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Semaglutide Side Effects: What Studies and Users Report

What FDA labels and clinical studies report for Semaglutide, how strong that evidence is, and what is still unknown.

Medically reviewed by Juan Pablo Frías, MD · · DisclosureGLP-1 agonistUpdated

Side effects reported in studies

Adverse reactions from the FDA label come first, then side effects reported in individual studies. Frequencies are quoted as the source gives them; animal results are labelled.

Side effects of Semaglutide in labels and published studies
Side effectHow commonStudy typeSource
Most common adverse reactions (5% or more)5% or more of patientsFDA labelFDA label (Ozempic)
Nausea (placebo, 0.5 mg, 1 mg)placebo 6.1%; 0.5 mg 15.8%; 1 mg 20.3%FDA labelFDA label (Ozempic)
Discontinuation due to gastrointestinal adverse reactions3.1% (0.5 mg), 3.8% (1 mg) vs 0.4% placeboFDA labelFDA label (Ozempic)
Nausea (placebo, 2.4 mg)placebo 16%; 2.4 mg 44%FDA labelFDA label (Wegovy)
Diarrhea (placebo, 2.4 mg)placebo 16%; 2.4 mg 30%FDA labelFDA label (Wegovy)
Vomiting (placebo, 2.4 mg)placebo 6%; 2.4 mg 24%FDA labelFDA label (Wegovy)
Discontinuation due to adverse reactions6.8% vs 3.2% placeboFDA labelFDA label (Wegovy)
Nausea (placebo, 7 mg, 14 mg)placebo 6%; 7 mg 11%; 14 mg 20%FDA labelFDA label (Rybelsus, Ozempic tablets)
Abdominal pain (placebo, 7 mg, 14 mg)placebo 4%; 7 mg 10%; 14 mg 11%FDA labelFDA label (Rybelsus, Ozempic tablets)
Discontinuation due to gastrointestinal adverse reactions8% (14 mg), 4% (7 mg) vs 1% placeboFDA labelFDA label (Rybelsus, Ozempic tablets)
Treatment-emergent adverse events91·2% vs 84·8% placeboHuman RCTn = 3808Lancet 2026, PMID 41865758
Gastrointestinal events“Gastrointestinal adverse events were more common in the semaglutide group.”Frequency not statedHuman RCTn = 1197The New England journal of medicine 2025, PMID 40305708
Gastrointestinal events74.0% vs 42.2% placeboHuman RCTn = 307The New England journal of medicine 2025, PMID 40934115
Gastrointestinal events and dysaesthesia70·8% (7·2 mg), 61·2% (2·4 mg), 42·8% (placebo)Human RCTn = 1407The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology 2025, PMID 40961952
Gastrointestinal events30 vs 15 participantsHuman RCTn = 101Nature medicine 2025, PMID 39455729
Serious adverse events49.6% vs 53.8% placeboHuman RCTn = 3533The New England journal of medicine 2024, PMID 38785209
Discontinuation due to adverse events6.7% vs 3.0% placeboHuman RCTn = 407The New England journal of medicine 2024, PMID 39476339
Discontinuation due to adverse events16.6% vs 8.2% placeboHuman RCTn = 17604The New England journal of medicine 2023, PMID 37952131
Serious adverse events13.3% vs 26.7% placeboHuman RCTn = 529The New England journal of medicine 2023, PMID 37622681
Gastrointestinal events84.1% vs 82.7% liraglutideHuman controlled trialn = 338JAMA 2022, PMID 35015037
Nausea and diarrheamost commonHuman RCTn = 1961The New England journal of medicine 2021, PMID 33567185
Discontinuation for gastrointestinal events4.5% vs 0.8% placeboHuman RCTn = 1961The New England journal of medicine 2021, PMID 33567185
Gastrointestinal events49.1% vs 26.1% placeboHuman RCTn = 803JAMA 2021, PMID 33755728
Gastrointestinal events63·5% (2·4 mg), 57·5% (1·0 mg) vs 34·3% placeboHuman RCTn = 1210Lancet 2021, PMID 33667417
Gastrointestinal events82.8% vs 63.2% placeboHuman RCTn = 611JAMA 2021, PMID 33625476
Nausea, constipation, vomitingnausea 42% vs 11%; constipation 22% vs 12%; vomiting 15% vs 2% (placebo)Human RCTn = 320The New England journal of medicine 2021, PMID 33185364
Gastrointestinal events“Gastrointestinal adverse events leading to discontinuation of oral semaglutide or placebo were more common with oral semaglutide.”Frequency not statedHuman RCTn = 3183The New England journal of medicine 2019, PMID 31185157
Gastrointestinal disorders43% and 44% (semaglutide 0·5, 1·0 mg) vs 33% and 48% (dulaglutide)Human controlled trialn = 1201The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology 2018, PMID 29397376
Retinopathy complicationshazard ratio 1.76 (95% CI 1.11 to 2.78)Human RCTn = 3297The New England journal of medicine 2016, PMID 27633186
Gastrointestinal eventssimilarHuman observationaln = 18386JAMA internal medicine 2024, PMID 38976257
Adverse effectsmost evaluated adverse effectsMeta-analysisInternational journal of obesity 2025, PMID 39396098

What is not known

  • How common each effect is at the doses people use outside of studies.
  • Effects that take longer to appear than the length of the published studies.
  • How Semaglutide interacts with other medicines and supplements.
  • Whether research-grade products, which are not checked by the FDA, behave like the material used in studies.

When to get medical help

Get urgent care for: trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, a widespread rash, severe or lasting stomach pain, fainting, or an injection site that becomes hot, red and spreading.

This is not a complete list. A doctor or pharmacist can help you judge whether a symptom is related.

Common questions

What are the side effects of Semaglutide?

The FDA label lists most common adverse reactions (5% or more), nausea (placebo, 0.5 mg, 1 mg), discontinuation due to gastrointestinal adverse reactions among others. The table on this page gives how often each happened and links each source.

Is Semaglutide safe?

Semaglutide has an FDA-approved label that lists its known risks. That label covers the approved product used as prescribed, not compounded or research-chemical versions.

More on Semaglutide

DosageDoses used in published studies, with the source for each.CalculatorVial, water and dose to syringe units.ResultsStudy outcomes and when they were measured.PricePrice per mg and per week from dated listings. No vendor links.Legal statusFDA, compounding and WADA status with dates.How to injectSites, syringe types and hygiene, step by step.

Sources

  1. 1These highlights do not include all the information needed to use OZEMPIC ® safely and effectively. See full prescribing information for OZEMPIC. OZEMPIC (semaglutide) injection, for subcutaneous use FDA label (Ozempic), DailyMed · current labeldailymed.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  2. 2These highlights do not include all the information needed to use WEGOVY ® safely and effectively. See full prescribing information for WEGOVY. WEGOVY (semaglutide) injection, for subcutaneous use WEGFDA label (Wegovy), DailyMed · current labeldailymed.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  3. 3These highlights do not include all the information needed to use RYBELSUS ® and OZEMPIC ® tablets safely and effectively. See full prescribing information for RYBELSUS and OZEMPIC tablets. RYBELSUS (FDA label (Rybelsus, Ozempic tablets), DailyMed · current labeldailymed.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  4. 4Efficacy and safety of oral semaglutide 14 mg (flexible dose) in early-stage symptomatic Alzheimer's disease (evoke and evoke+): two phase 3, randomised, placebo-controlled trials.Lancet (London, England) · 2026PMID 41865758Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  5. 5Phase 3 Trial of Semaglutide in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis.The New England journal of medicine · 2025PMID 40305708Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  6. 6Oral Semaglutide at a Dose of 25 mg in Adults with Overweight or Obesity.The New England journal of medicine · 2025PMID 40934115Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  7. 7Once-weekly semaglutide 7·2 mg in adults with obesity (STEP UP): a randomised, controlled, phase 3b trial.The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology · 2025PMID 40961952Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  8. 8Semaglutide in patients with overweight or obesity and chronic kidney disease without diabetes: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.Nature medicine · 2025PMID 39455729Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  9. 9Effects of Semaglutide on Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.The New England journal of medicine · 2024PMID 38785209Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  10. 10Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Persons with Obesity and Knee Osteoarthritis.The New England journal of medicine · 2024PMID 39476339Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  11. 11Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Obesity without Diabetes.The New England journal of medicine · 2023PMID 37952131Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  12. 12Semaglutide in Patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction and Obesity.The New England journal of medicine · 2023PMID 37622681Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  13. 13Effect of Weekly Subcutaneous Semaglutide vs Daily Liraglutide on Body Weight in Adults With Overweight or Obesity Without Diabetes: The STEP 8 Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA · 2022PMID 35015037Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  14. 14Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity.The New England journal of medicine · 2021PMID 33567185Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  15. 15Effect of Continued Weekly Subcutaneous Semaglutide vs Placebo on Weight Loss Maintenance in Adults With Overweight or Obesity: The STEP 4 Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA · 2021PMID 33755728Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  16. 16Semaglutide 2·4 mg once a week in adults with overweight or obesity, and type 2 diabetes (STEP 2): a randomised, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial.Lancet (London, England) · 2021PMID 33667417Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  17. 17Effect of Subcutaneous Semaglutide vs Placebo as an Adjunct to Intensive Behavioral Therapy on Body Weight in Adults With Overweight or Obesity: The STEP 3 Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA · 2021PMID 33625476Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  18. 18A Placebo-Controlled Trial of Subcutaneous Semaglutide in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis.The New England journal of medicine · 2021PMID 33185364Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  19. 19Oral Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.The New England journal of medicine · 2019PMID 31185157Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  20. 20Semaglutide versus dulaglutide once weekly in patients with type 2 diabetes (SUSTAIN 7): a randomised, open-label, phase 3b trial.The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology · 2018PMID 29397376Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  21. 21Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.The New England journal of medicine · 2016PMID 27633186Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  22. 22Semaglutide vs Tirzepatide for Weight Loss in Adults With Overweight or Obesity.JAMA internal medicine · 2024PMID 38976257Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  23. 23Semaglutide effects on safety and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with overweight or obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.International journal of obesity (2005) · 2025PMID 39396098Accessed 2 Oct 2026

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