Semaglutide Nausea: How Long It Lasts and Tips to Reduce It

Nausea is the most common side effect of semaglutide, the weight loss and diabetes medication often sold under the brand names Ozempic® and Wegovy®. It is particularly common after starting the medication and increasing your dose.

But there’s a silver lining: Semaglutide nausea should go away as your body gets used to the medication. This is why doctors always recommend starting at a low dose and slowly increasing it over time.

Below, we’ll dive into why you might feel nauseous, how long you can expect nausea to last, and tips on how to stop nausea from semaglutide.

Yep, nausea is the most common side effect of semaglutide. And the higher your dose, the more likely you are to experience it.

In clinical trials of Ozempic and Wegovy, nausea was reported in:

• 15.8 percent of those taking a 0.5 milligram (mg) dose of semaglutide

• 20.3 percent of those taking a 1 mg dose

• 44 percent of those taking a 2.4 mg dose

These were all semaglutide injections, but nausea is also the most common side effect of Rybelsus®, a semaglutide tablet.

So, no matter your semaglutide dose, which type you’re taking, or whether you’re taking it for type 2 diabetes or obesity, there’s a chance you’ll be hit with nausea.

It’s not entirely clear why semaglutide causes nausea. But it may have something to do with how it slows gastric emptying.

In simpler terms, semaglutide slows down the movement of food from your stomach to your small intestine, so food stays in your stomach longer. This can make you feel fuller and help you avoid overeating. But it might also trigger feelings of nausea.

Another theory is that GLP-1s (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists) — the class of medication semaglutide belongs to — can cause nausea. Why? These drugs activate GLP-1 receptors in the central nervous system.

Activating GLP-1 receptors can help reduce appetite and control blood sugar levels (glucose). But, again, it might trigger nausea at the same time.

Another potential cause is that, as you feel less hunger and more satiety (fullness) on semaglutide, you might feel nausea, bloating, or discomfort when you eat larger portions of food.

There’s some good news about Wegovy and Ozempic nausea: It should get better.

Everyone reacts differently to medication, so there’s no set time frame for how long semaglutide nausea will last or how long after semaglutide injections you’ll get side effects. That said, you might experience nausea in the first eight to 12 weeks of treatment.

One study found that nausea peaked about 20 weeks after beginning treatment and improved after that. It also found that, on average, each bout of nausea lasted eight days.

You may find you’re nauseous when you first start taking semaglutide and each time your dose increases, but it should improve with time as your body gets used to the drug. Hang in there.

Even though you know it should get better, sitting around feeling nauseous is never fun. Luckily, there are some things you can do to avoid or minimize Ozempic or Wegovy nausea.

Here’s how to stop nausea from semaglutide — or at least feel better when it hits.

1. Start Low and Gradually Increase Your Dose

Your prescribing healthcare provider can guide you on this one. But starting on a low dose of semaglutide and gradually increasing the dose over time can help reduce gastrointestinal side effects, including nausea.

If your nausea doesn’t go away, let your prescribing healthcare provider know. They might keep you on your current dose for longer before increasing it.

2. Eat Smaller, More Frequent Meals

Instead of three main meals, try eating smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day. This can help if nausea is making it hard to feel like eating or if you’re getting overfull.

Eat slowly and stop when you feel full. Remember, your appetite and how quickly you get full may be very different from before you started taking semaglutide.

3. Avoid High-Fat Foods and Other Triggers

High-fat foods can make your nausea worse. Try avoiding:

• Fatty meats

• Baked goods

• Greasy or fried foods

You might also find these foods and drinks make your side effects worse:

• Spicy foods

• Dairy products

• Salty foods

• Processed foods

• Acidic foods like tomatoes or citrus fruits

• Alcohol

• Caffeine

• Carbonated drinks

Certain foods or even strong smells may trigger nausea on semaglutide. Keep a food diary to see if you can find any patterns, and avoid the foods or dietary supplements that trigger your side effects.

4. Eat Foods That Soothe Nausea

If the thought of eating makes you feel queasy, try going for bland foods like:

• Chicken

• Fish

• Potatoes

• Rice

• Toast

To help with nausea, try eating these foods 30 minutes after taking semaglutide:

• Apples

• Mint

• Crackers

• Ginger-based drinks

We’ve got more tips on what to eat on Ozempic.

5. Drink Plenty of Water

Drink enough water to stay hydrated, but take small sips and avoid drinking so much that you feel overfull.

If your nausea is severe or ongoing, try avoiding drinks during your meals and for 30 to 60 minutes before and after eating.

Drinking plenty of water can also help if you’re hit with semaglutide vomiting, diarrhea, indigestion, cramping, or constipation.

6. Avoid Activity After Meals

Exercise and movement are great — but not so great when nausea hits. Try to schedule your exercise away from meal times and avoid vigorous activity after eating.

Having said that, avoid lying down after meals, as this may trigger side effects.

When you feel nauseous, try sitting still until it passes. Movement might make you feel worse. Relax and do something distracting — like watching TV or reading — until you feel better.

On the flip side, you might find a gentle walk and getting some fresh air helps ease side effects.

7. Try Anti-Nausea Medications

You might need anti-nausea medication to get some semaglutide nausea relief in the short term. These drugs should kick in 30 to 60 minutes after taking them.

You can get over-the-counter or prescription drugs for nausea. A healthcare professional can let you know the best anti-nausea medications for you.

8. Speak to Your Healthcare Provider

If your nausea doesn’t improve, reach out to your medical provider. They may want to temporarily lower your semaglutide dose or keep you on your current dose for longer before increasing it.

If your nausea really doesn’t improve, your provider might also recommend a different GLP-1 receptor agonist or weight loss medication like:

• Tirzepatide (Mounjaro® and Zepbound®)

• Metformin

• Topiramate (Topamax®)

One more thing — and we don’t want to scare you here, but it’s an important point about semaglutide and nausea. Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) is a possible side effect of Wegovy and Ozempic, and one sign to look out for is nausea.

Seek medical advice if you have nausea and other symptoms of pancreatitis like:

• Severe, sharp stomach pain

• Stomach pain that radiates into your back

• Vomiting

Nausea can also be a sign of gallbladder problems like gallstones, which have been linked to semaglutide. Other symptoms include upper-right abdominal pain and vomiting.

The TL;DR of it all is that nausea is the most common side effect of Ozempic and other semaglutide drugs. So if you’re experiencing semaglutide nausea, you’re far from alone.

Here are the key takeaways:

• Semaglutide nausea should go away with time. Why does semaglutide make you nauseous? We don’t know exactly, but you might feel nausea with semaglutide within your first eight to 12 weeks of treatment. Hang in there, though. Semaglutide upset stomach symptoms, including nausea, aren’t forever.

• Try tweaking what and how you eat to minimize nausea. Avoiding high-fat foods, large meals, and liquids during mealtimes may help reduce nausea. Try bland foods and ginger drinks, or eat smaller meals more regularly. Keeping a food diary can help you find your individual food and meal-timing triggers.

• Talk to your healthcare provider. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your healthcare provider to discuss adverse effects like nausea. They may want to lower your dose, keep you on your current dose for longer, or check for medical conditions like pancreatitis.

If you’re currently taking semaglutide through Hers, you’ve got unlimited online support from your virtual healthcare team. Reach out about nausea from semaglutide for personalized guidance.

Still considering semaglutide as a weight loss drug? Know that nausea (although common) isn’t guaranteed, should go away, and can be managed.

There are also other weight loss medications to consider if all this nausea talk has made you queasy. Take our free weight loss assessment to learn more about your options.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards here.