Liraglutide Side Effects: What You Need to Know

Liraglutide, just like any medication, comes with potential side effects. The good news is that most adverse effects are mild and should go away on their own as your body adjusts to the medication.

We’ll go over common liraglutide side effects, how long they last, potential long-term effects, and how to treat side effects if they crop up.

A quick explainer before we dive in: Liraglutide is the active ingredient in Saxenda^® and Victoza^®. Saxenda is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat excess weight and obesity, and Victoza is approved for type 2 diabetes mellitus. The side effects are similar for both medications.

So, what are the side effects of liraglutide? Scroll down to see what’s been reported in clinical trials.

Saxenda Liraglutide Side Effects

In clinical trials for Saxenda, common side effects included:

• Nausea

• Diarrhea

• Constipation

• Vomiting

• Dyspepsia (indigestion)

• Abdominal pain

• Gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and intestine)

• Headache

• Fatigue

• Dizziness

• Injection site reactions (like bruising)

• Pyrexia (fever)

• Increased lipase (an enzyme that breaks down fats)

• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels)

BTW, you might have an increased risk of hypoglycemia if you have type 2 diabetes and take Saxenda or Victoza as well as an insulin secretagogue (like a sulfonylurea) or insulin. Look out for signs like dizziness, shakiness, or tiredness. Let your healthcare provider know if you have any of these hypoglycemia symptoms — they might suggest adjusting the dose of other diabetes medications.

Victoza Liraglutide Side Effects

In clinical trials for Victoza, common side effects were mainly gastrointestinal (stomach- and digestion-related) and included:

• Nausea

• Diarrhea

• Constipation

• Vomiting

• Dyspepsia

• Decreased appetite (the side effect you’re looking for if taking Victoza for weight loss)

For both Victoza and Saxenda, these side effects were seen in five percent or more of people taking the drugs. The most common side effect of both meds is nausea.

The good news is that side effects of liraglutide are usually mild. In research funded by Novo Nordisk — the manufacturer of Victoza and Saxenda — the vast majority (94 percent or more) of side effects were mild to moderate in nature. This was found in people taking 3 milligrams (mg) of liraglutide — the dose used in Saxenda.

Liraglutide Allergic Reactions

Another possible adverse event when taking liraglutide is an allergic reaction, like an anaphylactic reaction, angioedema (swelling), hives, or trouble breathing.

Stop using liraglutide right away if you notice any signs of a serious allergic reaction, and reach out for medical advice.

Liraglutide Delayed Gastric Emptying

One more thing to know about: Liraglutide — like other glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists — delays gastric emptying, meaning it slows the movement of food from the stomach to the intestines. This is one way it can help you feel fuller and promote weight loss.

But severely delayed gastric emptying or paralysis (gastroparesis) may cause stomach pain or affect how your body absorbs oral medication. Let your prescribing healthcare provider know if you take any oral medication — including oral contraceptives. They can advise on the best next steps.

You’ll most likely experience side effects when you first start taking liraglutide and when your dose is increasing. Side effects should get better with time as your body adjusts to the medication.

How long are we talking about, exactly? Everybody’s different, but a 2015 Novo Nordisk-funded study found that people taking Saxenda experienced nausea and vomiting primarily within the first four to eight weeks of treatment.

What’s more, the percentage of people experiencing nausea decreased drastically after roughly the four-week mark. So the odds are in your favor that you’ll start feeling better about a month after starting liraglutide.

Let your prescribing healthcare provider know if liraglutide side effects aren’t passing. They may recommend staying on your current dose of liraglutide for longer before increasing it. This can give your body more time to adjust.

Again, like all medications, liraglutide comes with a few potential long-term side effects and serious side effects to be aware of. Rest assured, these are rare.

Acute Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. In Saxenda trials, this happened in 0.3 percent of people taking the drug, compared to 0.1 percent taking a placebo.

It’s unclear if those with a history of pancreatitis have a greater risk of developing the condition on Saxenda. In any case, let your healthcare provider know if you’ve had pancreatitis before.

Look out for symptoms like severe, sharp pain in your stomach that may radiate into your back. This often comes with nausea and vomiting. Stop taking liraglutide if you notice these signs, and reach out to a medical professional.

Acute Gallbladder Disease

In clinical trials, 2.2 percent of participants taking Saxenda developed gallstones, and 0.8 percent had gallbladder inflammation.

Substantial or rapid weight loss can increase your chances of developing gallstones, but the risk is a little higher if you’re losing weight with help from Saxenda.

You might not notice any symptoms of gallbladder problems. If you do, signs of gallstones include upper-abdomen pain, especially after eating high-fat meals. This is often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

Renal Impairment

There are reports of renal impairment (aka kidney failure) in people taking GLP-1 receptor agonists, including Saxenda and Victoza.

Renal failure, as seen in the study, is often associated with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. Let your healthcare provider know if you’re experiencing severe gastrointestinal side effects like these. And remember to stay hydrated.

Also, tell your provider if you have a history of kidney problems or if you’re taking any other medications that affect your kidneys.

Suicidal Behavior and Ideation

In Saxenda trials, 0.3 percent of people taking the drug reported suicidal ideation (thoughts about suicide). This is compared to 0.1 percent of those taking a placebo.

Before starting liraglutide, let your provider know if you have a history of or current issues with suicidal thoughts. They can let you know if the medication is right for you or if there’s a better option.

Reach out for support if you notice any new or worsening symptoms of depression, suicidal thoughts, or a change in your mood or behaviors. You can also text or call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Pulmonary Aspiration During General Anesthesia or Deep Sedation

Pulmonary aspiration is when something other than air gets into the lungs. There are rare reports of this happening during surgical procedures requiring general anesthesia or deep sedation in people taking GLP-1s like liraglutide.

This is because GLP-1s slow gastric emptying. So, even if you fast before a surgery, there may still be contents in your stomach when sedated.

Let your healthcare provider know if you have any elective surgeries or procedures coming up. They’ll likely recommend you pause liraglutide treatment for a time before surgery (or wait to start it until after surgery).

Thyroid Tumors

Victoza and Saxenda come with black box FDA warnings stating that liraglutide causes thyroid C-cell tumors in rats and mice. It’s unknown whether liraglutide can cause tumors or thyroid cancer in humans.

Evidence so far shows no increased risk for humans. Still, it’s a good idea to keep an eye out for anything that feels off and get medical advice to be sure.

Symptoms of thyroid tumors include:

• Feeling a mass in the neck

• Trouble swallowing

• Shortness of breath

• Persistent hoarseness

You shouldn’t take liraglutide if you have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).

Since the most common liraglutide weight loss side effects are gastrointestinal and mild, you may be able to treat them by yourself at home with over-the-counter or prescription remedies — and maybe a few tweaks to your eating habits.

One way to minimize side effects is to start on a low-dose liraglutide injection and gradually increase it in weekly intervals. Your healthcare provider will give you a personalized dosing schedule to follow.

Beyond that, here are general tips to minimize liraglutide side effects:

• Eat slowly and only when you’re hungry.

• Avoid drinking through a straw.

• Eat without distractions — really savor that food!

• Avoid laying down right after meals, but also don’t be too active after meals.

• Avoid food close to bedtime.

• If you’re feeling off, get some fresh air and do = light exercise, like a gentle walk or yoga flow.

• Avoid foods that are very sweet, spicy, or high in fat, as these can trigger side effects.

Keep reading for more specific tips to help with the most common liraglutide side effects.

Liraglutide Nausea

If you experience liraglutide nausea, here’s what can help:

• Prescription anti-nausea meds like ondansetron (sold under the brand name Zofran^®)

• Over-the-counter supplements or anti-nausea meds like bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto Bismol^®)

• Eating slowly, eating smaller, more frequent meals, and stopping when you feel full

• Avoiding high-fat foods, like fatty meats and baked goods, which might trigger nausea

• Avoiding strong smells, which could also be triggering

• Eating stomach-soothing foods like crackers, apples, mint, and ginger 30 minutes after taking liraglutide

If your nausea is persistent or severe, avoid drinks during meals and 30 to 60 minutes before and after meals to see if that helps. Make sure to drink enough water at other times of the day, though.

We’ve got more nausea tips in our guide.

Liraglutide Diarrhea

If you’re experiencing diarrhea, here’s what to do:

• Try over-the-counter diarrhea meds like loperamide (Imodium^®).

• Drink plenty of water to replace lost fluids.

• Avoid triggering foods like alcohol, coffee, and dairy (keep a food diary if you’re not sure what’s triggering your symptoms).

• Eat foods like chicken, carrots, broth, rice, plain toast, and peeled fruit, which are gentle on the gut.

Liraglutide Constipation

If you’re experiencing the opposite problem and have constipation, try to:

• Eat more high-fiber foods (like fruits, veggies, legumes, nuts, and brown rice)

• Drink more water

• Do more movement and gentle exercise

Over-the-counter stool softeners may help as well. Ask your healthcare provider if they can recommend a specific brand.

Liraglutide Vomiting

For vomiting, you should:

• Drink plenty of water to replace lost fluids

• Eat smaller, more frequent meals

For severe or persistent vomiting, try avoiding drinks during meals and 30 to 60 minutes before and after meals.

Reach out to your healthcare provider if side effects don’t get better with time. They can recommend more anti-nausea treatment options and may want to keep you on your current dose of liraglutide for longer before increasing it.

It’s possible you’ll experience some liraglutide side effects. But for the majority of people, they’re mild or moderate and go away on their own with time. Phew.

Here are the key takeaways from this medication guide to help put your mind at ease:

• Liraglutide side effects are mainly gastrointestinal. Nausea is the most common liraglutide side effect, followed by diarrhea, constipation, and vomiting (in that order). Other common side effects include indigestion, headache, and stomach pain.

• Liraglutide side effects should go away in time. Side effects primarily happen when you first start taking liraglutide and when your dose increases. They should subside within about four to eight weeks of treatment.

• There’s plenty you can do to feel better. While your body adjusts, remember to eat slowly and only when hungry, and try smaller, more frequent meals.

• Speak up about side effects. Let your provider know if liraglutide side effects are bothering you — they may recommend staying on your current dose to give your body more time to adjust.

If you’re still looking into your options, liraglutide is just one type of medication that can help with weight loss and weight management.

Hers has a range of treatment options to support your weight loss journey, including injectable and oral weight loss medications. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, this type of medication may not be suitable right now, but your provider can give you more personalized insight and recommendations.

Curious about liraglutide or semaglutide? You can take our free online weight loss assessment. A healthcare professional will go over your answers and let you know the best treatment options for you.