Liraglutide Nausea: How Common, How Long It Lasts
Yes. Nausea is listed in 2 of 2 liraglutide labels. The highest rate in each label runs from 20% on Victoza to 39.3% on Saxenda. Placebo in the Saxenda trials: 13.8%. Smaller, slower meals help most.
- Labels that list it
- 2 of 2
- Highest rate
- 39.3% Saxenda
- Lowest rate
- 20% Victoza
Saxenda overview
Its half-life is about 13 hours. After 13 h, half remains; after five half-lives, about 3% is left (2.7 d).
The figure was 7.4% of body weight versus 3% on placebo in SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes, 56 weeks.
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed).
On liraglutide compared with placebo: how often it appears
In the label trials, Liraglutide nausea is grouped by dose. The placebo group provides the comparison in each trial. The placebo is the comparison group in that same trial.
| Medicine and dose | Nausea | Placebo | More than placebo | People in the trials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victoza 1.2 mg | 18% | 5% | +13 points | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
| Victoza 1.8 mg | 20% | 5% | +15 points | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
| Saxenda Saxenda | 39.3% | 13.8% | +25.5 points | Adults with obesity or overweight (weight management) |
| Saxenda Saxenda | 42.4% | 14.3% | +28.1 points | Children 12 and older with obesity |
Sources: Victoza label (DailyMed), Saxenda label (DailyMed).
Comparing liraglutide with other GLP-1s: Nausea
Each label covers its own trials, which involve separate groups of people. Use the results as a rough guide.
The table also lists the pill forms: Rybelsus, Foundayo.
| Medicine | Highest rate in the label | Dose group | Placebo | People in the trials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Wegovy | 44% | 2.4 mg | 16% | Adults with obesity or overweight (weight management) |
| Byetta | 44% | all doses | 18% | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
 Saxenda | 39.3% | all doses | 13.8% | Adults with obesity or overweight (weight management) |
 Foundayo | 35% | 17.2 mg | 10% | Adults with obesity or overweight (weight management) |
 Zepbound | 29% | 10 mg | 8% | Adults with obesity or overweight (weight management) |
 Trulicity | 21.1% | 1.5 mg | 5.3% | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
 Ozempic | 20.3% | 1 mg | 6.1% | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
 Rybelsus | 20% | 14 mg | 6% | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
 Victoza | 20% | 1.8 mg | 5% | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
 Mounjaro | 18% | 15 mg | 4% | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
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), Byetta label (DailyMed).
Source: FDA label (DailyMed).
Why it happens on liraglutide
These medicines slow how quickly your stomach empties. Food sitting longer can lead to Nausea, particularly after you eat large or fatty meals.
Source: health.clevelandclinic.org.
What Victoza's label tells you
On nausea, the label uses these 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 (DailyMed).
What helps, step by step
- Sip tea prepared with ginger or peppermint and no sweetener.
- After eating, remain upright instead of lying down.
- Ask your prescriber about a nausea medicine to keep on hand.
- Choose smaller meals and stop once you feel full. These medicines delay stomach emptying. These medicines slow down how fast the stomach empties.
- Eat slowly. Your brain needs time to recognize that you are full.
- Reduce fatty, greasy and sugary foods, as they often cause symptoms.
- If it does not ease up, tell your prescriber. They may slow the increases in your dose or suggest a different GLP-1.
Use the GLP-1 interactions checker to check any drugstore product before taking it.
Source: health.clevelandclinic.org.