Can Wegovy Cause Sulfur Burps? The Pharmacological Explanation and Relief Strategies

October 14, 2025 •

4 min read

In clinical trials for Wegovy, approximately 7% of participants reported belching, a gastrointestinal side effect that can sometimes manifest as a foul, rotten-egg odor. This article explores the scientific reasons why can Wegovy cause sulfur burps and provides practical solutions for managing this uncomfortable symptom.

Quick Summary

Wegovy can cause sulfur burps by delaying gastric emptying, which leads to food fermentation and increased hydrogen sulfide gas production. Managing symptoms often involves dietary adjustments, lifestyle changes, and over-the-counter remedies, and typically improves over time as the body adapts.

Key Points

Delayed Gastric Emptying: Wegovy slows digestion, causing food to stay longer in the stomach and intestines, which can lead to increased gas production.
Hydrogen Sulfide Gas: The unpleasant odor of sulfur burps is caused by hydrogen sulfide gas, a byproduct of gut bacteria fermenting undigested food.
Dietary Management is Key: Limiting high-sulfur foods (like eggs and cruciferous vegetables) and eating smaller, more frequent meals can significantly reduce symptoms.
Hydration and Movement Help: Drinking plenty of water and engaging in light physical activity can aid digestion and decrease gas buildup.
Over-the-Counter Relief: Medications like simethicone and bismuth subsalicylate, as well as probiotic supplements, can offer relief from gas and indigestion.
Symptoms Often Improve Over Time: For many people, sulfur burps and other gastrointestinal side effects are worse during the initial weeks of treatment and may subside as the body adjusts to the medication.
When to See a Doctor: Persistent or severe symptoms, especially when accompanied by intense abdominal pain or persistent vomiting, warrant immediate consultation with a healthcare provider.

The Science Behind Sulfur Burps and Wegovy

Sulfur burps are burps with a distinct, foul odor, often compared to rotten eggs. This smell comes from hydrogen sulfide ($H_2S$) gas, which is produced in the digestive tract. While a natural byproduct of digestion, certain factors can increase its production, including the use of specific medications like Wegovy.

How Wegovy Affects Digestion

Wegovy is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, and its active ingredient, semaglutide, mimics a natural hormone in the body. One of the primary mechanisms by which Wegovy and other GLP-1s work is by slowing down a process called gastric emptying, meaning food remains in the stomach and intestines for a longer period. For weight loss, this effect helps promote a feeling of fullness and reduces overall food intake. However, this delayed digestion can also lead to an increase in fermentation by gut bacteria.

The Role of Gut Bacteria and Hydrogen Sulfide

The gut microbiome, a complex community of microorganisms in the digestive tract, plays a key role in producing gases like hydrogen sulfide. When undigested food, particularly proteins rich in sulfur compounds, lingers in the gut due to slowed gastric emptying, these bacteria have more time to break it down. This results in a higher concentration of $H_2S$ gas, which is eventually expelled from the body as a sulfur burp. The frequency and intensity of this side effect can vary significantly among individuals based on their diet and unique gut bacteria.

Managing and Minimizing Sulfur Burps on Wegovy

While sulfur burps can be unpleasant, they are typically manageable with dietary and lifestyle adjustments. For many, this side effect tends to be most prominent when starting the medication or increasing the dose and may lessen over time as the body adapts.

Dietary Adjustments

Limit high-sulfur foods: Reducing your intake of foods that are naturally high in sulfur can help. These include cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage), onions, garlic, eggs, dairy products, and certain red meats.
Avoid fatty and fried foods: High-fat meals are particularly slow to digest and can exacerbate gastrointestinal side effects like burping and nausea.
Eat smaller, more frequent meals: This strategy puts less strain on the digestive system and can help prevent the buildup of excess gas.
Limit carbonated beverages: Sodas, sparkling water, and other fizzy drinks introduce extra air into your digestive system, which can increase the frequency of burping.

Lifestyle Modifications

Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of water helps flush the digestive system and promotes smoother digestion, which can prevent gas buildup.
Eat slowly: Chewing food thoroughly and eating mindfully can prevent you from swallowing excess air, a common cause of burping.
Engage in light physical activity: Regular, gentle movement, such as walking after meals, can aid digestion and help move things along the digestive tract.

Over-the-Counter Solutions

For additional relief, some over-the-counter (OTC) products may be helpful:

Simethicone (Gas-X): This medication works to break up gas bubbles in the stomach and intestines.
Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol): This can help with indigestion and other GI upset.
Probiotics: These supplements can help maintain a healthy balance of gut bacteria, potentially reducing the overgrowth of sulfur-producing microorganisms.

Comparing Gastrointestinal Side Effects: Wegovy vs. Other GLP-1s

Sulfur burps are not unique to Wegovy and can occur with other GLP-1 agonists due to their shared mechanism of action. The prevalence of burping (eructation) can vary between different GLP-1 medications and dosages, as shown in the table below based on available clinical trial data and FDA labeling.


Medication (Active Ingredient)	Dosage (Example)	% Patients Reporting Belching (Eructation)	Key Differences	Potential for Sulfur Burps
Wegovy (semaglutide)	2.4 mg	~7% in clinical trials	Specific approval for weight loss; Higher dose for this purpose.	Moderate to High (due to higher dosing)
Ozempic (semaglutide)	0.5 mg, 1 mg	1-3%	Primarily for Type 2 Diabetes; Lower maximum doses typically used.	Lower (due to lower doses)
Mounjaro / Zepbound (tirzepatide)	5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg	2-5%	Dual GLP-1/GIP agonist; Different mechanism.	Lower to Moderate
Saxenda (liraglutide)	Varies	5%	Different GLP-1 agonist; Also approved for weight management.	Moderate

Note: This table reflects reported rates of 'belching' and does not specifically track 'sulfur burps,' which are a subset of burping events.

When to Contact Your Healthcare Provider

While usually harmless, it is important to communicate any bothersome or persistent side effects to your healthcare provider. This is especially true if sulfur burps are accompanied by more severe symptoms, which could indicate a more serious condition.

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:

Severe, persistent abdominal pain, with or without vomiting.
Signs of serious complications like pancreatitis, gallbladder issues, or intestinal blockage.
Other concerning or worsening symptoms, such as significant changes in bowel habits or severe nausea that interferes with daily life.

In some cases, a healthcare provider may recommend adjusting the dosage or considering an alternative medication if lifestyle changes are not effective.

Conclusion: The Bigger Picture of GI Side Effects

Wegovy's mechanism of action, which involves delaying gastric emptying, is the primary reason it can cause sulfur burps. This slows digestion, which can lead to increased fermentation and hydrogen sulfide gas production by gut bacteria. Though unpleasant, this side effect is often temporary and can be effectively managed with targeted dietary and lifestyle changes. By understanding the link between pharmacology and digestion, and by implementing simple strategies like eating smaller meals and avoiding high-sulfur foods, patients can minimize discomfort. Open communication with a healthcare provider is crucial for addressing persistent or severe symptoms and ensuring the best possible treatment outcome. The benefits of Wegovy for weight management and cardiovascular risk reduction must be weighed against its potential side effects. For most people, managing the initial GI discomfort allows them to continue with successful, long-term treatment.

Medication-induced gastroparesis from Semaglutide

Frequently Asked Questions

Wegovy's active ingredient, semaglutide, slows down gastric emptying, the process by which food leaves your stomach. This allows food to linger longer in the digestive tract, where gut bacteria ferment it and produce more hydrogen sulfide gas, leading to the characteristic rotten-egg smell of sulfur burps.

Yes, burping is a reported side effect, though the specific incidence of sulfur burps is not always isolated in studies. Clinical trials for Wegovy indicated that approximately 7% of participants reported belching (eructation).

Limiting high-sulfur foods can be helpful. These include eggs, certain cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts), red meat, and alliums like garlic and onions. Reducing high-fat and sugary foods can also aid digestion.

For short-term relief, you can try over-the-counter medications like simethicone (Gas-X), which helps break up gas bubbles. Drinking plenty of water and herbal teas like peppermint or chamomile can also help soothe the stomach.

No, you should not stop taking Wegovy without consulting your doctor. Sulfur burps often subside over time, and your doctor may recommend dietary changes or adjusting your dose to help manage the side effect. Discontinuing the medication should only be done under medical supervision.

Yes, many of the same strategies used for sulfur burps can help with other common GI side effects like nausea, constipation, and bloating. This includes eating smaller, more frequent meals, staying well-hydrated, and engaging in light exercise.

The gastrointestinal side effects, including sulfur burps, tend to be most pronounced when you first start the medication or when your dose is increased. For most people, these side effects are temporary and improve over several weeks as your body adjusts.

No, sulfur burps are a side effect of slowed digestion and not an indication of treatment effectiveness. The absence or presence of this symptom does not correlate with how well the medication is working for weight loss or blood sugar control.