For many individuals with obesity, having access to a weight loss medication such as Ozempic or Wegovy can play an important role in taking back control of their health. Sometimes, diet and lifestyle changes are just not enough to maintain a healthy body mass index (BMI), which is important for avoiding many life-threatening health conditions .
But for some people, feeling nauseated as a side effect of taking a prescription weight loss drug makes it impossible to continue. An estimated 20% (or one in five people) taking Ozempic experience nausea as a side effect. Since it’s so common, doctors who prescribe these drugs have become pros at helping patients treat it. Keep reading to see their best advice for avoiding nausea while taking Ozempic or a medication like it.
Related: Thinking About Trying Ozempic? Here's What You Can Expect Week by Week
Why Can Taking a Prescription Weight Loss Medication Cause Nausea?
Dr. Sue Decotiis, MD, a weight loss doctor based in New York City, explains that the reason why medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy can cause some people to experience nausea is because the body is working extra hard to burn fat rapidly.
Dr. Mert Erogul, MD , a medical bariatrician at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, explains that peptides in medications cross the blood-brain barrier and affect the parts of the brain responsible for appetite, satiety and nausea. They also slow the emptying of the stomach. He says that for some people, this can cause nausea until their body gets used to the medication.
“These medications work by mimicking the hormone GLP-1, which increases insulin secretion and decreases glucagon secretion, which slows gastric emptying. Delayed gastric emptying can cause a feeling of fullness and discomfort, which often leads to nausea,” explains Dr. Thais Aliabadi, MD , a weight loss specialist and founder of Trimly .
Related: The #1 Mistake People Make While On Weight Loss Drugs Like Ozempic, According to an Obesity Doctor
According to Dr. Erogul and Dr. Aliabadi, it’s hard to predict who will experience nausea as a side effect of a weight loss medication—and, remember, most people don’t. But all three doctors say that for most people who do experience nausea, it typically goes away in a few weeks, as the body gets used to the medication.
How to Get Relief from Ozempic Nausea
If you’re about to start taking a weight loss medication or recently started taking one, Dr. Decotiis says that one way to make experiencing nausea less likely is to stay hydrated and make sure you're eating enough nutrient-rich foods.
According to Dr. Decotiis, some people will need to drink almost a gallon of water a day. “Hydration and good nutrition is the number one way to avoid nausea,” she explains. “Your body is working hard burning fat. If someone isn’t eating enough, that will make it worse. In my practice, we monitor patients' food intake very carefully so they get enough food.”
Related: How Much Weight Can You Expect to Lose on Ozempic?
She adds that someone taking a prescription weight loss drug can become dehydrated from all the fat burning because fat cells are mostly water, explaining, “When patients come in, I can see with the body composition scale when people lose a lot of water. When this happens, it disrupts the fat-burning process and your body will go to muscle reserves, which will lead to even more side effects."
What to Eat on Ozempic to Avoid Nausea
Another tip for avoiding nausea is eating small, frequent meals instead of three larger ones—a tip Dr. Aliabadi recommends to her patients. “Eat slowly and avoid fatty, sugary and spicy foods as those can increase nausea,” she says, adding that sipping ginger or peppermint tea can also help combat nausea.
If your nausea doesn’t go away after a few weeks or is unbearable at any time, all three experts say it’s important to talk to your doctor about it. They can lower your dose (according to Dr. Aliabadi, starting on a low dose and slowly increasing it over time is the best way to avoid nausea on these types of medications), prescribe you a medication to help with the nausea or switch you to a different GLP-1 medication.
Lowering your BMI should not come at the price of being miserable and experiencing nausea. If it’s something you’re experiencing, talk to your doctor about it. Together, you can come up with a plan that works without making you feel horrible.
Next up, here's what to do if you're impacted by the Ozempic shortage
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