Ozempic and Diarrhea: What Users Say

• Dou...
• January 19, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "I took one Ozempic injection at 0.25 and ended up at the ER 2 days later. I had horrible bloating. Burping smelled like eggs. Unstoppable vomiting and diarrhea. I only took one injection and stopped the medicine. It has been 2 weeks and the medicine is still making me sick. I'm just wondering how long it takes to fully leave your system? I just want to feel human again. I was tested for pancreatitis but was okay, but the doctor said they will repeat labs soon. I don't recommended this medication to anyone! Please be safe taking this medication."

• 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."

• Sau...
• December 3, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "Been on Ozempic since mid-April 2020. All side effects listed with the worst being chronic diarrhea. Nausea has been significant but has settled to occasionally. Trying to follow a more plant-based diet, I have lost today an official 60 pounds. I find the less meat I eat, the more energy I have, the better my blood sugars are as well. I am 53, so weight loss isn't impossible for us older ladies..."

• Mar...
• September 27, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "I was put on Ozempic after taking Glimepiride for several years. I started on 0.25mg, then onto 1mg. I started having the nastiest burps ever, then diarrhea 3 to 4 times a day. After 3 months, I went to a gastroenterologist and was diagnosed with gastroparesis, a side effect of Ozempic. I have all the side effects - nasty, offensive-smelling burps, eye floaters in both eyes, bad diarrhea, stomach pain, and now this disease that has caused precancerous cells. Yes, my appetite has decreased, I have lost 15 lbs in 3 months, and my numbers are good. But it's not worth being sick every day. I just found out my daughter is going through the same exact thing. So, take it at your own risk."

• JEa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 26, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have been taking Ozempic for 4 months to reduce insulin resistance (caused by polycystic ovary syndrome). The medication has significantly reduced my appetite. I have had a few minor side effects - a stomach cramp here, an episode of diarrhea there...but nothing at all significant. My weight went from 151 (BMI 25.9) to 133 three months later (BMI 22.8). I honestly could not be happier."

• Lyn...
• December 22, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "I took one dose of Ozempic and I have been sick ever since. Diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, stomach cramps, and a little dizziness. This is terrible, will never use again. Can someone tell me how long these symptoms last?"

• Ail...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 4, 2021

For Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "I went on Ozempic for weight loss after being told by a friend of mine about it - she started at 280 lbs and lost 60+ pounds. My whole life I’ve always been about 130 pounds, and then I rapidly gained 50 pounds within about 2 years. I started taking Ozempic at 182 pounds (I’m 5’4) and 6 months later I am down 25 pounds and continuing to lose. I could not recommend this drug more. It INTENSELY reduced my appetite and obsession over food. Aside from some occasional nausea (maybe once every 2 weeks), and some diarrhea, nothing that I can’t handle, the drug has been pretty great. This is only my experience though!"

• Ama...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 16, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "Listen to me, Ozempic will change your life, but you cannot eat synthetic sugar at all. I had severe Hashimoto's, PCOS, insulin resistance, and severe diabetes symptoms. HbA1c was high, all cholesterols were high despite the healthiest of diets. My numbers cleared from severe to perfect in 1 month! I had full-body swelling, severely cracked ankles, swollen feet, neck, legs, major hair loss... a nightmare. I began taking Ozempic. I was very sick. It made me extremely nauseous. I got severe diarrhea, but let me tell you, I lost 17 pounds of water weight in one month. My doctor couldn’t believe it. In four months, I lost 40 lbs. The nausea was mild to severe the entire time, but the results were borderline insane. It reset my metabolism, took all of the inflammation away from my joints, neck, back, my feet completely healed within one month. It’s barely believable. I spent two months on 0.25 and increased to 0.5 once a week for ten more months. High praise!"

• lei...
• May 19, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "I've been on it for 7 weeks. I have had the runs as others have noted, and the sour stomach, but what I also noted is that those symptoms are worse if you've eaten too much or a heavier meal before bedtime. Small snacks are ok. I don't drink any sugar-laden beverages, and I eat lots of fiber already. My diet is mostly vegetarian, but not for any reason other than my stomach just feels better on it. I think that has helped keep the side effects in check. So far, I've lost 8 lbs, which TBH is kind of shocking. I never thought my body would give up this weight, but I'm heading in the right direction. Sugars are dropping nicely, especially my fasting sugar. I have that hypo drop and spike when you wake up, and that seems to be leveling off, which is great. So I'm going to keep going. Oh, and I didn't jump in with dosing, I started with 0.25 and kept on that for six weeks and only just now moving to 0.5. Slow gradual is the right way. Too much at once will make you sick."

• Nw2...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 20, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "Started April 1, 2021, on Ozempic low dose. 3-week intervals it was increased. Side effects were constipation (went on laxatives to help), pain in my back (severe), bloating. Week 11 increased to 1mg, the side effects were major bloating, diarrhea, sounds in my stomach (crazy), nauseous, feeling under the weather. My appetite has decreased to the point that I only eat 2 meals a day that are small. My sugar levels have decreased from 7.1 to 5.2 A1C. I’ve noticed that I have been kept awake some nights like I’m nervous for some reason. In the first 3 weeks, I’ve lost 15 pounds. Haven’t checked since I want to wait but can feel a difference. The pains in the stomach are really uncomfortable, and the bloating I will try gas-x for relief. When I try to eat more than I should, my body tells me that I’m full. If I go beyond that point, I get severe pains in the stomach for hours. But depends on what I eat. Going to stay with smaller portions/healthier foods."

• 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."

• Soo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 8, 2021

For Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "I've been on Ozempic for just over a week now as part of a physician-run weight loss program. I was told to expect some GI upset, but I had no idea it would be this bad. Seven days after taking it, I started with diarrhea. One day after injection number 2 (2.5mg), I was up all night with diarrhea, nausea, severe reflux, belching, and eventually vomiting. Medications like Pepto can't seem to touch it. I am going to talk to the doctor next week and see what he thinks. I really don't think it is worth this kind of suffering."

• Oze...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 14, 2023

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."

• Ann...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 9, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "Have been on Ozempic for 10 months. The first 3 months were very difficult with strong side effects. Mainly constant, but low level, nausea, occasional vomiting, and diarrhea (especially two days after the injection). However around month 3 the nausea and diarrhea subsided greatly and my appetite returned. I had lost weight very quickly (42 lbs in 3 months due to not really eating much). Had to take supplements for a while but am now eating well. The rapid weight loss led to telogen effluvium, a temporary hair loss condition. (I shed A LOT but never showed any baldness or anything). Currently, my weight is still down (I was taken off my blood pressure medication!), my blood counts are perfect, my hair is getting thick, and I eat normally. I now experience virtually no side effects. Really, really, glad I stuck out the side effects at the beginning."

• SHa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 2, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "I feel that the best practice for this medicine would be to take about only 8-10 clicks (17 clicks = 0.25) for the first several weeks and then build yourself up to the full 0.25 dose. That way you can see what side effects you are going to experience and if they are tolerable or not. I took 0.25 and suffered from severe diarrhea for almost the full 7 days. Ended up in the hospital for the last 4 days until the side effects wore off. The only positive was that I lost almost 20lbs. I would be very careful taking this medicine."

• Dan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 24, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "I’ve been on this med for 7 weeks. I’ve lost 25 lbs and my daily blood sugars range from 60 - 90. I use it along with 500 mg Metformin. The first couple of weeks were hard with nausea and stomach cramps. I also had the headaches that others have mentioned in the first couple of days. In week 3, I increased from 0.25 to 0.50. Then came the diarrhea. It wasn't too bad, I was just happy that I could go. I’m now taking 1.0 and experiencing sulfuric burping. Ugh! After doing some research on home remedies to help with the burping, I’m trying a spoon of apple cider vinegar. If you can make it through the first few weeks and you can be somewhat disciplined, you will notice a huge difference in how you feel. In my opinion, the side effects are manageable when I compare the weight gain while taking Insulin. BTW - I’m not severely obese. Prior to being on this drug, my weight was 205, and I’m 5’9 and 47 years old. I hope this is helpful to someone."

• Bea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 7, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have been on Ozempic for 6 months now. After the first few injections, I was so sick, vomiting, and diarrhea all the time. I called the doc and said I couldn’t take this anymore. Of course, I lost weight, as I couldn’t keep anything in me. I researched the medication itself to understand exactly what it was & how it worked. I decided to stay on it. My A1c was 8.8 when I started. 3 months later, 6.4. I am down 36 pounds. I have been exercising regularly for 3 months now, running 3.5 miles 5 times a week. The confidence and energy from the weight loss outweighs all the negative side effects in the beginning for me! Blood sugar control is excellent, and I suspect will only improve after the continued weight loss. I have stalled with weight loss twice now, but not giving up, and sticking to my exercise (changing it up a bit to gain more muscle to burn fat), I have been able to overcome the stalls and continue to lose. Complete game changer medication for me!!"

• Fif...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 29, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "On week 4 now, honestly, the first 2 weeks were a nightmare. Doctors don’t tell you to stay away from fatty foods and not to overeat. If they did, I wouldn’t have had the most horrible sulfur burps that made my eyes water, projectile vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain, not to mention constant nausea even during the night. I finally figured out not to eat too much and to avoid fatty foods completely! This was a game changer, and now I’m doing okay. I've lost 21 pounds so far, which is mad, but mostly because in 2 weeks I’ve eaten probably 4000 calories. I’m back to wanting to eat again but have to control myself or face the terrible consequences. Blood sugars are all over the place, as you can imagine, however, insulin sensitivity is way better. It just takes time to get used to. Hope this helps."

• Job...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 2, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have taken Ozempic for a month now, dosage being 0.25 once a week. At first, I didn’t really see any side effects or anything, but then one day I made the mistake and overate, resulting in constant gas, repeated burping, and an hour later, non-stop diarrhea. After that experience, I have learned never to do that again. I now usually eat a big breakfast and a snack later on throughout the day, which has helped me completely cut out soda. I originally started taking this because I was experiencing rapid weight gain. They checked my thyroid and said it was within normal limits, so they put me on Ozempic, and I am so glad. In the morning, I haven’t had a blood sugar reading over 130 in a month. I am looking forward to going back to my doctor to figure out my A1C. In total, I’ve lost 8 pounds in one month :)"

• Los...
• November 10, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "I am a 70-year-old type 2 diabetic and was taking one Metformin 500 ER for the past year or so. My A1C was 11, and it dropped to 5.6 by changing my diet and taking the Metformin. My doctor wanted me to try Ozempic to help me lose weight and possibly eliminate the Metformin. The side effects were terrible right from the start. Nausea and diarrhea, no vomiting, just nausea. I started at 0.25 and am now up to 1.0. My appetite is gone completely. I have no desire to eat at all. When I do eat, I get full almost immediately. I have gone from 228 lb down to 202 lb in the six weeks I have been taking Ozempic. I'm thrilled with the weight loss, and the nausea and diarrhea have improved. However, I have almost stopped peeing. I go in the morning, then go all day into the evening without going. Since I suffer from incontinence, it's good, but I am worried that it might be damaging my kidneys. I hope I don't have to stop taking it, at least till I lose another 50 pounds or so."

• Gym...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 8, 2020

For Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "My doctor prescribed Ozempic to me a year ago for weight loss. I’m only taking 19 clicks every 2 weeks when I go see my doctor he gives it to me. Every time I get the Ozempic I get sick 2 days later. It starts by nasty burps, then stomach cramps, then out of nowhere I throw up you don’t get a warning, sometimes diarrhea and sometimes I feel like I’m going to pass out. I got the Ozempic Monday and woke up in the middle of the night with nasty burps and stomach cramps."

• Onw...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 18, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "I am male (early 50s). Blood glucose was already regulated with metformin, diet, and exercise (100 to 150), but I wanted to quit metformin because of its side effects (diarrhea). I was put on 0.50 mg/wk and warned that nausea from Ozempic was a common side effect. I had no idea! Week 1/Week 2: I couldn't smell food without getting queasy. I choked down lots of soup just to get 1200 cal/day (often falling short). Week 3/Week 4 got slightly better. Week 5: I have my appetite back. I feel full, so I eat smaller meals. My weight loss is atypical: 203 lbs to 183 lbs in five weeks, combined with exercise (1 hr/4x wk stationary bike/treadmill). Blood glucose is now between 90 and 120, with occasional dips and peaks. I would only recommend this drug to those who have very high glucose levels, are morbidly obese, fiercely stubborn, and/or desperate. But it works. Good luck."

• 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."

• Mis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 27, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "Started Ozempic 8 weeks ago, from the beginning I started belching. Dose was 0.25, went to 0.50 and the stomach cramps started. I am in 3 weeks now at 1mg and I have never been more miserable. Constant violent diarrhea and stomach cramps. I am losing weight at a rapid pace, didn’t necessarily need to lose. I called the doctor today because I’m unable to leave the house, she seems to think that this will subside in another week and I should be back to normal. After reading everyone’s comments I find this hard to believe!"

• Ran...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 21, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "I've been taking Ozempic for two weeks now. I wondered how this drug could allow some - or most - people to lose weight. Now I know - it makes you feel sort of sick to your stomach and takes away your appetite - at least that is my result so far. I am hoping to develop a tolerance to it. Not a really pleasant experience so far, but I have not vomited or had diarrhea as some users have reported. It does appear to be lowering my blood glucose somewhat, which is the primary reason I am taking it. I am also taking metformin but have been able to reduce the dosage. I am still only taking 0.25 mg of Ozempic, so the result of higher dosages is unknown now. I will post again in a month or two with higher dosage usage results."