Are Ozempic side effects more common in females?

MillaF // Shutterstock Ozempic (semaglutide) is a prescription medication that’s approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for both managing blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes and for reducing the risk of cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. If you’ve been taking Ozempic, you’re probably familiar with its side effects. You may be experiencing some “fun” gastrointestinal upset, including nausea and vomiting, as your body gets used to the medication. The good news is that many of these side effects should subside with time.  Individual experience with Ozempic side effects can vary. Interestingly, some studies show that females may be more likely to have certain side effects than males using Ozempic. (Note: in this article, Ro uses the terms male and female to refer to sex assigned at birth.) Read on as Ro breaks down the Ozempic side effects females can expect. Ozempic Important Safety Information: Read more about serious warnings and safety info. Zepbound Important Safety Information: Read more about serious warnings and safety info. Key Takeaways Research suggests females may be twice as likely to experience Ozempic side effects than males. Ozempic side effects that are more common in females vs. males include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and headache.  Females also tend to experience more weight loss on Ozempic, as well as a larger reduction in their cardiovascular risk. Are Ozempic Side Effects More Common in Females vs. Males? Yes, some Ozempic side effects may be more common in females vs. males. However, most of the research to date has focused on the side effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists in general (the class of drugs that includes Ozempic), as opposed to the side effects of Ozempic specifically, so it’s not for sure. This drug class also includes other medications for type 2 diabetes (e.g. Mounjaro) or weight loss (e.g. Wegovy, Zepbound). Some research has found that females taking GLP-1s are about twice as likely to experience side effects than males. Moreover, females may be more likely to experience gastrointestinal side effects like nausea and vomiting, as well as headache and dizziness.  Researchers suspect this could be due to a number of reasons, from hormonal to anatomical differences between the sexes. Females are also more likely to experience gastrointestinal disorders in general.  GLP-1 Important Safety Information: Read more about serious warnings and safety info. Wegovy Important Safety Information: Read more about serious warnings and safety info. Mounjaro Important Safety Information: Read more about serious warnings and safety info. Side Effects of Ozempic  Regardless of sex, Ozempic primarily causes gastrointestinal side effects. Many of these side effects are more intense in the beginning, and go away with time as your body gets used to the medication. Here’s a quick look at the most common side effects of Ozempic overall, and how many people (both male and female) reported them in clinical trials: Which Ozempic Side Effects Are More Common in Females?