Skip to main content

Does Wegovy make you pee a lot or urine smell?

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Sep 12, 2023.

Official answer

by Drugs.com

Some people have reported a change in the way their urine smells after taking Wegovy or other semaglutide products such as Ozempic, often describing it as now having a strong unusual odor.

The main way Wegovy is excreted from the body is via the urine and faces and 3% of the dose is left unchanged, which may alter the composition of the urine and change its smell.

Healthcare providers recommend you increase your water intake while taking Wegovy and this could result in your peeing more.

Other smell-related changes include an increase in sulfur-smelling burps or burps with a strong odor. There may be two reasons for this:

  • Wegovy slows your digestive system down so it takes longer for food and waste to travel through your body which can increase how much water is pulled out of the food, and increase the amount of decomposition and constipation– making it smell more.
  • Wegovy may increase the number of sulfur-producing bacteria in your gut.
References
  • Wegovy product Information. https://www.novo-pi.com/wegovy.pdf
  • Beware the Ozempic Burp. The Atlantic. May 2, 2023. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2023/05/ozempic-burping-smell-eggs-side-effect/673925/

Read next

Ozempic Side Effects to Watch For

The most common Ozempic side effects with Ozempic include stomach problems, like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain and constipation. These tend to be mild-to-moderate and usually clear up in a few weeks in most people. Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) is also a common side effect (when used with certain other diabetes treatments) and it can be serious. Continue reading

6 Wegovy side effects you need to be aware of

Wegovy (semaglutide) is a weight-loss medicine that can be associated with common stomach side effects like nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. More infrequent, rare or serious side effects have also been reported, including low blood sugar, lung aspiration during deep sedation or anesthesia, thyroid cancer or gallstones. Continue reading

How do Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, Zepbound compare for weight loss?

Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy and Zepbound can all lead to long-term weight loss, but only Wegovy and Zepbound are approved by the FDA for this use. In studies, Zepbound has led to a 21% weight loss in adults using the highest dose, while Wegovy has led to about a 15% weight loss. Continue reading

Related medical questions

Drug information

Related support groups