The bottom line There's no evidence that Ozempic (or other forms of semaglutide) cause hair loss. Hair loss was not a reported side effect of taking Ozempic. But rapid weight loss is a known side effect of taking Ozempic, and rapid weight loss can lead to telogen effluvium.
In clinical trials, WeGovy, Mounjaro and Ozempic were shown to be effective but had many potential side effects, one side effect, which was demonstrated to affect between 3 and 6% of patients in trials, was reported hair loss.
Hair loss is not listed as a side effect of Ozempic, but in clinical trials for Wegovy, 3% of people reported hair loss, compared to 1% of people who got a placebo. (While Ozempic and Wegovy are the same drug, Wegovy is given at a higher dose.)
Possible Long-term Effects of Semaglutide
The most common long-term effect is gastrointestinal disorder. Common side effects of semaglutide may be a result of an underlying disorder that is developing as a reaction to changes in blood sugar, an induced boost in insulin production, and rapid weight loss.
Hair loss (alopecia) can affect just your scalp or your entire body, and it can be temporary or permanent. It can be the result of heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions or a normal part of aging. Anyone can lose hair on their head, but it's more common in men.
Do Semaglutide Side Effects Disappear? The side effects of Semaglutide may be temporary. As mentioned, the most common side effects include feeling tired, itchy skin, and diarrhea.
You start feeling those usual hunger pangs again, and consequently, you may start eating more to satisfy that hunger. An increase in your consumption can lead to the regaining of weight that was lost. A 2022 study found that most individuals gain weight back a year after stopping the medication.
Still, Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications will be most effective for weight loss and blood sugar control when combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise. Generally, eating healthy foods and avoiding foods high in sugar, calories, and unhealthy fats while taking Ozempic helps.
The most common side effect with Ozempic is nausea and occurs in about 15% to 20% of people. Others include vomiting (5% to 9%), diarrhea (8%), stomach-area pain (6% to 7%), and constipation (3% to 7%).
If you stop taking Ozempic, the weight you lost will likely return, fast. People who ceased use of semaglutide gained back, on average, a full two-thirds of the weight they had lost on the drug within one year, according to an August 2022 study, the Wall Street Journal reports.
A person can stay on Ozempic® so long as they are tolerating the medication and it is deemed appropriate by their treating provider. There is no specific time frame when someone should stop taking Ozempic as it is a medication that is intended for chronic (long-term) use.
Your blood glucose (sugar) levels should start to fully decline within the first week after you start using Ozempic (semaglutide) at your regular maintenance dose. However, the full effect can take 8 weeks or longer, as this is a long-acting medication that is injected only once per week.
When a person takes semaglutide, they are able to eat less food without the body entering starvation mode. Once the person stops taking the drug, their body will process that calorie deficit as a sign of malnourishment and will try to put the weight back on.
Between extremely high levels of stress, changes to your diet and hair-care regimens, and a lack of vitamin D, a life-altering change (whether permanent or short-term) can be a bit of a perfect storm for sudden hair loss.
Only riboflavin, biotin, folate, and vitamin B12 deficiencies have been associated with hair loss. Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) is a component of two important coenzymes: flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) [22].
Vivian Bucay, M.D., F.A.A.D., board-certified dermatologist at Bucay Center for Dermatology and Aesthetics says iron, zinc, biotin, and vitamins C, D, E, and B play a crucial role in hair growth.
Drug interactions with semaglutide, when you take it with other medications, can cause hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. And this can cause drowsiness, restless sleep, shakiness, and feeling weak and tired.