Semaglutide and Nausea

Ah, nausea. We’re all familiar with that uncomfortable feeling, and (probably) no one enjoys it. Plenty of things can cause nausea. Hormonal birth control, adventurous eating, a few too many drinks, new medication…the list goes on. And, one medication in particular is gaining attention for its common queasy side effect. Enter: semaglutide and nausea.

Semaglutide is the active ingredient in both Wegovy and Ozempic, and it's well-known for being an effective weight management and diabetes medication. Many people have begun taking this medication for its powerful benefits–and quite a few have experienced some semaglutide nausea as a result. But, does everyone get nausea from semaglutide? And how long does it last? Read on as we discuss this common side effect and how you can find some semaglutide nausea relief.

Why does semaglutide cause nausea?

The most common semaglutide side effects are gastrointestinal (GI) disturbances–aka nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea (1). The reason why this medication causes nausea isn’t completely understood. But, it may be related to how semaglutide functions in your system.

Semaglutide works by mimicking a hormone called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1). GLP-1 helps regulate your blood sugar, slow your digestion, and control your appetite. These actions are great for weight loss and diabetes management, but they may also cause nausea as a side effect. Let’s look at the details.

• Slower digestion: Semaglutide makes your stomach empty more slowly, meaning food stays in it for longer. This might cause nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea–both right after meals and when your stomach is empty (2).
• Hormonal signals: GLP-1 medications, including semaglutide, activate hormone receptors in your central nervous system that help reduce appetite and control blood sugar levels. Activating these receptors may contribute to nausea (3).
• Dosage changes: It’s common to experience nausea from semaglutide when your body is adjusting to the medication–either when you first start taking it, or when your provider increases your dose (3).

How long does semaglutide nausea last?

Now that you know why this side effect happens, the next question becomes: how long does nausea last with semaglutide? The good news here is that:

• Nausea is usually mild and temporary, and
• It should get better as your body adjusts.

More specifically, the GI issues experienced from semaglutide peak at around 20 weeks of treatment and decrease afterward (3). During these first few weeks, your body has to adjust to the medication at gradually higher doses according to your prescription. This is because semaglutide is typically prescribed at a low dose to start and then increased every few weeks.

And, should you expect to feel nauseous the entire time during those first few weeks? Nope! Individual spells of semaglutide nausea last an average of eight days. If you have any diarrhea or vomiting spells, these should last only a few days (3). Since GLP-1 medications are intended to be taken long-term, it’s good to know that any semaglutide nausea you experience should improve over time.

Does everyone experience nausea from semaglutide?

Any uncomfortable semaglutide side effects shouldn’t last forever–but do they happen to everyone? As in, what are the odds they’ll happen to me? Let’s take a look at some statistics.

One study looked at GI disturbances in adults who took 2.4 mg of semaglutide once weekly for weight management. Here’s what they found (3):

• 44 percent experienced nausea
• 29.7 percent experienced diarrhea
• 24.5 percent experienced vomiting
• 24.2 percent experienced constipation

While we definitely don’t love those numbers, we have a few more statistics that can provide some relief! In the same study, they found that:

• 99.5 percent of GI events weren’t serious
• 98 percent of GI issues were mild or moderate
• Only 4.3 percent of participants stopped taking semaglutide due to GI side effects

But, it’s important to remember that medication affects everyone differently! When taking semaglutide, you’ll be started on a lowered dosing and your provider will monitor you for tolerability to gradually increase your dose. If you’re struggling with persistent or severe nausea, your provider may keep you on a lower dose for longer.

Can you prevent semaglutide nausea before it starts?

After reading those odds, it’s totally natural to wonder how to prevent nausea from semaglutide so you can save yourself from suffering through uncomfortable side effects. Unfortunately, there’s no magic pill to stop every kind of stomach upset. But Zofran comes pretty close!

Zofran (ondansetron) is an anti-nausea medication that belongs to a class of drugs called antiemetics. It helps prevent nausea caused by cancer treatments, food poisoning, medication side effects, and more. And, great news, antiemetics have been shown to reduce nausea and vomiting when taking GLP-1 medications (5).

Wondering how it works? Well, Zofran can offer some semaglutide nausea relief by blocking the signals that tell your body to vomit. Just take this medication 30 minutes before your nausea-triggering event–like your semaglutide dose–and it can help keep your stomach settled.

Important note! It’s recommended that you make helpful dietary changes before seeking out a prescription for antiemetics. But, if changes in your diet aren’t working, taking Zofran for semaglutide nausea may help. Your healthcare provider will be monitoring you for side effects, determining the best dosage for you, and can help decide if a Zofran prescription is right for you.

How to relieve nausea from semaglutide

We can all be glad that nausea from semaglutide should get better with time–and Zofran and Wisp’s symptom management guide are here to help. But, sitting around and waiting for your stomach to feel better definitely isn’t fun! With happier bellies in mind, let’s look at how to get some semaglutide nausea relief.

Eating habit adjustments

Semaglutide comes with some incredible benefits on its own, but lifestyle changes are still an essential part of healthy and sustainable weight management. Adjusting your eating habits helps with results–and also with nausea! You may find some semaglutide nausea relief with the following habits (5):

• Eat smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day
• Eat slowly and without distractions
• Avoid overeating and getting too full
• Listen carefully to your hunger cues and stop eating when you’re full
• Avoid eating too close to bedtime
• Avoid strenuous exercise or lying down right after eating

Nausea-friendly food choices

Anyone else get served the BRATT diet when you were sick as a kid? Bananas, rice, applesauce, tea, and toast. They’re not the tastiest foods, but they sure can help with nausea. If you’re dealing with semaglutide nausea, similar bland foods can help you (and your inner child) make it through. Foods that help with GLP-1-related nausea include (5):

• Bland, easy-to-digest foods
• Foods that aren’t high in fat or fried
• Soups, jello, or other food high in water content
• Crackers and apples
• Mint or ginger drinks
• Plenty of water in small sips

Additional nausea help

Food choices and eating habits are often the go-to advice for providing semaglutide nausea relief. But, some light exercise and fresh air can also help! Accomplish both at once by going for an easy walk. If you’ve tried everything and your nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, or constipation haven’t improved, it’s time to reach out to your healthcare provider for help.

Do semaglutide side effects go away?

Whether you’re currently fighting through some nausea or not, know that semaglutide side effects should absolutely go away. Nausea from semaglutide should improve as your body adjusts to the medication. So, follow those tips for nausea relief, listen to what your amazing bod is telling you, and remember: you got this.

And if you’re curious about getting a prescription for semaglutide or Wegovy to help your weight management journey, we can help. Reach out to a Wisp healthcare provider to learn more and get started today.

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