Ozempic Side Effects (And How to Manage Them)

Virtually 50 % of individuals beginning Ozempic expertise unintended effects. Most Ozempic unintended effects are delicate and disappear over time or with changes to the dose.

Frequent Ozempic unintended effects

A 2022 medical trial on the Mayo Clinic Well being System learning Ozempic’s effectiveness as a weight reduction drug discovered that nearly half of all contributors skilled antagonistic results.

Severity of widespread unintended effects

Whereas most unintended effects are delicate, 11.5% of examine contributors had extreme sufficient antagonistic results that they needed to modify their Ozempic dose or discontinue the medicine.

Gentle meant that the individual might proceed taking Ozempic as regular.

Reasonable meant that the individual needed to scale back their Ozempic dose.

Extreme meant that the individual needed to cease taking Ozempic.

How lengthy does it take for widespread unintended effects to cease?

Gentle gastrointestinal unintended effects usually disappear inside a couple of days or perhaps weeks as your physique will get used to the medication. In the event that they last more than this or are extreme, communicate together with your healthcare supplier.

When you cease taking the medication, you could proceed to really feel unintended effects for a couple of weeks because it leaves your system.

Methods to scale back or alleviate widespread unintended effects

Commonest unintended effects are gastrointestinal (stomach-related), so it’s a good suggestion to keep away from meals, medicines, and actions that may upset your abdomen.

• Keep away from greasy, fried, and really candy meals
• Eat bland meals, reminiscent of crackers, rice, and toast
• Eat meals containing water, reminiscent of soups and gelatin
• Eat extra frequent, smaller meals
• Eat slowly
• Don’t lie down after consuming
• Keep hydrated by ingesting unsweetened chilly drinks (reminiscent of water)
• Watch out with synthetic sweeteners and sugar alcohols
• Take anti-nausea medicine (solely after speaking to your physician)

In case your unintended effects are extreme or persist after a couple of days, discuss to your physician about adjusting your dose.

Observe: Following the approval of a medicine by the FDA, the company continues to observe its unintended effects. Do you have to expertise any antagonistic results from utilizing Ozempic, you might be inspired to report them to the FDA by their MedWatch program.

Uncommon however critical Ozempic unintended effects

Ozempic may cause uncommon however critical unintended effects.

Thyroid most cancers

Ozempic has an FDA warning for thyroid C-cell tumors (thyroid most cancers).

The priority concerning thyroid tumors is predicated on the outcomes of research utilizing Ozempic and related medicines in animal research. On this analysis, some rats and mice developed thyroid tumors, a few of which had been cancerous. It’s not identified if Ozempic has this impact in people.

Regulatory authorities are monitoring the U.S. annual incidence of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) to find out if folks taking Ozempic usually tend to develop this most cancers (outcomes anticipated 2035 – 2037).

Inform your healthcare supplier should you expertise signs of thyroid most cancers, reminiscent of:

• A lump or swelling in your neck
• Hoarseness
• Hassle swallowing
• Shortness of breath

Don’t use Ozempic should you or anybody in your loved ones have ever had MTC, or you probably have an endocrine system situation known as A number of Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome sort 2 (MEN 2).

Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is a medical situation wherein the pancreas turns into infected, inflicting intense ache and affecting the pancreas’s potential to secrete insulin.

In medical research, a couple of folks did develop pancreatitis whereas taking Ozempic. Nonetheless, In two separate massive research, folks taking Ozempic didn’t develop pancreatitis extra usually than these taking a placebo.

The scientific consensus is, due to this fact, that there isn’t a direct proof that Ozempic may cause pancreatitis. 

It’s value noting that folks with sort 2 diabetes have an nearly threefold danger of pancreatitis, whether or not they take Ozempic or not.

Cease utilizing Ozempic and name your healthcare supplier straight away you probably have signs of pancreatitis, together with:

• Vomiting
• Extreme ache within the higher a part of your stomach that travels to your again
• Your stomach is tender to the contact
• Speedy pulse

Gastroparesis

Gastroparesis (additionally known as delayed gastric emptying and abdomen paralysis) is a dysfunction that slows or stops the motion of meals from the abdomen to the small gut, though there isn’t a blockage.

If meals stays within the abdomen too lengthy, bacterial overgrowth can happen because the meals ferments.

The American Diabetes Affiliation additionally notes that meals can harden into stable plenty known as bezoars, resulting in nausea, vomiting, and doubtlessly harmful and even life-threatening obstructions within the abdomen.

As a result of considered one of Ozempic’s major (and intentional) results is to gradual the pace at which meals leaves the abdomen and enters the intestines, it’s suspected that this could, in some instances, result in gastroparesis. 

One examine led by researchers at College Hospitals in Cleveland discovered that individuals who had been prescribed a GLP-1 medicine for weight reduction – reminiscent of semaglutide (branded as Ozempic and Wegovy), exenatide (Byetta), and liraglutide (Victoza) had been considerably extra prone to be identified with gastroparesis a minimum of six months later.

Cease utilizing Ozempic and name your healthcare supplier straight away you probably have signs of gastroparesis, together with:

• Nausea or vomiting after consuming
• Feeling full after consuming solely a small quantity
• Extreme bloating after meals
• Ache within the higher abdomen (epigastric ache)
• Gradual, unexplained weight reduction
• Lack of urge for food
• Abdomen wall spasms and cramping

Kidney injury

Solely one of many unique SUSTAIN trials reported an occasion of acute kidney failure.

In a more moderen FLOW medical trial involving adults with sort 2 diabetes and continual kidney illness, Ozempic truly lowered the chance of kidney disease-related occasions by 24%.

On this trial, folks taking Ozempic had been much less prone to expertise a minimum of one of many following:

• Lack of 50% or extra of their kidney operate
• Kidney failure
• Dialysis
• Kidney transplant
• Dying from kidney illness
• Dying from heart problems

Subsequently, it’s secure to imagine that Ozempic doesn’t improve the chance of kidney injury. In actual fact, it could be a possible a part of the remedy.

Momentary imaginative and prescient adjustments

Based on the American Academy of Opthalmology, short-term imaginative and prescient adjustments, reminiscent of blurry imaginative and prescient, are anticipated when beginning Ozempic. 

When blood sugar ranges change, it may possibly have an effect on the form of the attention’s lens, which causes blurry imaginative and prescient.

As a result of considered one of Ozempic’s fundamental advantages for folks with sort 2 diabetes is decreasing blood sugars, you could expertise blurry imaginative and prescient till your blood sugars stabilize at a brand new stage.

The older you might be, the extra possible you might be to expertise blurred imaginative and prescient when starting the medicine. The attention’s lens turns into much less versatile as we age, so imaginative and prescient takes longer to stabilize when blood sugar ranges change.

Diabetic retinopathy

Research inspecting the connection between Ozempic (semaglutide) and diabetic retinopathy have been inconclusive. 

One examine discovered an elevated danger of retinopathy issues in sufferers, which is why Ozempic labels now embrace warnings concerning the danger of imaginative and prescient adjustments.

Nonetheless, later research discovered no affiliation between semaglutide and retinopathy, and a few research have even indicated that semaglutide might assist forestall retinopathy.

The present consensus is that Ozempic is unlikely to trigger or worsen retinopathy, and if it does, it’s most likely linked to adjustments in blood glucose ranges, not the drug itself.

Blinding eye illness

One new examine suggests a connection between Ozempic and elevated danger for a blinding eye illness known as non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION).

Nonetheless, Dr. Joseph Rizzo, the senior examine writer, emphasizes that the examine reveals an affiliation slightly than proving causation and that additional research are wanted.

The present advice from consultants is that most individuals shouldn’t be involved about this, however that folks with present imaginative and prescient issues ought to seek the advice of with their physician earlier than taking Ozempic.

Gallbladder points

Some folks taking Ozempic have developed gallbladder irritation (cholecystitis) or gallstones. It’s presently unclear if that is associated to the drug.

Inform your healthcare supplier straight away should you get signs of gallbladder points, which can embrace:

• Ache in your higher abdomen (stomach)
• Fever
• Yellowing of the pores and skin or eyes (jaundice)
• Clay-colored stools.

Allergic reactions 

Some folks (lower than 1% of individuals within the medical trial) had pores and skin reactions the place the drug was injected. They included ache, redness, and discomfort, which usually went away on their very own or after icing or taking Ibuprofen. 

In uncommon instances, Ozempic may cause a extreme allergic response. Cease utilizing Ozempic and get medical assist straight away you probably have any signs of a critical allergic response, together with:

• Swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Issues respiration or swallowing
• Abdomen ache, bloating, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Extreme rash or itching
• Fainting or feeling dizzy
• Very speedy heartbeat.

Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)

When you reside with diabetes and use Ozempic together with insulin or different diabetes medicines, it may possibly improve the chance of hypoglycemia. 

Signs of hypoglycemia fluctuate from individual to individual, however widespread signs to look at for embrace:

• intense starvation
• chills or sweating
• shakiness
• confusion or clumsiness
• blurry imaginative and prescient
• Slurred speech

It is best to all the time have meals that may shortly increase your blood sugar accessible in case you’ll want to deal with hypoglycemia. Good choices are juice, glucose tabs, or sugar sweet like jellybeans.

It’s additionally an important concept to have nasal glucagon (Baqsimi) accessible to deal with extraordinarily extreme hypoglycemia the place glucose tabs received’t work shortly sufficient.

In case you have extreme hypoglycemia and are afraid you’ll go out, name 911 or your native emergency quantity.

Psychological well being points and suicidal ideas

There have been studies of individuals having suicidal ideas after taking GLP-1 receptor agonists (the drug class that features Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and many others.), and The Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) stated in 2023 that they had been “evaluating the necessity for regulatory motion.”

Nonetheless, a 2024 examine funded by the Nationwide Institutes of Well being (NIH) discovered no hyperlink between semaglutide and suicidal ideas.

In actual fact, the examine discovered that “semaglutide is related to a 49% to 73% decrease danger of first-time or recurring suicidal ideations in comparison with different medicines for controlling weight problems and sort 2 diabetes”.

Weight reduction is each a objective and a aspect impact

In medical trials for Ozempic, contributors misplaced a median of about 15 % of their physique weight.

That is an supposed impact, however it might not be good for you should you don’t have to drop some pounds. 

It’s additionally vital to bear in mind that not all weight misplaced from taking Ozempic will probably be fats. Research disagree on how a lot muscle mass (and even bone density) could also be misplaced as properly, however a minimum of some muscle loss is for certain to happen.

Together with resistance coaching in your therapy and train plan is very advisable to keep away from muscle loss.

Getting “Ozempic Face” after speedy weight reduction

Speedy and vital weight reduction, whether or not from drugs or different components, can result in adjustments in bodily look.

Considered one of these is adjustments in facial contours, or what’s colloquially often known as “Ozempic face.”

• A hollowed look and wrinkles within the face
• Sunken eyes and sagging jowls across the jaw and neck.
• Modifications within the measurement of the lips, cheeks, and chin

The identical factor can occur to different elements of your physique if you drop some pounds quickly.

Regardless that that is known as “Ozempic face,” it’s not attributable to the Ozempic however by the speedy weight reduction.

When you expertise regarding adjustments in your bodily look whereas taking Ozempic, it’s vital to seek the advice of together with your medical workforce. They could suggest decreasing your Ozempic dose and slowing down the tempo of weight reduction.

Ozempic, being pregnant, and contraception

The protection of Ozempic when pregnant or breastfeeding has not been totally studied, however Animal research recommend that there could also be some danger to the fetus if Ozempic is used throughout being pregnant. Ozempic may be current in breast milk.

It’s due to this fact advisable that you simply cease utilizing Ozempic a minimum of 2 months earlier than turning into pregnant and don’t begin it once more till you cease breastfeeding.

As a result of Ozempic impacts how shortly meals and drugs are absorbed in your abdomen (and since vomiting is a standard aspect impact), it could affect the effectiveness of contraception tablets.  

There isn’t any printed analysis or research on semaglutide and contraception, however there are anecdotal tales of individuals getting pregnant whereas utilizing contraception tablets and taking Ozempic. 

You could contemplate speaking to your physician about utilizing different types of contraception whereas taking Ozempic.

When to name your physician or go to the hospital

It is best to instantly search medical consideration you probably have:

• Extreme vomiting and diarrhea
• Extreme ache or tenderness in your stomach
• Incapacity to go fuel or transfer your bowels
• Jaundice (yellow pores and skin coloration)
• Allergic reactions on the injection web site

Usually, it’s a good suggestion to inform your physician that you’re taking Ozempic or one other GLP-1 drug. These medication are new, and information of dangers and unintended effects remains to be bettering. 

Your physician will probably be higher capable of diagnose any well being issues and advise you on different medicines and therapy choices in the event that they know you take Ozempic.

Often requested questions

Does Ozempic trigger long-term unintended effects?

There are not any identified long-term unintended effects of Ozempic apart from those listed above, however the drug has not been broadly accessible for quite a lot of years, so the long-term security profile will not be totally identified. 

Can Ozempic trigger hair loss?

Hair loss was not reported as a aspect impact in any of the medical trials for Ozempic or Wegovy. 

Nonetheless, speedy weight reduction can generally result in hair loss, and sufferers with diabetes and excessive blood sugar are at larger danger of hair loss usually. 

How does Ozempic have an effect on the center?

A 2023 medical trial confirmed that semaglutide can scale back the chance of main coronary heart and blood vessel occasions, together with coronary heart assault, stroke, or cardiovascular loss of life, by as much as 20 %.

Ozempic has no identified dangerous results on the center or blood vessels and should grow to be a standard medicine for decreasing the chance of coronary heart assault and treating coronary heart illness sooner or later.

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