Ozempic and Diarrhea: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Lor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 13, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "I've been on Ozempic for 2.5 months now (10 weeks as of today) off-label for PCOS. I started with a dose of 0.25 for the first four weeks and have been on 0.5 for the remaining six. On the 0.25 dose, I felt my appetite was slightly reduced, and I had some mild nausea. As soon as I went to 0.5, the side effects started, and I began getting extreme nausea, diarrhea, rancid burps, and I can no longer eat. If I eat more than a regular ham and cheese sandwich in a day, I feel extremely nauseous and the burps come back. As of my last doctor's appointment, I've lost about 3 pounds, but I don't know if I can keep this up. I'm miserable. I won't know until next month whether it's working like my doctor has intended because she needs blood tests to verify all of that, so I can't speak to how effective it has been yet."

• New...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 21, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "I was moved to Ozempic from Januvia. At the time I started Ozempic, I'd brought my blood sugar down to what would translate to an A1C of 5.5 or so, and I'd managed to kick most of the insulin I was on. I started Ozempic at 0.25 units per week and had mild nausea and diarrhea, but my appetite vanished and I could barely bring myself to eat. Once I started the full dose, my blood sugars began to climb rapidly. I'd be fine in the mornings at first and then experience wild spikes between meals, until finally, my fasting sugar started to climb out of my desired range. I actually had to take MORE insulin, not less, just to keep my fasting BG below 7. Ozempic was absolutely NOT worth it - even with the lower price here in Canada, the cost is ridiculous, the benefits never materialized, and the effects on my appetite destroyed the healthy diet I was trying to eat. Good example of how new isn't always good."

• Sun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 8, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "I started Ozempic on Friday. I'm hoping the side effects go away because it has helped my blood sugar readings and helped with cravings. The side effects I'm having are horrible diarrhea, joint and muscle pain, and fatigue. I don't know how long these symptoms will last, but hopefully not long."

• Deb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 25, 2023

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started using Ozempic in Feb 2023. During the first three weeks, I experienced a lot of vomiting and diarrhea, so I stopped using it. I waited for three weeks and then tried again. However, after two injections, I became severely dehydrated and ended up in the ICU at the Heart Center. I had collapsed at a baby shower due to dehydration and was experiencing blood loss in my stools, anemia, and electrolyte imbalances. I could have died, but thankfully, I am still here to share my story. Ozempic may work for some, but it is definitely not for me."

• Cta...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 8, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "I was on Ozempic .5 for 6 months. During that time, I had severe stomach cramps and diarrhea. My blood pressure went out of control, causing my vision to double. I have 6th cranial nerve palsy caused by a spike in blood pressure. EKG now shows I have a right bundle branch blockage and may need a pacemaker. I never had anything like this before. I have had the same doctor for 15 years, and he is also concerned. I believe Ozempic is the root cause, my eyesight may not get completely normal. Will be getting legal advice."

• agg...
• June 7, 2021

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."

• MIC...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 5, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "A1C was 6.2 with Metformin. Went on Ozempic for 3 months. I had side effects of bad nausea, vomiting, and watery diarrhea. Lost 27 lbs. Couldn't eat 4/7 days. My A1C now 5.6, and it is not worth it for me."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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..."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• JDM...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 4, 2018

For Type 2 Diabetes "I started on the low dose .25, had nausea, loss of appetite, little loose stool, tired, and just didn't feel good. Lasted for 3-4 days. Next dose, the symptoms increased, especially the loose stool, lasted most of the day for 4 days. The next dose, the doctor had me go to .5, and I say OMG, it was the worst I have ever felt. Couldn't eat, watery diarrhea, burping horribly, tired, and just felt so sick. I told my doctor I can't do this. Symptoms still going after being off for a week and a half. I just hope it stops soon. I do not recommend it to anyone."

• JDM...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 4, 2018

For Type 2 Diabetes "I started on the low dose .25, had nausea, loss of appetite, little loose stool, tired, and just didn't feel good. Lasted for 3-4 days. Next dose, the symptoms increased, especially the loose stool, lasted most of the day for 4 days. The next dose, the doctor had me go to .5, and I say OMG, it was the worst I have ever felt. Couldn't eat, watery diarrhea, burping horribly, tired, and just felt so sick. I told my doctor I can't do this. Symptoms still going after being off for a week and a half. I just hope it stops soon. I do not recommend it to anyone."

• Shy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 26, 2022

For Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "I always had some side effects of Ozempic. Mainly exhaustion, nauseous, occasional throwing up after eating, constipation. As month 3 came and the dose increased to 1 mg, I ended up in the emergency room. I was vomiting and had liquid diarrhea for 4 days. My heart rate was elevated, and my potassium was dangerously low. At the time, I thought it was a stomach bug-until the next injection caused the same effects. I've been on anti-nausea medication since. I can see why it takes the appetite away-being exhausted and nauseous 24/7 is terrible. Potassium is still not where it should be. Hoping this gets out of my system fast."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 7, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "Loved the weight loss, everything else sucked! Nausea, diarrhea, heartburn, sulfur burps, no appetite. I ended up with a nasty gallbladder that was poisoning my body. I turned septic and ended up hospitalized. The doctors, nurses, and hospital were wonderful, but my ordeal was not over. Ten days later, I had seizures and two small strokes. Had no calcium or magnesium left in my body. The most horrible experience ever! Yes, this medicine may be great. Please be vigilant about getting your blood work done on a monthly basis, especially if you are losing fluids through digestive upset. Like I said, the drug worked as far as weight loss (47 lbs) and A1C (6.6). But I came close to losing my life and am still recovering and working with my doctors to get back to a healthy life."

• Wen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 30, 2018

For Type 2 Diabetes "Hospitalized twice with severe abdominal pain and nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. Second visit had a gastric emptying study done. Normal gastric emptying is 30 min, mine was 800 min. Basically, this med damaged the vagus nerve and paralyzed my stomach, not allowing food to empty. Severe symptoms. Missed work, hospitalized a total of over 2 weeks. Praying my stomach returns to normal. Diagnosed with gastroparesis caused by Ozempic."

• Clo...
• September 2, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "Tried Ozempic for the first time on Thursday. Friday night, a bit of diarrhea, Saturday, just felt off, Sunday went out for breakfast, discovered I had little appetite. And then it was non-stop vomiting and diarrhea, to the point I was in the ER. Spent several hours there as they tried to bring the lactic acid back down into a normal range. They told me the higher the lactic acid, the more severe the dehydration. Multiple IVs, anti-nausea shots, and something to stop the diarrhea, plus one CT scan, they said stomach bug. I could go home and recover in bed. Stupid me believed them. Took the injection for the second time on Thursday...same thing, only this time the abdominal cramping was so bad it doubled me over, to the point I was sent by ambulance to the ER. Same round of tests, same results. Only this time, add in pain meds. After comparing the previous Sunday to the current Sunday, they pretty much concluded no stomach bug the first time, but it was due to the injection."