Introduction
If you’re someone struggling with weight management, you may have already heard of Ozempic. The semaglutide drug has been a buzzword as it lowers blood sugar and promotes weight loss. It’s no wonder Hollywood celebrities to the world’s biggest business tycoons have achieved slimmer figures with the drug.
Still, just like any drug, semaglutide has its share of side effects. Its most common ones, for instance, include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation, especially for first-time users.
You might ask yourself, ‘Does semaglutide make you sleepy?’ In this article, we look at semaglutide’s side effects and how it could cause sleepiness or drowsiness in patients.
What is semaglutide?
Before we zoom in on semaglutide’s side effects, we must understand what it is and how it works. What is semaglutide exactly?
In our gut is a hormone, glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1. Whenever we finish eating and blood sugar levels are high, it prompts insulin release to bring these down.
Now, semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, or GLP-1 Ra, for short. It mimics what GLP-1 does in regulating high blood sugar levels.
At the same time, semaglutide has an effect wherein it slows down digestion, a process called delayed gastric emptying. Because of this, people on semaglutide feel fuller for longer, do not think about food as much, and with fewer cravings. This weaker appetite is what causes patients on semaglutide to lose weight.
Oral and subcutaneous semaglutide
We’ve talked about Ozempic, but did you know that it has two other sister brands? It shares the same active ingredient as the semaglutide brands Wegovy and Rybelsus.
While Ozempic and Rybelsus both have FDA approval to treat type 2 diabetes, Wegovy has FDA approval to treat obesity. Because they’re all semaglutide, they offer the same therapeutic benefits but vary in format, dosages, and administration.
Ozempic and Wegovy, for instance, are subcutaneous semaglutides, meaning you inject them under the skin. They come in injectable dosing pens.
Rybelsus, meanwhile, is oral semaglutide, as it comes in tablet form and you take it by mouth.
Eligibility for semaglutide
Not everyone is a candidate to take semaglutide. Before you receive a prescription, you must meet certain diagnostic criteria.
For Ozempic and Rybelsus, for instance, you need to have type 2 diabetes. Occasionally, doctors may prescribe these for heart disease patients, as they have additional approval for lowering the risk of cardiovascular problems. Doctors may at times also prescribe these for those dealing with insulin resistance.
For Wegovy, meanwhile, you must have a BMI of 27 or greater and one weight-related health condition. It is also applicable to those with a BMI of 30 or greater.
Dosage and administration
The proper dosage, administration, and storage of semaglutide is vital to maintaining its efficacy.
As your body adjusts to semaglutide, you will typically start on a low dose, gradually increasing this to maintenance levels.
You inject Ozempic and Wegovy once weekly with or without meals in the upper arm, thigh, or abdomen. For Rybelsus, on the other hand, you take it once daily on an empty stomach.
Safety and efficacy of semaglutide
Before you take semaglutide, it helps to have a better understanding of just how safe and effective it is. Just like most drugs, Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus all went through extensive clinical studies to receive FDA approval.
Knowing this, you can have peace of mind that these are safe and effective. The following are highlights from the research that proves semaglutide’s safety, efficacy, and tolerability.
In the STEP 5 trial, researchers looked at the two-year effects of semaglutide in adults who were overweight or with obesity. Participants lost an average of 15 percent of their body weight with semaglutide. Meanwhile, those in the placebo group lost approximately 2.6 percent of their body weight.
Participants taking semaglutide lost 5.7 inches off their waistline and improved their systolic blood pressure by 5.7 mmHg. Participants in the semaglutide group also experienced better diastolic blood pressure, blood sugar levels, total cholesterol, and triglycerides.
A December 2022 study, meanwhile, found that participants taking semaglutide lost more body fat than body mass. In addition, they ate less because of a weaker appetite, had fewer food cravings, especially for oily foods.
Semaglutide’s side effects
Does semaglutide make you sleepy? Here’s a look at the drug’s most common side effects.
Note that these side effects are generally mild and you can manage these with the help of your healthcare provider. Semaglutide’s more serious adverse effects, meanwhile, are rare.
Semaglutide’s side effects include:
- nausea (up to 44% of cases),
- diarrhea (up to 30%),
- vomiting (up to 24%),
- constipation (up to 24%),
- abdominal pain (up to 20%),
Other common semaglutide side effects occurring in 1 to 10% of cases include indigestion, belching, fatigue, gassiness, gastroenteritis, or gastritis. Gastroenteritis is a short-term infection and inflammation of the digestive system, while gastritis is inflammation of the stomach lining.
The link to fatigue
Sleepiness isn’t among semaglutide’s side effects, however, it may manifest as an effect of fatigue, one of its adverse effects. It’s not clear why some people experience fatigue while taking Ozempic.
In clinical trials, it affected as many as 11% of participants. In particular, studies reported it in less than 5% of people taking Ozempic. On the other hand, studies didn’t report any cases in those taking Rybelsus.
Dr. Priya Jaisinghani, M.D., an endocrinologist, says fatigue may share a link with how gastrointestinal side effects lead to dehydration.
Similarly, since semaglutide curbs appetite, a patient may feel fatigue after not eating and taking semaglutide. Because they’re not consuming as many calories, they tend to feel lethargic even after eating.
To answer the question, ‘Does semaglutide make you sleepy?’ Yes, it’s possible, although it is rare. It’s possible that as semaglutide regulates blood sugar levels, these are lower than usual. Hence, it makes you feel temporarily tired as your body adjusts to the drug. Hypoglycemia, in particular, occurs in those taking Ozempic along with other medicines like insulin or sulfonylureas.
Conversely, fatigue may also share a link to hyperglycemia or high blood sugar.
How to deal with fatigue
Although fatigue is one of semaglutide’s possible side effects, thankfully, there are ways to deal with it. Here are a few approaches.
1. Eat a more nutritious diet.
The food you consume will provide you with the energy you need to keep functioning and to stay healthy.
Go for lean protein (white fish, eggs, beans, cottage cheese, yogurt), and whole grains (oatmeal, quinoa, barley, corn). High-quality fats (found in fish, seeds, nuts, and oil) also help improve the quality of your sleep.
2. Make quality sleep a priority.
Never underestimate the power of sleep to help keep your mind and body healthy. And it’s not just about how many hours you sleep, but the quality of your sleep. Poor sleep has been linked to fatigue, obesity, and higher mortality rates.
Here are ways to help improve the quality of your sleep:
- Have a consistent bedtime routine.
- Take out screens from the bedroom.
- Keep the bedroom dark.
- Use white noise.
- Don’t eat heavy meals or drink caffeine before going to bed.
3. Exercise regularly.
To help deal with feelings of fatigue, incorporate a regular exercise routine. It not only uplifts your mood and sharpens your cognitive function, but also boosts your energy levels. With more oxygen pumped through the brain, the heart, lungs, and other organs, it can help your body function better.
4. Protect your mental health.
Fatigue is one of the typical symptoms of depression, which emphasizes the importance of mental health. Poor mental health can affect how well you function and should be prioritized just like physical and emotional health.
Protect your mental health through calming activities like deep breathing, meditating, or keeping a journal to jot down reflections. You may also want to seek the help of a professional, such as a licensed therapist.
Fatigue and sleepiness are difficult side effects to deal with, but as your body adjusts to semaglutide, these should subside. Thankfully, there are ways to help manage these.
5. Work with your healthcare provider.
Inform your doctor about when the symptoms of fatigue started and how it’s affecting your daily life, advises Dr. Jaisinghani. He or she will investigate whether the fatigue is because of semaglutide, other medications, or an underlying condition. You may also need to test the following: complete blood count, kidney function, thyroid, electrolytes, etc.
Conclusion
One of the questions consumers have about semaglutide is if its side effects include sleepiness.
Although sleepiness is not among semaglutide’s recorded side effects, it may manifest due to its fatigue side effect. Fatigue is one of semaglutide’s rarer adverse effects, and may be a result of the body adjusting to first-time use. It is also a sign of potential depression.
Feelings of tiredness can be managed through a healthy diet, plenty of exercise, good sleep quality, and practicing self-care. It is expected to fade or subside with the use of semaglutide and with changes to your diet.
As with any symptoms while taking semaglutide, patients must coordinate with their doctor to make changes to their treatment plan.
Glossary of terms:
- GLP-1: Glucagon-like peptide-1 is a gut-based hormone involved in the secretion of insulin to lower blood sugar levels typically elevated after meals.
- GLP-1 Ra: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists mimic GLP-1 in the production of insulin to control blood sugar levels.
