Key takeaways:
Ozempic is an injectable medication that’s FDA-approved to treat Type 2 diabetes. It can improve blood sugar control and lower your risk of complications from heart disease.
Ozempic can cause side effects, including nausea and vomiting. Nausea tends to start 8 to 12 weeks after starting Ozempic. It will usually go away on its own.
Limiting or avoiding ultra-processed foods can help decrease your chances of feeling nauseated when taking Ozempic.
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Ozempic (semaglutide) is an injectable medication FDA-approved for treating Type 2 diabetes. It helps control blood sugar and lowers the risk of diabetes-related complications, like heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease.
Ozempic is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1) agonist. It helps your pancreas release more insulin and stops your liver from making extra sugar. This helps people manage their blood sugar. Ozempic also slows stomach emptying, which can help you feel fuller longer and reduce appetite.
But Ozempic can also cause some unpleasant side effects, like nausea. If you’re feeling nauseous while taking Ozempic, don’t give up. Here’s how to manage and even avoid Ozempic-related nausea.
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Does Ozempic cause nausea?
Yes, Ozempic can cause nausea. In clinical trials, nausea was the most commonly reported side effect of taking Ozempic. About 20% of participants, or 1 in 5 people, reported experiencing nausea while taking Ozempic.
Review studies also report that nausea is a common Ozempic side effect. Studies also show that oral versions of semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic) can also cause nausea.
Why does Ozempic cause nausea?
It’s not totally clear why Ozempic causes nausea. It may have to do with its effect on your gut.
Ozempic slows down how quickly your stomach empties. If food stays in your stomach longer, extra pressure can build inside your abdomen and stretch the nerves around your gut. This may trigger nausea and other stomach-related side effects, like vomiting.
Since these side effects can take 8 to 12 weeks to start, it’s not entirely clear if this completely explains the side effects. As research continues, scientists will likely clarify exactly why Ozempic causes nausea.
The good news is that while nausea is the most common Ozempic-related side effect, it’s usually mild and goes away on its own.
How long does Ozempic-related nausea usually last?
Nausea from Ozempic usually only lasts a few weeks. For most people, it gradually goes away as the body gets used to taking Ozempic. But studies show that nausea can return each time Ozempic doses are increased. So, if your dose is increased, it’s possible for nausea to return even after you’ve started feeling better.
How can you find relief from Ozempic-induced nausea?
If you’re experiencing nausea from Ozempic, there are things you can do to stay comfortable while this side effect passes. There are also ways to lower your risk of nausea in the future. Here are five tips that can give you long-lasting relief.
1. Use the lowest possible dose of Ozempic
Studies show that people taking higher doses of Ozempic are more likely to experience nausea.
Steer clear of trigger foods: Find what foods you should avoid when taking Ozempic, plus the top foods to support a balanced diet.
Ozempic-induced heartburn: Ozempic can cause other gut issues, including heartburn and acid reflux. Here’s what to do if you’re experiencing heartburn after starting Ozempic.
Balance your blood sugar: Following a nutritious diet is a key part of any diabetes treatment plan, but it can be hard to know how to start. Try the diabetes plate method for a simple strategy that can help keep your blood sugar steady.
If your blood sugar is responding well to your current dose, talk to your prescriber about staying on it. This can help you avoid the wave of nausea that can be triggered by dose increases.
2. Go up on your Ozempic dose slowly
If you need a higher dose of Ozempic, increase your dose slowly. The typical starting dose is 0.25 mg once a week. The maximum dose of Ozempic is 2 mg once a week. That means your dose increases up to eight times. People usually increase their dose once a week. But your healthcare team may suggest going slower if you’re having nausea.
Right now, it’s not clear how slowly you need to increase your dose to prevent side effects. More information will likely be available over time.
3. Avoid foods that worsen Ozempic-related side effects
Some foods can trigger or worsen Ozempic-related side effects, including nausea. Limiting or avoiding these types of foods can reduce nausea or help prevent it altogether.
Foods and drinks to avoid include:
Greasy, high-fat foods
Food and drinks high in sugar
Ultra-processed foods
Refined carbohydrates
Alcohol
4. Listen to your body
Ozempic can make you feel fuller faster and change your appetite. These two things are fundamental to how people engage with food. This new normal means that you’ll need to retrain how you approach meals. It may take a while to learn how much you can eat before you feel full. But learning your new normal can help prevent overeating and nausea.
Start by reducing your meal sizes. For example, create your plate like you normally would, then remove half of it. Eat slowly and when you’re done check if you feel full. If you’re still hungry, slowly eat more of your remaining half portion. Take note of when you feel satisfied. This will help you determine how big your portions should be going forward. Remember, this may change as you adjust your Ozempic dose.
5. Try a home remedy or medication that relieves nausea
The previous tips help you relieve nausea in the long term, but they won’t do much in the moment when you’re feeling terrible. For quick nausea relief, try home remedies like ginger, which has been shown to reduce nausea. Try sipping on ginger tea, taking ginger supplements, or chewing a piece of pure ginger. Just remember to avoid ginger ale, which is high in sugar and carbonated. These things may worsen nausea.
There are also prescription medications that can address nausea. You can talk with a healthcare professional about prescription options like ondansetron (Zofran) and metoclopramide (Reglan). It isn’t yet clear if prescription medications used for nausea from motion sickness can help reduce Ozempic-related nausea.
What are other common side effects of taking Ozempic?
Other most common Ozempic side effects include:
Vomiting
Stomach pain
Ozempic has also been linked to more serious side effects including:
But these side effects are rare.
When to seek care for Ozempic-related nausea
Nausea is an uncomfortable feeling. But Ozempic-related nausea is usually mild and gets better on its own. In rare cases, nausea can be a sign of something more serious. You should seek medical care if you:
Can’t eat or drink because of nausea
Vomit every day because of nausea
Have headaches or vision changes along with nausea
Have weakness or changes in balance
Have a fever
Develop severe stomach pain
It’s also a good idea to talk to your healthcare team if your nausea doesn’t improve, even when your Ozempic dose stays the same. They can make sure you don’t need to adjust your Ozempic dose. They can also make sure your nausea isn’t from another medical condition or related to another medication.
Frequently asked questions
Where you inject Ozempic doesn’t affect whether you develop nausea. The manufacturer suggests injecting Ozempic under the skin of your upper arm, thigh, or belly. Be sure to rotate injection sites each time to avoid injection site reactions.
Some people taking Ozempic experience stomach upset or other gut symptoms after eating foods high in sugar. If you notice that certain foods are causing increased nausea, bloating, or gas, it’s a good idea to mention this to your prescriber and avoid those foods.
You can inject Ozempic at any time of day. The most important thing is to make sure to inject it once a week on the same day each week.
Where you inject Ozempic doesn’t affect whether you develop nausea. The manufacturer suggests injecting Ozempic under the skin of your upper arm, thigh, or belly. Be sure to rotate injection sites each time to avoid injection site reactions.
Some people taking Ozempic experience stomach upset or other gut symptoms after eating foods high in sugar. If you notice that certain foods are causing increased nausea, bloating, or gas, it’s a good idea to mention this to your prescriber and avoid those foods.
You can inject Ozempic at any time of day. The most important thing is to make sure to inject it once a week on the same day each week.
The bottom line
Nausea is the most commonly reported side effect of taking Ozempic. It usually begins 8 to 12 weeks after starting Ozempic and goes away on its own over several weeks. Nausea can come back if Ozempic doses are increased. To limit Ozempic-related nausea, avoid foods that can worsen Ozempic side effects like foods that are high in fat or sugar. It also helps to increase Ozempic doses slowly. For people with severe nausea, prescription medications can also relieve nausea.
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References
A-S Medication Solutions. (2023). Ozempic- semaglutide injection, solution [package insert].
Bodagh, M. N., et al. (2018). Ginger in gastrointestinal disorders: A systematic review of clinical trials. Food Science & Nutrition.
Chatzis, D. G., et al. (2021). Changing the concept: From the traditional glucose-centric to the new cardiorenal-metabolic approach for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. touchREVIEWS in Endocrinology.
Collins, L., et al. (2024). Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. StatPearls.
Gudzune, K. A., et al. (2024). Medications for obesity: A review. JAMA.
Novo Nordisk. (2022). Ozempic (semaglutide) injection, for subcutaneous use [package insert].
Smits, M. M., et al. (2021). Safety of semaglutide. Frontiers in Endocrinology.
Thomsen, R. W., et al. (2025). Real-world evidence on the utilization, clinical and comparative effectiveness, and adverse effects of newer GLP-1RA-based weight-loss therapies. Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism.
Zhang, L., et al. (2024). Efficacy and safety of oral semaglutide in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes: A meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
