Can Ozempic Make You Tired?

Studies and clinical trials have found that Ozempic can cause fatigue in roughly 11% of patients. The exact cause or causes of this are unknown, but the use of semaglutide medications can cause changes to hormones and the way your body functions. This may contribute to feelings of fatigue, exhaustion, and drowsiness for some GLP-1 patients.

Below, we’ll explore why Ozempic use can cause varying degrees of fatigue, what semaglutide patients can do if they feel tired while on their diabetes medication, and how long this dip in energy levels may last. We’ll also delve into other health issues linked to GLP-1 use, including some severe complications that involve the gastrointestinal tract.

If you take Ozempic or another GLP-1 medication and have experienced serious medical problems, we encourage you to discuss what happened with the lawyers at Bursor & Fisher, P.A. During a free case review, our attorneys can let you know if you qualify for a lawsuit and what steps you need to take next.

 

Why do some Ozempic patients experience fatigue?

There are three main reasons why people who take Ozempic may experience fatigue while on the drug:

• Reduced Calorie Intake – Ozempic changes a person’s appetite by helping them feel fuller for longer periods of time. When people eat fewer calories, they have less fuel than usual for normal activities throughout the day. This can result in fatigue and general feelings of exhaustion or drowsiness.
• Dehydration – There are multiple side effects associated with Ozempic use that can lead to patients becoming dehydrated. Dehydration can contribute to feeling tired at different points of the day or a general sense of fatigue.
• Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia) – Ozempic helps lower a patient’s blood sugar as part of managing type 2 diabetes. Hypoglycemia has been known to cause or contribute to fatigue when a person’s blood sugar drops too low.

It’s worth noting that other factors and health conditions could be at play when it comes to feelings of fatigue among Ozempic and GLP-1 patients.

How long does Ozempic-related fatigue last?

Studies found that most Ozempic patients experience fatigue in their first two to six weeks of taking the injectable medication. This is when the body is adjusting to the use of semaglutide. It can take time for the body and a person’s metabolism to get used to the effects of Ozempic.

As time passes and patients continue to take Ozempic as directed, they will likely experience less fatigue and get used to their new eating habits and routines. These changes should be noticeable after a month to two months on the GLP-1.

If your fatigue persists or worsens after several weeks on Ozempic, be sure to discuss your situation with your doctor.

Are there remedies for Ozempic-related fatigue?

Yes. There are a few things Ozempic patients can do to manage and mitigate fatigue in the first weeks of taking their GLP-1 injection.

• Stay Hydrated – Be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Avoiding dehydration can keep your energy levels up.
• Improve Your Sleep Routine – Develop a regular sleeping schedule and routine to ensure you regularly receive a good night of restful sleep.
• Eat a Balanced Diet – As you lose weight and get your type 2 diabetes under control, discuss better eating habits with your doctor to ensure you are properly nourished even though you’ll be eating less.
• Exercise Regularly – As counterintuitive as it sounds, exercising more will give you more energy in the long run. Build regular physical activity into your daily routine.

If the above tips do not help you overcome fatigue, you can also discuss taking nutritional supplements and other options with your doctor.

Will I feel tired if I take a different GLP-1 drug for obesity or weight loss?

Potentially, yes. The other popular GLP-1 drugs used for diabetes management and weight loss work a lot like Ozempic. Some patients may experience fatigue if they take any of these other prescription medications:

• Rybelsus (semaglutide from Novo Nordisk)
• Wegovy (semaglutide from Novo Nordisk)
• Mounjaro (tirzepatide from Eli Lilly and Company)
• Zepbound (tirzepatide from Eli Lilly and Company)
• Saxenda (liraglutide from Novo Nordisk)
• Victoza (liraglutide from Novo Nordisk)
• Trulicity (dulaglutide from Eli Lilly and Company)

What other side effects are common with Ozempic patients?

In addition to fatigue and drowsiness, Ozempic patients may experience these other side effects:

• Reduced appetite
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Upset stomach

Do some Ozempic patients experience severe side effects or health complications?

Yes. In addition to the common side effects we’ve listed above, some Ozempic patients develop much more serious health issues, some of which are potentially life-threatening. These serious medical complications include:

• Severe and prolonged vomiting
• Changes in vision (often related to diabetic retinopathy)
• Gallstones and gallbladder disease
• Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
• Increased risk of thyroid cancer
• Stomach paralysis (gastroparesis)
• Intestinal blockage or bowel obstruction (ileus)

How common are severe complications from Ozempic?

Thankfully, the medical complications listed above are quite rare. Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly and Company both include warnings about some of these potential dangers on the labels of their weight loss and diabetes drugs.

If you took Ozempic and experienced severe gastrointestinal problems, the lawyers at Bursor & Fisher, P.A. can help. We encourage you to contact our law firm as soon as possible if you have developed any of these GI complications:

• Severe and prolonged vomiting
• Stomach paralysis
• Intestinal blockage
• Bowel obstruction

Below is a brief overview of these serious Ozempic-related gastrointestinal problems and why they are so dangerous.

What is meant by excessive and prolonged vomiting?

Some nausea and occasional vomiting are common when taking Ozempic. Excessive and prolonged vomiting means that a person vomits several times a day for a period of two weeks or longer.

What are the dangers of excessive and prolonged vomiting?

Those who vomit several times a day for long stretches of time could experience irritation of and injury to the esophagus. The inability to keep food down can also contribute to dehydration, malnutrition, and bouts of fatigue.

In addition to the above issues, the heightened acidity in the mouth can cause acidic erosion of the tooth enamel. This can lead to tooth sensitivity, tooth decay, root canal infections, and even tooth loss.

Are vomiting and fatigue linked to other severe Ozempic complications?

Yes.

Issues that affect digestion can contribute to both nausea as well as feelings of exhaustion. Be mindful of any symptoms you exhibit when taking Ozempic or any GLP-1 medication. If anything troubling occurs, be sure to speak with your doctor about your health issues as soon as possible. Early treatment of a problem can help avoid more serious GI tact issues later on.

What is stomach paralysis?

Also known as gastroparesis, stomach paralysis is a condition in which the nerves and muscles of the stomach do not push food from the stomach into the small intestine. This prevents normal digestion from occurring. Some Ozempic patients develop gastroparesis even if they follow their doctor’s instructions to the letter.

What are the common signs and symptoms of stomach paralysis?

The most common warning signs of stomach paralysis include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Indigestion
• Stomach pain, particularly around the upper abdomen
• Abdominal bloating
• Total lack of appetite
• Heartburn
• Constipation

What are the dangers of stomach paralysis?

If not diagnosed and treated in a timely manner, stomach paralysis could contribute to malnutrition, dehydration, the formation of a bezoar (a solid mass in the stomach), and a variety of other more serious health problems.

What is an intestinal blockage?

An intestinal blockage refers to an obstruction in the small intestine or part of the large intestine. This obstruction prevents the normal passage of food and waste through a person’s GI tract.

When this occurs in Ozempic patients, it’s often caused by ileus, a condition in which the nerves and muscles of the intestines do not contract to push food through for digestion. An intestinal obstruction could also occur if a bezoar passes from the stomach into the small intestine and disrupts the digestive process.

What are the common signs and symptoms of intestinal blockage?

Some of the most common warning signs of intestinal obstruction include:

• Abdominal cramps
• Abdominal pain
• Bulging in the abdomen
• Bloating
• Vomiting
• Dehydration
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Constipation
• Inability to pass gas

What are the dangers of intestinal blockage?

If not diagnosed and treated in a timely manner, an intestinal obstruction could cause death of the surrounding intestinal tissue and infection of the abdominal cavity (peritonitis). These medical complications could prove fatal.

What are bowel obstructions?

Bowel obstructions are essentially intestinal blockages that affect the lower portions of the large intestine and the colon. Bowel obstructions are often the result of ileus or the movement of a bezoar further down into an Ozempic patient’s digestive tract.

What are the common signs and symptoms of bowel obstruction?

Some of the most common warning signs of bowel obstruction include:

• Abdominal cramps
• Abdominal pain
• Bloating
• Vomiting
• Dehydration
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Constipation
• Inability to pass gas

What are the dangers of bowel obstruction?

As with intestinal blockages, a bowel obstruction could cause tissue death in the lower intestine, peritonitis, or sepsis without timely medical intervention. These conditions are all potentially fatal.

What should I do if I develop a GI tract problem from taking Ozempic?

If you develop any of the gastrointestinal difficulties from using Ozempic, be sure to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Your doctor and other medical professionals can help prevent further harm to your GI tract and more severe long-term impacts on your health.

When you have sufficiently recovered from your condition, we encourage you to contact our law offices at your earliest convenience. Discuss possible legal action against the makers of Ozempic during a free consultation with our lawyers.

I take a different GLP-1 medication similar to Ozempic. Could I also develop severe gastrointestinal problems?

Yes.

Remember that Ozempic is just one of several popular diabetes and weight loss drugs that help reduce appetite and control blood sugar levels. Similar drugs like Wegovy, Zepbound, and Mounjaro can also cause life-threatening GI issues.

At Bursor & Fisher, P.A., our attorneys are ready to hold drug companies accountable if their products cause severe health problems in patients who were simply following their doctor’s orders.

Can I sue Novo Nordisk for medical emergencies related to Ozempic?

Potentially, yes. You may be eligible to take legal action against Ozempic maker Novo Nordisk for serious health problems. The same goes for other GLP-1 drugs.

The attorneys of Bursor & Fisher, P.A. can provide answers to your questions about litigation related to GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic or Wegovy.

We should note that qualifying legal clients must meet specific criteria to be represented by our law firm. We will screen for certain conditions and review your case when you contact our law firm.

How much is my Ozempic lawsuit against Novo Nordisk worth?

This will vary from person to person, based on the patient’s individual experience and health complications while taking Ozempic.

While we cannot provide an estimate without discussing your experience, damages in a legal action will cover the cost of any previous and ongoing medical treatment as well as the long-term effects of the drug-related health issues on a person’s quality of life.

Since the amount of compensation in an Ozempic case is determined on an individual client basis, it’s best to discuss what happened to you with the GLP-1 lawsuit attorneys at Bursor & Fisher, P.A.

How can I learn more about taking legal action for Ozempic-related medical health problems?

To learn more about potential compensation through a legal action against the makers of Ozempic, contact Bursor & Fisher, P.A. for a free case review.

Bursor & Fisher, P.A. has represented more than 160 million people in legal actions—that’s roughly 1 in every 2 Americans. Our law firm is a nationwide leader in complex, high-stakes litigation.

Our attorneys have secured numerous multi-million dollar verdicts over the years, which includes actions against pharmaceutical companies and drug manufacturers like Novo Nordisk. We’re ready to speak to you.

Bursor & Fisher, P.A. is not a medical provider. The information on this website is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as, nor should it be considered a substitute for, professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.