Semaglutide and Fatigue: What Users Say
Brand names: Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy
Reviews for Semaglutide
- Mar...
- March 6, 2021
Semaglutide for Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "I was prescribed it for prediabetes and weight loss. Today, in one week since my first injection, I lost 6 lbs. In one week, the last diet (one of very many), it took me 3 months to lose 10 lbs by starving myself, which tells you how elevated sugar prevents you from losing weight. I am not diabetic, my A1C is 5.5. I had slight nausea and fatigue the first 2 days, and after that, it’s all gone and I never felt better. I have no cravings. I eat approximately 1000 calories a day, and it’s more than enough. Instead of constant thoughts of food, I do other things that I used to enjoy like exercise, etc. I am worried about coming off Ozempic before I lose all the weight I need. It is a miracle drug for me! I hope it will help you all! If they keep working on meds like this, it will reduce type 2 diabetes and obesity drastically."
- Mom...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- December 29, 2021
Semaglutide 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."
Frequently asked questions
- Ozempic Side Effects to Watch For
- Wegovy vs Ozempic: Which is Right for You?
- Tirzepatide vs semaglutide: How do they compare?
- Which GLP-1 drug is best for weight loss?
- Oze...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- May 14, 2023
Semaglutide for Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "With just one 0.25 mg dose, I became very ill. Relentless nausea, vomiting, and explosive diarrhea, as well as unbearable stomach cramps. Needed to go to the ER for fluids and to check for pancreatitis. It’s now been 9 days since my first dose, and I still have relentless diarrhea, nausea, and disabling fatigue. I don’t want to eat. I didn’t want to take it in the first place but was ambushed by my kidney doctor. She told me that using Ozempic was a no-brainer and that I would just have a bit of nausea. If you have any gastrointestinal symptoms when taking any medicine, I would think three times about it before using it. I have read it can take up to a month for it to be flushed out of your body, but I am hoping and praying that these horrible side effects stop real soon."
- Me ...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- January 25, 2022
Semaglutide 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."
- Bak...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- May 24, 2019
Semaglutide 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."
- agg...
- June 7, 2021
Semaglutide for Type 2 Diabetes "I started taking this 3 weeks ago. I didn’t really have any terrible side effects other than fatigue, but after my third injection, nausea, diarrhea, and stomach pain hit me with a vengeance. I feel like I ate rotten eggs. I’m not sure I want to continue taking this. I might try injecting it in my thigh like some others have tried. I hope it works because my glucose readings have been in the 90s to 120."
More FAQ
- Why am I not losing weight on Ozempic?
- Does Ozempic cause muscle loss and how to prevent it?
- How much does semaglutide cost?
- How does semaglutide work for weight loss?
- Kat...
- Taken for 1 to 2 years
- July 3, 2025
Semaglutide "I’ve been on Wegovy for just over a year. At first, I experienced heartburn and a little bit of nausea and fatigue. I only threw up once. I’m adjusted to it now, and it’s keeping the weight I lost off, which was 60 pounds. I used to get migraines the day after injection, sometimes a couple of days in a row. I have found that if I take the injection earlier in the day around lunchtime and I also eat around the time I take the injection, I have fewer headaches. Please remember, you should avoid greasy foods because that causes the nausea and the heartburn, although I do enjoy an occasional hamburger. I am starting to notice a vision issue in one eye, but I don’t know if it’s related. I’m getting ready to see an ophthalmologist. I’m also in my 50s and knew already that I have the beginnings of cataracts. At first, injections cause constipation, eating better causes them to become regular for me."
- TN ...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- October 5, 2020
Semaglutide 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."
- Tar...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- June 1, 2023
Semaglutide for Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I began my Ozempic journey just last week on 0.25 mg. I am shocked and amazed. I have lost 12 lbs in one week. The first full day, I felt a bit sluggish, was not hungry at all, and was a bit nauseous. However, I knew that what I had eaten was the cause. I had to give up the sugary drinks and mountain of carbs. After I did this, the nausea went away. I honestly keep thinking there is no way I can lose that kind of weight in one week, and I have been worried that it is mostly water weight, and it still may be. The best thing about being on this medication is that I do not worry like I did on other diets. Meaning, I do not count calories, worry about eating differently from my family, and begrudge myself foods. What it has done is force me to give up bad habits because I do not like staying nauseous. I do believe this negative reinforcement will make me sustain weight loss after I have finished my rounds. On to week 2 tomorrow!"
- mew...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- August 27, 2024
Semaglutide 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."
- Lax...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- August 26, 2019
Semaglutide for Type 2 Diabetes "Update: since my last report, I have not taken another dose. I’m on day 11 of feeling sick and miserable. I have indigestion from the smallest amounts of food, steady low-grade headache, sweats, fatigue, nausea, but the worst is extreme dizziness every time I stand up. This drug may work for some, but my experience from one small dose was horrible."
- Kda...
- September 20, 2019
Semaglutide for Type 2 Diabetes "This is the worst drug I have ever been prescribed. I took my first shot on Sat at 4 p.m. By 10 p.m. I had a horrible headache and acid indigestion unlike anything I have ever experienced. By Sunday morning, the fatigue was so bad I could not get out of bed. Following was total lock down of my digestive system and then uncontrollable diarrhea for 5 days. The fatigue and nausea I could not shake. I spent most of the next 5 days trying to sleep and not eating due to the nausea and overall horrible sick feeling. I am a person who works out and runs 3 miles a day and is very active. I feel like a week of my life has been sucked away from me. Today is Thursday and still feeling terrible. I can only hope it wears off soon. Think very long and hard before using this drug. Do your research and read about it, it is very concerning that this is actually approved to be injected into people."
- kit...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- August 2, 2021
Semaglutide for Type 2 Diabetes "Rybelsus made me really sick. I didn't realize it until a couple of days ago. I thought I had a virus. I was practically leaning on the wall every day, trying to pull myself out of work to the car. Last week, I spent a lunch time lying on my office floor and then just left early. It is more than the nausea, it was fatigue, significant dehydration, confusion, dizziness, headaches... I'm still feeling sick after 2 days of not taking it. I just read that it can take a couple of weeks to get out of your system."
- She...
- Taken for 2 to 5 years
- May 5, 2022
Semaglutide for Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "The medical weight loss program kicked me out because their drugs weren't helping. I lost minimal weight, and the weight I lost was trying to come back on. I had already been eating very moderately for years at this point. I would try to get in some walking, but exercise was limited due to fatigue, pain, and weight. When I went on Ozempic, I experienced a slight increase in fatigue (barely noteworthy), I experienced slight nausea (barely noteworthy), and acid reflux (I took an acid pill on shot day and kept my carbs minimal). Immediately, my feet and hands stopped hurting all the time, and the swelling I wasn't noticing went down, and I realized how swollen I had been. I lost about 20 lbs that stayed off and stable. I eat small amounts, and the reduction in pain made exercising easier, but I have stalled on weight loss. That said, my new weight seems stable. Reduce sugars and carbs, and the acid reflux stays at bay. I've been on it for about 3 years."
- Liz...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- December 16, 2019
Semaglutide for Type 2 Diabetes "On the fence. Took my first shot of Ozempic .25 last Wed at the doc's office. I was nervous as I couldn't tolerate Metformin's side effects. But she reassured me this was gonna be the answer to my prayers, so I agreed to try it. First day I was fine, then they hit. Woke up feeling dizzy, nauseous, and shaky. My fasting blood sugar was 157. Lower than it's been in quite some time. Ozempic does its job. My BS has been managed quite well. I definitely don't have an appetite. Have to make myself eat and drink. Have very low energy. Tired all the time. Aside from that, it's the other side effects I'm having trouble living with. Waking up in the wee hours of the morning clammy with severe nausea, mild headache, and dizzy. But it's only been 6 days. The constant nausea, dizziness, and headaches are almost unbearable. Not sure if I'm gonna continue. If the effects are like this now, what are they gonna be with the increased dose? There's gotta be a better way!"
- Anonymous
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- June 11, 2024
Semaglutide 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."
- Rox...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- May 16, 2024
Semaglutide 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."
- Avi...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- July 16, 2024
Semaglutide for Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I am 58, have IBS-D, no gallbladder, GERD, and am 60 lbs overweight. This is my second attempt at taking Wegovy. The first attempt was disastrous! I didn't make it through the first week before I was hit with diarrhea, nausea, acid reflux, dizziness, cramps, and had headaches. I missed four days of work and went to ER twice. The doctor did tell me to stop taking this, but I honestly did not think it was the Wegovy (I had not done any research on side effects). Once I got back to my normal state of digestive issues, I became proactive. I started back on Wegovy (.25 lowest dose) 6 weeks ago, but now I take a dose of Pepto-Bismol daily (twice a day the day of and day after the shot) and I take an OTC daily antacid. I still get mild side effects (nausea, headache, and fatigue) the day after the shot or if I overeat. I have not lost any weight at this dose so I am going up to the .5 dose next week. As others have said - everyone will react to this med differently."
- nau...
- December 30, 2020
Semaglutide 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."
- Com...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- June 10, 2023
For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Started on May 23 at a 0.125 mg dose and spent the entire Memorial Day weekend sicker than I've ever been. I didn't put two and two together until after I took my second dose on May 30. Two nights later, I woke up with my body uncontrollably shaking, and I had my hand on my phone, ready to call 911. I didn't take my third dose on June 6 and don't plan to ever again, despite my doctor telling me to take a two-week break and retry it. He says the side effects are typically more tolerable after a two-week break, but I'm not willing to chance it. Since day one, my symptoms have been extreme fatigue, making it impossible for me to function in daily life. I can't do my job and I'm hardly able to be there for my kids without pushing myself as if my life depended on it. I've been missing out on everything for over three weeks because all I can do is go from bed to couch. Additionally, I've experienced severe confusion, heaviness in my head, nausea, and vomiting, and I've lost 16 pounds."
- Anonymous
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- August 31, 2022
Semaglutide for Type 2 Diabetes "I did not have a good experience with Ozempic. Other than a 35 lb weight loss in 4 months, there is nothing else good I can say about it. From the first dose, I’ve had nausea and dizziness. The second dose has been a rollercoaster of constipation, stomach pain, fatigue, with continued nausea and dizziness. I’m constantly sick, I can’t eat anything more than a couple of bites of food. Nothing tastes the same, and the smell of food makes me head to the bathroom with nausea. So going out to eat is only a memory now. I do not recommend this medication. This cannot be healthy for anyone. I’ve stopped taking the Ozempic and am wondering if these side effects will end, they say it takes 5 weeks to leave your system. I’m counting the days!!"
- Lax...
- August 19, 2019
Semaglutide for Type 2 Diabetes "I just started this drug on Thursday. It’s now Monday, and I have lost 7 pounds, however, I feel miserable. Today it’s overwhelming dizziness, but previously it was nausea, bloating, and stomach pain. No appetite whatsoever, extreme fatigue, and insomnia! I had six stents placed in my heart arteries on July 22. I was hiking on the 20th and needed to be rescued from the trail. My blood glucose at rescue was 33. I was put on insulin in the hospital and prescribed a cardiac cocktail of six different meds, four of which caused some dizziness and light sensitivity, which had improved over four weeks to the point that I was walking an hour a day. I’ve barely left the house since Thursday. I will not take another dose of Ozempic. PS: the insulin was working well, I was down to 3 units, three times a day of Humalog (from 8 units x 3) and 9 units of Basaglar (from 25), plus 500 mg x 2 of Metformin."
- Ano...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- April 8, 2025
Semaglutide for Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I am in week 10/injection 2 of 1 mg and taking Wegovy for weight loss. I started at 142 kg and am down to 132 kg, which is wonderful. My goal weight is 115 kg as I'm tall and solid build. The side effects, nausea, fatigue, headaches, and some bowel upsets tend to dissipate 3 days after the injection. Avoid big meals and heavy/fatty foods in particular to minimize side effects. Not enjoying food and the social side can be a bit tough, but the results far outweigh any downsides. You actually save money overall due to eating less. I intend to stay the course and highly recommend this life-changing experience."
- joh...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- June 16, 2025
Semaglutide for Type 2 Diabetes "Reduced blood sugar from 10 to 7.1. Killed my hunger completely, no more food cravings. Side effects became disabling, had to discontinue using. Became bloated, nausea was bad, 1st time I have vomited in 50 years, fatigue, constipation, going to the emergency room as no doctors available to help."
See also:
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Semaglutide 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!"