Skip to main content
Someon holding their hands over their abdomen: Why does Ozempic cause nausea?
Drug Info

Why does Ozempic cause nausea?

The way Ozempic works on the brain can cause gastrointestinal discomfort
Sarah Bradley writer headshot
By | Jul. 3, 2024 Medically reviewed by Leslie Greenberg, MD

Key takeaways

  • Ozempic is a GLP-1 medication that lowers blood sugar levels, helping people with Type 2 diabetes maintain their blood sugar and improve their overall health. 

  • Ozempic also causes digestion to slow down, which leaves you feeling fuller for longer and typically leads to weight loss over time.

  • This delayed digestion often triggers nausea, which is usually worse in the first few days following an Ozempic injection.

  • You may feel nauseated the first two days after taking Ozempic, or your body may adjust to the medication over time. Eating smaller meals, staying hydrated, and avoiding sugary, processed, or greasy foods can also reduce nausea.

In this article:

Ozempic (semaglutide) is more than just a trendy, in-the-news weight loss drug. It’s a revolutionary way for people with Type 2 diabetes to improve their overall health. Although weight loss is a side effect of Ozempic, it has only been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for two indications:

  • To improve glycemic control as an additional treatment with a healthy diet and consistent exercise in adults with Type 2 diabetes mellitus 
  • To reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and established cardiovascular disease

But part of how Ozempic works in the body also causes one of the most commonly reported side effects of the drug: nausea. Here’s what to know about this common side effect of Ozempic, including why it happens and how to get relief.

How Ozempic works

Although Ozempic is FDA approved only for use in treating Type 2 diabetes, it has other benefits, too, working in different ways throughout the body. 

Ozempic for Type 2 diabetes

According to Alexandria Lightning, DNP, APRN, founder of Lightning VIP, Ozempic treats Type 2 diabetes by mimicking the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which regulates the body’s blood sugar levels in three main ways: 

  • By stimulating the pancreas to secrete more insulin when your blood sugar increases
  • By blocking the release of the hormone glucagon, which prevents the liver from producing too much glucose
  • By slowing down gastric emptying, which also slows down how quickly glucose enters the bloodstream after meals and helps decrease blood sugar spikes

However, the manufacturer of Ozempic, Novo Nordisk, stresses that the drug works best to lower blood sugar levels when used in combination with diet and exercise, so it’s important to keep in mind that Ozempic itself isn’t a cure-all for Type 2 diabetes.

Ozempic for cardiovascular disease

“In people with Type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease, Ozempic has been shown to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events like heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular-related death,” Dr. Lightning said. This is likely because the active ingredient, semaglutide, improves glycemic control, promotes weight loss, and may even have direct benefits on the cardiovascular system.

For example, a large-scale study published in 2023 examined semaglutide’s cardioprotective effects and found that the drug reduced cardiovascular events by as much as 20% in people who took it for an average of 33 months.

Ozempic for weight loss, an off-label use

While Ozempic is only approved for use in people with Type 2 diabetes, Paunel Vukasinov, MD, internist with Medical Offices of Manhattan and contributor to Lab Finder says that semaglutide has been shown to cause significant weight loss, leading to some people to use Ozempic off-label (a non-intended use) for weight loss.

The GLP-1 molecule contained in semaglutide, Dr. Vukasinov explained, slows down digestion and sends a signal to your brain that you’re full, effectively suppressing your appetite and causing you to eat less. However, it’s worth noting that Ozempic is not typically covered by insurance plans when the medication is used off-label. People wanting insurance to cover an injectable weight loss drug should talk to their healthcare provider about Wegovy, which is FDA approved for weight management and contains the same active ingredient as Ozempic.

Ozempic nausea: Why it happens

Nausea is a common side effect of Ozempic, with clinical trials showing about 15%–20% of people who take it experience nausea, according to Novo Nordisk.

“Ozempic can cause nausea because it slows gastric emptying and affects the brain’s appetite regulation centers, leading to sensations of fullness and sometimes gastrointestinal discomfort,” Dr. Lightning explained.

RELATED: Can Ozempic cause muscle pain?

This is similar to the symptoms of a medical condition called gastroparesis, a delay in gastric emptying caused by diabetes and some other health conditions. People taking Ozempic don’t have gastroparesis because the drug is purposely slowing down digestion, but the effects are similar: Your stomach remains full for longer than it would without the medication, and this causes it to send signals to the brain that can result in nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain.

“Some people experience nausea the entire time they’re taking Ozempic, but other people find their nausea goes away over time,” said Dr. Lightning, “diminishing as their body adjusts to the medication.” 

Ozempic nausea relief

If you’re struggling with Ozempic nausea, there are a few things you should know. Most people experience the worst nausea on the first and second days after injection, according to Dr. Vukasinov, but it’s hard to say whether this is a short-term symptom of the medication or a long-term one since different people react differently to the drug.

“As the dose of medication increases, the effects of nausea may become more prominent. But interestingly, some people experience nausea initially, but then their body adjusts to the medication, and they are able to tolerate higher doses well,” Dr. Vukasinov said.

Starting off on a lower dose and gradually increasing to a higher one can give your body enough time to adjust to Ozempic without causing severe nausea, according to a study published in 2023. You may be able to mitigate the effects of Ozempic on your stomach by making some changes to your diet. Ozempic can be taken with or without food, but Dr. Vukasinov says your stomach may respond better if you eat smaller meals instead of larger ones and focus on hydrating well. 

While no foods are strictly off-limits on Ozempic, some foods are likely to increase unpleasant GI symptoms like nausea. Avoid greasy, spicy, processed, and high-sugar foods and drinks, and limit the amount of cruciferous vegetables in your diet (which are technically healthy for you but can aggravate symptoms like gas and bloating). Novo Nordisk also recommends eating foods with clear liquids, like soups and broths, eating more slowly than usual, and not lying down soon after eating.

Home remedies, like bland foods and ginger, are a couple of common ways to prevent and treat nausea. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications for nausea may negatively interact with Ozempic. Consult your healthcare provider before taking any OTC drugs while taking Ozempic.