Why Does Semaglutide Make You Tired?

Sheena – a 45-year-old mother of two – had been struggling with type 2 diabetes for years. Despite trying various medications and lifestyle changes, her blood sugar levels remained stubbornly high.

She found it increasingly difficult to manage her weight. She consulted her doctor who recommended Semaglutide – a medication known for its effectiveness in controlling blood sugar and aiding in weight loss.

Sheena started taking the medication, hoping it would finally help her regain control over her health. However, within a few weeks, Sheena began to notice an unexpected side effect—she felt overwhelmingly tired all the time.

Despite getting enough sleep and eating well, the Semaglutide exhaustion persisted, making it challenging to keep up with her daily responsibilities. Frustrated and concerned, Sheena wondered why a medicine that was supposed to improve her health was making her feel so drained.

Sheena’s is not an isolated case. Fatigue is a notable side effect reported by a small pool set of sugar patients who have administered Semaglutide. In this blog, we will explore what Semaglutide is, how it works, its common side effects, particularly Semaglutide tiredness, and how to manage this side effect effectively.

What is Semaglutide?

Semaglutide is a medication commonly prescribed for managing type 2 diabetes and aiding in weight loss. It is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist – which basically means, it is a hormone that binds itself to GLP-1 receptors in various parts of the body and activates it to trigger a response in the cells. Semaglutide has 94% structural similarity with the GLP-1 produced naturally by the human body.

Let’s elaborate further to see how GLP-1 works.

When you eat a meal, GLP-1 is naturally secreted in your intestine. It then travels through your blood and binds to GLP-1 receptors located in various parts, like your pancreas, stomach, and brain.

In the pancreas, GLP-1 activates receptors that stimulate the release of insulin and lower the release of glucagon. This helps lower blood sugar levels. It also slows down the speed with which your stomach is emptied, making you feel full for longer and stabilizing your blood sugar levels.

Additionally, the action of Semaglutide on the hypothalamus , your brain, reduces hunger, alleviates food cravings, and enhances feelings of satiety. All these actions combined, help inweight management.

Semaglutide is available under different brand names, as follows:

Common Side Effects of Semaglutide

While Semaglutide is becoming a widely prescribed drug for managing type 2 diabetes and has proved to be beneficial, there have been noticeable cases of short-term side-effects. The most frequently reported among them include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, headache and dizziness.

There are also more serious, but rare side-effects as follows:

Why Does Semaglutide Make You Tired?

Several factors can make you feel tired when taking Semaglutide. Some of these factors are; changes in blood sugar levels, time taken for the stomach to empty, potential impacts on sleep quality, and reduced calorie intake. However, the main reason for this fatigue is ‘metabolic inflexibility.’

In normal metabolism, our body usually switches between burning carbs and burning fats for energy. When you eat, your body burns carbs and in periods of fasting, your body burns fats. If the body has trouble switching between carbs and fats, it is said to be in a state of ‘metabolic inflexibility.’ It’s like being stuck in one gear.

To elucidate further, let’s say you are taking Ozempic injection for weight loss but you have high insulin levels. The high insulin can prevent your body from burning fat as it keeps your body in carb-burning mode. So, your body cannot use your stored fats for energy. But because your body is still burning carbs, you tend to eat less. And because you eat less, you don’t have enough energy. Even your basal metabolic rate (the amount of energy you burn at rest) can drop by 15-20% due to high insulin levels and insulin resistance. This reduction means you have less energy overall, which causes Semaglutide exhaustion.

When you first start taking Ozempic, your body will have not adapted to these changes, so you might feel more tired. But over time, as your body becomes better at switching between burning carbs and burning fats; that is, it becomes metabolically flexible. So, you should be able to use your fat stores for energy more effectively. As a result, you should feel less tiredness than before.

Factors Affecting Fatigue Levels

The incidence of Semaglutide tiredness can differ based on the administration method. Injectable forms like Ozempic and Wegovy might have different effects compared to the oral form, Rybelus. Clinical trials have shown variations in fatigue levels among different formulations.

Secondly, higher doses of Semaglutide are more likely to cause fatigue. Gradual dose escalation, where the dosage is slowly increased, can help minimize this side effect, allowing the body to adjust more comfortably.

Personal health conditions, other medications, and lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise, also play crucial roles in determining how tired a person might feel while on Semaglutide.

Managing Fatigue While on Semaglutide

No doubt, Semaglutide can be beneficial. But to avoid fatigue, we need to take certain steps or precautions. Some of the important one are as follows:

If fatigue persists, it is important to consult with a healthcare provider. They can assess whether dosage adjustments or other interventions are necessary. Persistent Semaglutide fatigue may also warrant an evaluation for other underlying health conditions or the consideration of alternative treatments.

Other Considerations When Taking Semaglutide

Semaglutide offers significant benefits for weight management, although demonstrated in a small number of diabetes population with limited efficacy. It aids in weight loss, which can improve overall health and reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications. It thus, enhances your quality of life. However, it also comes with certain potential risks.

Patients taking Semaglutide should receive guidance about potential side effects and complications, both when they start the medication and during follow-up visits.

Patients and their doctors should work together to monitor for complications, focusing on these points:

By being proactive and careful, patients can manage Semaglutide fatigue and improve their treatment outcomes.

Research and Future Directions

Ongoing research is investigating the side effects of Semaglutide, including Semaglutide fatigue. These studies aim to better understand the mechanisms behind these side effects and develop strategies to mitigate them. Future advancements in drug development may focus on reducing side effects while maintaining the efficacy of Semaglutide. Innovations could lead to improved formulations that minimize Semaglutide fatigue and other adverse effects.

So far, Semaglutide has shown limited efficacy in controlling blood sugar levels and promoting weight loss in a small population of type 2 diabetes patients. It has been approved for chronic weight management in specific controlled populations.

However, the broader implications of its use are not yet fully understood. To ensure safe usage, it is essential to consult with a healthcare provider before starting Semaglutide. Its use should be monitored for any adverse reactions, and users are advised to stay informed about the latest research and guidelines.

Semaglutide seems to be a promising valuable medication for managing type 2 diabetes and supporting weight loss. However, it can cause Semaglutide fatigue, especially during the initial adjustment period. Understanding why Semaglutide may make you tired and implementing strategies to manage this side effect can improve treatment adherence and overall quality of life.

Always discuss any concerns with healthcare providers to ensure the best possible outcomes while using this medication. Our team of experts at Wellfinity would be more than happy to help. Please feel free to connect with us for any doubts or queries.