Ozempic causes constipation because semaglutide slows movement through the whole gut, and slower transit means drier, harder stool.
The drug delays gastric emptying and dampens intestinal motility. Add a smaller food intake (less bulk to move) and any drop in fluid intake from nausea, and constipation follows. On the label, constipation was reported by 5.0% of patients on 0.5 mg and 3.1% on 1 mg, versus 1.5% on placebo, making it one of the five most common side effects alongside nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. It usually appears during dose increases and improves as your body adjusts. Day to day management is straightforward: drink more water, raise fiber gradually from vegetables, fruit, and whole grains, and move daily, since walking stimulates the bowel. A gentle osmotic laxative is a reasonable short-term backup to discuss with a pharmacist. Severe constipation lasting several days, or constipation with significant abdominal pain, bloating, or vomiting, deserves a call to your prescriber, especially if you have any history of slow stomach emptying or gastroparesis.
What to do
Common questions
Why does Ozempic cause constipation?
Ozempic slows digestion, and that slowdown does not stop at the stomach. Semaglutide delays gastric emptying and reduces overall gut motility, so stool moves through the intestines more slowly and more water gets absorbed from it, leaving it harder and drier. On top of that, people on GLP-1 drugs eat less, which means less bulk moving through, and if nausea cuts their fluid intake, dehydration makes constipation worse. It is less common than nausea but still a listed side effect: in the trials behind the prescribing information, constipation was reported by 5.0% of patients on the 0.5 mg dose and 3.1% on the 1 mg dose, versus 1.5% on placebo. Like nausea, it tends to show up during dose escalation and ease over time. The fixes are the boring, effective ones: more water, more fiber from food, daily walking or other movement, and smaller meals. If constipation is severe, lasts more than a few days, or comes with significant belly pain or vomiting, call your prescriber, because slowed gut motility matters more in people prone to gastroparesis.