Ozempic during Ramadan

Ramadan is a period of rest, reflection, and community. At the same time, it is also a month in which your body runs on a different rhythm, with fewer meals, different sleeping hours, and often larger meals around iftar. If you use Ozempic, it makes sense to wonder how best to combine this with fasting.

The short version: for many people, Ozempic is fine during Ramadan, but it requires a little smarter planning. In this article, you will find practical tips to keep your fasting comfortable, limit side effects, and remain consistent with your treatment.

Please note: this is general information and is not a substitute for medical advice. If in doubt, always consult your doctor.

Why Ozempic may feel different during Ramadan

Ozempic (semaglutide) aids weight loss by suppressing your appetite and slowing down gastric emptying. You feel full faster, have fewer cravings, and it is often easier to keep portions small.

Scientific research on Ozempic during Ramadan shows that these drugs can generally be used safely during fasting, provided that extra attention is paid to hydration and side effects (Alayed, 2023).

At the same time, Ramadan can make side effects slightly more “visible.” If your stomach is working more slowly and you eat more than usual in a short period of time, nausea, bloating, or reflux may occur more quickly (Alayed, 2023).

So, the trick is not to try harder, but to be smarter about timing, food choices, and hydration.

When should you take your injection?

A practical guideline is to take the injection after iftar. For many people, this reduces the risk of nausea or dizziness during fasting hours. A study investigating Ozempic use during Ramadan emphasized that stable dosing and good timing around fasting are important for limiting symptoms and maintaining adherence (Hassanein et al., 2025).

Try to do this at around the same time each week so that your body gets into a predictable rhythm.

Have you been using Ozempic for a while and have few side effects? Then another fixed time is also okay. The most important thing is consistency.

Iftar: start slowly, help your body

Iftar is when things often go wrong, not because you lack discipline, but because your body is literally empty. Combine that with Ozempic and you are more likely to suffer from “too much, too fast.”

Start iftar slowly: water first, then something small and light.

What helps:

• Start with water and something small, such as soup, yogurt, or a few dates
• Eat slowly and stop after the first serving
• Choose light and nutritious rather than large and fatty

Large, high-fat meals can exacerbate symptoms because Ozempic slows down gastric emptying. Remember: your stomach works more slowly, so “heavy food” stays in your stomach longer, which can cause nausea.

Suhoor: build a meal that keeps you feeling full for a long time

Suhoor is your foundation for the day. If you eat too lightly, you are more likely to get a headache or an energy dip later on. If you eat too much, you will feel nauseous or sleep poorly. The sweet spot is a meal with protein, fiber, and slow carbohydrates.

Good suhoor choices:

• Eggs, Greek yogurt, quark, tofu
• Oatmeal, whole grain bread, brown rice
• Legumes, vegetables, fruit
• Nuts or olive oil for some healthy fats

This helps you feel full longer and reduces blood sugar fluctuations.

Drinking between iftar and suhoor: more important than you think

Hydration is especially important during Ramadan, especially if you have less appetite and therefore unconsciously drink less. (Alayed, 2023)

Drink enough between iftar and suhoor, spread out over the evening and night.

Tips:

• Drink throughout the evening and night, not all at once
• Choose water and tea in particular
• Be careful with too much caffeine, as this can increase dehydration
• Add electrolytes if you feel dizzy easily or sweat a lot

Dealing with nausea or other side effects

Mild nausea is common, especially when starting or increasing the dose. You can often keep it to a minimum with simple adjustments:

• Eat smaller portions
• Avoid fatty and fried foods
• Choose protein and fiber more often
• Stay on the same dose if you have symptoms

If your symptoms clearly worsen during Ramadan, this is a sign that your body needs a little more rest. Sometimes it's as simple as eating less heavy food at iftar. (Alayed, 2023)

Exercising during Ramadan with Ozempic

Light exercise is usually fine, such as a walk after iftar. This also helps with digestion and sleep.

Intense exercise during fasting hours is often discouraged, especially if you suffer from dizziness or if you already drink very little. Do you still want to exercise? Then it is better to do so after iftar or just before suhoor, when you can hydrate.

When should you stop fasting and contact a doctor?

Health always comes first. If you experience any of the following symptoms, stop fasting and contact a doctor:

• severe dizziness
• fainting
• persistent vomiting
• signs of dehydration that do not improve with drinking
• severe abdominal pain

Finally: Ramadan is all about balance

Using Ozempic during Ramadan is fine, and for many people it actually helps them to eat more calmly. With a few practical choices, such as injecting after iftar, building up slowly, starting lightly at iftar, eating a substantial suhoor, and drinking enough, you can make it a lot easier for yourself.

Would you like to know more about Ozempic and our guidance at goodweigh? Take a look at our website.

Sources (MLA)

Alayed, Khalid Mohammed. “Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) during Ramadan: Narrative Review of the Published Literature.” Journal of Obesity, 2023, Article 8626081.

Hassanein, Mohamed, et al. “O-SEMA-FAST: A Prospective, Non-interventional Study Investigating Oral Semaglutide Use in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus During Ramadan.” Diabetes Therapy, vol. 16, 2025, pp. 663–684.

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