Key takeaways:
Wegovy (semaglutide) is a medication that can help you manage your weight, reduce the risk of a heart attack and stroke and treat certain types of liver disease.
Wegovy can affect your bowel movements. It can cause both diarrhea and constipation. These side effects are usually mild and go away on their own.
Staying hydrated can lower the risk of dehydration from Wegovy-related diarrhea. It can also help ease Wegovy-related constipation.
Wegovy (semaglutide) is a medication that’s FDA-approved for weight management and for lowering the risk of serious heart problems, like heart attacks and strokes. Injectable Wegovy is also FDA-approved to treat metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) with liver scarring.
Wegovy increases your body’s levels of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a hormone that affects your appetite and how quickly your stomach empties. GLP-1 also encourages your pancreas to release insulin, which helps lower blood sugar.
These effects can help you maintain a healthy weight. But they can also lead to surprising side effects. Here’s how Wegovy can affect how often you go to the bathroom.
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Does Wegovy make you poop?
Yes, Wegovy can make you poop more often. In clinical trials, diarrhea was the second most commonly reported side effect by adults, just after nausea. About 3 out of 10 adults taking Wegovy experienced diarrhea while taking the medication. Teens were slightly less likely to experience diarrhea when taking Wegovy. About 2 out of every 10 teens experienced diarrhea, making it the third most common side effect in this group.
Other studies have also shown that people taking Wegovy were about two times more likely to report diarrhea than people taking a placebo. It’s possible that people taking higher doses of Wegovy are more likely to experience diarrhea.
In clinical trials, people taking Ozempic, another form of semaglutide, were less likely to develop diarrhea. People taking Ozempic usually take lower doses of semaglutide than people taking Wegovy. Experts think that the higher dose may trigger more diarrhea. This may also explain why people experience diarrhea more often when they increase their Wegovy dose.
Is it more common to experience diarrhea or constipation with Wegovy?
You might be surprised to learn that Wegovy can cause constipation in addition to diarrhea. But it’s less common to experience constipation than diarrhea while taking Wegovy.
In clinical trials, about 1 in 4 adults experienced constipation while taking Wegovy, making it the fourth most commonly reported side effect. Teens were less likely to experience constipation while taking Wegovy. Only about 6% of teens reported constipation.
The good news is that most people in clinical trials continued taking Wegovy despite these side effects. This suggests that both Wegovy-related diarrhea and constipation are mild and that the benefits of Wegovy outweigh the discomfort of these side effects.
There’s also evidence that these side effects get better over time as your body adjusts to the medication. Diarrhea and constipation may come back if you increase your dose. But these side effects should go away as your body adjusts to the new dose.
Why does Wegovy cause bowel movement changes?
Research suggests that people develop diarrhea and constipation because of how semaglutide — the active ingredient in Wegovy — works on your gut.
How Wegovy causes diarrhea
Semaglutide changes how your body absorbs some nutrients, which can lead to diarrhea.
The science behind Wegovy (semaglutide): Learn how Wegovy works to help you lose weight by affecting your appetite and food cravings.
Do you need to use Wegovy forever? Experts break down how long you need to use Wegovy, plus the pros and cons of using it long term.
Wegovy vs. Zepbound (tirzepatide): Wegovy and Zepbound are both FDA-approved for weight loss. Here’s how they compare.
Semaglutide also shows down how quickly the gut moves because it increases your insulin levels. This normally causes constipation. But, in some people, this can also trigger the stooling reflex, leading to more frequent bowel movements.
How Wegovy causes constipation
Semaglutide increases your insulin levels. This slows down your gut, which means stool sits in your colon longer. As stool sits in your colon, it becomes drier and more difficult to pass. This can lead to constipation.
Semaglutide also slows down how fast the stomach empties. This makes people feel fuller longer, so they end up eating and drinking less. But, if you don’t drink enough water throughout the day, you’re more likely to develop constipation. Also, since people tend to eat less while taking Wegovy, they may eat less fiber. Not getting enough fiber is a leading cause of constipation.
How can you treat digestive issues from Wegovy?
Stool changes from Wegovy usually go away on their own.
You can manage Wegovy-related diarrhea at home by:
Drinking plenty of water
Eating hydrating foods
Drinking electrolyte drinks after exercise
You can manage Wegovy-related constipation by:
Adding more fiber to your diet
Drinking plenty of water
Taking over-the-counter (OTC) constipation-relieving medications, like polyethylene glycol (Miralax) or docusate (Colace)
Moving more throughout the day
When should you seek medical care for stool changes from Wegovy?
It’s important to let your healthcare team know if you’re experiencing constipation or diarrhea that doesn’t get better within a few days.
Your team may want to adjust your Wegovy dose or slow down how quickly you increase your dose. They may also suggest prescription treatments that can help you manage your symptoms.
In rare cases, Wegovy-related diarrhea can lead to serious medical issues, including abnormal electrolyte levels and kidney injury. It’s rare, but Wegovy-related constipation can also be an early sign of intestinal blockage.
Contact your healthcare team right away if you have:
Bloody stools
More than three episodes of diarrhea per day
Severe stomach pain
Severe stomach bloating
Inability to eat or drink due to vomiting, stomach pain, or nausea
Fever
Dark urine or less urine
The bottom line
Wegovy (semaglutide) is a medication that can help with weight management and decrease the risk of a heart attack and stroke. Wegovy slows down gut movement, which can lead to diarrhea and constipation. Diarrhea and constipation are usually mild and go away as your body adjusts to the medication.
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References
Friedrichsen, M., et al. (2021). The effect of semaglutide 2.4 mg once weekly on energy intake, appetite, control of eating, and gastric emptying in adults with obesity. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
Jones, M., et al. (2025). GLP-1 receptor agonists in diabetes and obesity: A case report and review of bowel obstruction risks and management. Cureus.
Kommu, S., et al. (2024). Efficacy and safety of once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide on weight loss in patients with overweight or obesity without diabetes mellitus — A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Obesity Reviews.
MacDonald, P. E., et al. (2002). The multiple actions of GLP-1 on the process of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Diabetes.
Marathe, C. S., et al. (2011). Effects of GLP-1 and incretin-based therapies on gastrointestinal motor function. Experimental Diabetes Research.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2018). Eating, diet, & nutrition for constipation. National Institutes of Health.
Novo Nordisk. (2025). Wegovy - semaglutide tablets 25 mg and injection 2.4 mg [package insert].
Smits, M. M., et al. (2021). Safety of semaglutide. Frontiers in Endocrinology.
Wharton, S., et al. (2021). Gastrointestinal tolerability of once‐weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg in adults with overweight or obesity, and the relationship between gastrointestinal adverse events and weight loss. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
