Liraglutide and Headaches: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Ptm...
• May 4, 2016

For Type 2 Diabetes "I began taking this drug at the 1.2 mg level. Within half a day, I began having serious side effects. I thought I had a very bad virus. I had headache, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and insomnia. I missed 3 days of work. I stopped taking the drug. A month later, I tried it again at the 0.6 mg level. The first half day was okay with just no appetite, but then all happened again-vomiting and, this time, cold symptoms. I began having horrible diarrhea last night and called off work today. This is 48 hours after I stopped taking it. I threw the rest away, this drug feels like poison to my body."

• any...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 4, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Just started Victoza for weight loss and to lower my A1C and for weight loss. Just upped my dose today to 1.6. So far, so good. First day: diarrhea and a slight headache with a little nausea. I haven't noticed any difference yet in this higher dose as compared to the smallest dose. Still have diarrhea and a little nausea. Surprisingly, I have much more energy than usual. Love that and the fact that on my 5th day, I have already lost 6 pounds! I have no complaints as of now. I hope it stays this way and the weight loss continues. Will post as I get further into it."

• Tak...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 2, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I've been taking this medication for about a week, and for the first two days, I vomited so much and couldn't eat, I lost 8 lbs. The headache was horrible, and I couldn't get out of bed, let alone function. By day 3, I'm not vomiting, but the key for me is to take it at night so I don't feel nauseous. I get a milder headache, and I can taste the medicine now. It also makes me very tired, so waking up early is a problem for me now."

• Chu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 3, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I am 64, been on Saxenda for 6 weeks, starting pen #4, at 1.8 mg for a few days now. I'm inching my way up to ease the nausea, it was much worse early on, but now it lasts just for 2-4 hours after taking the shot. Recently began getting headaches, which I never have had before. I've lost 20 lbs after 6 weeks, but in the last 10 days, I have only lost 2 lbs. I began at 250 lbs and am at 230 lbs today. I am also type 2 diabetic, and Saxenda has really improved my daily life. I feel much more normal, my glucose readings are under 120 daily, mostly under 110 (they were in the 160s). I hope I am not plateauing just yet and am not sure what to do about continuing and maximizing weight loss. I eat less than 1000 calories a day for sure and am much more active but only exercise 2-3 days a week. Any suggestions on what I can do? Do the higher doses promote more weight loss? I'm just hesitant to move up since the side effects seem to get worse."

• Nur...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 9, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Weighed 200 pounds, been on it for 6 months, and I now weigh 176 lb. Headaches are terrible, and the upset stomach too. I've stuck with it. The first month, I lost 22 pounds, then it slowed down. It's so frustrating, but my weakness is sweet tea. My doctor told me that a large iced tea from McDonald's is equivalent to 5 baked potatoes!!!!! Erghhh!!! Good luck."

• hov...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 30, 2016

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I am just about at the one-month mark using Saxenda, started April 1. My start weight was 243, and I currently am 229.5, a loss of 13.5 lbs. I am happy to report no major side effects, with the exception of very minor constipation and a slight headache once in a blue moon! I started the 3 mg dose last night and feel great. I have a protein shake for breakfast and usually take a little bit of grilled vegetables to work for lunch that my wife makes in the QVC air fryer. I have a piece of fish with some more veggies for dinner. This drug totally wipes out your appetite! You crave nothing. I also mix in 15 mins of walking each morning on the treadmill and 1 hour at night at 3 mph. You must exercise because the drug is not magic. A definite 10."

• muf...
• May 28, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I should share that I have already lost about 180 lbs by using phentermine and topiramate. However, after about 3 years, I started to gain back some weight, and my doctor recommended this drug since it is indicated for use in maintenance as well as loss. My experience has been positive so far, I have only had minor side effects (headaches). This medication makes me feel FULL all the time-even when my stomach grumbles. I noticed this primarily because while I was taking phentermine, it would stop my stomach from grumbling, and I had no hunger pangs, but I also never felt like my stomach was satiated, i.e., I could always eat. With this medication, it feels like I've already eaten Thanksgiving dinner, and I feel almost uncomfortably full when I eat more food-this leads to my voluntarily eating really small amounts of food. I am still titrating my dose upward and am at 1.2 mg currently, I've not lost significant weight yet (only about a pound or two) in the past week."

• JHa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 9, 2016

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "First off, it really works. First two weeks were great - zero appetite and no side effects. But this week I've been so sick I can hardly do anything - nausea, headache, diarrhea, slight fever, chills. Not sure if it's the medicine, but going on day 4 of feeling like this, I'm worried that it is :-( Had anyone else had anything similar after feeling fine to start? I'm down about 8 lbs and would love to stay on the medication, but not sure I can if this 'sickness' is a result of the medication."

• Dea...
• April 6, 2014

For Type 2 Diabetes "I started Victoza about a month ago. Started with 0.6 for a week, then increased to 1.2. I felt nauseous the first week, but just off and on and mild. Each day over the last couple of weeks, I have become more and more ill. My numbers not only did not stay lower as they did when I first started, but they have actually increased. I have a headache non-stop and haven't lost a pound despite not eating much due to being so sick. I stopped taking it a couple of nights ago due to not being able to even sleep. I was waking in the middle of the night feeling like I was going to vomit. I still feel nauseous, but it's getting better."

• Mag...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 6, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started Saxenda on October 3, 2017. I'm a 58-year-old female weighing 327 lbs. I inject in the evening before bedtime. No nausea, but have had mild headaches which don't last long. I do find that I'm more tired in the evening (considering I'm a night owl). The doctor has placed me on a 2100-calorie diet, which I'm trying to follow, however, like others, I don't have much of an appetite, so I nibble approximately every 2-3 hours on items that are on my list to eat. I don't plan on weighing myself until my next doctor appointment on November 14. Exercise is difficult with my osteoarthritis, but I plan on doing some low impact and gradually increasing. Will provide an update after my doctor appointment."

• Lar...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 26, 2017

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have been on Victoza for about a year now. I started with the small dose. Could never advance to the full dose due to the side effects. My doctor ran an A1C, and my blood sugars had gone from 8.8 to 6.7. We decided to stay at the starter dose. I take the injection in the evening at dinner time. I still get the headache and nausea, but it is mostly during sleep and I wake up to it. I usually will get up, have coffee, and ride it out for about an hour and get ready for work. Nausea gone, headache dull and barely noticeable. It's worth the frustration to me."

• dsc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 11, 2018

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I’ve been on Saxenda since mid-May of this year. I’ve been on the full 3.0 dose for 1 week. I started at 235 lb and am now at 213 lb, down 22 lbs. I increased my dosages slowly to try and avoid side effects. The ones I have had have been minor and disappeared over time. The biggest ones were headaches and fatigue. I’ve also had problems if I overeat and eat certain foods. I’ve pretty much eaten what I want but can only eat a portion of it. Sweets/carbs tend to give me lots of gassy cramps, but I am able to help control that by watching what I eat and by taking Gas-X. Everyone has a different experience, and for me, the obesity was worse than the side effects, and I had to at least give it a try."

• Kfr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 24, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I just started the medication this week. I've had three shots so far. I was really worried about the needles, but you honestly don't feel a thing. I didn't even feel a pinch when I did the injection. I do feel a bit tired. I have a very dull headache. I do have a little bit of nausea. I have been injecting in my upper thigh, where there's plenty of fat. (Lol). My appetite has decreased, so I have to keep an eye on my emotional eating. I am a former gastric bypass patient trying to lose the last 30 pounds. The first hundred were easy. So far, so good."

• Pre...
• September 9, 2011

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I am taking this medication due to pre-diabetes, insulin resistance. I am taking it with metformin. I am up to the 1.2 dose after two weeks, and I have lost about 3 lbs, however, I feel really sick to my stomach, and I have had headaches every day. I am not hungry, and food does not taste the same, which could be a good thing. I find it hard to figure out what I want to eat, and then I can never finish it because I get full faster. So I can see that this could be a really great way to lose weight, but when I test my sugar, it's still at 160, so I am not sure if it is doing what it's supposed to do. I am also having trouble sleeping, not sure if that is a side effect or not."

• Lab...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 31, 2018

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I am 32 yrs old, started at about 330 lbs. I've been on Saxenda for about a month now. I have lost some weight so far. I have also been using Weight Watchers to help me track my food and activity. I had some issues with diarrhea the first week, but that resolved. I've been increasing my doses slowly because the GI side effects have been very uncomfortable. I've been having some issues with nausea, indigestion, headaches, and even chills a couple of days. This started when I increased my dose to 1.8. The drug works great for the appetite suppressant effect, but I may stop taking it due to the awful GI side effects. Haven't really noticed fatigue, but I also have multiple sclerosis, so I am always fatigued to some degree. Gonna touch base with my doctor today. Good luck to everyone."

• Hun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 14, 2015

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "When I started a week ago, I was 294, and I’m 5’10. I was nervous about the needle, but the truth is you can hardly feel it, it’s that thin. I started at .6, and after a few days, I went up to 1.2. The other day, I tried to go to 1.8, but I had a serious stomach ache all night long, so I went back to 1.2. At 1.2, the side effects are mild: headaches, a little nausea, slight rough throat, and fatigue. I have lost 10 pounds in this week with minimal exercise, perhaps 10/15 minutes on the elliptical a night and some free weights. I’m in love with this product. I have ZERO appetite. I have to force myself to eat, and even then, I end up eating two bites and throwing the rest away. I’m very hopeful this is the motivation I needed and that it continues to work."

• Coq...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 29, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started Saxenda with the dose of 0.6 on July 20, with 191 lbs, my height 5.1 ft, 50+ yrs old. I never had nausea. Once I had a light headache. I have less appetite and 0 craving for sweet or salty food. Now, a week later, I weigh 184 lbs. Today, I increased the dose to 1.2 according to my Dr.'s prescription. I am eating more protein, walking 30+ minutes, and drinking more water. I feel fantastic!"

• Cad...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 12, 2018

For Type 2 Diabetes "Prescribed in Nov 2017. Additionally, take 2g of metformin at that time. Titrated up from 0.6 to 1.2. During that time, I lost 30 lbs, and my A1C went down to 5.8 (207 to 187). Initially, I was taking it in the morning, but it was making me sick at work, so I started to take it after work, so if I was sick, I was at home. Mostly no appetite, nausea, and occasionally a headache. It went away after 3 weeks. Now I am increasing my dosage from 1.2 to 1.8 to see if I can reduce my metformin and lose more weight to reduce my liver enzyme numbers. While it was difficult at times when I first started taking the drug, I'm still excited to see if I will lose additional weight with the increase in dosage. I'm okay with the temporary side effects because I know they will eventually go away. Additionally, being at my lowest weight since 2003 is totally worth it, not to mention better liver enzyme levels and less arthritis pain due to less weight."

• wat...
• April 26, 2016

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Started taking Saxenda on April 18th and have had only a few side effects. I have some nausea and a headache in the evenings. I'm hoping this subsides the longer I've been on it. I have lost 6 lbs, which is an amazing accomplishment for me. I have not been able to lose more than 2 lbs no matter what diet I've tried. I get full very fast, only eating about 1/2 of what I used to eat at each meal. Sleeping great, but am experiencing a great deal of fatigue, especially late afternoon and evening. Will continue on and hope this weight loss continues. The doctor gave me a month of samples so I didn't waste money if it didn't agree with me."

• lis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 9, 2013

For Type 2 Diabetes "I began taking Victoza on December 6th, 2013. Later that day, I started experiencing some stomach cramping. Saturday, DAY 2, I was experiencing weakness, a terrible headache, nausea, and sulfur burps. All of these symptoms occurred on the starter dose. Day 3, Sunday, was a little better as far as side effects. Still suffering from the terrible headache and sulfur burps. Was unable to move bowels for those first three days. Day 4, Monday, I woke to terrible stomach cramps. I was able to move my bowels. Started dry heaving, turning into throwing up bile and almost passing out. Terrible sweating and racing heartbeat. After all that, I did feel better. Contacted Dr. He advised trying half the dose and prescribed Zofran. I currently take Victoza at 1 p.m."

• HGa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 18, 2021

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "On week 3 this coming Tuesday and lost 8.2 lb. I used to be a runner, stopped due to injury and put on 2 stone. I do weight training but no cardio. My BMI hit 27 and I felt so miserable. UK private prescription service cost £55. The first day I accidentally overdosed as I didn’t feel the injection, so I assumed I had messed up and did another one. Big mistake - felt rough and threw up. Since then, I have stuck to the 0.6 mg. At the rate I am dropping, I won’t increase the dose. Slight headache, but the weather is hot ATM and I should drink more water. Starting to fit into my clothes and my confidence is back. Next goal is to start running again. Once I regain enough fitness to sustain a good pace/distance, I plan to come off Saxenda. I won’t rule out a short cycle on it in the future, for me, it has kickstarted my weight loss when all else has failed. I felt I was climbing Everest trying to lose the weight with diet and gym as the progress was often slow to nothing! Now I feel it is less overwhelming!"

• Rus...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 14, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I was on Saxenda for a total of 31 weeks. Mild side effects at first; mild constipation, headache. They wore off soon. I was slow to increase my dose - staying at 1.2 mg and 1.8 mg for many weeks before increasing. Could not tolerate 2.4 mg - vomiting, sulfur gas, diarrhea. Went back down to 1.8 but never felt right again. 28 lbs lost in 34 weeks. Average weight loss 0.8 lbs per week. Pros: It helped control cravings and made me feel less hungry. Cons: The side effects. Not bad until I went past 1.8 mg. Then it was unbearable. I also found it inconvenient to take. I don’t hate needles, but it was a process. Also expensive. My insurance covered it (otherwise I wouldn’t be on it at all), but not the needles or the swabs. Traveling with it was annoying."

• Mis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 20, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started Saxenda 0.6 a week ago 13/03/19. I can't believe how my sweet craving has gone and my appetite too. I had a headache and nausea to start for the first couple of days, but it was okay. I'm very happy, as I have lost 5 lbs in my first week staying on 0.6 for now. I also feel better in myself and will continue."

• Lis...
• October 25, 2015

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have tried taking Victoza 3 times now, and I get so sick (headache, nausea, and vomiting) that I have to stop after 2 days each time. I have taken a lot of different meds in my 51 years, but nothing has ever made me that sick. I was hoping to lose about 35 lbs, but I can't stand being that sick."

• Anonymous
• April 8, 2010

For Type 2 Diabetes "Unbelievable... Appetite has been cut in half, if not more, however, eating healthy and keeping a food log to ensure calorie intake. Starting the 2nd week, increasing dosage to 1.2. Have experienced no side effects, i.e., nausea, headaches, etc. Career mandates extensive travel, has been easy to maintain overall calories without any 'sugary cravings.'"