Does Ozempic Make You Feel Tired?

Have you been thinking about trying Ozempic—the Type 2 Diabetes medication turned weight loss sensation? You’re certainly not alone. Novo Nordisk’s prescription drug has been in high demand since it was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) back in 2017.

A recent survey indicates that a staggering 22% of Americans have asked their doctor to prescribe them Ozempic for weight loss, while another 47% know someone who has. Demand for semaglutide drugs has skyrocketed over the past few years, causing worldwide shortages and making it difficult even for Type 2 Diabetes patients to easily access Ozempic in order to lower blood sugar levels.

Ozempic won’t be the right medication for everyone diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes or looking to lose weight, and speaking to your doctor about whether or not it may be a good option based on your particular health goals and medical history is vital. That being said, it’s also always a good idea to inform yourself about the ins and outs of a medication, even before discussing it with your doctor. At Bisonpharmacy.com, we’re always here to offer accurate information as you research Ozempic.

Like any prescription medication, Ozempic comes with a list of potential side effects. Is tiredness a common one?

Let’s explore the answer in depth below:

Key Takeaways

• Ozempic is a prescription drug indicated for regulating blood sugar levels and reducing the risk of major cardiovascular events in patients with Type 2 Diabetes and associated heart disease. It is also associated with weight loss and is sometimes prescribed off-label for this purpose.
• Feeling tired is a rare but documented Ozempic side effect. It is more prevalent in patients taking Wegovy. (Wegovy is the same drug as Ozempic but at a higher dosage. It is approved for weight loss in obese patients and overweight patients with at least one weight-related medical condition).
• The exact correlation between Ozempic and fatigue is not well understood but may have to do with reduced caloric intake, exhaustion from other side effects, or lowered blood sugar levels. More research is needed in this area.
• Tiredness associated with Ozempic often passes within the first few months of taking the drug as the body adjusts to increased levels of semaglutide.

What Is Ozempic?

Ozempic (semaglutide) is a prescription drug that was FDA-approved in 2017. It is indicated for the treatment of adults with Type 2 Diabetes and helps to reduce and regulate blood sugar levels by stimulating natural insulin secretion and inhibiting the release of glycogen from the liver. It is also indicated for lowering the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with Type 2 Diabetes and diagnosed cardiovascular disease.

In addition, Ozempic is associated with weight loss and has gained immense popularity as a weight loss drug, even though it is not officially approved for this purpose. It promotes weight loss by slowing down digestion, making you feel full more quickly, and reducing cravings for unhealthy, high-fat foods.

Wegovy, another semaglutide drug produced by Novo Nordisk, is approved for weight loss in obese patients or patients who are overweight with at least one weight-related medical condition. Wegovy is essentially the same as Ozempic; it just comes in a higher dosage (2.4 mg instead of 0.5 mg, 1 mg, or 2 mg). Many patients get off-label prescriptions for Ozempic instead of Wegovy because Ozempic is easier to access.

Both Ozempic and Wegovy are once-weekly medications that are injected subcutaneously into the thigh, upper arm, or abdomen. Typically, patients begin both medications at a starting dose of 0.25 mg and titrate up to a higher dose every four weeks under the supervision of a doctor until their optimal therapeutic dosage is reached. This period allows the body time to adjust to semaglutide and is often when the most marked side effects are experienced. Side effects often dissipate once a consistent semaglutide dosage is maintained over time.

Does Ozempic Make You Tired?

Tiredness is not one of the main side effects associated with Ozempic. In fact, only 0.4% or more of people taking the drug have reported any change to their energy levels or sleeping habits. In patients taking Wegovy, tiredness has been reported as more prevalent. Novo Nordisk has indicated that approximately 11% of patients may experience fatigue while on Wegovy.

It is not known exactly why semaglutide may be associated with increased tiredness, but a few theories have been put forward:

• Blood sugar levels can impact tiredness. Though semaglutide is intended to regulate blood sugar levels (which should also reduce fatigue), it may take time for the body to adjust to lower blood sugar levels than it’s used to. As the body adjusts, people taking semaglutide drugs may feel more tired than usual.
• Semaglutide drugs are associated with a substantial reduction in caloric intake. This reduction alone can cause tiredness as the body adjusts to having less excess energy to burn.
• The most common side effects associated with Ozempic and Wegovy are adverse gastrointestinal (GI) events. Such events can negatively impact your sleeping habits and may directly or indirectly cause you to spend less time in deep, high-quality sleep. Tiredness may result.

More research is needed to accurately pinpoint the relationship between semaglutide drugs and tiredness, but we do know that there is a correlation between the two for some patients. Speak directly with your doctor before taking Ozempic if you have a history of sleep issues or if you are experiencing exhaustion while on the drug.

How Long Does Ozempic Fatigue Last?

In general, Ozempic fatigue is relatively short-lived. Though more research is needed in this area, most patients who initially experience tiredness while on the drug report increased levels of alertness and better sleep patterns as their body has time to adjust to semaglutide. If sleep issues or tiredness are ongoing for you while on Ozempic, speak with your healthcare provider.

Ways To Improve Fatigue

Feeling tired day in and day out can really take a toll on your overall mood, productivity, and well-being. The good news is that there are many ways to combat fatigue, no matter its cause. If you are experiencing tiredness while on Ozempic of Wegovy, here are some tips to try:

Try Getting Higher Quality Sleep

Sleep duration is important, but so is sleep quality. Even if you’re not getting in as many hours of sleep per night as you’d like, you can still make the most of them when you prioritize the following:

• Sleep in a dark, quiet, cool room.
• Create a consistent sleep routine that involves going to bed and getting up at similar times every day (including weekends).
• Eliminate screen usage in the hour leading up to bedtime and remove electronics from the bedroom, if possible.
• Avoid eating large meals and consuming caffeine or alcohol near bedtime.
• Get regular exercise during the day, but try not to exercise right before bed.

Reduce Your Sleep Debt

Your sleep debt refers to the difference between the amount of sleep you get and the amount of sleep your body actually needs. You can actively decrease your sleep debt by taking naps, going to bed a little earlier or sleeping in a little later, and improving your sleep quality (see above).

Focus on Nutrition

Healthy eating habits have a huge impact on your overall health, but did you know they can also help you sleep better? Aside from reducing GI issues (one of the most common side effects of semaglutide drugs), a balanced diet can also improve the quality of sleep. Interestingly, research has found specific links between a Mediterranean diet high in grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats and better sleep quality.

Exercise Regularly

Ozempic is intended to be an adjunct to a healthy diet and regular exercise, so daily physical activity should be part of your routine while taking the drug, no matter what. As an added bonus, regular exercise can also reduce fatigue and improve your quality of sleep. It may seem counterintuitive, but exercising more can actually improve your energy levels in a wide variety of different ways.

Focus on Your Mental Health

When you’re feeling stressed or down, your sleep often suffers as a result. That’s one of the reasons why it’s especially important to focus on your mental and emotional health as well as your physical health while taking Ozempic or Wegovy. Maintain healthy relationships, make time for the things that make you happy, and share any distressing thoughts or feelings with a trusted support person or medical professional.

Other Ozempic Side Effects

While tiredness may be a side effect of Ozempic for some patients, there are also many other potential side effects to be aware of before you start taking the drug. Not all patients will experience side effects of semaglutide drugs, but many will.

Common mild side effects can include:

• Adverse gastrointestinal events (vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, abdominal pain)
• Injection site reactions
• Headaches and dizziness

Rarely, more serious side effects can occur. If you experience any of the following, seek medical attention right away:

• Vision changes
• Severe allergic reactions
• Pancreatitis
• Kidney failure
• Liver or gallbladder issues
• Severe low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)

Semaglutide drugs have been associated with an increased risk of thyroid tumors. Ozempic and Wegovy are not recommended for patients in the following categories:

• Children under the age of 18
• People with Type 1 Diabetes
• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding
• People with a personal or family history of certain types of thyroid cancer

The Bottom Line

The bottom line is that Ozempic is associated with tiredness for a small percentage of patients but is a more common side effect of Wegovy. The exact connection between semaglutide drugs and fatigue remains unknown but may be attributable to reduced caloric intake, increased adverse gastrointestinal events, changes in blood sugar levels, or other factors. More research is needed in this area. No matter the cause, there are many ways to treat fatigue, and most of them contribute to your overall health and wellness as well.

Before taking Ozempic or Wegovy, it’s crucial to speak with your doctor about whether or not a semaglutide medication may be the right choice for your particular needs and circumstances. If tiredness persists or becomes a major issue for you, seek medical attention to find a solution and rule out any other underlying causes.

Do you have an Ozempic prescription but are wondering how to source the drug more affordably? Ordering Ozempic online from Canada may be the solution you’ve been waiting for. At Bisonpharmacy.com, our dedicated and knowledgeable team ships high-quality Ozempic to clients all across the U.S. who pay a fraction of the price they’d pay for the same product at their local pharmacy.

Contact Bisonpharmacy.com directly to learn more or to place your Ozempic order today!