Gas / Flatulence / Belching / Burping (including Sulfur/Eggy Burps)
Users on Reddit report experiencing gas, flatulence, belching, and particularly sulfur or eggy burps while taking GLP-1 medications. These symptoms can range from mild and occasional to severe and persistent, sometimes leading to other issues like nausea or vomiting.
Experiences with Gas / Flatulence / Belching / Burping (including Sulfur/Eggy Burps):
A user on their first day of semaglutide reported, "Within 20 minutes I had nasty sulphur burps and they haven’t stopped all day... The burping is rancid and constant. "[4]
Some users link sulfur burps to specific foods. One user stated, "I get sulphur burps if I eat Carby or sugary foods, and some dairy. "[5] Another mentioned, "Sulfur burps if I eat something like broccoli. Or if I eat to fast. "[15]
One user on Mounjaro described their experience: "I am a type-2 diabetes 58 year old male on Mounjaro and have dealt with sulphur burps, really bad stomach cramps, gas, nausea, diarrhea, constipation and general sick feeling in the stomach mostly. "[10]
Another user on Ozempic shared, "I would get sulfur burps and bad gas for about 12 hours. Then I would have the worst puking and diarrhea for an hour... Now when I get sulfur burps I take pepto bismol and it seems to stop it. "[11]
A user on Wegovy reported, "I'm 3 months in and I'm happy I'm losing weight, but the sulfur burps and nausea are really kicking me. Especially the first 2 or 3 days after injections. "[17]
Some users experience general belching or gas without the sulfurous quality. One user on semaglutide mentioned being "very gassy/burpy. Not sulfur burps but like the normal kind, and just ‘airy’ overall. "[20] Another user on Wegovy reported occasional burps that taste "like popcorn which is gross and weird. "[21]
A user on Mounjaro experienced "the sulphur gas was really bad, both ends. "[14]
One user noted that GLP-1s can cause bad breath, with one person's burp smelling so bad they were asked if they were on a GLP-1. [22]
A user on tirzepatide said, "I was never a burper until tirz. Now I am a professional! "[23]
Remedies and Preventions Recommended:
[12]
Eating enough protein and calories: "If I don't get enough protein and calories, the sulfur burps kick in. "[1]
Avoiding heavy carbs: "When they say don't eat heavy carbs, it's not a joke. Stay away, far away. I was miserable for almost a week and a half because I messed up and are pasta 3 days in a row. "[2]
Eating slowly and not overeating: "The symptoms like sulfur burps, diarhea, nausea, vomiting are associated with the feature that helps with losing weight— delayed gastric emptying— and are exacerbated by eating too much, or eating too much of triggers (like fatty, fiber-rich, or carb heavy foods). "[25]
Over-the-Counter Medications & Supplements:
Pepto-Bismol: Frequently mentioned for sulfur burps. "My life-saving medicine is Pepto-Bismol cherry chewables. Like a godsend stg. Chewed 4 I have had no sulpher burps since... "[2] Another user stated, "Now when I get sulfur burps I take pepto bismol and it seems to stop it. "[11]
Probiotics: "Daily probiotic supplements have helped tremendously with my sulfur-gas and bowel issues. "[3] Another user mentioned, "I also take a daily probiotic. It has been a game changer. "[6] Some recommend specific probiotic drinks like Activia or Yakult to eliminate bloating and reflux. [24]
Digestive Enzymes: "Take 2 digestive enzyme capsules with each meal. "[6] Another user adds apple cider vinegar to their electrolyte water and takes a daily digestive enzyme, noticing a difference when they don't. [9]
Apple Cider Vinegar: "Only thing that resolves them for me is apple cider vinegar (Bragg brand is preferred, but others work in a pinch). "[1] Another user adds it to electrolyte water. [9]
Pickle Juice: Suggested as an alternative to apple cider vinegar. [1]
Antacids (Omeprazole, Famotidine, Dexilant): "I’ve been on 20mg Omeprazole for years and have had no gastric symptoms at all. I recommend a med for GERD if you have these symptoms. "[12] One user found Dexilant to be a "miracle for GLP1 heartburn! Still lots of burping, but not so sulfuric,and no more heartburn pain! "[16]
Peppermint Oil Capsules (Pepogest) & Gastro Comfort with Pepsin GI: One user found these, along with probiotics, substantially reduced sulfur burps and other GI issues. [10]
Hydration: Drinking plenty of water is often recommended. [18]
Managing Food Timing with Injection: One user mentioned, "for the first 3-5 days you have bad burps, nausea and constipation. Then as the half life starts falling, days 4-7, your gut speeds up. "[26]
It's worth noting that for some users, these side effects lessen or resolve over time as their body adjusts to the medication.
Experiences with Gas / Flatulence / Belching / Burping (including Sulfur/Eggy Burps):
- Sulfur/Eggy Burps: This is a commonly reported side effect.
Remedies and Preventions Recommended:
[12]
It's worth noting that for some users, these side effects lessen or resolve over time as their body adjusts to the medication.