Most common side effects in the Victoza® label
The Victoza® table comes from five placebo-controlled glycemic-control trials in adults with type 2 diabetes [1].
| Adverse reaction | Placebo (N=661) % | 1.2 mg (N=645) % | 1.8 mg (N=1024) % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nausea | 5 | 18 | 20 |
| Diarrhea | 4 | 10 | 12 |
| Headache | 7 | 11 | 10 |
| Nasopharyngitis | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Vomiting | 2 | 6 | 9 |
| Decreased appetite | 1 | 10 | 9 |
| Dyspepsia | 1 | 4 | 7 |
| Upper respiratory tract infection | 6 | 7 | 6 |
| Constipation | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Back pain | 3 | 4 | 5 |
The Saxenda® table is on the Saxenda® page. The labels note that one medicine’s trial rates cannot be compared directly with another’s. The European Union product information (SmPC and package leaflet) is published by EMA [3][4]; local leaflets can differ in detail.
Nausea and diarrhea in the label tables
Nausea and diarrhea are among the most common side effects in every one of these labels. The table below copies those two rows from each label’s main placebo-controlled table, using the highest dose column in that table.
| Label (population) | Placebo nausea % | Nausea, highest dose in table % | Placebo diarrhea % | Diarrhea, highest dose in table % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victoza® 1.8 mg (type 2 diabetes) | 5 | 20 | 4 | 12 |
| Saxenda® 3 mg (weight management) | 13.8 | 39.3 | 9.9 | 20.9 |
Each row comes from a different trial programme with different people, durations and doses. The labels themselves say rates from one medicine’s trials cannot be compared directly with another’s, so this table is not a ranking. [1][2]
Shared serious warnings
Both labels carry the boxed warning on thyroid C-cell tumors. Shared serious adverse reactions [1][2]:
- Risk of thyroid C-cell tumors (the boxed warning)
- Acute pancreatitis
- Acute gallbladder disease
- Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
- Acute kidney injury due to fluid loss (volume depletion)
- Severe gastrointestinal adverse reactions
- Hypersensitivity (allergic) reactions
- Food or liquid entering the lungs (pulmonary aspiration) under general anesthesia or deep sedation
The Saxenda® label also lists heart rate increase.
What happens if I stop liraglutide?
Neither label describes what happens to side effects after stopping [1][2], and we did not find a liraglutide withdrawal trial among the sources checked for this page.
Stopping, pausing or restarting is a decision to make with your prescriber.
Liraglutide, pregnancy and birth control
The Saxenda® label says to stop when a pregnancy is recognized; the Victoza® guide says it is not known whether Victoza® harms an unborn baby [2][1]. Neither label gives an instruction to change or add a birth-control method.
Should I mention liraglutide before surgery or sedation?
Yes, according to the labels. They describe rare postmarketing reports of food or liquid getting into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration) under general anesthesia or deep sedation in people taking GLP-1 receptor agonists, even when they had followed fasting instructions. They say the data are not enough to recommend whether to change fasting or pause the medicine, and asks patients to tell their healthcare providers before any planned surgery or procedure [1][2].
Can I drink alcohol while taking liraglutide?
None of these labels mentions drinking alcohol [1][2]. Two related facts come from general medical sources: heavy alcohol use is one of the most common causes of pancreatitis [5], which the labels list as a serious risk [1][2]; and drinking too much alcohol without enough food can cause low blood sugar in people with diabetes [6]. How alcohol fits with your treatment is a question for your prescriber.
Is hair loss listed for liraglutide?
In Victoza®, Saxenda®, hair loss is not in the clinical-trial tables; “alopecia” appears only in the postmarketing section, where neither frequency nor cause can be reliably established [1][2].
MedlinePlus describes a usually temporary kind of shedding (telogen effluvium) that can follow major physical stress, illness, surgery or crash diets [9].
Victoza® and Saxenda® are trademarks of Novo Nordisk. PepLabo is not affiliated with this company. This page is not medical advice; percentages come from clinical-trial tables in the label and do not predict what you will experience.
When to get help
| Sign | Who to contact | How fast | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swelling of the lips, tongue, face or throat, struggling to breathe or swallow, fainting or a racing pulse | Emergency services. According to the guide, liraglutide should be stopped and urgent medical help sought. | Emergency | Victoza® and Saxenda® Medication Guides [1][2]; MedlinePlus [8] |
| Belly pain that is severe and does not ease, whether or not you vomit; it can reach through to the back | Your healthcare provider right away; the guide says to stop using liraglutide. If you cannot reach them, urgent care. | Emergency | Victoza® and Saxenda® Medication Guides [1][2]; NIDDK [5] |
| Ongoing nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, or dehydration signs such as feeling very thirsty, a dry mouth, urinating less than usual, dark urine or dizziness | Your healthcare provider, right away: fluid loss can lead to kidney problems. | Today | Victoza® and Saxenda® Medication Guides [1][2]; MedlinePlus [7] |
| Pain in the upper stomach, fever, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or clay-colored stools | Your healthcare provider (gallbladder problems). | Today | Victoza® and Saxenda® Medication Guides [1][2] |
| Shakiness, sweating, confusion, blurred vision or a fast heartbeat; the risk is higher alongside insulin or a sulfonylurea | Follow the low-blood-sugar plan from your healthcare provider; the guide asks you to discuss it before starting. | Today | Victoza® and Saxenda® Medication Guides [1][2]; MedlinePlus [6] |
| A new neck lump or swelling, a hoarse voice, difficulty swallowing or breathlessness | Your healthcare provider (thyroid section of the guide). | Today | Victoza® and Saxenda® Medication Guides [1][2] |
| A racing or pounding heart at rest that lasts several minutes | Your healthcare provider. | Today | Victoza® and Saxenda® Medication Guides [1][2] |
| A planned surgery or a procedure with anesthesia or deep sedation | Tell every healthcare provider involved that you use this medicine, before the procedure. | At your next appointment | Victoza® and Saxenda® Medication Guides [1][2] |
| Mild nausea, constipation, heartburn or other common side effects that you can manage | Mention them at your next appointment; a dated log helps. | At your next appointment | Common reactions: label section 6 [1][2] |
