Semaglutide Headache: How Common, How Long It Lasts
Yes. Headache is listed in the Wegovy label at 14% on 2.4 mg. Placebo in the Wegovy trials: 10%.
- Labels that list it
- 1 of 3
- Highest rate
- 14% Wegovy
Wegovy overview
Its half-life is about 1 week. After 7 d, half is gone, and about 3% remains after five half-lives (35 d).
In STEP 1 at 68 weeks, people lost 14.9% of body weight, compared with 2.4% on placebo.
Monthly price points in US dollars cover the list price and self-pay offers. Each comes from the maker’s price page.
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed), healthsystemtracker.org, prnewswire.com 1 2.
Semaglutide or placebo: how often does it show up?
Label trials show Semaglutide headache rates for each dose group. In that trial, the comparison group received placebo.
| Medicine and dose | Headache | Placebo | More than placebo | People in the trials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wegovy 2.4 mg | 14% | 10% | +4 points | Adults with obesity or overweight (weight management) |
| Wegovy 2.4 mg | 8% | 7% | +1 points | Adults with obesity (7.2 mg dose trials) |
| Wegovy 7.2 mg | 9% | 7% | +2 points | Adults with obesity (7.2 mg dose trials) |
| Wegovy 2.4 mg | 17% | 16% | +1 points | Children 12 and older with obesity |
Source: Wegovy label (DailyMed).
Headache: semaglutide compared with other GLP-1s
Each label describes its own trials, which involved different groups of people. Use these results as a rough guide.
The table lists the 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).