Does Ozempic make you pee more?
Healthcare providers recommend you increase your water intake while taking Ozempic and this could result in your peeing more. There is no evidence that Ozempic acts like a diuretic, increasing how much fluid you pee out.
Some people have reported a change in the way their urine smells after taking Ozempic or other semaglutide products such as Wegovy, often describing it as now having a strong unusual odor.
The main way semaglutide is excreted from the body is via the urine and faces and 3% of the dose is left unchanged, which may alter the composition of the urine and change its smell.
Other smell-related changes include an increase in sulfur-smelling burps or burps with a strong odor. There may be two reasons for this:
- Ozempic slows your digestive system down so it takes longer for food and waste to travel through your body which can increase how much water is pulled out of the food and increase the amount of decomposition and constipation– making it smell more.
- Ozempic may increase the number of sulfur-producing bacteria in your gut.
References
- Ozempic product Information. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/209637lbl.pdf
- Beware the Ozempic Burp. The Atlantic. May 2, 2023. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2023/05/ozempic-burping-smell-eggs-side-effect/673925/
Read next
What are 4 key Ozempic side effects to watch out for?
The most common side effects with Ozempic include stomach problems, like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain and constipation. These tend to be mild-to-moderate and usually clear up in a few weeks in most people. Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) is also a common side effect (when used with certain other diabetes treatments) and it can be serious. Continue reading
Mounjaro vs Ozempic: How do they compare?
Mounjaro and Ozempic are prescription medicines used alongside diet and exercise to help control blood sugar (glucose) levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. Ozempic is also approved to lower the risk of a major cardiovascular event (like a heart attack or stroke) in patients with type 2 diabetes. Mounjaro has not yet received this indication, although studies are ongoing.
In a large, 2024 retrospective study in adults with overweight or obesity and treated for type 2 diabetes, Mounjaro led to at least a 5% weight loss within one year in 81.8% of adults compared to 66.5% of those using Ozempic. Continue reading
How do Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, Zepbound compare for weight loss?
Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy and Zepbound can all lead to long-term weight loss, but only Wegovy and Zepbound are approved by the FDA for this use. In studies, Zepbound has led to a 21% weight loss in adults using the highest dose, while Wegovy has led to about a 15% weight loss. Continue reading
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Drug information
- Ozempic Information for Consumers
- Ozempic prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side Effects of Ozempic (detailed)
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