Ozempic and various other drugs in the GLP-1 receptor agonist family have quickly become famous for dramatic weight management, but every couple of weeks it additionally appears we listen to that social networks customers are radiating a light on another brand-new Ozempic side effect. These reactions consist of hair loss, tough intestinal distress, unusual (however severe) belly paralysis, and some special Ozempic negative effects in females. A few of these secondary results have been scientifically confirmed, while others are still just anecdotal.A short note: This article utilizes the trademark name Ozempic to describe semaglutide, the medication’s active ingredient. Semaglutide is additionally marketed under 2 other names, Wegovy (when sold for fat burning) and Rybelsus (in the form of a pill rather than a shot). Various other related medications, such as liraglutide (Victoza) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) may create some of the same negative effects.
Tummy Problems: Queasiness, Looseness Of The Bowels, Throwing Up, Stomach Discomfort, and Irregular bowel movements
These awkward intestinal difficulties comprise Ozempic’s most usual and most talked about side effects by far.
While a bulk of individuals do not view these pains, an extremely considerable minority do. According to the U.S. Fda (FDA), placebo-controlled trials of Ozempic found the complying with rates of negative effects from the 1 milligram (mg) dosage: [1] Gastrointestinal Side Effects of Ozempic (1mg).
SIDE EFFECTHOW COMMON?
SIDE EFFECTHOW COMMON?
Nausea20.3 percent.
Vomiting9.2 percent.
Diarrhea8.8 percent.
Abdominal pain5.7 percent.
Constipation3.1 percent.
All told, 30.8 percent of grownups reported a gastrointestinal sign. [1] But that was only the 1 mg dose, half of the maximum. The numbers were much higher in a test of semaglutide (Wegovy) at 2.4 mg in individuals without diabetic issues:.
Stomach Negative Effects of Wegovy (2.4 mg).
SIDE EFFECTHOW COMMON?
SIDE EFFECTHOW COMMON?
Nausea44.2 percent.
Vomiting24.8 percent.
Diarrhea31.5 percent.
Stomach pain10.0 percent.
Constipation23.4 percent.
At this, the highest dose of semaglutide offered, an amazing 74 percent of participants experienced a minimum of one gastrointestinal disorder, though it’s worth noting that almost 50 percent of those that took a placebo also had some belly troubles. [2] For some, the gastrointestinal distress is just way too much to manage, and they require to quit taking Ozempic totally. As a blogger for New York magazine’s The Cut put it, “You may go through heck for your post-Ozempic body.” The author talked to a 42-year-old lady with diabetic issues that sustained “constant nausea or vomiting” and “power-puking” for weeks, before ultimately discouraging herself off the medicine. [3] In an essential test, 4.5 percent of Wegovy people stopped taking the medicine as a direct outcome of food poisonings– almost 1 in every 20.
What’s the best means to manage these nasty issues? Everyday Health and wellness’s network website Diabetes mellitus Daily has an entire write-up on the subject.
Records from the Diabetes Daily forum suggest that these unfavorable effects are greatest in the days instantly after injecting the once-weekly medicine. People are also probably to experience issues when they begin on the medicine or when they step up to a greater dosage; the negative effects frequently disappear as the body gets made use of to the medication.
Ozempic Burps.
A smelly burp isn’t precisely one of the most devastating of side effects, yet it can be instead unpleasant. As reported in The Atlantic, and talked about in many YouTube and TikTok videos, some people taking Ozempic find themselves giving off unpleasant sulfurous smells when they belch. [4] There is broad arrangement that the burps scent like rotten eggs.
Just a minority of semaglutide tests have identified burping, or “eructation,” as a side effect. Anecdotal reports suggest that the burps, like various other stomach issues, are even worse when people begin taking their drugs or step up to higher does.
Bloating and Farting.
These unpleasant adverse effects were reported in clinical trials as “stomach distension” and “windiness.” Bloating and farting complaints are less usual than the stomach effects gone over over, and they have yet to catch on as hot topics on social networks, yet it’s excellent to know that Ozempic and associated drugs might boost their probability.
Stomach Paralysis (Gastroparesis).
Weight loss medications such as Ozempic have actually been linked to an unusual but boosted danger of extreme belly problems. In July 2023, CNN reported that some semaglutide users had actually experienced gastroparesis, or stomach paralysis, which in some cases did not improve even months after ceasing the medicine. [5] Lots of lawsuits have been filed versus the manufacturers of GLP-1 drugs, according to Reuters, alleging that the makers did not adequately alert individuals about the threat of extreme adverse effects such as gastroparesis. [6] Gastroparesis is a condition in which the tummy empties too slowly or stops; it triggers a selection of stomach symptoms including bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, and throwing up. [7] In the most awful instances, gastroparesis can make it really hard to eat or consume alcohol anything, causing a risk of dehydration or lack of nutrition.
Postponed stomach emptying, the specifying feature of gastroparesis, is a well-known effect of Ozempic and associated medicines. This postponed emptying partly accounts for a few of Ozempic’s positive impacts, aiding to minimize appetite and provoke fat burning. It is additionally in charge of much less serious side effects, such as stomach pain.
The good news is, serious and relentless gastroparesis seems really uncommon. The signs and symptom was not recognized in any one of the medication’s phase 3 trials, which enrolled thousands of individuals to evaluate semaglutide’s security.
Temporary Digestive Paralysis (Ileus).
Belly paralysis isn’t the only extreme intestinal side effect that customers have reported.
In late September 2023, the FDA updated the official Ozempic tag to alert users of a prospective danger of ileus, a kind of digestive tract clog. [8] According to the Cleveland Clinic, ileus occurs when “the contraction that move food with your intestinal tracts are momentarily paralyzed,” capturing food within the gut. The signs and symptoms look like those of a physical bowel obstruction, including bloating and constipation, and the problem can cause dehydration. [9] Ileus is likely a rare adverse effects– it wasn’t recognized in previous professional trials, which assessed semaglutide in thousands of individuals. In its upgraded guidance, the FDA kept in mind, “Since these reactions are reported willingly from a populace of unsure size, it is not constantly feasible to dependably approximate their regularity or establish a causal relationship to medicine direct exposure.” Ozempic Face and Ozempic Butt.
” Ozempic face” may have been the very first Ozempic adverse effects to go viral. Soon after, the pattern repeated itself when claims of “Ozempic butt” struck headlines. In each instance, customers complained that the medicine had offered some part of their bodies an unexpected and regrettable loose and flabby look.
There’s nothing to fret about. There is no evidence that Ozempic or any other similar medication straight influences your appearance. Professionals appear to concur that Ozempic face and Ozempic butt are simply brought on by weight-loss. The same flabby results can and will occur when you lose weight the old-fashioned way, or through other medical methods such as bariatric surgery.
It turns out that not all weight loss enhances your appearance. When you lose a lot of weight, you might also lose some healthy-looking fat that you ‘d prefer to keep in places like your face or butt. Rapid weight loss can also lead to saggy skin: The skin is an adaptable and elastic organ, but it can not snap instantly back into a taut shape. Successful dieters have struggled with these issues since long before Ozempic came on the scene.
Ozempic Breath and Dry Mouth.
Bad breath is typically a matter of oral hygiene. [10] Food particles and bacteria in the mouth can create foul odors. Though in some cases bad breath (halitosis) can signal a more substantial medical condition, experts seem unworried that Ozempic breath is a serious sign.
How does Ozempic cause bad breath? One possible explanation is Ozempic’s tendency to cause dry mouth (xerostomia). Saliva helps to cleanse the mouth, and a lack of saliva can allow bacteria to fester, grow, and get stinky. Though dry mouth was not initially reported among semaglutide’s known side effects, it has been widely discussed in social media and clinicians have published reports of extreme cases. [11]” Keto breath” may also explain some cases of Ozempic breath. This side effect is common when people switch to a keto diet, which strictly limits the number of carbohydrates you are allowed to eat. Keto breath, which tends to have a fruity aroma, is caused by acetone, a by-product of ketosis. It is probable that some Ozempic users have unintentionally adopted a ketogenic eating pattern as a result of their diminished appetites– eating 50 grams or less of carbohydrates per day can trigger ketosis.
Hair Loss.
Ozempic can cause hair loss. While it isn’t listed as a side effect on Ozempic’s FDA label, hair loss is listed on the FDA’s label for Wegovy, essentially the same medication. Three percent of participants in the drug’s pivotal trial reported hair loss (3 times as many as those who used a placebo). [2] Like Ozempic face and Ozempic butt, however, this is merely a common consequence of rapid weight loss. Dramatic weight loss, no matter how it’s caused, often causes hair loss. This science is well-established. For example, a study of crash dieters published in 1974 found multiple cases of “profuse hair loss.” [12] And more than half of people who receive bariatric surgery experience hair loss, too. [13] The good news: One study found that “hair loss stopped and new hair gradually grew out in all patients.” [14] Hopefully, the minority of Ozempic users who lose some hair on the drug will have the same good luck.
Ozempic Side Effects in Females.
As far as research goes, most of semaglutide’s side effects are common to both males and females, and there is no special interaction between GLP-1 drugs and female hormones. But there are certain Ozempic side effects that specifically affect women.
Ozempic Babies.
We may be experiencing an Ozempic baby boom. Across social media, women are crediting surprise pregnancies to their GLP-1 medication.
Though there’s no solid data on the phenomenon, experts agree that Ozempic has a number of different features that could account for increased fertility. Obesity itself has long been known to cause subfertility and infertility, so the dramatic weight loss associated with Ozempic could easily increase a woman’s chances of conceiving. [15] The effect may be even stronger when weight loss and metabolic improvements help improve or alleviate a condition like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
There is also a chance, however, that Ozempic could interfere with the birth control pill. Today, there is no scientific evidence that this happens, but a related drug in the class, tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound), carries warnings on its FDA labels that it “may reduce the efficacy of oral hormonal contraceptives due to delayed gastric emptying.” Patients are advised to switch to a non-oral form of contraception or to add a barrier method, such as condoms. [16] Ozempic Breasts.
First, there was Ozempic face, then, there was Ozempic butt. Finally, complaints of “Ozempic breasts” hit headlines in the spring of 2024.
Women who have lost weight with Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications are complaining that their breasts have a saggy or deflated appearance. But there is no evidence that Ozempic has a particular effect on breast tissue. Rather, any change in breast shape is almost certainly due to the rapid and substantial weight loss that these drugs so frequently cause. Women who have lost weight with other methods have noticed the same issue.
Tiredness and Fatigue.
There are reports that Ozempic can cause fatigue– basically, tiredness or exhaustion that isn’t improved by sleep. The FDA label for semaglutide (Wegovy) reports that 11 percent of trial participants experienced fatigue, a little bit more than twice as often as those who used a placebo.
It’s unclear why Ozempic would cause fatigue, although one very plausible explanation is the fact that it causes people to eat so much less food. Ozempic causes extreme weight loss by encouraging users to eat at an extreme calorie deficit. You’re putting less fuel into your body, essentially crash dieting. Is it any wonder that Ozempic might sap your energy?
Dizziness.
Dizziness has also been reported in a slim minority of Ozempic users. It is possible that Ozempic dizziness stems from the glucose-lowering effects of the drug– dizziness is a common symptom of hypoglycemia. Even patients who are not at risk of severe hypoglycemia (typically those who do not use insulin or sulfonylureas) may feel dizzy while experiencing transient low blood sugar episodes.
Excessive Muscle Loss.
It is inevitable that weight loss will involve some muscle loss. This is considered healthy and natural.
Some experts, however, believe that Ozempic and related drugs are causing a surprising and worrying amount of muscle loss.
We only have a modicum of good data on this question. Body composition analyses of volunteers in two trials found that semaglutide users lost about 40 percent lean mass and 60 percent fat. [17] This is more muscle loss than researchers expect to see. A review published in 2017 stated that people using other methods to lose weight tend to lose only 20 to 30 percent lean mass. [18] In February 2024, The New York Times reported that the manufacturers of GLP-1 drugs are taking the problem seriously, and have begun to develop combination drug treatments that could help users of Ozempic and related drugs preserve lean mass. [19] In the meantime, experts agree that it would be wise for users to engage in strength-building exercises to help preserve muscle mass during weight loss. Eating enough protein may also help.
This potential side effect may also be a good reminder that Ozempic is inappropriate for people who do not have a good medical reason to lose weight.
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