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Ozempic and Headaches: What Users Say

Headaches: mentioned by 113 users (7.5%)

Based on user experiences from 1,507 Ozempic reviews, the following table shows the most commonly mentioned side effects.

All user comments are moderated by Drugs.com. Each review is verified for relevance and screened for inappropriate content. Side effects are user-reported and not clinically verified.

nausea 33.5%
diarrhea 16.4%
constipation 15.5%
vomiting 12.6%
burping 8.7%
headaches 7.5%
upset stomach 7.5%
gas 6.2%
bloating 5.7%
dizziness 5.3%

Reviews for Ozempic

Commonly mentioned side effects
  • Smi...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • March 14, 2023

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I was hesitant to try Ozempic for weight loss (need to lose 30 lbs) because I have a lot of kids/responsibilities and don't have the time to be nauseous or have debilitating diarrhea, etc. After keeping the pen in the fridge for weeks, I decided to risk an injection, and I'm so happy to say I've had zero side effects except a disinterest in food. I'm on week six of the 0.25 dose because it's enough for me, and I don't see a reason to increase the dose. My lack of interest in food is liberating! For the first time in 30 years, I don't go to bed kicking myself for what I've eaten or making promises to myself to make amends for overeating. Zero sugar cravings...food isn't a reward or pleasure anymore. I'm never ravenous, so I make good, calm choices about what I eat. This has been life-changing and a complete shift in perspective. Obviously, some people have terrible side effects, but I've had none (not even a headache!)."

10 / 10
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977 Report
  • Zel...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • March 29, 2021

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!"

10 / 10
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1307 Report
  • Sti...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • July 21, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "I did one injection and have been ill since. I have had acid reflux, burping, vomiting, constipation, headache, and dizziness. I tried to eat small meals and drink plenty of water as directed by my physician, but I have been unable to hold anything down. Five days after my first injection, I'm off work, drinking Pedialyte, trying to get my strength back, and avoid being hospitalized. This is the worst that I have ever felt in my life."

1 / 10
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1068 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • Jen...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • April 1, 2023

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started Ozempic on 2/22/23 weighing 216 lbs. As of today, 4/1/2023, I am 191.2 lbs, so just about 25 lbs in 5.5 weeks! I started out at 0.25 for 4 weeks, then moved to 0.5 last week. I've been nauseous maybe 4 times, I’ve gotten a few headaches, and kinda backed up about 3 days a week. I started taking magnesium at night before bed, and that really helped me get more regular. I’m barely hungry and need to force myself to eat. Anyways, I’m really excited and I’m looking forward to summer!"

10 / 10
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  • Ama...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • April 15, 2023

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I never had any weight issues until I turned 60. All the weight gain seemed to go right to my stomach. No matter what I did (including exercise and diet), nothing worked to diminish the belly fat. I started taking Ozempic at 0.25mg/week for 4 injections. I lost 15 pounds on that starter dosage. I increased to 0.5mg the following month and lost another 15 pounds. I will begin the 1mg dose this weekend for the next month. The Ozempic seemed to target that subcutaneous belly fat, which is where I had the greatest weight loss. Except for a mild headache after the first dose and subsequent constipation, there were no other side effects. I took something to relieve constipation. My stomach is now almost as flat as a board, and I don’t look pregnant. I know carrying all that excess subcutaneous fat is very dangerous, and Ozempic melted that fat away. I would recommend keeping yourself very well hydrated and asking your doctor for a prescription to address the constipation. Truly amazing!"

10 / 10
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106 Report

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  • Anonymous
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 24, 2023

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Horrible experience. I only took 2 dosages because I had difficulty functioning with headaches, eye pain, nausea, dizziness, and overall feeling awful. The additional issue is I've been off the drug for a week and can't get rid of the symptoms. I'm nauseous every day, with headaches, and dizziness. How long until all of this goes away?"

1 / 10
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  • Hap...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • June 10, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "I've been using this off-label for weight loss for 3 months after consistent diet and exercise, and allegedly controlled Hashimoto's left me frustrated that I still couldn't lose weight. This drug has been amazing. I do still suffer from occasional headaches that are moderate to severe, and if I eat something I 'shouldn't,' there are usually digestive repercussions. But I'm down 15+ pounds in 3 months without any real change to my prior (very good) lifestyle. I lean into the days I'm not hungry and allow myself to eat on the days that I am. It is expensive, but there are great coupons. I will stay at the 0.5 dose until I reach my goal weight and then try to taper off."

10 / 10
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127 Report

More FAQ

  • 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."

9 / 10
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129 Report
  • Val...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 14, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "I’m a nurse. I started this med and unfortunately the nausea, gastritis, dizziness, and headache continuing into week 4 is simply not worth it. I can’t lay in bed and be miserable, which is what this does to me. At first, I actually thought I had a GI Bug. If there is any other choice, do not put yourself through this."

5 / 10
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79 Report
  • Sen...
  • August 29, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "I've been taking Ozempic for about 2 months to lower my Diabetes 2. It's been great, my numbers were 200 to 300, they are now 100-134. My A1c was 9.8, it is now 6.1, and I've lost 12 lbs and still losing. I'm also taking Synjardy XR, a combination of (Metformin & Jardiance), my numbers are great. I eat extremely less on the Ozempic. My only side effect has been an occasional headache, but nausea was brutal. I was getting very nauseated after eating and taking Synjardy XR until I heard about ZOFRAN. Let me just say, if you have nausea and are taking Metformin with Ozempic, PLEASE ask your doctor for a prescription of ZOFRAN (I got the generic ONDANSETRON 4mg). I take it 20 minutes after I eat and have taken my metformin. I NO LONGER get nausea. Zofran will definitely help with nausea if you're feeling sick. You'll thank me later."

10 / 10
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82 Report
  • Dim...
  • April 7, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "Been using Ozempic for 7 weeks, lost 12 pounds. I also take Xigduo and Lantus at night. Gas, nausea, headache, and a few low A1c. But my number is down from 8.1 to 5.4. For the gas, I find that Gas-X helps. And for the nausea, I sip on cold water and keep my meals small. I haven't thrown up yet and no constipation or diarrhea."

5 / 10
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71 Report
  • Kar...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • March 10, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "This is my 8th week and using 0.5. I lost 12 lb and I have more energy now so I go to exercise as well now. Only on the first week I have heavy headache but it was gone on my second week. I thought of stopping it after the first week due to the headache but luckily I continued and I am having a happy life now."

10 / 10
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72 Report
  • Kri...
  • October 18, 2020

For Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "I took Ozempic for 30 days and felt horrible most of the time with consistent headaches. I lost a few pounds due to not feeling hungry. I quit after the first month as my insurance didn’t cover the $2100.00 it cost for a three-month supply. I have been off of it for two weeks and feel much better now. I have noticed it has slowed my digestion majorly, which doesn’t sound like a good side effect, as food can become very toxic if it sits in the body too long. I do not recommend this medication."

1 / 10
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82 Report
  • Mic...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • June 7, 2023

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I had a horrible experience. Abdominal pain going to the back. Constant nausea. Depression - very strange feeling, almost like an out-of-body experience. For the first time, I found myself HATING my body. Extreme tiredness. Difficulty focusing. Gained 9 pounds in 3 weeks. Constant headaches."

1 / 10
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35 Report
  • Bak...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • May 24, 2019

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."

10 / 10
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68 Report
  • mas...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • June 3, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "So far I love the results. My A1C was 9.8 and now it is 5.6. From August 2020 to now, I lost 67 lbs with diet and working out from the first week. I had a headache, but after, nothing but positive results from low blood sugars ranging from 80 to 110. I kept checking, I thought it was wrong, lol, but overall I tell everyone that is type 2 to speak to their doctor and see if it works for them."

9 / 10
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36 Report
  • Anonymous
  • February 7, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "My doctor put me on Ozempic to lower my blood sugar and A1c, as every time I check my blood sugar it’s extremely high in the 200s and 300s. So that is why my doctor put me on Ozempic. At the beginning of the year, before the medication, my A1c was 10.8, and my blood sugar was in the 200s. Five weeks later, I went to the doctor this week and got my sugar checked, it was 72. I couldn’t believe it, plus my A1c is 8.2, and I lost 5 lbs in just a short period. I take my shot every Sunday, .25. The day after I take the shot, I do experience some nausea, headaches, and constipation, but it’s only for one day, and it’s worth it for these low numbers. I was scared to take this new drug because I already take metformin 1000 mg once a day, but I’m so happy my doctor introduced me to this medicine. If you guys can get through the side effects, keep taking it, this medicine really works."

10 / 10
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  • Hoo...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • July 30, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "Have been on this med for about 6 weeks. Started at 0.25, now at 1 mg. I have to say I am loving my numbers now. Have lost 12 lbs, and the only side effect is mild stomach cramps occasionally and a slight headache. I only hope the trend continues, since some posts have me concerned."

9 / 10
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44 Report
  • Bad...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • July 9, 2022

For Cardiovascular Risk Reduction "I am on day 4 after taking this and now bedridden. I have never been so sick in my life: nausea, vomiting, gas, headache, terrible smelly burping, dizzy, blurred vision, the list goes on. I hope this wears off soon, I have to go back to work. I am so disappointed in this product, very scary how it's destroying my body. I can't eat, sleep, barely move, just sipping water. Terrible stuff."

1 / 10
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25 Report
  • Typ...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • May 16, 2023

For Type 2 Diabetes "I am on my 3rd month of taking Ozempic. No decrease in A1C as of yet. Weight loss, none. Ease of use, I find handling the needles cumbersome. The needles are smaller than Trulicity and less painful to inject. Less bruising at the injection site. Current side effects: nausea, stomach pain, stomach discomfort, swelling, bloating, increased constipation, increased hunger, sour stomach, headaches. I find I am forced to take additional medication/supplements in attempting to eliminate some of the side effects. I've taken stool softeners and laxatives in order to improve constipation with limited success. I am taking a pain reliever almost daily for headaches. I am also taking medication to help ease the nausea with limited success."

1 / 10
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20 Report
  • oze...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • January 29, 2020

"I have been on Ozempic for 5 full months to help me lose weight. In that time, I have lost exactly 60 pounds (I had about 100 to lose). I was on 0.25 mg for 6 weeks, moved up to 0.5 mg thereafter, and have been on 1 mg for the past 4 weeks. I certainly experience stomach pains, headaches, absolutely no appetite, severe constipation, feel full almost immediately after eating more than 3-4 bites, and I am not sleeping as well. As of right now, the benefits are outweighing the negatives. I do not plan to stay on Ozempic long term because the possible thyroid cancer/tumors scare me. I am nervous upon stopping Ozempic that the weight gain will come right back."

9 / 10
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35 Report
  • Uni...
  • May 27, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "I'm on my second week. I've lost 2-3 lb. I feel less hungry and don't lose control after I eat. I don't constantly think about food. If I overeat, I feel sick after. I still want sweets, but I can eat very little and feel content, almost put off by it. I feel the most side effect symptoms right after the injections. The side effects have been mild, probably because I put the injection into my thigh instead of my stomach. They include: bowel movements, weird taste in mouth, headaches, tiredness, tummy ache, and earache. But very mild. I'm excited to move up to a full dose."

9 / 10
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28 Report
  • Mon...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • August 15, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "Started Ozempic in January 2019. I have lost 24 lbs, and my A1C has gone down. My appetite has been cut in half. The only side effect I have had was in the beginning: slight headaches. Those have gone away. If I overeat, I’ll get a sour stomach. But other than that, I didn’t get those bad effects I have been reading about. Definitely happy with the results."

10 / 10
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32 Report
  • Ann...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • November 11, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "Doctor suggested switching to Ozempic after weight loss plateaued with Victoza. Ozempic caused an instant headache lasting several days and nausea. Very noticeable as I never have headaches. The real problem was that two days after taking the shot, I would throw up and be too nauseous to get out of bed for about 12 hours. For the first two weeks, I thought it was food poisoning, but the vomiting was nothing like that. It was a slow, inexorable process, not like my body had to get rid of something bad that I ate. Had also not been sick enough to vomit in years, then it happened three out of four weeks in a row. Switched back to Victoza, no more headache and vomiting. Ozempic was more convenient as it is a weekly shot, but I'd rather not be sick one day a week. The vomiting was awful."

3 / 10
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31 Report
  • Ste...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • July 12, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "Run away. Just run away from Ozempic. Yeah, this will help with your blood sugar, sure. It will also give you terrible side effects. I have been nauseous for 2 weeks, dizzy, headache, lethargy, have gas constantly. My guts hurt so much I've cried. I ended up at the emergency room in the middle of the night, it got so severe. They gave me 2 different types of IV medicine to help and a bag of saline. They told me to quit the medicine immediately but also warned me these side effects could last WEEKS after my last dose. Can't even function. If I take the meds to keep from puking, I'm basically comatose, if I don't, my stomach, neck, and head hurt so much I cry."

4 / 10
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Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or remove inappropriate content. Reviews appearing to come from parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any medication and should not replace the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals.