Ozempic Side Effects in the UAE: What Is Common, What Is Serious and How They Are Managed
Dr. Hecham Harb
Consultant Endocrinologist & Medical Director
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The most common Ozempic side effects listed in the prescribing information are nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and constipation. They can be particularly pronounced in the first few days at a new dose. They often improve as your body adjusts, although some symptoms last longer. Not every patient experiences them. Your endocrinologist can adjust the pace of dose increases and, where needed, prescribe medication to help manage these symptoms.
- The Ozempic prescribing information lists nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and constipation as side effects reported in 5% or more of patients.
- Ozempic slows the emptying of the stomach, which may contribute to nausea, early fullness and reflux in some patients.
- Smaller meals, steady fluid intake and fewer high-fat meals can help while your body adjusts to each dose.
- The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) advises urgent medical help for severe stomach pain that spreads to the back and does not go away.
- Rapid weight loss can trigger hair shedding, which Cleveland Clinic describes as often improving within three to six months.
- Endocare’s doctors are always available to support patients with advice between visits, including adjusting the timing of the next injection.
01 Introduction
Ozempic contains semaglutide, a GLP-1 medication that slows the emptying of the stomach. Many of its side effects affect the digestive system.
02 What are the most common side effects of Ozempic?
The Ozempic prescribing information lists nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and constipation as the side effects reported in 5% or more of patients. Not every patient experiences them.
Nausea
Nausea is reported more often than any other side effect of Ozempic, particularly after starting treatment or after a dose increase. Smaller meals, stopping before you feel overly full and fewer high-fat meals, especially in the evening, can help. Keeping your fluid intake steady through the day can also help.
Vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain
Vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain are also among the side effects reported in 5% or more of patients. Vomiting or diarrhoea can lead to dehydration. The prescribing information reports cases of kidney injury linked to dehydration. We recommend drinking fluids steadily and contacting the clinic if you cannot keep fluids down.
Constipation
Constipation can appear in the first weeks of treatment, when appetite and fluid intake often fall. Adding fibre through vegetables, fruit, oats and legumes can help, together with enough fluid and a short walk after meals.
Reflux, burping and early fullness
A slower emptying of the stomach can leave some patients with reflux, burping or a feeling of fullness that lasts after a meal. Smaller portions and not lying down soon after eating can help.
For some patients, appetite can fall so much that they eat too little protein. Endocare’s lifestyle coaches will help you build a weight loss diet plan that includes enough protein.
03 How long do Ozempic side effects last?
Side effects such as nausea or constipation can be particularly pronounced in the first few days at a new dose. They often improve as your body adjusts, although some symptoms last longer. If symptoms continue beyond two weeks at a dose, or become worse, your endocrinologist will review the pace of your dose increases. Your endocrinologist may keep you on the same dose for longer before the next increase if side effects are difficult to tolerate. Our Ozempic dosage guide explains how your endocrinologist decides each step.
04 How Ozempic side effects are managed at Endocare
The table below sets out when the common side effects tend to appear and how our endocrinologists manage them. The timing follows the prescribing information and Cleveland Clinic.
| Side effect | When it tends to appear | How it is managed |
|---|---|---|
| Nausea | The first few days at a new dose | Smaller meals, steady fluids, a slower pace of dose increases and medication where needed |
| Constipation | The first weeks of treatment | Fibre, fluids, daily movement and medication where needed |
| Reflux and early fullness | After meals, particularly in the first weeks | Smaller portions and not lying down soon after eating |
| Hair shedding | Often two to three months after rapid weight loss | Protein intake and a review of your rate of weight loss |
If you experience nausea or constipation, your endocrinologist can adjust the pace of dose increases and, where needed, prescribe medication to help manage these side effects. Endocare’s doctors are always available to support patients with advice between visits, for example by adjusting the timing of the next injection or suggesting practical changes.
Endocare’s lifestyle coaches can help you plan meals and fluid intake around each dose increase. At each monthly follow-up, in person at the clinic or online, your endocrinologist will review any side effects with you. Side-effect support is part of our medical weight loss programme. Our article on daily habits to improve GLP-1 results offers practical suggestions.
If side effects remain difficult despite these adjustments, your endocrinologist will review your dose and your response with you. Together, you can decide whether to continue, adjust treatment or consider another option. Mounjaro, Wegovy and Foundayo are other options. Their most common side effects also affect the digestive system.
05 Serious side effects of Ozempic: when to seek medical advice
A small number of side effects need urgent attention:
- Severe stomach pain that spreads to the back and does not go away: seek medical advice immediately
- Pain in the upper right abdomen with fever or yellowing of the skin or eyes: seek medical advice immediately
- Vomiting or diarrhoea that prevents you from keeping fluids down: seek medical advice immediately
- Dizziness on standing, dark urine or very little urine: seek medical advice immediately
- A sudden change in your eyesight: seek medical advice immediately
- Shaking, sweating or confusion if you also take insulin or a sulfonylurea: seek medical advice immediately
For swelling of the face, lips or throat, difficulty breathing or collapse, call an ambulance on 998. The government list of UAE emergency numbers gives 998 for an ambulance and 999 for the police. We recommend contacting the clinic about any other symptom that concerns you.
The MHRA reports that, in very rare cases, semaglutide has been linked to a sudden loss of vision in one eye. The prescribing information also warns of a higher risk of low blood sugar when Ozempic is taken with insulin or a sulfonylurea.
06 Does Ozempic cause hair loss?
Hair shedding can occur during weight loss on Ozempic. The prescribing information lists hair loss among the reports received after approval, without a frequency.
Rapid weight loss, a large calorie deficit, illness or surgery can trigger hair shedding. These stresses can cause more hairs than usual to enter the resting phase together. Cleveland Clinic describes this shedding as often starting two to three months after the trigger and often improving within three to six months.
Cleveland Clinic also notes that shortfalls in protein, iron and zinc can contribute. Your endocrinologist may check iron, vitamin B12, vitamin D and other markers in your blood tests where hair shedding is a concern. Our article on hair loss on GLP-1 medications covers the question in more detail.
07 Ozempic face and other changes with weight loss
Ozempic face is an informal term for changes in facial appearance that can follow substantial weight loss. Ozempic face appears to be primarily related to rapid or substantial weight loss rather than a direct effect of the medication on the face. How quickly you lose weight is one of the main factors that can influence how noticeable these facial changes are. Our article on Ozempic face explains the other factors involved and what can help.
08 Who may not be suitable for Ozempic?
Do not use Ozempic if you or a member of your family has had medullary thyroid carcinoma, or if you have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2. The prescribing information lists both as reasons not to use semaglutide, together with a previous serious allergic reaction to it.
Stop Ozempic at least two months before a planned pregnancy, as the prescribing information advises, because semaglutide takes a long time to leave the body. Your endocrinologist will also ask about any history of pancreatitis, gallbladder disease or diabetic eye disease before you start.
Patients should not decide by themselves to start a GLP-1 medication. A doctor’s review is critical to ensure the treatment is safe and appropriate for the individual. Our page on Ozempic in the UAE explains who may be suitable for Ozempic.
09 FAQ
Can Ozempic cause stomach paralysis?
Ozempic slows the emptying of the stomach as part of how it works. The prescribing information does not recommend Ozempic for people with severe gastroparesis, a condition sometimes called stomach paralysis. Severe or persistent vomiting, bloating or stomach pain on Ozempic should be assessed promptly.
Should I stop Ozempic if I feel sick?
Not on your own. For severe symptoms, seek medical advice immediately. For milder symptoms, contact the clinic so that your endocrinologist can review your dose. If you take Ozempic for type 2 diabetes, stopping can worsen blood sugar control. Our guide on stopping Ozempic explains the options.
What should I do if I miss a dose because of side effects?
If you feel too unwell to inject on your usual day, contact the clinic before deciding. The prescribing information advises taking a missed dose as soon as possible within five days. If more than five days have passed, skip the missed dose and take the next one on your usual day.
Can I take supplements while on Ozempic?
Tell your endocrinologist before you start any supplement. Supplements are regulated differently from medications. They do not go through the same testing for effectiveness, and their ingredients are not checked as strictly.
Are Ozempic side effects the same as Wegovy side effects?
They are similar, because both medications contain semaglutide. The Wegovy injection is used at doses up to 2.4 mg, and our page on Wegovy side effects covers them in detail. Our comparison of Ozempic and Wegovy explains how their approved uses and doses differ.
Do Ozempic side effects get worse at higher doses?
They can be more noticeable after a dose increase. Your endocrinologist increases the dose in steps of at least four weeks and agrees each increase with you.
At our Dubai clinic, your endocrinologist will assess you, review your symptoms and your dose, and agree the next step with you. You can book a weight loss consultation on +971 4 285 3885 or send us a message on WhatsApp. If you are already a patient, contact the clinic about any side effect, and Endocare’s doctors will advise you.
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- Specialist consultation
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