Liraglutide and Burping: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 4, 2020

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have been using Saxenda since March 6, 2020. I am on 3.0 dosage. I just recently noticed some side effects that are really bothering me mentally. Diarrhea is the worst ever, like running water, belching, and constant bloating. Please give me some good advice on what I can do."

• JSa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 26, 2020

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Two weeks on Saxenda. I just weighed for the 1st time. I’ve lost 11 pounds so far and 2 inches off waist. I’ve had some indigestion, with lots of burping, and just in the last couple of days am a little constipated. Those are my only side effects so far. I have virtually no appetite so it is doing what it’s supposed to do."

• sam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 16, 2020

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Today is my fifth day on Saxenda injection. I've had very little side effects. I've had one morning of very, very slight nausea but nothing to speak of, really. And I've noticed some excess burping, but that could be due to all of the watermelon I am eating LOL. Saxenda has made it very easy to eat healthy because you really don't feel hungry, so you want what you eat to count. I also seem to have a little more energy, nothing crazy, but I just feel really good probably because I am eating better. I started at 202 pounds. I will not weigh myself until I've been on the medication for two weeks. So I will update at that time."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 11, 2021

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started using Saxenda for a very different problem than obesity. I am slightly overweight and have bulimia, which had been under control for years. When I started a new medication for my depression, I began to gain weight. No matter what I ate or didn't eat, I did not lose a single pound and was always starving. Therefore, the bulimia returned. My doctor prescribed me Saxenda to curb my hunger cravings in the evening. I'm now up to 1.8mg and inject every other day. Since then, the cravings are gone. I don't force myself to throw up anymore and am much happier. I also lost 14 pounds. I am still overweight but much happier again. I hope to stay on Saxenda on a low dose for a while. I had the usual side effects at the beginning: dry mouth, constipation, heartburn, and sulfur burps. Most of it is gone now. The dry mouth remains, but the more water I drink, the better I can use the bathroom to avoid constipation."

• Pat...
• June 5, 2021

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have been on Saxenda for 1 week now and just increased my dose to 1.2 today. From the first day I experienced a suppressed appetite, which was great. When I started last week, I was 120 kg, and today I weighed in at 118 kg. I am happy that it is heading in the right direction. At day 5 of injections, I became very ill with reflux, vomiting, headache, burping, no energy, bloating, and abdominal pain... a horrible feeling. Because of this, I have not exercised at all. Today on day 8, I feel a little better, but the bloating still remains and is uncomfortable. I will stick with it because I do have high hopes for this medication. In Australia, I’m paying around $380 plus needles (100 for $19). It is suppressing my hunger and cravings, my body wants fruit and veg, anything else feels wrong and does not satisfy. Stay hydrated. I'm off to the chemist to hopefully find some relief for my bloated tummy... it’s like I’m 7 months pregnant!! Hope to follow up with some good news next week!!"

• Exo...
• March 11, 2021

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Works great, I lost 8.4 lbs in the 1st week, but at a cost. Never so sick in my life! Threw up everything but my spleen! Started out with the belching. Sounded like an old drunk. Then the bloat began. My stomach looked and felt like I swallowed a hot air balloon. Next, the diarrhea, nothing but pure liquid. At this point, I was a little concerned about becoming dehydrated. Finally, the vomiting, the violent, whatever you ate was coming out of your nose kind of vomiting. I was like, 'There is no way a medicine could make a person feel this bad!' But it can, and did! However, I still feel this could be a good weight loss solution, especially since I have high BP, and this doesn't have stimulants and is 'safer.' Reading over other reviews, some people are having great luck with it. My doctor called me in Zofran, and I'm only going to do 0.3 every other day to see if my body adjusts. If I don't see an improvement in 2 weeks, I will just accept this is not a medication for me and go another route."

• Mom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 23, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started the pen in late January. I’m a mom of two (19 months and 3-year-old) so I rarely have time to exercise. I started this with low expectations, but it has been amazing. You will have no appetite, but you will have nausea and headaches at first. This is your body’s way of telling you it needs fuel. Try eating small snacks during the day. You basically have to force yourself to eat something. I found that eating about every 3-4 hours (almonds, fruits, yogurt) will stop the nausea and headaches. Drink plenty of water because you will get dehydrated. I had horrible sulfur burps and heartburn for a couple of days. Nothing a little Pepto couldn’t cure. I’m on the 2.4 dosage and have lost 15 lbs in one month. I’m going to try to start walking more once the weather permits. I started at 238 lbs. My goal is to be under 200."

• Num...
• January 28, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Started Victoza for weight loss in July 2017. Weight 240 at 5'8'. Female, age 50. No diabetes but borderline A1C of 5.7. Obese and very physically active (long-distance bicycle tours and commutes) since just after college. Initial side effects of nausea, fatigue, and burping subsided after 2 weeks. After 6 months, I had lost 40+ pounds, so I was under 200 lbs for the first time since college. Often had to remind myself to eat. I found that simple carbs in the morning sabotaged the meds. Doctor put me on metformin for additional appetite control. After trying different doses and types, what works for me is 1.8 Victoza in the morning and 500 mg metformin ER with each meal. Lost another 10 lbs. For the past year, my weight has fluctuated from 187-194. It's amazing to not be hungry and not be obese. I'm still 20 lbs overweight, but A1C down consistently to 5.4 and lipids much better (I also take a statin)."

• Rep...
• April 10, 2014

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have been on 0.6 ml of Victoza for 7 days now to control my type 2 diabetes. The first 5 days were hellacious, to say the least! I had debilitating nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and those horrible sulfur burps and gas that ran everyone away from me and sent me to the ER, thinking my insides were deteriorating! LOL! But by day 6, the side effects subsided. I lost 10 lbs within the first 3 days. Tomorrow, I have to increase the dosage, but I'm praying that I won't have to deal with the side effects again. So far, so good."

• Ali...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 27, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I've been on it for 2 weeks and lost 20 pounds already. I started at 4 click in, now I'm at .6. But you do feel sick and very tired. It's constant and I burp all the time. My doctor said take it before bed because the worst part will be finished by the time you wake up. I don't really like food that much after or anything really, sugar not even my Pepsi :( and I would just eat because I'm bored. Now I don't even feel like it. I was 280, now 260. I hope to be at 170 one day."

• Mrs...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 9, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have been on Saxenda for 10 days and am following the dosing exactly as prescribed, so I am 3 days into 1.2. Insurance covered most of the cost. I haven't experienced nausea, burping, or any of the other symptoms I have seen described. But I have a complete loss of appetite. I am 53 years old, female, 5 feet 2 inches, and started at 179 pounds. When I weighed myself a few days ago, I was down to 172. I have, however, experienced a sadness over the complete loss of joy in eating. I don't know if that makes sense, but it is a struggle for me. I can't even imagine eating chocolate, soda, or anything 'bad' for you."

• Sar...
• April 25, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Victoza is all the things everyone says. Burping, nausea, sleepiness. No food cravings, oh yeah, and you lose your appetite and tons of weight and so much more. That was my goal... I am down 20 lbs in 4 weeks. I will suck it up so I can, for once, take something that will actually help me lose this awful weight and rid me of this diabetes nightmare. One thing I can say is, it is not for wimps."

• Fai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 22, 2020

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started on Victoza 0.6, and initially, the nausea was so bad I could not continue after 1 day. I stopped for about a week and decided to try again. This is now day 3, and I’m actually tolerating it better. I have not drunk any alcohol, and last time I had alcohol the same day I started my injection. Very bad idea... I now also take Pepto or an anti-nausea med right before I do my injection, and I take it at bedtime. This has helped tremendously!!! I still have some belching and a slight headache, but nothing like before. I’m really excited that my body is tolerating it. I’ll post again in a few weeks, and hopefully, I’ll be a few pounds lighter."

• Kim...
• March 15, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "So, started Saxenda Dec 31, 2018. I am 45 yrs old, 5' 3" starting weight 193 lb. It is 3/15/2019. I now weigh 165 lb. I toggle between doses. My body cannot handle 3 mg dose. I get sulfur burps, hard stomach pains, constipation, then loose stools. I am talking worse than the flu sick. I cannot drink wine or eat fatty foods. That's a good thing. If I watch what I eat and keep small portions, things are good. Mess up, and the food will sit in your stomach. Slow gastric emptying really stinks. Zofran has helped with the nausea. I will remain on Saxenda until I cannot tolerate the symptoms. I am a nurse, we make really bad patients. Listen to your body. Eat right! Good luck."

• Lot...
• May 13, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started Saxenda in early February. Initially, the nausea and fatigue made me wonder if it was all worth it, but after losing 7 pounds the first week, I decided to stick it out. The best part, I have zero sugar cravings. My first month, I drank vegan smoothies and small amounts of veggies and grains because that was all I could tolerate. I lost 30 pounds in three months. Every week, when I would increase the dose per directions, I would have three to four days of horrid nausea and fatigue. I had to force myself to eat or drink anything. About 3 weeks into the treatment, I started burping like a frat boy beer-bonging. They stunk too. Painful and embarrassing. Stool softener will address the constipation, but be careful, that can turn to the opposite on a dime. I also added a probiotic to help with regulating. Now that it's been about a month or so on the full dose, I am getting used to it, and I am functioning near normal. Bottom line: This drug is like gastric surgery in a needle."

• mov...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 20, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I tried Victoza 0.6 a few months ago, had severe dizziness 24/7; stopped. Wanted to try it again, as I have to lose weight and am insulin resistant. This time started at 0.3 (5 clicks). Had the headaches (head, neck), burping, and some nausea, but stuck with it for 3+ weeks before moving up to 0.6. After 2+ weeks of 0.6, I'm now at 0.9, largely without side effects except constipation. My endocrinologist says the best weight loss is at 3.0, but at 0.9, I'm absolutely seeing weight loss (6 lbs in a month) and noticing a distinct lack of hunger. I'm cautiously giving it a rating of 8 because it still beats amphetamine-like appetite suppressants. If you have trouble, start very low and take your time moving up; so far, I believe it's worth it."

• Mel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 28, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "Within 4 days on the 0.6 dose, my fasting blood sugars came down to 114. I'm not hungry. Before I started Victoza, I was taking 20 units of Lantus and 2000 mg of Metformin a day, plus eating a low-carb diet. I am slightly dizzy and get mild, eggy burps and have some bathroom issues along with mild nausea. I plan to titrate up to the 1.2 dose by one click a day to help offset the side effects. Sipping on diet ginger ale seems to help calm the queasy. I hope this medication continues to work for me without bad side effects because this is literally the first time in years that my blood sugar is in a normal range."

• MO-...
• April 22, 2015

For Type 2 Diabetes "I took Victoza for well over a year, and it improved my blood sugar readings tremendously. My A1C had been as high as 9, and it got down to 6.9 with Victoza. However, I was sick SO MUCH! Constant diarrhea, burping (the nasty, boiled egg kind), and extreme nausea and vomiting. I finally started tracking my sick days, and in one month, I was sick 4 days. And by sick, I mean throwing up every few minutes, all day long. I had several tests done, and the only thing discovered was that I digest food slower than normal, which is what Victoza is designed to do. I decided it was probably the Victoza making me so sick. I stopped taking it completely and have not been sick for over a month. Blood sugars are not good now, so waiting to see my doctor."

• Caj...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 11, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "The first week was the worst, started at 0.6. The diarrhea was bad. Even worse, the weird belching, the burps were gross. It was like my body was getting rid of actual dirt in it. By the time the second week rolled around and I had to increase my dose to 1.2, most of the 'dirt' was out of my system. The belching still continued, and BMs were better. Lost 4 lbs. I'm at a 1.8 dose now. The adjustment seems to get smoother to the increases of doses. I agree with the other comments that it's strange how I don't think about food or wanting to eat. I'm hoping that prolonged thinking (or lack of thinking) will help change my relationship with food. Plus, I feel better on the inside, physically. If that makes any sense. Hoping for more and continued positive changes. I'm glad I stuck with it through the onset reactions."

• Deb...
• May 9, 2010

For Type 2 Diabetes "Started on Victoza just 2 weeks ago, and I was amazed. I lost 7 lbs in the first week - only problem is for the last two days I have been having 'eggy' burps, but apparently this is common due to undigested food in the stomach. Victoza gets the thumbs up from me, as Byetta made me feel ill."

• Ski...
• May 14, 2013

For Type 2 Diabetes "I've been taking Victoza for 2 months, up to full dose. Side effects, gas and sulfur burps and acid reflux. What I have realized is that this medicine actually makes your stomach empty slower into the small intestine. Imagine you have a chemically induced lap band. You cannot eat what you were used to, your stomach is half full to begin with. So with a lot of trial and error, you will figure out the eating habits to prevent the reflux and such. I am planning on eliminating dinner, just a Nestlé Boost and maybe cheese and grapes later, but want to do just the Boost. So I hope major weight loss comes soon. I will let you know."

• Pun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 12, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I just started using this on May 29th. First day, nothing, day 2, I have a very slight headache and some burping, but no appetite. I ate a cup of yogurt this morning with granola and wasn't even able to finish it. The same with my chicken salad sandwich, could only eat half. I am excited to see where this goes, hopefully, weight will go down significantly. I will keep you all updated! Update: So this is the beginning of my 3rd week. I weighed in this morning, and I am down 8 lbs! I have had some slight nausea, but that's it. I have increased my dosage, and now I am at 1.8 mg. Still not finding myself hungry, and the only time I think about food is when I am trying to figure out what to eat. I am only able to eat small portions of food before I am full."

• Que...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 25, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I think I have all the horrible side effects of this drug. I have serious heartburn all day and night. Then comes the belching, which smells like rotten eggs. As soon as I try to sleep, the nausea kicks in, then to top it all, explosive diarrhea all night, so I'm not getting any sleep. Yes, I have lost three pounds a week, but the side effects are so miserable I can't live like this."

• TJa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 17, 2015

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have been consistently losing an average of 2 lbs. per week. This is an extremely healthy and successful rate! It's been about 3 weeks, and I am down 6 lbs. There definitely are side effects to this medication. The one I struggle with the most is the constipation. I am increasing my water intake and taking Colace (an OTC laxative) to manage it. My appetite has decreased significantly, almost without me noticing. I do have some nausea and belching as well. When you make the decision to take prescription drugs to help you lose weight, you have to expect to compromise, though, right? As long as these symptoms remain tolerable and the lbs. keep dropping, I am sticking with it. Hopefully, I won't grow a third leg or grow any thyroid tumors. Day by day."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 5, 2025

For Type 2 Diabetes "My doctor has me on Victoza to lower my A1C, but also to lose weight. I just finished my first week at the 0.6 dose, and I begin the 1.2 dose starting tomorrow. My only side effects have been burping and some acid reflux. I definitely have noticed a difference in my appetite. I do not eat as much, or I will feel sick to my stomach. I lost 2.2 pounds in the first week. I'm looking forward to seeing how I will react to the 1.2 dose this next week."