Introduction
If you have type 2 diabetes or obesity, chances are, you might be considering taking the semaglutide brand, Ozempic. Just like any drug, it’s possible that during your first use of semaglutide, you could experience side effects like fatigue. How your body responds to the drug can have an impact on how you go about your daily activities.
You may wonder, will semaglutide make you tired? Let’s look at semaglutide’s side effects, its link to fatigue or tiredness, and how you can deal with it.
Semaglutide: An overview
As popular as it may be, Ozempic has two sister brands with the same active ingredient, semaglutide: Wegovy and Rybelsus. While Ozempic and Rybelsus have FDA approval to treat type 2 diabetes, only Wegovy has FDA approval to help treat obesity.
Because they’re all semaglutide, they all carry the same therapeutic benefits and side effects, which could include fatigue and tiredness. This is also why many healthcare providers prescribe Ozempic and Rybelsus off-label for weight loss.
What is semaglutide?
Knowing what semaglutide is and how it works is essential before diving into its potential side effects. What is it and how exactly does it regulate blood sugar levels and help you shed pounds?
It’s in the drug classification semaglutide falls under. Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, or GLP-1 Ra.
In our gut is a hormone called GLP-1. Whenever we eat and our blood sugar levels are elevated, GLP-1 prompts insulin release to bring blood glucose down.
Now, semaglutide does the same thing. It also slows digestion or delays gastric emptying, causing people taking the drug to feel fuller for longer. As a result, people on semaglutide have weaker appetites and don’t eat as much because they have fewer cravings. This is what leads them to lose weight.
Oral and subcutaneous semaglutide
There are two ways you can administer semaglutide: orally or subcutaneously. Rybelsus can be taken orally by mouth as it is in tablet form. You must administer Ozempic and Wegovy, meanwhile, subcutaneously or under the skin. These come in injectable dosing pens.
Eligibility
Now that we know what semaglutide is and how it works, the next question is if it’s right for you. Although it has FDA approval for its safety, not everyone can just take semaglutide. You first have to meet certain diagnostic criteria.
For Ozempic and Rybelsus, you need to have type 2 diabetes. Moreover, doctors may prescribe these for heart disease, as they have additional approval for lowering the risk of cardiovascular problems. Doctors may also prescribe these for those dealing with insulin resistance.
For Wegovy, meanwhile, you must have a BMI of 27 or greater. In addition, you must also have one weight-related health condition or a BMI of 30 or greater.
Dosage and administration
The proper dosage, administration, and storage of semaglutide is vital to maintaining its efficacy.
As your body still needs to adjust to semaglutide, your healthcare provider will typically start you off on a low dose. This will gradually increase until you reach a maintenance dose.
You must inject Ozempic and Wegovy once weekly with or without meals in either the upper arm, the thigh, or the abdomen. On the other hand, you must take Rybelsus once daily on an empty stomach.
Safety and efficacy
Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus all have FDA approval, having gone through extensive clinical studies.
Knowing this, you can have peace of mind that it will work safely and effectively to deliver results. The following are highlights from the research that proves semaglutide’s safety, efficacy, and tolerability.
In the STEP 5 trial, researchers investigated the two-year effects of semaglutide in adults who were overweight or with obesity. Participants lost an average of 15 percent of their body weight with semaglutide. Meanwhile, those in the placebo group lost approximately 2.6 percent of their body weight.
Participants on semaglutide lost 5.7 inches off their waistline and saw improvements in systolic blood pressure by 5.7mmHg. Participants in the semaglutide group also experienced better diastolic blood pressure, blood sugar levels, total cholesterol, and triglycerides.
A December 2022 study, meanwhile, found that participants on semaglutide lost more body fat than body mass. Additionally, they ate less food due to a curbed appetite and had fewer food cravings, especially for greasy foods.
Will semaglutide trigger fatigue?
Yes, semaglutide may make you tired, although it is not common. Based on clinical trials, fatigue was one of Wegovy’s side effects, affecting 11% of participants. It was also observed in clinical trials for Ozempic, occurring in less than 5% of participants. In trials with Rybelsus, however, it was not reported.
It is not clear why some people on semaglutide tend to feel tired. But it may have something to do with how semaglutide brings down blood sugar levels and slows down digestion.
Some people may tend to experience lower-than-average blood sugar levels and feel temporarily fatigued as they adjust to the drug. It’s also likely that with a suppressed appetite, the reduced food consumption before taking semaglutide causes lethargy.
Although semaglutide’s most common side effects are gastrointestinal, this could lead to dehydration, which in turn could cause fatigue. Fortunately, these feelings of tiredness will subside at some point once the body has adjusted to semaglutide’s effects.
Ozempic users typically don’t experience dips in energy levels, unless they are experiencing extremely low blood sugar levels or hypoglycemia.
“Symptoms of hypoglycemia can include weakness, drowsiness, confusion, and dizziness,” Dr. Jaisinghani tells Prevention.com.
This is, however, more probable if you’re taking other diabetes medicines such as insulin. Taking Ozempic with other type 2 diabetes drugs like metformin, though, is generally safe.
On the contrary, fatigue can also be indicative of high blood sugar, which is common among type 2 diabetes patients.
Dealing with fatigue on semaglutide
While it’s possible to feel tired while taking semaglutide, there are ways to deal with it. Although you might feel like downing coffee or napping, there are more effective and more sustainable methods. Here are some tips.
1. Eat a more nutritious diet.
The food you eat will provide you with the energy you need to keep functioning and to stay healthy.
Go for lean protein, whole grains, and high-quality fats, as these can improve the quality of your sleep. Also remember to stay hydrated.
2. Combat fatigue with good sleep.
Never underestimate the power of sleep to help keep your mind and body healthy and functioning properly. And it’s not just about how many hours you sleep, but the quality of your sleep. Poor sleep has been linked to fatigue, obesity, and higher mortality rates.
Here are ways to help improve the quality of your sleep:
- Have a consistent bedtime routine.
- Take out screens from the bedroom.
- Keep the bedroom dark.
- Use white noise.
- Don’t eat heavy meals or drink caffeine before going to bed.
3. Keep fatigue at bay with exercise.
To help deal with feelings of fatigue, incorporate a regular exercise routine. It not only uplifts your mood and sharpens your cognitive function, but also boosts your energy levels. More oxygen pumped through the brain and other organs can help your body function better and stay in tip-top shape.
4. Prioritize your mental health.
Fatigue is one of the typical symptoms of depression, which emphasizes the importance of taking care of your mental health. Poor mental health can affect how well you function and should be prioritized just like physical and emotional health.
Make sure to protect your mental health through calming activities like deep breathing, meditating, or keeping a journal for reflections. You may also want to seek the help of a professional, such as a licensed therapist.
Fatigue and sleepiness are difficult side effects to deal with. However, as your body adjusts to semaglutide, these symptoms should subside. Thankfully, there are ways to help manage these.
5. Tell your doctor about fatigue.
Inform your doctor about when the symptoms of fatigue started and how it’s been affecting your daily life, advises Dr. Jaisinghani. He or she will investigate whether the fatigue is because of semaglutide, other medications, or an underlying condition. You may be asked to have the following tested: complete blood count, kidney function, thyroid, electrolytes, etc.
Conclusion
Although rare, fatigue has been observed as a potential side effect of semaglutide.
It is not clear why some patients are more prone to experience feelings of tiredness while on the drug. However, it may have something to do with how semaglutide curbs appetite. Additionally, it may also share a link with extremely low blood sugar levels, resulting in temporary lethargy.
To keep fatigue at bay, patients must eat healthy, increase physical activity, improve sleep quality, and reduce stress levels. As with any treatment plan, you should inform your healthcare provider about any symptoms you may experience while taking semaglutide.
Glossary of terms:
- GLP-1: Glucagon-like peptide-1 is a gut-based hormone involved in the secretion of insulin to lower blood sugar levels typically elevated after meals.
- GLP-1 Ra: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist. It mimics the actions of GLP-1.
