If you’ve been taking Semaglutide or Tirzepatide for weight loss or type 2 diabetes, it’s likely you’ve encountered its most famous — or shall we say infamous — side effect: nausea. Nausea is the most common side effect of Semaglutide and Tirzepatide, affecting around 1 in 5 people taking the medication.
Good news – there are ways to relieve nausea while taking Semaglutide or Tirzepatide. Read on as we explain how Semaglutide and Tirzepatide works, why it can cause nausea, and what you can do to reduce the side effects of Semaglutide.
What is Semaglutide and Tirzepatide?
Semaglutide and Tirzepatide are injectable prescription medications that help control blood sugar and reduce cardiovascular risk for people with type 2 diabetes. They’re also highly effective for weight loss when paired with diet and exercise — which is why so many providers, us included, prescribe them off-label for that purpose when it’s the right fit.
Why does Semaglutide and Tirzepatide cause nausea?
Researchers do not know exactly why Semaglutide and Tirzepatide cause nausea, but it probably has something to do with how the drug works — specifically, how it activates GLP-1 receptors and slows gastric emptying. Gastric emptying is when food leaves your stomach and enters the small intestine.
Semaglutide and Tirzepatide are glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. It mimics a gut hormone produced naturally in your body, called GLP-1. Among other things, GLP-1 is responsible for telling your brain when you’re full. It also encourages your pancreas to release insulin after you eat, slows gastric emptying, and may even play a role in your brain’s reward system around food. Together, these effects help with blood sugar control and appetite reduction — both of which help people taking Semaglutide and Tirzepatide to manage their type 2 diabetes, lose weight, or both.
Given GLP-1’s role in your digestion, it makes sense that GLP-1 agonists like Semaglutide and Tirzepatide cause gastrointestinal side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. And because GLP-1 makes you feel full — both by telling your brain you’re full and by keeping food in your stomach longer — you may experience nausea when you try to eat on Semaglutide and Tirzepatide .
How to relieve nausea on Semaglutide or Tirzepatide
Nausea is a common side effect of Semaglutide and Tirzepatide . The good news is that the nausea is mild to moderate for most people, and tends to go away with time as your body gets used to the medication. Until then, here are five ways to relieve nausea on Semaglutide and Tirzepatide .
1. Watch what you eat
A change in diet is recommended to people taking Semaglutide or Tirzepatide, whether they are taking it for type 2 diabetes, weight loss, or both. Usually, your healthcare provider will recommend eating less overall to help manage blood sugar levels and help with weight loss.
For nausea, however, you will want to avoid eating fried, greasy, and sugary foods. These contribute to nausea, and don’t help with glycemic (blood sugar) control or weight loss. In particular, try to eliminate the following foods from your diet:
- Fried foods, like french fries and fried chicken
- Fast food and greasy takeout
- Full-fat dairy, like whole milk, cream sauces, and ice cream
- Fatty cuts of red meat
- Sugary desserts and candy
- Sugary sodas and sweetened drinks
- Spicy foods
- Heavily processed, packaged snack foods
Instead, eat low-fat, bland foods and foods that contain a lot of water, such as:
- Bananas
- Applesauce
- Toast or plain bread
- White rice
- Oatmeal
- Boiled or baked potatoes
- Skinless grilled or baked chicken
- Broth-based soups
- Steamed vegetables
- Cucumber
- Watermelon
- Plain yogurt
- Saltine crackers
- Eggs, scrambled or boiled
2. Change how you eat
How you eat can matter just as much as what you eat. A few simple changes to your eating habits can help reduce nausea while your body adjusts to Semaglutide or Tirzepatide.
- Eat smaller, more frequent meals instead of three large ones
- Eat slowly, and stop before you feel overly full
- Avoid lying down for at least 30 minutes after eating
- Choose room-temperature or slightly cool foods over hot dishes
3. Drink ice-cold, clear drinks
Staying hydrated is important, but some drinks are easier on your stomach than others. Sipping cold, clear liquids slowly throughout the day can help settle nausea.
- Water
- Ginger ale or ginger tea
- Clear electrolyte or sports drinks
- Peppermint or chamomile tea
- Diluted fruit juice, like apple juice
4. Avoid other nausea triggers
Beyond diet, certain everyday habits and triggers can make nausea worse. Being mindful of these can help you feel more comfortable day to day.
- Strong smells and perfumes
- Alcohol and smoking
- Rich or heavily seasoned meals late at night
5. Talk to us at Sakura Skin for other options
If nausea continues despite these changes, don’t try to push through it alone — there are medical options that can help:
- Adjusting your dose or slowing your titration schedule
- Prescription anti-nausea medication
- Switching between Semaglutide and Tirzepatide
- Additional lab work to rule out other causes
Not feeling better? Call 810-394-2187 or Text 810-512-2496 — or book online at calendly.com/sakuraskin. We’re happy to help you find what works, at our Fenton or Flint, MI locations.
Foods to reduce nausea
Beyond changing your diet and eating habits, a handful of foods have been shown to relieve nausea, including crackers, apples, mint, and ginger.
| Ginger | While more research is still needed, a growing number of studies have found ginger relieves nausea and vomiting in various situations, from morning sickness during pregnancy to chemotherapy-induced nausea. You can find ginger in ginger supplements, ginger powder, ginger ale and ginger-based drinks, and ginger root. |
| Apples | Apples may also help relieve some of the Semaglutide or Tirzepatide nausea, although you might want to remove the skin first, if you’re concerned about having too much fiber. In a study of women with hyperemesis gravidarum (severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy), apples were associated with the least nausea. |
| Mint | Mint has long been used to combat indigestion after dinner, but it may also reduce nausea from Semaglutide or Tirzepatide. Try sipping a cup of mint tea or mixing some mint leaves into your salad. Peppermint essential oils have been studied extensively among people who experience nausea, including pregnant women, people with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, post-op surgical patients, and people in the hospital. In all of these studies, it was found to be effective in relieving their nausea. Try mint gum or mints |
| Crackers | Crackers, including graham crackers and saltine or soda crackers, are a bland food recommended to people experiencing nausea on Semaglutide or Tirzepatide. In people with gastroparesis (a condition characterized by delayed gastric emptying), saltine and graham crackers improved symptoms, as did jello. |