Liraglutide Diarrhea: How Common, How Long It Lasts
Yes. Diarrhea is listed in 2 of 2 liraglutide labels. The highest rate in each label runs from 12% on Victoza to 20.9% on Saxenda. Placebo in the Saxenda trials: 9.9%. Smaller, slower meals help most.
- Labels that list it
- 2 of 2
- Highest rate
- 20.9% Saxenda
- Lowest rate
- 12% Victoza
Saxenda facts at a glance
Its half-life is about 13 hours. After 13 h, half is gone, and about 3% remains after five half-lives (2.7 d).
The SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes, 56 weeks trial reported 7.4% of body weight, versus 3% on placebo.
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed).
Liraglutide compared with placebo: how often it happens
Each dose group has Liraglutide diarrhea listed in the label trials. Within each trial, the placebo group serves as the comparison group.
| Medicine and dose | Diarrhea | Placebo | More than placebo | People in the trials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victoza 1.2 mg | 10% | 4% | +6 points | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
| Victoza 1.8 mg | 12% | 4% | +8 points | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
| Saxenda Saxenda | 20.9% | 9.9% | +11 points | Adults with obesity or overweight (weight management) |
| Saxenda Saxenda | 22.4% | 14.3% | +8.1 points | Children 12 and older with obesity |
These sources were used: Victoza label (DailyMed) and Saxenda label (DailyMed).
Diarrhea rates on liraglutide and other GLP-1s
Each label covers its own trials, which involved different groups of people. Treat it as a rough guide.
The pill forms Rybelsus and Foundayo also appear in the table.
| Medicine | Highest rate in the label | Dose group | Placebo | People in the trials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Wegovy | 30% | 2.4 mg | 16% | Adults with obesity or overweight (weight management) |
 Foundayo | 25% | 17.2 mg | 11% | Adults with obesity or overweight (weight management) |
 Zepbound | 23% | 15 mg | 8% | Adults with obesity or overweight (weight management) |
 Saxenda | 20.9% | all doses | 9.9% | Adults with obesity or overweight (weight management) |
 Mounjaro | 17% | 15 mg | 9% | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
| Byetta | 13% | all doses | 6% | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
 Trulicity | 12.6% | 1.5 mg | 6.7% | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
 Victoza | 12% | 1.8 mg | 4% | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
 Rybelsus | 10% | 14 mg | 4% | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
 Ozempic | 8.8% | 1 mg | 1.9% | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
Information came from these sources: Ozempic label (DailyMed), Wegovy label (DailyMed), Rybelsus label (DailyMed), Mounjaro label (DailyMed), Zepbound label (DailyMed), Foundayo label (DailyMed), Trulicity label (DailyMed), Saxenda label (DailyMed), Victoza label (DailyMed), and Byetta label (DailyMed).
Source: FDA label on DailyMed.
Why it happens on liraglutide
They slow the rate at which your stomach empties. When food stays longer, diarrhea may follow, especially after a big or fatty meal.
Source: health.clevelandclinic.org.
What the Victoza label says
About diarrhea, these are the label's exact words:
“majority of the reported events occurred in patients who experienced gastrointestinal reactions leading to dehydration such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)].”
Source: FDA label on DailyMed.
What helps, step by step
- Drink water and an electrolyte drink to replace fluids and salts.
- For a while, eat soft, bland foods with little fiber.
- Cut back on caffeine, alcohol and milk drinks.
- Ask your prescriber about an anti-diarrhea medicine that you can buy at the drugstore.
- Keep meal sizes small, and stop once you feel full. The stomach empties more slowly because of these medicines.
- Eat slowly. Your brain needs some time to register when you are full.
- If it does not ease, tell your prescriber. They may slow the dose increases, or they may suggest another GLP-1.
Before taking any drugstore product, check it with the GLP-1 interactions checker.
Source: health.clevelandclinic.org.