Semaglutide and Fatigue: What Users Say

• 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!"

• Mar...
• March 6, 2021

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

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."

• RNi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 4, 2022

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Wegovy does work, problem is... I feel like dirt all day long. I'm fatigued, nauseous, and even the smell of food makes me vomit. My heart races, and I'm quite dizzy. I lost 55 lbs. Do I look good? Yes. Do I feel good? No. I'm down to 153 lbs now. It's time to stop this medication."

• Jed...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 15, 2021

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Halfway through the 1.7mg dose. Been on for about 4.5 months. Have lost a total of 35 pounds. My weight loss has slowed down since on the 1.7 dose. Still losing but not as quickly as in the beginning. Have no real interest in food anymore. Sometimes have to eat when not hungry due to low blood sugar (had this prior to Wegovy use). Been trying to lose weight for months. Wegovy is the only thing to work for my obesity due to medical issues. Have noticed off and on fatigue, dizziness, constipation, stomach pain, gas, belching, and hair loss. Can no longer eat fried, greasy food without feeling sick, which is good. Now I want healthy food instead."

• 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."

• usm...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 29, 2022

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "At this time, I’m on my 5th week of the maintenance dose. The only side effect I’ve had is occasional constipation, but as a 25-year medical professional, I know how to deal with it medically and in conjunction with my VA doctor and pharmacist. At times, I would get hypoglycemic, but again I knew how to combat that. At this dose, I find myself somewhat more fatigued but I can deal with that. Cat naps usually do the trick. I started at 393 and 6’3”. I’m 56 years old. I’m down to 349 since I started, which for me is great. I have critical low testosterone and can’t take testosterone due to my history of pulmonary embolisms. So, I don’t mind losing only 2 pounds a week. I can now walk so much better and farther. I’m 95% VA disability rated, and I’ll tell you, I feel and look so much better after starting to use Wegovy. The VA truly cares for us veterans no matter what you hear. Stay blessed and hang in there."

• Gre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 6, 2025

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I've been injecting Wegovy for the past three months on a weekly basis. I am at the 1 mg dosage. I have been having brief dizzy episodes. These could be related to my Lisinopril dosage. I have had stomach upsets and fatigue, but no trouble with the injecting. I have lost 25 pounds since starting - 220 - 195 lbs. I have been able to tolerate the side effects."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 8, 2023

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I was prescribed Ozempic for weight loss in Nov 2022. I started on 0.25 mg for one month. I found it slightly suppressed my appetite, and the side effects I had were awful heartburn, constipation, and sulfur burps. Sometimes I felt nauseous. I decided to stick with it anyway and increased to 0.5 mg after one month. The symptoms were the same but added in fatigue. A month later, I bumped up to 0.75, and the burps, fatigue, and heartburn subsided. I went to 1 mg two months later, and all symptoms disappeared. I started at 192 lbs on Nov 15th, and as of May 1st, I weigh 152 lbs. I found my sugar cravings disappeared once I started taking 1 mg. Up until then, I still craved sugary foods. I lost all interest in greasy food (fries, anything deep-fried, etc.) from 0.5 mg and up. I personally love Ozempic. The side effects at the beginning were worth it for me, but from the sounds of it, mine weren’t that bad. I have never once thrown up."

• Me ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 25, 2022

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

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."

• Dan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 5, 2023

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I wanted to warn people of the side effects, as my doctor did not prepare me for this med. I am very glad I didn't try to work, otherwise, I would have lost my job or, at the very least, been written up for various reasons. On it for a month. I tried spacing out the second shot and never ended up taking the last injection. Side effects: severe fatigue, severe hair loss, decreased hormones, severe headaches, changes in your sleep architecture, bad nightmares for all sleep, naps, and overnight. Warning: if you have PTSD, that may mess with you. Bladder urgency and UTI symptoms started on day 3 and were constant the whole time on the med, I had to take AZO. Bloating, burping, throwing up, and all food smells make you sick, severe constipation, hypoglycemia, and increased binge eating. I also had increased topical psoriasis and arthritis pain. Started having problems with my foot and wondering if it's impacting ligaments. I am getting that checked out. Did not reduce the need to eat, no weight loss."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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..."

• Ms ...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 14, 2023

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started on Wegovy in April 2023 with a weight of 271 lbs. My current weight is now 233 lbs, and this weight loss is with minimum mobility. I started at the lowest dosage and am now on 2.4. I didn’t experience any symptoms until I reached 1.7, I felt nauseous and fatigued on the first day of injection, but after, I was fine. I definitely eat differently, I cut out the starches like potatoes and pasta, which gave me that overly full feeling, and I have never been a fan of snacks and sweets. I have a new love for fruits and veggies now, though, and I eat mainly protein and veggies. I feel like Wegovy helped me to live a healthier lifestyle when it comes to food choices. On occasion, I may get a craving for something a bit more hearty and treat myself, but Wegovy has definitely helped me to lead a healthier lifestyle as I approach my 40s."

• TN ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 5, 2020

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."

• V V...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 21, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "72-year-old male, very active, strong and not overweight. Borderline diabetes, which I was controlling with diet, but doc prescribed Ozempic. Started with 1 mg, felt queasy and decreased dose to 0.5 for 3 weeks. Then the new box had only 1 mg applicator and took this twice. After the second week, next day experienced such severe fatigue that I could not walk, could not put any weight on my legs to walk, and fell. Was taken to ER. They could not find a problem - tests included EKG, chest X-ray, a head CAT scan, and blood work. Concluded it was an Ozempic side effect. Have had side effects from numerous meds, but this one put me in the ER. This stuff is not for me."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 8, 2025

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."

• Dke...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 19, 2023

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I had high hopes for this drug and stuck with it as long as I could, but it caused severe constipation, stomach cramping, and fatigue. I started out with .25 mg for 4 weeks, then .50 for 2 weeks. I didn’t lose weight, so my doctor increased the dose to 1 mg, but I just couldn’t tolerate the side effects at the lower doses, so I didn’t even try the 1 mg."

• mew...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 27, 2024

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."

• Flo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 16, 2024

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I am on my 3rd injection today of Wegovy. Started at 234.5 pounds. Down 8 so far. I'm not sure it's all Wegovy, as I've been able to lose 40 lbs on my own 2 separate times, and I am still doing the things that gave me that success before. Eating close to 1200 a day calories, walking 10,000 steps a day, and lowering alcohol consumption. Still, I do believe it is helping me get a good start and get my mind right. The fear of the side effects is what is probably keeping me in line. So far though, I've only had headaches and fatigue a day or so after the shots. Otherwise, no other side effects, so I am pleased so far with how things are going."

• Tar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 1, 2023

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!"

• KGa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 11, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "I’ve been trying to get my A1C down for the last few years. I’ve tried everything along with Synjardy, including the injectables. I’ve been on Rybelsus for about 3 weeks. I’ve noticed extreme fatigue and bouts of sadness, it usually kicks in a few hours after I take the pill and lasts pretty much all day. I did not see these side effects on the Rybelsus website, but this is the only thing that has changed is adding this pill. Otherwise, I’m tolerating it well. My daily numbers look good, I have my A1C checked next month. I use a manufacturer coupon to keep costs down because it’s not covered under my insurance."

• Sic...
• September 7, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "Started Ozempic .25 dose 2 weeks ago. First week, ended up in the ER with dehydration from vomiting so much. Physicians didn't think it was this medication that was causing it. Endocrinologist was not available as it was Labor Day when this occurred. I didn't think anything of it, so I continued with another dose two days ago. This was a very stupid idea. I am severely nauseous with no vomiting this time, but it is miserable. Also a lot of sulfur burps. This lasted half the day today and is subsiding. But this is like a roller coaster and unsure when these symptoms will return. I am also experiencing fatigue nonstop. Hard to even move or concentrate energy. I thought this might be due to having normal blood sugar levels since taking this medication, but I don't think this is the case. Please be careful on this medication."