Tresiba and Headaches: What Users Say

• jsc...
• February 4, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "My endo, who is a PA not even a MD, prescribed Tresiba to me. I took the Tresiba for about 2 weeks. I noticed I was getting headaches every day, dry mouth, constant thirst, stomach cramps, IBS symptoms such as bloating and diarrhea, and slightly blurred vision. Well, the other day I went in to see the PA/endocrinologist. I told him I quit taking the Tresiba and restarted taking my Lantus 2 times a day. OMG, he got so angry and upset that he walked out of the room while I was talking to him. He actually said if you aren't going to do things 'MY WAY', then there is no use for you to see me. That's right. I am going to look around this week for a new endo. That kind of attitude is highly unprofessional. I explained to him that I was not going to take a medication that causes me painful side effects. No, I'll never take Tresiba again."

• CJA...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 23, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "Started Tresiba 7 days ago after nearly 20 years on Lantus, and it has been nightmarish. Had to have a COVID-19 test to rule it out, but I'm sure it is linked to Tresiba getting into my system properly. My blood sugars were totally out of control for 3 days. On day 4, my sugars stabilized but headaches and crushing fatigue started. The headaches occur for 5 hours from late morning/lunchtime, then disappear in the evening. By day 5, I could barely get out of bed with exhaustion, and then the indigestion, reflux, and coughing started. Day 6, nausea and diarrhea and stomach pains, and today terrible stomach pains all day, constant indigestion, shivering, and flu-like symptoms. Sugars are largely stable, but regularly have random spikes even when haven't eaten. Has anybody else had such a weird, horrible experience with Tresiba?"

• Lor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 22, 2018

For Type 2 Diabetes "I started on Tresiba and started off immediately with a headache, then a dry, scratchy throat, then a runny nose, which ended up with a respiratory infection. I have cystic fibrosis, so I cannot take anything that can lower my immunity, so I stopped it and switched to something else. I only started taking Tresiba because insurance no longer covered my old medication. Along with that, I gained 7 pounds in six days. After being off Tresiba for 2 days, the weight is gone and I’m feeling better. Don’t use if you have respiratory issues."

• Jan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 7, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "Ever since Tresiba, I get constant headaches. My sugar levels rise terribly in the night. I've been waking up with higher levels than before bed, even after a carb-less snack. Sometimes I have a very light carb and protein, and my levels are terrible. I get up in the night 2-3 times to go to the loo. That is unusual for me, with or without carbs. My results were better with Levemir. I am stuck for about a month till I see my doctor."

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 28, 2017

For Type 2 Diabetes "I took this medication for 4 weeks. I was on Lantus prior. I got a headache, which I thought would go away, however, it didn't. I became bloated and started getting flu-like symptoms. Only wanted to sleep and felt I couldn't even walk to the mailbox. I thought I was dying. I finally realized it must be the new insulin. I stopped and told my doctor I wanted to return to the Lantus. She agreed. I am slowly beginning to feel better, but it has been two weeks, and I'm still not back to my old self. This is a terrible drug. I also gained 6 pounds on top of everything else. How could this drug ever get approval?"

• loz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 3, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have type 2 diabetes and take 1000 mg of slow-release metformin. My DSN decided to start me on 10 units of Tresiba as my HbA1c had gone up to 7.5, and for the 8 days I was taking Tresiba, I felt like I had no control of my body. I had constant headaches, flu-like symptoms including severe tiredness, itching, breathlessness, anxiety, ear congestion, my blood sugar levels were all over the place. Definitely not the medication for me, I will be speaking to my DSN to see my other options."

• sun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 23, 2016

For Diabetes, Type 1 "Type 1 diabetic for 28 years. Went from split-dose Levemir to split-dose Tresiba. I was dizzy and still having high DP and early evening. Switched to dosing Tresiba X1/d. Blood sugars were perfect, no hypos or highs. But the headaches were so debilitating I could not participate in life. I am going back to Levemir. My total dose that worked on Tresiba was only 4 units (Levemir it was 9). Also, I totally lost my appetite and threw up a couple of times but still somewhat bizarrely gained 3 pounds! I went from 115-117.9. I have a hunch I was starting to develop peripheral edema. I am a medical professional, so I just use my own judgment whether to continue. I think everyone should give Tresiba a try. But be cautious and listen to your body."

• Gol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 25, 2019

For Diabetes, Type 1 "Right before the 4th of July, my endo had me try the Tresiba insulin. I had been on fast-acting prior because of the pumps, so I had nothing to compare this with in terms of results. Tresiba worked very well on getting my sugars in range, and I even had several nights of perfect 117 sugars throughout. This insulin is a poor man's pump - however!... However, I experienced all the worst symptoms like headaches, foggy brain, flu/cold-like symptoms (honestly, I attributed it to my running around like a 20-year-old at age 30), but then the swollen ankles came. Swollen, tender, and my skin started feeling on fire. After I realized this was all from my insulin, I called my doctor's office and told them to switch me off immediately. Which they did, and I switched to Levemir. Here's to hoping it works well. With my review and reading others, I am convinced the Tresiba needs to be assigned to type 2's only because they seem to have better luck than type 1's are on this brand."

• Mpa...
• January 20, 2017

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have only been taking Tresiba for 3 days (43 units in the morning), but my readings are quite a bit lower after meals, and I am using less of my Novolog. The fluctuation of highs to normal isn't so frequent and is staying more stable and in a healthy range. No nausea, headaches, or any side effects. I will say that I tried Victoza last year, and that stuff was like poison. The nausea and migraines were unbearable. I have never tried Lantus."

• Mia...
• September 22, 2016

For Diabetes, Type 1 "This med is awful for me. I am more out of control than I was on Lantus. Terrible headaches in the afternoon and evening. My hypo awareness is worse. If it wasn't for my CGM, I would probably be in the hospital or dead. I think new meds are a great thing, but when your insurance renews in Oct-Nov, people can no longer afford it due to copays, so they have to change back to a more affordable med and start all over again. It's a terrible way to live."

• Kat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 7, 2024

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have been a diabetic for 15 years, during which time there were periods I was diet-only controlled, other times on oral meds. Last year, while on oral meds, I began to experience blood sugars of 500-700+ daily. My doctor changed dosage, added additional oral meds, and started me on Lantus, but I remained uncontrolled, leading to hospitalizations and numerous ER trips for IV insulin. I switched endocrinologists and was prescribed Tresiba along with the lowest dose of Ozempic. Within 4 weeks, my blood sugars were stable. I experienced some headaches, fatigue, and dizziness in the first few weeks, which I contributed more to my body adjusting to the blood sugar dropping, but it could have been due to Tresiba. Tresiba was a lifesaver for me! My A1C is now 5.7, and I have had no hospitalizations or ER trips since I started it 8 months ago."

• PA-...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 21, 2018

For Diabetes, Type 1 "I've had Type 1 for nearly 40 years. My endocrinologist recommended Tresiba to replace Lantus. I took it for one month. After 2 days, I saw no changes or improvements in blood glucose levels. As the fourth day approached, I figured the flu was why I had been having blood sugar fluctuations. After a week, I seemed to have stomach issues and nausea for days, and then I had headaches and blurred vision and felt like a train wreck. After 2 weeks of symptoms, I began to wonder whether I even had the flu. After 3 weeks of symptoms, I decided to read the medical insert thoroughly, only to discover that these flu symptoms, blurred vision and dizziness, and stomach issues were all SIDE EFFECTS. I called the endo office and spoke with a doctor on call, who agreed that maybe I should just switch back to Lantus and see how I felt. I took Lantus that evening and felt better within 12-24 hours. My endo never called me back, so I won't see him again. Maybe he gets kickbacks to market this."

• seb...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 11, 2022

For Type 2 Diabetes "I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes about 10 years ago, found through routine bloodwork. I was immediately put on mealtime insulin, but we discovered very quickly that I am extremely sensitive to insulin. About 4-5 years ago, I was put on Tresiba. I was only using 5 units a day, but went up to about 8 about 3 weeks ago. I've been feeling terrible lately, so I thought back and realized very slowly I was getting progressively worse and worse with the way I felt. My side effects have been: some form of a headache every night from slight to debilitating; horrible joint pain, mainly in my fingers and toes; itchy, congested ears; hoarse voice; blurry bad vision; depression; constant fatigue; zero libido (I'm a female); all over the place readings for no apparent reason; high fasting numbers; and more. Also, my A1C over the years keeps creeping up and up and up. I just switched back to a sulfonylurea, I'm so thankful! I wanted to share to let people know these things aren't just in their head!"

• Jul...
• August 26, 2016

For Diabetes, Type 1 "I've been a Type I diabetic for 14 years and just recently (within the past month) made the switch from Lantus to Tresiba. I have had constant headaches in the afternoons since switching, and today is the second time the pen has just stopped working. I will be partially through the injection when the pen stops dispersing the insulin - you can press on the plunger, but nothing comes out and the numbers do not go down. Not having insulin when your life depends on it is the scariest feeling in the world."

• Ava...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 30, 2018

For Diabetes, Type 1 "I'm so conflicted with my beloved Tresiba. I started it last year, and my sugars have been amazing, especially the last few months. Went from 9 something to 7.2, and bet I'd still be or even in the 6's as of last month. Why am I conflicted? I've had debilitating stomach cramping, chronic diarrhea, and nausea, and other awful chronic problems (I noticed other people mentioned headaches and colds, and I had those too). Been to Drs, and everything comes back 'normal.' Despite my sugars, I am a wreck now, I realized the ONLY thing I've changed in my lifestyle is the Tresiba. I'm going on a week off it and don't know for certain yet, since my symptoms come and go (1 day I'm fine and the next they're back), but I'm going to try to stick it out and see. As far as blood sugar control, I've woken up in the 3 and 400's when off of it. It definitely is a great insulin for my levels. Devastated if I need to find another one now, but excited if my symptoms improve."

• Sic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 4, 2018

For Diabetes, Type 1 "I've been using Lantus since I was first diagnosed as a type one diabetic almost 6 years ago, but my doctor kept telling me to increase my nightly dosage. Eventually, I was taking 16 units per night but kept having hypos during sleep and throughout the day. I'd go to sleep with a 320 and wake up with a 70. So, my endo switched me to Tresiba. Tried it for a week and went back to Lantus. I was getting awful body pains and headaches, and then I found out my initial problems were because my Lantus dose was too high (I switched doctors at that point). Also, the whole point of me switching to Tresiba was so I wouldn't crash at night. And what happened? I crashed at night."

• Pol...
• May 7, 2021

For Diabetes, Type 1 "I'm from Poland. I took Tresiba in October 2019. My sugars were not too bad. But my sense of well-being was terrible. I had shortness of breath, headache, and dizziness, stomach pain on the right side, fatigue, sadness. After 2 months, I returned to Levemir. In April 2020, I started to feel terrible, it turned out that I now have celiac disease and histamine intolerance. My doctor looked at me as if I was crazy as I told him that I felt terrible after Tresiba. I have the impression that Tresiba led to celiac disease."

• Mut...
• January 25, 2022

For Diabetes, Type 1 "I have been a big fan of this medication, it used to be a miracle, and it changed my blood sugar from bad fluctuation to a steady line. Lately, in the last few months, it’s started to give me headaches, low blood pressure feeling-“not really low blood pressure”-makes me aware of my heart and strange dizziness, lower attention. I never had any of those symptoms in the past with Tresiba, and as soon as I take it, the side effects start appearing. I’m now on other medicine beside this and NovaRapid. I wish Tresiba sees my review and makes this drug like it used to be."