Victoza and Diarrhea: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Sha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 10, 2013

For Type 2 Diabetes "The first three days on Victoza, I had no problems. Day four brought the sulfur belches, dry heaving, diarrhea, and dizziness. I was so dehydrated I needed to go to the ER, and this was on the lowest dose. My DEC said it would be a great thing for me, and the side effects were minimal. Not so for me. Decided to give this up and stick with the Metformin and Glipizide. I will also be going back to Weight Watchers and start exercising."

• Lau...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 22, 2018

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started Victoza, 0.6 mg, only 3 days ago. I immediately felt nauseated, weak, and had no appetite. I did not want to eat, I could scarcely make myself eat. On day 4, before I had taken my 4th dose, I got severe lower abdominal pain and burning diarrhea. I felt very ill and sat on the toilet all day. I took Prilosec, Imodium, sips only of water, and felt really horrible. I will speak with my doctor about this, but I will not take this medication again."

• Bob...
• September 1, 2017

For Type 2 Diabetes "I just started Victoza on Tuesday. I had a rough bout of diarrhea, and I have felt kind of out of sorts. My BG did drop after 24 hours. I was regularly in the 250-350 range, and it's been 150-190. Like many, getting the egg burps. Last night I had some fried food, and that didn't go well at all. It just seems like I have to eat perfectly for it to work. Maybe still getting used to it. Just don't feel myself, but could be just adjusting. I am also taking Invokana in the morning, so maybe that has some effects as well. Going to try and stick with it. Not really interested in weight loss, but see that it happens. Good luck to all."

• Car...
• April 20, 2018

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have been on this medicine for 5 weeks. At first, 0.6 for the week, 1.2 the 2nd week, and 1.8 the 3rd week. The first few weeks, I was nauseated, weak, just felt yucky. I had a bad headache one day and really bad diarrhea. I do not have a big appetite, eating 1/2 of what I used to eat. Lost 7 lb, I was 201 lb, now 194 lb. I do still get bad heartburn, but other than that, no more stomach issues. I found if I take the medicine at night instead of in the morning, I get no symptoms other than loss of appetite. This is the best medicine I have been on since I was diagnosed in 2009. For years, I was only on pills, and over the last few years, I have been on several different meds. My doctor wanted me to go on Victoza, but I could not afford it. So, I was on once a week Tanzium (stopped working), Levemir insulin, but as soon as my insurance dropped the cost to $80 for 3 months, I was able to get off the insulin and start Victoza. I was gaining weight on the insulin but losing weight now on Victoza. I hope I keep losing."

• Shm...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 7, 2018

For Type 2 Diabetes "This stuff at 1.2 dose is pure poison to me. Started 0.6, and my blood sugar (BS) looked a lot better, no side effects. Increased to 0.6 + 5 clicks, appetite decreased, weight loss, even better BS. Asked if I could stay at that dose, was told no, increase to 1.2. Dr's goal is to get me off Lantus. Three days on 1.2 and I am puking every 2 hours and diarrhea even though I haven't eaten in 2 days. This is my 2nd attempt with Victoza. There will not be a 3rd. Nothing in the world is worth feeling this bad. Had to miss work yesterday and can barely stand today. Terrified to drink, as I can't even keep water down. Dr insists my side effects are 'rare.' Clearly she hasn't read any of the forums or reviews."

• Gra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 23, 2017

For Type 2 Diabetes "I've been on Victoza for a month now. I've not had any nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea ... but also I haven't lost any weight, and my blood sugar is the same at 13-15 mmol/L before breakfast every morning. My energy levels have dropped, and I feel more tired than I did without Victoza. I'm a lot less hungry, so I'm eating less than before, but still no weight loss and no drop in blood sugar. Have also had periods of blurred vision and odd sensations in various parts of my body. I'm baffled because it seems to be doing lots for other people almost immediately, yet it doesn't appear to be doing anything at all for me even after a month on 1.2 dosage. Any ideas?"

• Dc5...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 30, 2017

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have been taking Victoza since April 2017. I have been having a lot of nausea and diarrhea. I also have a host of other illnesses, like gastroparesis. I had that problem before I started taking Victoza. The doctor said that gastroparesis is a side effect of being a diabetic, so I will continue to take my Victoza because my A1C is way better, not eating a lot, and because my goal is to lose weight. So I deal with the side effects. Good luck to all that can hang in there with it."

• djk...
• December 9, 2010

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have been on Victoza since 11/19/10 after trying unsuccessfully to take both Metformin and the extended release version; and Glipzide. The side effects for these were terrible headaches, gastric upset, i.e., nausea and diarrhea. So far, Victoza is working really well. I am still on 0.6 mg once a day, and my fasting blood sugars are down from 165 to 185 to between 95 and 120. At my next appointment, we will be talking about increasing the dosage, and best of all, I have lost 14 pounds and I feel so much better than I did."

• Anonymous
• February 22, 2012

For Type 2 Diabetes "I started taking Victoza on 2/16/11 at .06 mg dosage along with metformin 500 mg in AM and PM. I weigh 215 at 5'1. I need to lose some weight. Tomorrow I will increase the dosage to 1.2 mg. I have been having that eggy burp everyone else keeps talking about, as well as diarrhea, nausea, and severe abdominal cramping. I also have muscle aches in my torso, like I've been kicked in the ribs a couple of times. I have experienced no weight loss yet."

• Gra...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 16, 2018

For Type 2 Diabetes "I am a type 2 insulin-dependent diabetic (15+ years). My blood sugar was OK but not well controlled. Doctor put me on Victoza 1.2 mg, then to 1.8 mg. Lost 20 lbs, then weight loss stopped. Some diarrhea as a side effect (maybe Victoza or other meds). Great news: A1C 6.6. I feel much better, no longer feel uncontrollably hungry. I have noticed that even moderate exercise helps this drug work. If you can at all afford it, try it."

• red...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 19, 2015

For Type 2 Diabetes "Lowered blood glucose. Effective. However, I could not tolerate the side effects. Occasional severe nausea and vomiting, and unpredictable diarrhea, which persisted after discontinuing (I also take Metformin 1000 mg/day - known to cause nausea, but I had no symptoms until Victoza). In 2008, I had 2 brain surgeries and suffered months of nausea and vomiting. This was so traumatic for me that I can't tolerate Victoza."

• Mag...
• August 8, 2017

For Type 2 Diabetes "Sooo... started like everyone else on 0.6. After 2 days, I spent 5 days in bed on the highest dosage of Gravol. Never been so nauseated in my life. Then day 6, started feeling better. Definitely loss of appetite and only able to eat about 1/2 per meal as I did. This is my 4th week and still have some nausea on occasion and occasionally have diarrhea. So far, I've lost 8 lbs but haven't been dieting or exercising either. My morning sugars were from 12-16, now they're 8-12. Here's to 60 more lbs."

• fli...
• October 21, 2010

For Type 2 Diabetes "I started Victoza in August 2010 and had severe results with stomach cramping, diarrhea, no appetite, and headaches, which are normal reactions. After a week, I could not stand the stomach pain, and the doctor took me off of it. I lost 10 pounds during that week, and my blood sugars came down significantly. I stayed off of it for about two weeks and then tried it again at the beginning dose of 0.6. The reaction was not as severe, and I was able to continue it. Now I am finding that the effectiveness is not as good even with the higher dose. Has anyone else found this to be true? I have lost about 20 pounds, and my blood sugars are great for me, but I want to continue to lose the weight, which will be good for my blood sugars."

• tra...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 17, 2018

For Type 2 Diabetes "My 1-year adventure. Feb 2017 started. 330 pounds. 50 years old. On metformin 2000 mg dose. Just started Jardiance. At 1.2, felt tired and had digestive issues. Made it to 1.8. First 3-month check was down 25 pounds, blood sugars in good range, still with tired and digestive side effects. Second 3-month check, no change, and decided to up it to 3.0 to see if weight might come off and reduce metformin. Third 3-month check, no change other than digestive issues worse, decided to go back to 1.8 and started intermittent fasting. The one-year check-up, and no change. No change to weight or blood sugar levels or anything else. Putting away the needle and off of this I go. I just wonder what the withdrawal effects are? The digestive issues ranged from normal once a day bowel movement to three times a day to once every three days with constipation and diarrhea on the same day. Good luck everyone on your journey."

• Jo ...
• April 9, 2018

For Type 2 Diabetes "I've been taking the medication for a week now. It has helped with my blood sugar. I've taken metformin, which caused stomach issues and diarrhea, and Invokamet, which really didn't agree with me. I love the medication so far. It controls my appetite and I eat way less. The only side effects I noticed are nausea. The first 2 days I took it, I had a lot of energy. I don't have as much energy now, but too much regular self, I guess. It also lowered my blood pressure, which is a good thing! I have no real complaints about the drug, though."

• man...
• October 25, 2010

For Type 2 Diabetes "I started on Victoza 3 months ago. My A1Cs were in the 190s, and now at the 130s level. Victoza was added to the medicines I was already on - Metformin and Lantus. Glyburide was eliminated. I have lost 30 lbs to date. I have had some nausea and loose bowels, but nothing major. I am very pleased."

• lsg...
• November 11, 2014

For Type 2 Diabetes "Nauseated, vomiting, diarrhea. Tried different doses, and the same thing. I did lose weight, and my blood sugars did go down. It's a great medicine, just not for me."

• BW...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 7, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "I've been taking Victoza for 7 months, along with 500 mg of Metformin. My A1C has dropped from 10.1 to 6.1. I still suffer from occasional diarrhea, but the side effect is well worth the results."

• Hop...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 6, 2018

For Type 2 Diabetes "I was so sick for 4 weeks straight. Vomiting and major diarrhea, so bad I couldn't even live a normal life.... worst medication I have ever had!"

• Sca...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 20, 2016

For Type 2 Diabetes "Pancreatic rejection with non-stop vomiting, diarrhea, migraine, dizziness, and total loss of energy."