Ozempic is a prescription medicine used to help control blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. It comes in a pre-filled pen that you inject once weekly under the skin.
It may cause side effects like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, low blood sugar, and suppressed appetite. Your doctor will start you on a low dose to help your body get used to the medication and to minimize the chance of side effects.
Severe nausea and vomiting
Ozempic (semaglutide) is used to improve blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. It’s an injectable drug that is administered once a week to help control blood sugar.
Semaglutide can cause severe nausea and vomiting if you take too much of it. This is most common if you first start taking the medicine or when your doctor increases your dose.
However, most of these side effects go away in a few days or weeks. You should talk to your doctor if you experience severe nausea and vomiting that doesn’t go away or affects your daily life.
Your doctor may recommend a different medication to help improve your blood sugar levels. They can also help you figure out what causes your nausea and what you can do to stop it from happening.
You should avoid drinking alcohol while you’re taking Ozempic. Chronic (long-term) alcohol use is linked to an increased risk of pancreatitis, a condition that can lead to permanent damage to your pancreas.
Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is an important sign that your body needs to get glucose from food or another source. It is very serious, so it’s important to know how to treat it quickly.
Your doctor may recommend an injection of glucagon to raise your blood sugar level and help you feel better. But it’s very important that you don’t use an injection unless you have the correct equipment and are sure that it won’t harm yourself or others.
If you experience symptoms of hypoglycemia while taking Ozempic, contact your doctor right away. It may be a warning sign of a more serious problem, such as pancreatitis or diabetic retinopathy.
Other side effects of Ozempic include diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain and nausea. These can occur at the beginning of treatment, or when your dose is increased too fast. They typically subside over a few weeks of treatment. You should also talk with your doctor if you have any kidney problems or diabetes.
Acute pancreatitis
Acute pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas that may be mild or life-threatening. It often occurs due to gallstones, alcohol abuse, or high levels of triglycerides in the blood (hypertriglyceridemia).
Severe cases of acute pancreatitis cause severe abdominal pain that is centered in the upper abdomen and extends to the back. This pain can be dull or sharp and can last hours or days.
The condition usually gets better over time, but people with severe cases of acute pancreatitis will need medical treatment. They will need to drink nothing by mouth, receive strong painkillers, and eat a low-fat diet.
Diagnosis is made based on two key findings — abdominal pain that is suggestive of pancreatitis and blood tests that show high levels of amylase and lipase. Other testing for causes such as bile duct problems and gallstones is also important. Imaging tests such as ultrasound and CT scan can help doctors determine the extent of pancreatitis.
Retinal detachment
The retina is a thin layer of tissue on the back of your eye. It is responsible for detecting light and sending information to your brain. If it is damaged, it can cause blurred vision and other problems with your sight.
This disease is caused by the leaking of blood into the vitreous, which is the gel-like substance that fills the center of your eye. Symptoms include floaters, which look like small black or gray specks floating across your field of vision.
Ozempic retinopathy is a very rare side effect of the drug. It may occur after a high dose of Ozempic or when you take the medicine with other anti-diabetic drugs. This type of ophthalmic complication typically occurs in people with type 2 diabetes, and it can result in serious vision loss or blindness. It’s a good idea to see an eye doctor right away if you experience any of these symptoms. This can help you avoid a severe medical emergency.