How to Relieve Nausea From Semaglutide: Tips and How Long It Lasts
Nausea is the most common side effect of semaglutide, the active ingredient in the medications Ozempic® and Rybelsus® (for diabetes) and Wegovy® (for weight loss).
Nausea happens most often when starting the medicine and increasing the dose. But there’s good news: Semaglutide nausea should go away as your body gets used to the medication.
Solutions are available, including anti-nausea medicine, home remedies, and eating adjustments.
Below, we’ll explain why you might feel nauseous on semaglutide, how long you can expect it to last, and tips for how to relieve nausea from semaglutide.
Does Semaglutide Cause Nausea?
Yes, nausea is the most common side effect of semaglutide. And the higher the dose, the more likely you are to experience it.
In clinical trials of Ozempic® and Wegovy®, nausea was reported in:
17 percent of those taking a 0.5mg (milligram) dose of semaglutide
19.9 percent of those taking a 1mg dose
43.9 percent of those taking a 2.4mg dose
These were all semaglutide injections, but nausea is also the most common side effect of Rybelsus®, a semaglutide tablet licensed to treat type 2 diabetes.
So, it’s not unusual to feel a bit queasy on semaglutide — whether it’s oral or injectable, for diabetes or obesity. But for many people, nausea often lessens over time.
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Why Does Semaglutide Cause Nausea?
It’s not entirely clear why semaglutide causes nausea. But it may have something to do with how it slows gastric emptying.
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 for some people, that slower movement might lead to occasional nausea.
There’s another theory as to why GLP-1s (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists) — the class of medication semaglutide belongs to — can cause nausea. These medicines 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 may also play a role in the nausea some people feel early on.
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.
How Long Does Nausea Last With Wegovy® and Ozempic®?
There’s some good news about Wegovy® and Ozempic® nausea: It should get better.
Everyone reacts differently to medication, so there’s no set timeframe for how long semaglutide nausea will last or how long after semaglutide injections you’ll get side effects. Having said that, you might experience nausea in the first eight to 12 weeks of treatment.
You may be 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 medication.
Hang on in there, and reach out to your GP (general practitioner) or private provider if any side effects are unmanageable.
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How to Relieve Nausea From Semaglutide: 8 Tips
Even though you know it should get better, sitting around feeling nauseous is never fun. Luckily, there are things you can do to avoid or minimise Ozempic® or Wegovy® nausea.
Here’s how to stop semaglutide nausea — or at least feel better when it arises.
1. Start Low and Gradually Increase Your Dose
Your GP or private provider can guide you on this. Starting on a low dose of semaglutide and gradually increasing the dose over time can help reduce gastrointestinal side effects, including nausea.
Let your GP or provider know if semaglutide nausea doesn’t go away. They might keep you on your current dose for longer before increasing it, giving your body more time to adjust.
If you’re eligible for Wegovy® through Hers UK, you’ll get a personalised dosing schedule to help minimise side effects.
You can also use the Hers mobile app to message a UK-registered clinician trained in weight management at any time. They can recommend a change in dose, a different medication, or anti-nausea remedies if needed.
2. Eat Smaller, More Frequent Meals
Instead of three main meals, try eating smaller, more frequent meals and nutritious snacks throughout the day. This can help if nausea is making it hard to feel like eating or if you’re getting overly full.
Eat slowly and stop when you feel full. Your appetite and how quickly you feel full may be very different from before you started taking semaglutide.
3. Avoid High-Fat Food and Other Nausea Triggers
High-fat food can make semaglutide nausea worse. Try avoiding:
Fatty meat
Baked goods and sweets
Greasy or fried food
You might also find that these foods and drinks worsen the gastrointestinal side effects of semaglutide:
Spicy food
Dairy products
Salty food
Ultra-processed food
Acidic foods like tomatoes or citrus fruits
Alcohol
Caffeine
Carbonated drinks
Certain foods or even strong smells may trigger nausea on semaglutide. It could help to keep a food diary to see if you can find any patterns. From there, you can identify which foods, drinks, or dietary supplements cause side effects and try to avoid them.
4. Eat Food That Soothes (or Doesn’t Worsen) Nausea
What you eat can help with Wegovy® and Ozempic® nausea relief.
If the thought of eating makes you feel queasy, try bland foods like:
Chicken
Fish
Potatoes
Rice
Toast
To help with nausea, try eating these foods 30 minutes after taking semaglutide:
Apples
Mint
Plain crackers
Ginger-based drinks, like ginger tea
Take note of what foods help settle your stomach versus what might upset it.
5. Drink Plenty of Water
Drink enough water to stay hydrated, but take small sips throughout the day and avoid drinking so much that you feel overfull.
If your semaglutide nausea is severe or ongoing, try avoiding drinks during 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, diarrhoea, indigestion, cramping, or constipation.
6. Avoid Activity After Meals
Exercise and movement are great — but when nausea hits, it’s best to take it easy. Schedule exercise away from meal times, and avoid vigorous activity after eating.
Having said that, you’ll want to avoid lying down after meals, as this can sometimes make semaglutide sickness symptoms worse.
If you’re feeling nauseous, it’s okay to sit still and give yourself a moment to recover. Relax and distract yourself with something enjoyable, like watching TV or reading, until the feeling passes.
Some people find that a gentle walk and fresh air help ease nausea. Listen to your body and do what feels right for you.
7. Try Anti-Nausea Medication
If you’re struggling with nausea from semaglutide, you may benefit from anti-nausea medication.
Ondansetron (generic for Zofran®), for example, is an anti-sickness medicine available in tablet form and as a melt-in-the-mouth medication. It starts working within one to two hours.
If eligible, you’ll get dissolvable ondansetron tablets included in your Hers weight loss subscription at no extra cost. That way, you’ll have them ready should you need them.
You can also speak to your GP, private provider, or a chemist to find the best anti-nausea medicine for you.
8. Speak to Your GP or Private Provider
If your nausea doesn’t improve, reach out to your GP or the provider who prescribed semaglutide. 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, they might recommend a different GLP-1 medication like:
Tirzepatide (Mounjaro®)
Liraglutide (Saxenda®)
One more thing — and we don’t want to worry you here, but it’s an important point to be aware of about semaglutide and nausea. Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) is a rare but possible side effect of Wegovy® and Ozempic®.
A warning sign can be nausea, particularly if it comes with other symptoms like:
Severe, sharp abdominal pain
Stomach pain that radiates into the back
Vomiting
Nausea can also sometimes be related to gallbladder issues, such as gallstones, which have been linked to semaglutide use. Symptoms to look out for include pain in the centre or upper-right of the abdomen and vomiting.
If you notice any of these symptoms, seek medical advice straight away. And if anything feels off or concerning, don’t hesitate to check in with your GP or provider.
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How Do You Stop Feeling Sick on Wegovy®? Key Points
The gist is that nausea is the most common side effect of Wegovy®, Ozempic®, and other semaglutide medicines. So if you’re experiencing semaglutide nausea, you’re far from alone.
Here are the key points to remember:
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 on in there, though. Semaglutide upset stomach symptoms aren’t forever.
Try tweaking what and how you eat to minimise nausea. Avoiding high-fat food, large meals, and liquids during mealtimes may help reduce nausea. Try bland food and ginger drinks, or eat smaller meals more frequently. Keeping a food diary can help you identify your individual food and meal-timing triggers.
Talk to your GP or private provider. Reach out to your 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 Wegovy® or another weight loss medication through Hers, you’ve got unlimited support from your virtual care team. You can reach out for personalised advice on nausea from semaglutide at any time.
If eligible, you’ll also get the anti-sickness medicine ondansetron (generic for Zofran®) included in your treatment plan at no extra cost.
Still considering semaglutide as a weight loss medication? Know that nausea (although common) isn’t guaranteed, should go away with time, and can be managed.
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 GP about the risks and benefits of any treatment.