How Does Semaglutide Work?
Semaglutide is a medicine that copies a hormone produced by your body naturally when you eat called glucagon-like peptide-1. This hormone helps regulate your blood sugar, causes your stomach to empty much more slowly, so you stay full longer, and influences the signals that are sent from your brain that regulate your appetite.
Often, individuals who have struggled with their weight and whose efforts with diet and exercise have not been successful have underlying issues like an imbalance in their hormones that prevents their body from entering into the much-needed calorie deficit required to trigger weight loss. The semaglutide injections enhance the efforts of their natural hormones, which is often enough to bring them into balance and optimize their metabolism and get their digestive process on the right track again so they can successfully lose weight.
Can Semaglutide Make You Tired?
Some people do feel tired or fatigued when using semaglutide, but it normally happens when they first start using the medication and usually resolves on its own once their body adjusts.
It is not among the most common side effects, but it occurred enough times during clinical trials that the official prescribing information for semaglutide medications like Ozempic and Wegovy lists fatigue or tiredness as a reported side effect.
It occurred far less often than nausea, diarrhea, and stomach discomfort, which are listed as the most common side effects, but semaglutide fatigue can be a real thing.
Why Does Semaglutide Make You Tired?
Researchers and other weight loss professionals believe that the fatigue people feel when starting semaglutide may happen because their body is adjusting to all the changes the medication is causing, coupled with the changes in their diet.
- The body is getting used to the changes in appetite, digestion, and blood sugar, so it is normal to feel a dip in energy;
- The side effects of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea can zap your energy, leaving you feeling tired and weak;
- Changes in your blood sugar while the medication is reaching a concentrated level in your body can make you feel tired;
- The suppression in your appetite can help you eat less, but if you are not eating enough calories or enough of the right kind of calories, it can make you feel fatigued.
How Common Is Tiredness With Semaglutide?
The clinical trials and the drug label have shown that fatigue is an uncommon, but possible, side effect when using semaglutide. Studies show that most of the side effects are gastrointestinal in nature and significantly more common, and fatigue only affects a very small number of people. When tiredness was reported, it was more often described as having low energy rather than being sleepy.
How Can You Combat Semaglutide Fatigue?
If you are experiencing severe side effects of long-lasting fatigue, contact your doctor so they can help determine what is causing it and adjust or change your dose, medication, or treatment plan. Some steps you can take at home to get more energy while taking semaglutide include:
- Staying well hydrated.
- Make sure you are getting enough sleep.
- Eating small, regular meals and focusing on consuming enough protein.
- If nausea is limiting the amount you are able to eat, try to eat small meals that are rich in protein and eat foods that are easier for your stomach to tolerate.
- Hold off on increasing the strength of your medication and speak to your doctor about altering your dosing schedule.
- Incorporate some strength training in your weekly exercise routine because it will boost your muscle mass, which will help your body burn more calories for energy.
- Talk with your doctor about running some tests to check your numbers and ensure your iron, thyroid, and vitamin levels do not indicate deficiencies or other issues.
When You Need to Call Your Doctor
If you are taking semaglutide and experience any of these issues, contact your doctor right away:
- Fainting, feelings of severe weakness, or the inability to stand.
- Symptoms associated with low blood sugar that you cannot treat at home.
- Ongoing vomiting, or you are unable to keep fluids down or are showing signs of dehydration.
- New or worsening depression, suicidal thoughts, or feelings you are not able to cope with.
Would You Like to Know More About Semaglutide?
Contact the knowledgeable team at MySlimMed to learn more about semaglutide and other GLP-1 weight loss medications, and let us help determine if one would be a good fit for you and your circumstances.
Semaglutide can cause tiredness, but it is not typical, and usually patients find their energy levels improving as their body becomes accustomed to the medication.
Dr. Angelina Postoev and the MySlimMed team can create a customized plan just for you and will make adjustments as needed to ensure you are successful in reaching your goals. Set up a consultation today to find out if semaglutide is a good fit for you.
FAQs
Does Everyone Feel Tired on Semaglutide?
No. The majority of people do not notice tiredness, but this side effect is usually mild and does not last very long.
How Long Does Semaglutide Tiredness Normally Last?
Many people only feel tired for a few days, but it can last a week or two for others, and normally resolves on its own as your body adjusts. If you are tired because you are not eating enough calories, your tiredness may last until you are eating more and your hydration levels improve.
