Feeling cold on Ozempic, Wegovy and other GLP-1 medications
Some people say they feel colder on Ozempic, Wegovy and other GLP-1 medications, but the US prescribing information for Ozempic and Wegovy does not list feeling cold or chills as a side effect. Eating less and losing body fat are plausible contributors, because both are linked to lower heat production or less insulation. Cold that is persistent or extreme deserves a check with your clinician.
Does Ozempic make you feel cold?
It is a common question, and many people describe it, but it is not an established drug side effect. In the current US prescribing information we reviewed for Wegovy and Ozempic (both semaglutide), feeling cold, chills and cold intolerance do not appear among the listed adverse reactions or warnings.
That does not prove the experience is imaginary. Labels list reactions that were measured and reported more often than with placebo in trials, and feeling cold was not a standard outcome. The honest summary is that the link has not been shown, and the more likely explanations run through eating less and losing weight.
What side effects in the label could feel like being cold?
Several listed effects can overlap with feeling chilled, run down or shaky. The figures below are from the Wegovy prescribing information; Ozempic's label carries similar warnings.
| Label item | What the prescribing information says |
|---|---|
| Fatigue | Reported by 11% on Wegovy 2.4 mg versus 5% on placebo |
| Dizziness | Reported by 8% on Wegovy versus 4% on placebo |
| Low blood pressure | Hypotension, orthostatic hypotension or decreased blood pressure in 1.3% on Wegovy versus 0.4% on placebo |
| Dehydration | Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea can cause fluid loss, which may lead to kidney problems |
| Low blood sugar | Risk is higher when used with insulin or a sulfonylurea; Ozempic's medication guide lists sweating, shakiness, dizziness, confusion and weakness among the symptoms |
Can eating less and losing weight make you feel colder?
This is the most plausible explanation, though it has not been tested directly in people taking GLP-1 medications. The Wegovy label states that semaglutide decreases calorie intake, likely by affecting appetite, and that weight lost is more fat than lean mass.
Body fat insulates. MedlinePlus, from the National Library of Medicine, notes that some people, often thin older women, do not tolerate cold because they have very little body fat to keep them warm.
Eating less also changes heat production. In a 2011 study in the journal Aging, 24 people practicing long-term calorie restriction with adequate nutrition had significantly lower 24-hour core body temperature than matched groups eating a typical Western diet or doing endurance training.
A 2026 study in Obesity Facts followed adults with obesity treated with semaglutide or lifestyle changes alone. Resting energy expenditure fell in both groups by more than body composition changes would predict, and that extra drop did not differ significantly between the two. That pattern points to weight loss itself rather than a unique drug effect.
What is still unknown?
None of the studies cited here asked people on GLP-1 medications whether they felt colder or measured their skin or core temperature. We do not know how common the feeling is, whether it differs between semaglutide, tirzepatide and other drugs, or whether it fades once weight stabilizes. Be cautious with online claims about how many users feel cold.
What else can cause cold intolerance?
Feeling cold is not always about the medication. MedlinePlus lists anemia, an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), blood vessel problems such as Raynaud phenomenon, problems with the hypothalamus, anorexia nervosa, chronic severe illness and general poor health as causes of cold intolerance. Some of these are worth ruling out, especially if you have lost weight quickly or are eating very little.
Do not stop, skip or adjust your medication because you feel cold. Talk to your clinician, who can check for other causes and review your eating and fluid intake with you.
How can I stay warm while taking a GLP-1 medication?
Practical warmth is mostly about holding on to the heat you make. Layers trap warm air, and covering your hands, feet, head and neck makes a noticeable difference. Warm drinks and regular movement help, and so does not skipping meals entirely if your plan allows it.
Wear a thin base layer under everyday clothes, plus a vest or cardigan indoors.
Keep socks, slippers and a light hat or scarf within reach for evenings.
Sip warm drinks through the day, which also supports fluid intake if nausea makes drinking hard.
If you have reduced feeling in your feet, take extra care with heating pads and warmers, which can burn skin you cannot feel.
When to call a clinician or emergency services
Talk to your care team about any cold intolerance that is long-lasting or extreme, which MedlinePlus says warrants a call. Seek help promptly for warning signs named in the prescribing information.
Severe or persistent stomach pain, sometimes spreading to the back: call now, as this can signal pancreatitis.
Ongoing vomiting or diarrhea that makes it hard to keep fluids down: call your clinician, since dehydration can affect the kidneys.
Shakiness, sweating, confusion or weakness if you also use insulin or a sulfonylurea: follow your low blood sugar plan and call.
Signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as trouble breathing: seek emergency help.
Cold intolerance that is long-lasting or extreme: book a visit.
Key takeaways
Feeling cold is not listed as a side effect in the US prescribing information for Ozempic or Wegovy.
Eating less and losing body fat are plausible contributors, supported by research on calorie restriction and weight loss, but not tested directly in GLP-1 users.
Fatigue, dizziness, dehydration, low blood pressure and low blood sugar are listed effects that can feel similar.
Anemia and thyroid problems also cause cold intolerance and are worth ruling out.
Never change your dose because you feel cold; talk to your clinician.
Frequently asked questions
Is feeling cold a side effect of semaglutide?
It is not listed as one in the US prescribing information for Ozempic or Wegovy. People do report it, and reduced food intake and fat loss are plausible reasons, but research has not measured it directly in people taking semaglutide.
Why am I always cold after losing weight?
Body fat helps insulate you, and eating less is linked to lower heat production. MedlinePlus notes that people with very little body fat can find it hard to tolerate cold. If the cold is extreme or long-lasting, ask your clinician to check for anemia, thyroid problems and other causes.
Does Zepbound or Mounjaro make you cold?
This page reviewed the semaglutide labels, not tirzepatide. The same reasoning about eating less and losing weight would apply, but there is no direct research on feeling cold with either drug in the sources reviewed here.
Will the cold feeling go away?
No one has studied this directly. If reduced intake and weight loss are behind it, it may change as your weight and eating settle, but check with your clinician rather than waiting on a feeling that worries you.
Should I stop Ozempic if I feel cold?
Not on your own. Tell your clinician how you feel before making any change; decisions about your medication belong to you and your clinician together.
Related reading
Sources
WEGOVY (semaglutide) injection: Highlights of Prescribing Information, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (label, 2025)
OZEMPIC (semaglutide) injection: Prescribing Information and Medication Guide, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (label, 2026)
Cold intolerance, MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine
About HEATJAC. HEATJAC is a thermal architecture company founded by an anesthesiologist. We design patented garment systems that capture, conduct and broaden warmth across the body, and we publish this knowledge hub because the science of staying warm should be public. HEATJAC products are not medical devices and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.