I'm an MD and This One Mistake Can Make Ozempic Side Effects Worse for Patients Over 50

Your doctor is a trusted medical professional who understands how medications work, including their benefits, risk factors, potential side effects, and interactions. Side effects are common with many prescription medications—and weight-loss drugs like Ozempic are no exception.

Typical reactions can include vomiting, nausea, stomach discomfort, diarrhea, bloating, constipation, loss of appetite, fatigue, headache, dizziness, and heartburn. More serious concerns can involve vision, blood sugar, and more. Always discuss any concerns you are experiencing with your healthcare professional.

To avoid potential mistakes when on a weight-loss prescription, we spoke with Dr. Blen Tesfu, MD, a Licensed Physician and Medical Advisor at Welzo, who shares one thing that can worsen side effects of Ozempic if you're over 50.

"Among the most frequently committed errors by patients over the age of fifty are increasing their Ozempic dosage too rapidly or providing their bodies with insufficient time to adapt to varying dosages," explains Dr. Tesfu. "This usually occurs when patients feel they need quicker results for weight loss or blood glucose control."

As you age, the body becomes more sensitive to drugs that impact appetite and the gastrointestinal system than when you were younger.

"Thus, rapid escalation in dosage may cause overwhelming responses from these systems and exacerbate and prolong the duration of side effects," Dr. Tesfu adds.

According to Dr. Tesfu, increasing Ozempic too rapidly can slow down stomach emptying even further and wreak havoc on hunger messaging. These effects may be too intense for the body to manage before it has sufficient time to adjust.

"Because of the natural slowing of both metabolism and gut function that occurs with age, adults over 50 will need a little extra time to adjust to Ozempic. If they don't get that time, the side effects like nausea and/or fatigue that occur are usually stronger and take longer to go away," Dr. Tesfu tells us.

The gastrointestinal system is the most common place for adverse events from Ozempic to occur. These include constipation, nausea, bloating, and early feelings of fullness.

"The cause of these side effects is related to its effect on digestive processes," Dr. Tesfu points out. "Reducing caloric intake from decreased hunger may result in less overall fluid or calorie consumption, and dizziness and lightheadedness may be increased in elderly individuals due to the decrease in overall fluid and calorie consumption, which may make it difficult to carry out normal daily activities."

Staying on track with your prescription titration routine presents the best benefits from the medication while minimizing side effects.

"Titration of doses at a gradual rate provides sufficient time for the patient's digestive apparatus and appetite regulatory mechanisms to adjust to the medication safely," Dr. Tesfu explains. "Additionally, other strategies for improving patient tolerance include adequate hydration, smaller and more frequent meals, and an emphasis on nutritional balance. Adequate hydration and balanced nutritional intake are key factors in stabilising a patient's energy level and minimising gastrointestinal side effect complaints."

For major weight-loss transformation inspiration, check out I Lost 100+ Pounds on Mounjaro and This 'Guilty Pleasure' Breakfast Helped Me Do It.