Saxenda Headache: How Common, How Long It Lasts, What Helps
Yes. In the Saxenda trials, 13.6% of people on Saxenda had headache, against 12.6% on placebo: a little above placebo. It is the sixth most common side effect in that table.
- In the Saxenda label
- Yes, with a rate
- On Saxenda Saxenda
- 13.6%
- On placebo
- 12.6%
- Rank in the label table
- 6 of 24
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).
In the SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes, 56 weeks trial, body weight dropped 7.4%, versus 3% with placebo.
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed).
Frequency with Saxenda compared with placebo
Saxenda headache rates by dose group appear in the label trials. The same trial's comparison group is placebo.
| Medicine and dose | Headache | Placebo | More than placebo | People in the trials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saxenda Saxenda | 13.6% | 12.6% | +1 points | Adults with obesity or overweight (weight management) |
Source: Saxenda label (DailyMed).
Comparing Saxenda with other GLP-1s for Headache
The people in each label's trials were different groups. Use this as a rough guide.
The table includes pill forms too: Foundayo.
| Medicine | Highest rate in the label | Dose group | Placebo | People in the trials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Wegovy | 14% | 2.4 mg | 10% | Adults with obesity or overweight (weight management) |
| Saxenda | 13.6% | all doses | 12.6% | Adults with obesity or overweight (weight management) |
 Victoza | 11% | 1.2 mg | 7% | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
 Foundayo | 9% | 9 mg | 7% | Adults with obesity or overweight (weight management) |
| Byetta | 9% | all doses | 6% | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
 Ozempic | Not listed | – | – | – |
 Rybelsus | Not listed | – | – | – |
 Mounjaro | Not listed | – | – | – |
 Zepbound | Not listed | – | – | – |
 Trulicity | Not listed | – | – | – |
Sources: Wegovy label (DailyMed), Foundayo label (DailyMed), Saxenda label (DailyMed), Victoza label (DailyMed), Byetta label (DailyMed).
Source: FDA label (DailyMed).