From the Guidelines
Liraglutide is associated with several side effects, including gastrointestinal symptoms, pancreatitis, gallbladder problems, and potential thyroid tumors, and patients should be closely monitored for these adverse effects 1.
Common Side Effects
- Gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and decreased appetite are common, especially when starting treatment 1
- Injection site reactions, including redness or itching, can occur in some patients 1
- Hypoglycemia risk is increased when liraglutide is used with insulin or sulfonylureas 1
- Slight increases in heart rate have been reported in some patients 1
Serious Side Effects
- Pancreatitis, characterized by severe abdominal pain that may radiate to the back, is a rare but serious side effect of liraglutide 1
- Gallbladder problems, including cholelithiasis and gallstone-related complications, have been reported in patients taking liraglutide 1
- Potential thyroid tumors, based on animal studies, are a concern, although the human relevance is not determined 1
- Acute kidney injury has been associated with severe gastrointestinal effects leading to dehydration in some patients 1
Management of Side Effects
- Treatment typically starts with a low dose (0.6 mg daily for Victoza or Saxenda) and gradually increases over several weeks to minimize side effects 1
- Staying hydrated and eating smaller, more frequent meals can help manage gastrointestinal symptoms 1
- Patients should immediately report severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, or signs of allergic reactions to their healthcare provider 1
From the FDA Drug Label
The following additional adverse reactions have been reported during post-approval use of VICTOZA. Because these events are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is generally not possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure • Gastrointestinal: Acute pancreatitis, hemorrhagic and necrotizing pancreatitis sometimes resulting in death, ileus • General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions: Allergic reactions: rash and pruritus • Hepatobiliary: Elevations of liver enzymes, hyperbilirubinemia, cholestasis, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis requiring cholecystectomy, hepatitis • Immune system: Angioedema and anaphylactic reactions • Metabolism and nutrition: Dehydration resulting from nausea, vomiting and diarrhea • Neoplasms: Medullary thyroid carcinoma • Nervous system: Dysgeusia, dizziness • Pulmonary: Pulmonary aspiration has occurred in patients receiving GLP-1 receptor agonists undergoing elective surgeries or procedures requiring general anesthesia or deep sedation • Renal and urinary: Increased serum creatinine, acute renal failure or worsening of chronic renal failure, sometimes requiring hemodialysis. • Skin and subcutaneous tissue: Cutaneous amyloidosis
The side effects of liraglutide include:
- Gastrointestinal: acute pancreatitis, hemorrhagic and necrotizing pancreatitis, ileus
- General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions: allergic reactions, rash, pruritus
- Hepatobiliary: elevations of liver enzymes, hyperbilirubinemia, cholestasis, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, hepatitis
- Immune system: angioedema, anaphylactic reactions
- Metabolism and nutrition: dehydration, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- Neoplasms: medullary thyroid carcinoma
- Nervous system: dysgeusia, dizziness
- Pulmonary: pulmonary aspiration
- Renal and urinary: increased serum creatinine, acute renal failure, worsening of chronic renal failure
- Skin and subcutaneous tissue: cutaneous amyloidosis 2
From the Research
Common Side Effects of Liraglutide
- Nausea and vomiting, which are often mild to moderate and transient in nature 3, 4, 5
- Diarrhea 3, 4
- Headache 3
- Hypoglycemia, although the risk is considered low 3, 6
- Constipation, indigestion, and loss of appetite 4
Uncommon but Serious Side Effects
- Pancreatitis, which has been reported in rare cases 3, 4, 6
- Kidney failure 3
- Pancreatic cancer, although the evidence is not conclusive 6
- Thyroid cancer, which has been reported in rare cases 4
- Liver injury, which is considered an extremely rare side effect 4
- Injection site reactions 3