Burning Mouth Sensation and Ozempic (Semaglutide)
Burning sensation in the mouth is not a recognized or documented side effect of Ozempic (semaglutide) based on current clinical guidelines and safety data.
Established Side Effect Profile
The documented adverse effects of semaglutide are well-characterized and do not include oral burning sensations:
Gastrointestinal effects are the most common adverse reactions, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain, which are typically dose-dependent and more pronounced during initial treatment 1.
Injection site reactions have been reported but are localized to the injection area, not the oral cavity 2.
Other documented effects include gallbladder disease, pancreatitis risk, cardiovascular considerations, and rare cases of allodynia (skin tenderness to touch) 2, 3, 4.
What the Evidence Shows
The American Diabetes Association's comprehensive safety tables for semaglutide list gastrointestinal side effects, injection site reactions, elevated heart rate, and hypoglycemia as common adverse effects, with no mention of oral or mouth-related symptoms 1.
A systematic safety review of semaglutide documented mostly mild-to-moderate and transient gastrointestinal disturbances, biliary disease risk, and no unexpected safety issues, but oral burning was not identified 3.
Recent case reports have documented novel adverse effects like allodynia (skin tenderness) with dose escalation, but these involved skin hypersensitivity, not oral symptoms 4.
Clinical Considerations
If a patient reports burning mouth sensation while on semaglutide, consider alternative etiologies:
Vitamin deficiencies (B12, folate, iron) - particularly relevant as GLP-1 receptor agonists can affect nutrient absorption through delayed gastric emptying 5.
Oral candidiasis or other infectious causes.
Xerostomia (dry mouth) - though this is not a documented semaglutide side effect, evaluate for other medications causing this.
Burning mouth syndrome (primary or secondary to other conditions).
Gastroesophageal reflux - semaglutide can cause esophageal reflux, which might manifest with oral symptoms 1.
Management Approach
Do not attribute the burning sensation to semaglutide without ruling out other causes, as this is not an established adverse effect.
Perform a thorough oral examination and consider referral to dentistry or oral medicine if symptoms persist.
Evaluate for nutritional deficiencies, particularly given semaglutide's effect on gastric emptying and potential impact on nutrient absorption 5.
If gastrointestinal symptoms like reflux are present, manage these according to standard protocols, as dyspepsia and reflux are documented semaglutide effects 2.