Does Semaglutide Make You Tired?

Written on September 14, 2023 by Theresa Vuskovich, DMD. To give you technically accurate, evidence-based information, content published on the Everlywell blog is reviewed by credentialed professionals with expertise in medical and bioscience fields.

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Table of contents

• Why Do You Feel Tired While Taking Semaglutide?
• How You Take Semaglutide Can Affect How Tired You Feel
• Your Dose Can Affect How Tired You Feel
• What To Know When Taking Semaglutide
• Weight Management Online With Everlywell
• Related Content

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Key points [1-5]:

• Semaglutide is prescribed for individuals with type 2 diabetes and individuals who are overweight or have obesity with at least one weight-related comorbidity.
• Semaglutide can lead to a reduction in caloric intake, which can make you tired.
• Side effects of semaglutide include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, all of which can also make you tired.
• How you take semaglutide (pill or injection), and your dosage can affect how tired you feel.

Semaglutide is the active pharmaceutical ingredient in three popular brand name medications, Ozempic®, Rybelsus®, and Wegovy®.[1-5] If you are taking semaglutide, you may wonder, “Does semaglutide make you tired?” This article will explain why you may feel tired taking semaglutide and the factors affecting how tired you feel.

Why Do You Feel Tired While Taking Semaglutide?

Semaglutide is prescribed for lowering blood sugar levels for individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and weight management for those who are overweight or have obesity with at least one weight-related comorbidity.[1-5] Individuals taking semaglutide may lose up to 15% of their body weight.[5] However, weight loss results may vary depending on your starting weight, comorbidities, other medications, and lifestyle choices.[1-5]

Although the exact mechanism by which semaglutide causes weight loss is still under investigation, it has the potential to reduce appetite, thereby reducing caloric intake.[1-3] You may feel more tired than usual due to the reduced calorie intake while taking semaglutide. Additionally, semaglutide can make you tired due to its gastrointestinal side effects, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.[1-3] How tired you feel while taking semaglutide is also impacted by how you take semaglutide (pill or injection) and your dosage.[1-3]

How You Take Semaglutide Can Affect How Tired You Feel

Semaglutide is available as a daily pill (Rybelsus®) or a once-weekly injection (Ozempic® and Wegovy®).[1-3] During clinical trials, individuals taking semaglutide as an injection were more likely to report fatigue (tiredness) as a side effect.[1-3] Patients taking Rybelsus® during clinical trials did not report fatigue as a side effect.[2] Those taking 14 mg of Rybelsus® did report nausea (20%), abdominal pain (11%), diarrhea (10%), decreased appetite (9%), vomiting (8%), and constipation (5%).[2]

During clinical trials for Ozempic® and Wegovy® (semaglutide injections), patients did report feeling tired.[1,3] 11% of participants taking 2.4 mg of Wegovy® for weight management reported feeling tired.[3] Less than .4% of patients reported feeling tired as a side effect during clinical trials for Ozempic®.[1] Those taking 1 mg of Ozempic® did report nausea (20.3%), vomiting (9.2%), diarrhea (8.8%), abdominal pain (5.7%), and constipation (3.1%).[1]

Your Dose Can Affect How Tired You Feel

Individuals taking a higher dose of semaglutide are more likely to feel tired.[1-3] Wegovy® for weight management offers the maximum dose of semaglutide (2.4 mg) and is associated with a higher incidence of fatigue and other side effects.[1-3] Individuals taking 2.4 mg of Wegovy® reported nausea (44%), diarrhea (30%), vomiting (24%), constipation (24%), abdominal pain (20%), and abdominal distension (bloating)(7%) as side effects.[3]

Wegovy® is available as a pre-filled, single-dose injection pen containing 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg, or 2.4 mg of semaglutide.[3] Clinical experience suggests starting on a low dose of semaglutide and slowly increasing the dosage may reduce the risk of side effects.[4] Patients can start with 0.25 mg and increase their dose every four weeks until they reach the maintenance dose (2.4 mg).[3] Consult your healthcare provider if you experience fatigue or other side effects while taking semaglutide.

What To Know When Taking Semaglutide

Now that you know semaglutide can make you feel tired, here are some other facts to know about semaglutide [1-5]:

• Rybelsus® and Ozempic® are FDA-approved for individuals with T2D to improve blood sugar levels, while Wegovy® is FDA-approved for weight management. However, Rybelsus® and Ozempic® are prescribed off-label for weight management.
• Semaglutide can increase your risk of thyroid cancer, acute pancreatitis, acute gallbladder disease, hypoglycemia, and acute kidney injury.
• Individuals have reported hypersensitivity reactions, suicidal behavior, and suicidal ideation while taking semaglutide.
• Semaglutide is not for individuals with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
• If you experience signs of a serious reaction, such as shortness of breath, call 911 immediately.

Weight Management Online With Everlywell

Weight management is available via the Everlywell Weight Care+ program, an option for online weight loss. The program includes regular virtual care visits, lab testing, medication, and support for related conditions. The Weight Care+ program involves ongoing visits with a licensed nurse practitioner, who will assess your medical history and goals to create a customized care plan for you.

Weight loss is not a one-size-fits-all process. This is where Weight Care+ can help. Weight Care+ offers personalized weight management through 3- or 12-month memberships. While medications are available to assist with weight loss, prescriptions, including those for semaglutide, are not guaranteed when you join the program. Your healthcare provider wants to ensure you safely reach your health and weight goals.

Related Content

Dulaglutide vs. Semaglutide: Differences and Similarities Between the Two Medications

What To Eat On Semaglutide

Can An Endocrinologist Help With Weight Loss?

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References

1. Ozempic® Prescribing Information. Novo-pi.com. https://www.novo-pi.com/ozempic.pdf. Accessed August 12, 2023.
2. Rybelsus® Prescribing Information. Novo-pi.com. https://www.novo-pi.com/rybelsus.pdf. Accessed August 12, 2023.
3. Wegovy® Prescribing Information. Novo-pi.com. https://www.novo-pi.com/wegovy.pdf. Accessed August 12, 2023.
4. Kushner RF, Calanna S, Davies M, et al. Semaglutide 2.4 mg for the treatment of obesity: Key elements of the STEP trials 1 to 5. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2020;28(6):1050-1061. doi:10.1002/oby.22794. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32441473/.
5. Kosiborod MN, Bhatta M, Davies M, et al. Semaglutide improves cardiometabolic risk factors in adults with overweight or obesity: STEP 1 and 4 exploratory analyses. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2023;25(2):468-478. doi:10.1111/dom.14890. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36200477/.