More Ozempic Patients Complaining About Brutal Sunburns, Metallic Tongue & More

Another week, another unsavory Ozempic side effect. By now, you’ve likely heard of the common and unfortunate aspects of taking weight-loss drugs, such as gastrointestinal issues, stomach paralysis, sagging skin, and even “Ozempic Mouth.”

But, these setbacks aren’t enough to deter Americans from using GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic (semaglutide), Mounjaro (tirzepatide), or Wegovy to lose weight. In fact, about 12% of adults have used a GLP-1 drug, according to a June 2024 poll—a percentage that’s likely grown since. Many users are praising these medications as the most effective way to drop weight and take control of their health. Still, as a relatively new class of drugs, scientists and doctors are in the early stages of understanding what these drugs can do to the human body. And, yes, that includes discovering new negative side effects.

The latest? More patients are complaining of painful sunburns, metallic tongues, tooth decay, and other nasty symptoms. Here is the new wave of weight-loss drug side effects that are coming to light.

RELATED: 7 Worst Ozempic Side Effects Reported by Patients

According to research and patient anecdotes, taking Ozempic can alter your sense of smell—in both good and bad ways.

Experts say GLP-1 drugs have the ability to heighten sensitivity to different scents. And, as cravings for eating sugar are dampened, the drug may be increasing the brain’s hunt to satisfy a sweet tooth by seeking out sweeter smells instead.

While this is causing some users to stock up on vanilla-scented perfumes, others are not enjoying their superpower noses. Some are reporting that their sense of smell has increased so much, it’s making them nauseous or gag when hit with scents like dog food, cigarettes, garbage, or grease.

Sounds odd, but weight-loss drugs could be making patients more sensitive to the sun.

Dr. Emma Cunningham, an advanced aesthetics specialist in the UK, told The Sun that losing fat can cause the skin barrier to become thinner, which can mess with your body’s natural insulation.

This means your skin may become more sensitive to heat and UV rays, which can cause dehydration and nasty sunburns if you don’t lather on the SPF.

RELATED: 8 Celebrities Who’ve Admitted to Using Ozempic

While there’s no concrete evidence to pin brittle hair and nails on weight-loss drugs, many patients are complaining about these unfortunate beauty pains.

Brittle hair and nails may be caused by related issues. For instance, losing weight rapidly can lead to a temporary condition called telogen effluvium, a disruption in the hair growth cycle that causes your hair to shed. Luckily, the condition ends on its own within a few months—but still, it’s not ideal.

What’s more, not having an appetite may lead to nutritional deficiencies and hormonal shifts—both of which experts say can cause weak hair and nails.

That’s why it’s important to talk with your doctor about taking any weight-loss drugs, as they can suggest supplements or vitamins to make sure you’re getting the nutrients your body needs.

Weight-loss drugs are reportedly doing a number on patients’ oral health. Many users are complaining of dry mouth, which is caused by dehydration and the lack of saliva, as well as a persistent metallic taste. Bad breath and tooth decay are also making the list of unfortunate side effects.

One study found that Ozempic does alter taste perception, taste bud gene expression, and brain activity when responding to sweet tastes.

“People with obesity often perceive tastes less ‘intensely,’ and they have an inherently elevated desire for sweet and energy-dense food,” the study’s lead author Mojca Jensterle Sever, PhD, of the University Medical Centre in Ljubljana, Slovenia, said in a statement. “Our findings build upon preliminary animal studies showing that central administration of GLP-1RA medications impacts taste aversion to sweetness.”

Dentists are saying that all of these side effects are related and that maintaining good oral hygiene is key.

RELATED: Ozempic Patients Say It Changes How Food Tastes, and Science Now Has an Answer

Losing weight can be a healthy change, but losing your personality in the process? That’s a tough sell that some weight-loss drug patients are struggling with.

Dubbed “Ozempic Personality,” this side effect is described as changes in your mood or behavior, including anxiety, depression, and less interest in activities that once brought you joy.

Experts tell Healthline these personality changes are likely due to the hormonal and metabolic shifts that these medications can cause. Plus, by eating less, the energy you’re getting from food decreases, which may cause mood swings, irritability, and an overall lack of energy.

This is another reason why it’s crucial to talk to your doctor about taking any weight-loss drugs so you can work together on a proper health plan that will keep you feeling like you and staying healthy throughout.