Not A Coincidence: Ozempic May Actually Cause Bad Breath

Saniya Aamir
4 min readFeb 17, 2024

Ozempic is a medication that helps people with type 2 diabetes and, more recently, those dealing with obesity. It comes in two forms: an injection once a week or a pill taken daily (known as Rybelsus).

There’s also another drug called tirzepatide (Mounjaro), which is a mix of GLP-1 and GIP receptors and is gaining popularity.

These drugs were initially created to manage type 2 diabetes. They work by lowering something called A1c, slowing down digestion to make you feel fuller, and increasing the use of fat in your body.

Interestingly, people who have used these medications have experienced significant weight loss — around 12% to 17% of their body weight after using them for 48 weeks.

Ozempic Causes Bad Breath

While Ozempic has demonstrated its effectiveness in managing blood sugar levels and aiding in weight loss, recent research has highlighted a potential side effect related to breath odor.

In a specific trial, it was found that 10% of individuals who were taking semaglutide reported experiencing burping or eructation, whereas only 1% of those on the placebo reported similar symptoms.

What makes this noteworthy is that many participants described these burps as “sulfa burps,”…

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Saniya Aamir

Dentist on a mission to make oral health more accessible… one article at a time