Ozempic Heartburn
Is heartburn typical during Ozempic treatment?
Ozempic's clinical studies didn't report heartburn. But the prescribing information notes the following mild side effects that often link to heartburn.
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (acid reflux): This can cause a burning feeling in your chest, neck, or throat. It can also cause a bitter or sour taste in the back of your mouth and regurgitation of food or liquid into your mouth. (Regurgitation involves 'bringing up' partially digested food or liquid.)
burping or belching
dyspepsia (indigestion): This side effect can cause burning or discomfort in your upper abdomen and other symptoms.
gastritis (inflammation or irritation of your stomach lining): This side effect causes nausea, vomiting, and fullness in your upper abdomen.
gas
The studies reported these side effects with the use of 5-milligram (mg) and 1-mg doses of Ozempic. Except for gas, people experienced these side effects more commonly with the 5-mg dose.
Since the drug became available, some people have reported having heartburn during Ozempic treatment. Although it can be mild, some people taking the drug reported intense heartburn. Some also reported that it affected their sleep and some everyday activities.
How do you stop heartburn during Ozempic treatment?
Some people find home remedies or practices helpful in stopping heartburn during Ozempic treatment. These include:
drinking more water
drinking a glass of water mixed with 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar
avoiding lying down until the heartburn passes
using a wedge pillow or elevating the head of your bed
Numerous medications are also available over the counter or by prescription for heartburn. Some of these medications help prevent heartburn or acid reflux, and others treat it once it starts. These medications include:
Antacids: Antacids neutralize your stomach acid, which may reduce or treat heartburn. Some brand-name antacid medications are:
Alka-Seltzer
Mylanta
Pepto-Bismol
Rolaids
Tums
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs): PPIs work to reduce the amount of acid your stomach produces. Some examples are:
esomeprazole (Nexium)
pantoprazole (Protonix)
omeprazole (Prilosec)
Histamine-2 (H2) blockers: H2 blockers reduce the acid your stomach produces. Some H2 blockers are:
nizatidine (Axid)
famotidine (Pepcid, Pepcid AC)
cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB)
Your doctor may recommend a particular medication for your heartburn and acid reflux. They'll also recommend the best time to take it.
How do you prevent heartburn during Ozempic treatment?
You can do some things to help prevent or lessen heartburn during Ozempic treatment. These include:
eating smaller meals
eating slower
avoiding eating meals and snacks 3 to 4 hours before bedtime
avoiding lying down soon after meals
considering stopping smoking, if you smoke
limiting the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and aspirin
considering avoiding or limiting your intake of alcohol
reducing stress
avoiding or limiting certain foods
Foods to avoid or limit
Certain foods can contribute to the amount of acid your stomach produces, which may cause heartburn. These foods are:
certain beverages, such as carbonated drinks, tea, and coffee
fatty, greasy, or fried foods
fast foods
spicy foods
certain fruits and vegetables high in acid, such as tomatoes, pineapples, and oranges
Avoiding or limiting these foods may help prevent or reduce the heartburn you might experience during Ozempic treatment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hill
3 hours ago
- The Hill
The FDA must crack down on dangerous knockoff weight-loss drugs
For the first time, there is real hope in the fight against obesity. New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics shows that adult obesity rates in the U.S. may finally be flatlining after annual increases since at least 2011. Obesity has long been understood to be the second leading cause of preventable death in America. Neither negative cultural attitudes about weight nor government messaging campaigns about diets have helped curb it. Yet like most insurmountable problems, we are innovating our way out of it. Experts believe a significant part of recent progress is due to powerful new medications such as Ozempic and Mounjaro, known as GLP-1 drugs. But just as these drugs are changing lives, a dangerous shadow market is growing alongside them. Compounded versions, which are copies of the original drugs made in smaller pharmacies, are flooding websites, med spas and clinics. These versions are often cheaper and easier to get than the real thing. They are also frequently untested, poorly regulated and, in many cases, illegal. The FDA has received more than 500 reports of serious side effects tied to compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide, the active ingredients in Ozempic and Mounjaro. Some patients have landed in the hospital after taking the wrong dose. That is not surprising when you consider that many of these vials come without proper labels or instructions. In 2023 alone, poison control centers received nearly 3,000 semaglutide-related calls, a huge jump from previous years. Many of those cases involved compounded or mislabeled versions of the medication. There are also serious concerns about what is actually in these products. The FDA has warned that some pharmacies are using different chemical forms of semaglutide, called salt forms, that are not approved for use and may not be safe. In April 2025, the agency seized counterfeit Ozempic from the U.S. supply chain after discovering that some vials contained the wrong ingredients or were contaminated with dangerous bacteria. These are not technical violations. They are real risks to people's health. During earlier shortages, compounding was allowed under special circumstances. But those shortages have ended, and the FDA has ordered most pharmacies to stop making these versions. Despite that, many continue to operate in legal gray zones or offer these drugs online. The harm does not stop with safety concerns. This trend also threatens future breakthroughs in obesity care. Companies like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly spent years and billions of dollars to develop these treatments. Now, they and others are working on new and even more effective drugs. When unapproved copies flood the market, it becomes harder to fund innovation. If investors cannot count on fair returns, the next generation of such medications may not make it out of the lab. Perhaps the biggest risk is to public trust. When someone has a bad experience with a fake or contaminated version, they may begin to doubt all weight loss innovations. That fear can ripple through the health system, making insurers and doctors more hesitant to support treatments that are helping with the genuine public health emergency of obesity. None of this means that compounding should disappear. It has a place when patients have specific medical needs that cannot be met by the approved versions, such as allergies or special dosing requirements. But what is happening now is not about rare exceptions. The FDA should continue cracking down on compounders that use unapproved ingredients or sell mislabeled products disguised as 'research chemicals.' At the same time, insurers and lawmakers need to make the real thing more affordable by removing middlemen such as pharmacy benefit managers. No one should have to choose between risking their health and going broke. We are finally making progress against a disease that affects nearly half the country and has stumped policymakers and advocates for decades. But progress is fragile. Unregulated versions of GLP-1s cannot be allowed to dominate the market. We risk undoing the progress reported by the CDC in the fight against obesity, and if we get this right, the trend could be reversed. That means longer lives for more people, lived in dignity and to the fullest.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
18 Things That Are Actually Really Healthy, Despite Many People Thinking They're Not
I don't know about you, but it feels like there's a new health fad every week. First, there was intermittent fasting, then there was keto, and now, people are arguing about seed oils. I'm struggling to keep up. With so many narratives about certain things being "bad" for you, I'm starting to forget that some of that just isn't true. Luckily, I stumbled upon one Reddit thread (which you can see here), where people listed the "unhealthy" things that are actually really good for you, and it's a refreshing reminder. Related: Here are 18 things that are perfectly healthy and fine to do, despite some people thinking otherwise: Everything in moderation is key. 1."Doing nothing. Having a moment of silence." –Turtleballoon123 2."Put the baby on the floor. Babies don't always need to be in a bouncer, swing, jumper, walker, rocker, chair, etc. They do great on the floor in a safe space." –SleepXParalysis 3."It is really healthy to process some emotions and thoughts on your own. The people who have the most peace and clarity are people who can sort, experience, sit in, and evaluate their feelings without having to put it out to other people for other people to tell them what to think, feel, and do." –OptmstcExstntlst 4."Frozen vegetables. It's seen as cheap and not as good as fresh, when in fact, it's almost always healthier than 'fresh' vegetables." –Hufe Related: 5."You do not have to show up to every argument you are invited to." –Bravely_Default 6."Sleeping all day when you're exhausted. As my trainer says: If you're actually falling asleep, you clearly needed it." –EndlesslyUnfinished 7."Potatoes. It's the oil and what we do to them that makes them high in calories and unhealthy." –yamammiwammi 8."Popcorn. Without all the artificial butter flavorings and low-quality oils, of course. Popcorn is a whole grain, and super high in fiber. As far as snacks go, it's about as good as it gets." –Its_Waffle Related: 9."Being around dirt. Especially for kids. Exposure to a natural, somewhat dirty environment helps your immune system develop properly, which in turn helps reduce the chance of developing allergies or immune system diseases, and even reduces some mental health issues." –the_original_retro 10."Salt. It's been demonized by the 'health' industry for years, but it is WILDLY necessary for damn near everything in your body." –Secret-Spinach-5080 11."Having fat in your body, not an excessive amount, though. You don't need to be ripped with a completely flat stomach to be healthy." –PlasticScheme3609 12."Chocolate.... the right kind. Dark chocolate with 80% or more cocoa has massive amounts of extremely healthy stuff in it. It makes your body release stem cells in the blood, which repair almost everything." –BubiMannKuschelForce 13."Being angry. It's as valid an emotion as any, and sometimes you just need to be angry and let it out. Reacting in anger is never a good thing, though." –TheYankunian Related: 14."Saying no to children and letting them feel sadness sometimes so they can appreciate joy eventually." "My mother-in-law's grandchildren are so spoiled that nothing can make them happy; they are completely self-absorbed and never say a thank you, and they can get absolutely anything they want anytime. I've never seen children like that, and I believe that while she has good intentions, this might be harmful later." –cesonis 15."Giving your body a chance to fight off minor illnesses before turning immediately to antibiotics/virals. Like no, don't let that dog bite fester your arm right off your shoulder, but if you can walk through the sinus infection with a bottle of NyQuil, do that." –alphaturducken 16."Playing video games in moderation." –AromaticHydrocarbons 17."Not showering every day (you can wash sensitive spots every day, though, if you want to, that's understandable)." –Seirazula 18."Fruit. There are people out there who think fruit has too much sugar 🙄 " "I had a woman who full-on believed this sentence. She said, 'I'm being bad and getting a banana, it's my sugary treat.' BE SO REAL RN OMFG. Sugar isn't the enemy people!!! Moderation and sugar that our body can process easily is the key. Honey, maple syrup, sugar in fruit, and less processed/not bleached sugar are fine! Pure cane sugar is yummy, your generic sugar has so much stuff in it, the less processed (processed isn't bad since we need some of it), the better!" –MrCabrera0695 What else belongs on this list? Let me know in the comments! Also in Goodful: Also in Goodful: Also in Goodful:
Miami Herald
4 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Pepsi copies Coca-Cola to win back health-conscious consumers
Many Americans may not realize the importance of the gut microbiome, or the ecosystem of microbes that live in our intestines, and its impact on overall health. A 2023 Ipsos poll also revealed that many Americans have accepted to live with their digestive problems, with one in five saying they tried many things to resolve the issue, but haven't succeeded. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter About 18% of Americans confirm they have been diagnosed with hemorrhoids, and 15% say they have been diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). How is this possible? Food plays a significant role in our gut and overall health. However, it is not the only culprit for various illnesses, because poor nutrition is often associated with other less healthy behaviors. Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are leading sources of added sugars in the American diet, and frequent consumption is associated with weight gain, Type 2 diabetes, kidney diseases, obesity, gout, a type of arthritis and more. However, more frequent consumers of sugary drinks tend to be those who don't exercise regularly, eat fast food often, smoke, don't sleep enough, and do not consume enough fruit, reports the CDC. Over the last couple of years, healthier soda alternatives have grown in popularity, due to the newer generations' focus on healthier lifestyles and mindful eating. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently started a major crackdown on various ingredients commonly found in food and beverages, with one of the goals being to eliminate synthetic dyes in food and drinks. Related: Scientists find massive anti-aging potential in magic mushrooms Kennedy Jr. also stressed that sodas are one of the biggest contributors to the poor health of many Americans. Under the White House's "Make America Healthy Again" initiative, pressure is mounting on soda giants to adapt their formulas. Just recently, it was announced that Coca-Cola might make a big change to its sodas- switching from high-fructose corn syrup to cane sugar. Earlier this year, Coca-Cola launched its own prebiotic soda under its juice brand Simply, and now its biggest rival, PepsiCo (PEP) , is making a similar move. More Retail: Target delights shoppers with savings event, 30% discountsUS government wants to make healthier eggs illegalPepsi issues stern message to employees after mass closures On July 21, the soda giant announced the launch of its Pepsi Prebiotic Cola with: 5 grams of cane sugar; Only 30 calories (a standard Pepsi serving contains about 150 calories);No artificial sweeteners; 3 grams of prebiotic fiber. Pepsi is launching prebiotic cola in two traditional flavors: Original Cola and Cherry Vanilla. Available in 12 oz. single cans for trial and 8-packs of 12 oz. cans, the new sodas will be available online this fall and at stores in early 2026. Pepsi Prebiotic Cola's launch comes a few months after the beverage titan announced the purchase of prebiotic soda brand Poppi for nearly $2 billion. Pepsi's move into a healthier beverages market was a way to win back customers. After all, according to a study by Harvard researchers, the number of young people who consumed at least one daily sugar-sweetened drink dropped to 61% from 80% between 2003 and 2016. Related: Target delights shoppers with savings event, 30% discounts Prebiotics are non-digestible, fermentable food ingredients that modify the composition or activity of gastrointestinal bacteria to benefit the host, according to the National Library of Medicine. Foods like cereals, breads, and snack foods have added prebiotics if you see on the food label some of the following terms: inulin, wheat dextrin, acacia gum, psyllium, polydextrose, GOS (galactooligosaccharides), FOS (fructooligosaccharides), and TOS (transgalactooligosaccharides). While prebiotic sodas can support your gut health, too much of it can cause gas, bloating, or diarrhea. Experts advise people who have gastrointestinal problems such as Crohn's or ulcerative colitis to avoid them. Samantha Nazareth, MD, board-certified gastroenterologist, told Woman's Health that prebiotic soda shouldn't replace plant-based foods like apples, garlic, artichokes, asparagus, and oats, which naturally contain gut-friendly fiber. The outlet consulted with experts to determine what health-conscious consumers should look for in prebiotic soda for the most benefits. They advised the following: Three grams of fiber per serving from ingredients like chicory root, inulin, and acacia fiberNo more than 10 grams of sugar Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
