely less. My sugar numbers have not improved that much, which leads me to believe it is what I am eating. I still crave sweets. I have some jittery feelings at times! I am very discouraged."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 14, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "Started taking Ozempic back in February after I asked my doctor to put me on it because of reading a British study on weight loss by semaglutide. Started at the 0.25 mg level for three weeks. Went to 0.50 for another four weeks and have been on 1 mg thereafter. No serious side effects apart from some belching, acid reflux after bedtime, and rare diarrhea. Significant loss of appetite, change of taste in foods, change of perceived texture of foods, significant reduction in alcohol enjoyment and intake, and increased sensitivity to cold. My A1C has gone from 6.7 to 6.0, and I have lost over 35 pounds since the start. My cholesterol is down to 115 and LDL down to 50, something I have never seen before. Overall, the results far outweigh the downsides of this drug and it has provided the most positive results faster than any other medication I have tried before."

• MDl...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 16, 2023

For Type 2 Diabetes "Do not use this drug. I took my first and only dose and had terrible diarrhea, so bad I had to cancel several engagements. I also had vomiting after eating, no appetite, a decline in vision, and worst was a mental haziness that took over a month to recover from. My doctor called it an allergic reaction, but I don’t believe that. Even after 8 months, I still have episodes of feeling tired and hazy. I feel like I’ve aged 5 years since taking the one dose. Other than type 2 diabetes, I was in good physical condition and health. Now I have aching muscles, reduced vision, and sporadic haziness. Yes, my A1C went down temporarily, but not worth all the rest of the side effects."

• Wor...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 4, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "When I started Ozempic at a dose of 0.25, I lost 10 pounds, sugar levels dropped from 6.7 to 6.3. I experienced a hard time wanting to drink water and felt water-logged after I drank water. The doctor increased the dose to 0.5, and 4 months ago I started having diarrhea, sulfur burps, bloating, fatigue, and more seriously, a lump on the right side of my throat and a sore throat. My doctor was surprised that I had these side effects a year later after taking the medicine. Ozempic is the only medication I'm taking other than vitamin D, B12, and calcium. My ultrasound shows several lumps, some larger than others, and now I'm waiting for the referral to see a nose, ear, and throat specialist. I stopped taking Ozempic 3 weeks ago. Worried about the side effects of thyroid cancers..."

• Nan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 3, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have been using Ozempic for 3 weeks now. I'm down 4 lbs. And have had a little constipation the first week...and then loose to normal b.m.s. I have no headaches, no vomiting, no bad tastes. I'm using .25 for one more week then use .50. Will keep you informed."

• 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."

• Cat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 10, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "First injected dose Sunday night. Wee hours Monday, the nausea started. No vomiting (emetophobic here!) Monday all day nausea that I could handle (took a Zofran). Tuesday afternoon hit with sudden stomach cramping and diarrhea. Those nasty sulfuric burps all Tuesday evening and overnight, diarrhea all night, and now it’s Wednesday morning and still watery diarrhea. My stomach has been rumbling and terribly bloated since Tuesday afternoon. I need to lose 70 lbs, but this is NOT worth it!! Who wants days and weeks of feeling HORRIBLE!?! I’ll lose weight another way! I have sleep apnea and am 56, so I want to be healthy, but this drug is not recommended unless you need to lose weight to stay alive. I teach too, so there’s no way I can continue this."

• Bec...
• December 28, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "I started taking the Ozempic injection a week before Christmas and took my second 0.25 dose on Xmas Eve. I've felt slight nausea since taking it and very little desire to eat. My BS levels have been 95% in range ever since and have managed to reduce my long-acting insulin by 20 units. I have lost 6 lbs so far. I was astounded it came off in the first week. The only time I have had bad stomach pains is when I've eaten something bad, and I get terrible runs 20 mins after eating, but once I've been to the loo, pain stops. I had vomiting once because I think I overate a few days after taking it. I was super bloated, and a few hours later I threw up, then I felt fine again. So I just eat little and often, mostly grazing and picking at fruit. I was worried about taking this because of the comments I've read, and with having IBS, I didn't know if it would be bad for me. But I have no issues taking it, and so far, so good. It's still early days for me, but I would 100% recommend it."

• Tuu...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 23, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "I started with 0.25 Ozempic in November 2020 and upped my dosage to 0.5 in January 2021. My A1C is the same as when I was taking 2000 mg Metformin daily (5.1-5.3%). My doctor decided to switch me to help with weight loss and manage my pre-diabetes. I have lost 47 lbs, which is great, but it isn't a healthy way to lose weight. I met with a GI specialist and was diagnosed with gastroparesis, they had me discontinue Ozempic to see if my symptoms would disappear. That was 6 weeks ago, and my stomach is still paralyzed. I have sulfur burps, diarrhea, severe constipation, and vomiting daily. I now have to eat a low FODMAP diet and can only manage a few mouthfuls of food at a time. I have no quality of life anymore, I can no longer enjoy many of the things I used to, which has caused me severe anxiety and depression. While the weight loss benefits sound appealing, please think twice before taking this drug."

• 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."

• Wor...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 25, 2025

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Beginning weight was 234 and began at 0.25 in June 2024, and just began 2.4 today at 177. Been going up very slowly, but weight loss has slowed way down. Still have 17 pounds to lose, but prefer 27 more. Have gone from 2XL/Size 22 to size 14. Have dealt with nausea, headaches, occasional constipation/diarrhea, depending on what I eat. Small meals, five times a day, plus drinking lots of water is key. I get extremely tired the day or two after taking the shot. I take the shot at night, hoping to be at my goal weight by the end of May 2025. 63-year-old woman and all blood work now within normal limits."

• 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."

• 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."

• jas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 31, 2022

For Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "Warning, this stuff will make you sick. I have been taking this for 2 months. In the first month, I had terrible diarrhea. It got so bad I ended up going to the hospital. I told my doctor, and he said he doubted it was Ozempic, so I tried it again in the 2nd month on a higher dose, and the 2nd week in, again I was terribly ill, vomiting for 4 days straight with intermittent diarrhea and feeling absolutely awful. My night sleep is very broken with stomach pains, increased wind, nausea. I'm now stopping using it."

• Bec...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 21, 2025

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started at 0.25 ml mid-January 2025. After one month and no side effects, I was down 16 pounds. Second month I titrated up to 0.5 ml. No side effects and lost an additional 8 pounds. Third month titrated up to 1 ml. Three days in, I have been experiencing explosive, uncontrollable diarrhea, sulfur burps, and mild stomach cramps. Trying to control it with Pepto-Bismol and Imodium offered only a brief half-day respite, and then the diarrhea was back with a vengeance. Still losing about 2 pounds per week, but only sticking to the BRAT diet, supplementing with saltines and oatmeal. Water and Gatorade are my main sources of fluids as I am trying to stay hydrated. Decided to speak with the doctor and seek blood work and stool sampling just to make sure nothing else is going on. Depending on what comes of this, I hope to keep continuing on with this medication as it has helped me tremendously with weight loss, lowered my A1C, and boosted my self-confidence with respect to how I look and feel."

• Bec...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 21, 2025

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started at 0.25 ml mid-January 2025. After one month and no side effects, I was down 16 pounds. Second month I titrated up to 0.5 ml. No side effects and lost an additional 8 pounds. Third month titrated up to 1 ml. Three days in, I have been experiencing explosive, uncontrollable diarrhea, sulfur burps, and mild stomach cramps. Trying to control it with Pepto-Bismol and Imodium offered only a brief half-day respite, and then the diarrhea was back with a vengeance. Still losing about 2 pounds per week, but only sticking to the BRAT diet, supplementing with saltines and oatmeal. Water and Gatorade are my main sources of fluids as I am trying to stay hydrated. Decided to speak with the doctor and seek blood work and stool sampling just to make sure nothing else is going on. Depending on what comes of this, I hope to keep continuing on with this medication as it has helped me tremendously with weight loss, lowered my A1C, and boosted my self-confidence with respect to how I look and feel."

• Ano...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 20, 2025

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started Wegovy in October at the lowest possible dosage and worked up to 1.7 by February. I had no side effects and very slowly lost weight, which I was fine with. I lost 35 pounds in six months. However, oddly enough, after five weeks at 1.7 with no side effects, I became quite ill. I started having the sulfur belches, followed by vomiting and severe diarrhea. I went to urgent care. They said it was a normal response and to take anti-diarrhea meds. I did. It got worse, to the point of diarrhea every 15-20 minutes. After six days of this, I went to the emergency room. They admitted me. I spent nine days in the hospital with severe dehydration, which caused my kidneys and pancreas to start shutting down. Docs felt I had a separate bacterial bug not caused by my shots. I was finally able to go home. My doctor had me start back at a safer .25 dose. I did, but immediately got sick again. I think I need to stop these meds, sadly, as they did originally help me, but I can’t go on this way."

• Dis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 5, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "I only did 2 lowest dose injections and stopped. The side effects were awful and still linger. The worst thing about the medication has been the gas, bloating, diarrhea, and awful taste/smell when I burp. I’m 6 days in after my last injection, and I still have all symptoms and continued diarrhea."

• Bet...
• December 15, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "I started Ozempic two months ago. At first, I was okay, just a little stomach discomfort. But over the last 3 weeks, things have gotten horribly worse. I can't eat without feeling sick. And explosive diarrhea started. I feel like I have horrible food poisoning. I will never take this drug again."

• 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!"

• Fay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 22, 2025

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started Wegovy 2 weeks ago. I have acid reflux and constipation. I took 1 magnesium/citrate gummy to help with the constipation and ended up with severe cramping with diarrhea in the middle of the night. The acid reflux happens every evening, and acid reflux meds cause constipation. I’m not enjoying the Wegovy."

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 25, 2023

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have been taking Ozempic for three weeks, and the first week wasn't so bad with the stomach cramps (off and on). Second week, the cramps were the same, but diarrhea got worse. By the third week, the cramps are worse, and the diarrhea is seriously worse after every meal (watery). Obviously, I will discontinue use at this point. However, I do have an underlying condition: IBS-D. Just for your information. Good luck to all."

• 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."

• 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 :-("

• Nao...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 9, 2025

For Type 2 Diabetes "My A1C had gone up as high as 8.0, and my doctor kept adding medications to my arsenal of drugs to control my diabetes. I was taking so many drugs but was getting terrible side effects, including kidney stones, liver enzymes over 600, diarrhea, nausea, and finally, I was hospitalized and taken off all my drugs, but then my diabetes was out of control. Finally, my GI specialist recommended starting with Ozempic .5, and that's when everything started to change. At first, I didn't see much change in my weight loss, so my doctor raised it to 1mm. It was then that I saw my A1C go down to 7.2, and I had lost 10 pounds without trying. Now I have been taking Ozempic for over a year, and my A1C is down to 6.7, and I dropped 20 pounds. I don't have any side effects unless I overeat, which I avoid. If I overeat, I get an uncomfortable feeling in my stomach, but within a short period, it subsides. I wish my mother would have had the ability to get Ozempic 10 years ago, maybe she'd be alive today."