Got A Cold…Or Just Started Ozempic?

It’s easy to dismiss that as odd (and it might be as you’ll learn later!). But some doctors prescribe the drug Ozempic—a semaglutide that is approved for blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes but is prescribed off-label for the loss of weight-says there is a possible link between weight loss medications and developing nosebleeds. “There’s definitely a mechanism behind this,” says Kunal Shah, MD, assistant professor in the division of endocrinology at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical Center.

Here’s what causes these side effects, as well as what to do if you’re struggling.

Meet the experts: Alexandra Sowa, MD, is an internal medicine physician specializing in preventive health, nutrition, and obesity medicine and the author of a forthcoming book Ozempic Revolution. Kunal Shah, MD, is an assistant professor in the division of endocrinology at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical Center.

There are several reasons why you may notice a runny nose after taking Ozempic.

The first is that your nose may be related to a virus, says Alexandra Sowa, MD, author of a forthcoming book. Ozempic Revolution. COVID-19 is always around, and so is cold and flu season – and those germs don’t stay away once you use Ozempic. So, with that, you may have had a cold or some other upper respiratory virus when you first started taking Ozempic, so keep that in mind.

Consider another issue: You may be more aware of your body while taking medication. In fact, it is now known that many people have side effects from Ozempic, and your doctor will prescribe it for you. So, maybe your nose was already running more than usual and you didn’t notice it until you started the medicine and you know what is happening in your body at the same time. “Two things can both be true—you have a female nose and you’re Ozempic—and you’re not related,” Dr. Sowa realizes.

It is also possible for Ozempic to use i directly related to the negative effect of the nose.

“Normally, the reason why this happens is in these [GLP-1 agonist] medicine is that it can cause gastroesophageal reflux or make it worse,” Dr. Shah says.

Gastroesophageal reflux, commonly known as acid reflux, is a condition in which stomach contents back up into your stomach. Dr. “Acid irritates the lining of your esophagus,” says Shah. He says that can cause post-nasal drip and nasal discharge, as well as other symptoms such as nausea, pain when swallowing, and crying.

Finally, a runny nose may be related to how your GLP-1 medication stimulates an important nerve in your body called the vagus nerve, which is the part of the nervous system that controls digestion, the speed of heart and immune system, Dr. Sowa. that said. The vagus nerve contains GLP-1 receptors, and this class of drugs targets GLP-1 receptors in the body. On the one hand, the use of one of these drugs affects the vagus nerve and, on the other hand, can lead to other physical symptoms—including a condition known as vasomotor rhinitis, Dr. congestion, runny nose, and sneezing.

Nasal congestion is less pronounced with Ozempic and other semaglutides (such as Wegovy).

Dr. Shah notes that it can also occur with tirzepatides such as Zepbound and Mounjaro, among other drugs in the group of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. For example, experts know that “acid reflux occurs with tirzepatide, so we can suggest that people are at risk of getting a nosebleed with it,” he says.

Always talk to your doctor about side effects.

If you are dealing with a constant post-nasal drip or runny nose, and you are sure that you don’t do it to have a virus, see your primary care physician to get tested for acid reflux, Dr. Shah recommends. You can also try taking an acid-reducing medicine like famotidine with food to see if that helps, he says.

But you are unlikely to deal with this issue for a very long time. Most people stop experiencing side effects after a few months, when they reach a maintenance dose (meaning, you are at the same dose as you plan to use for a while), Dr. Sowa says.

Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general health, sexual and relationship health, and lifestyle, with work appearing in Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Self, Glamour, and more. He has a master’s degree from American University, lives near the beach, and hopes to own a tea truck and a taco truck one day.