Saxenda and Vomiting: What Users Say

• Hap...
• January 2, 2021

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started Saxenda on Oct. 15, 2020 and have easily lost 20 pounds. I have remained on the initial dose of 0.6 because any higher dosage and I was horribly nauseous and vomiting. Most notable for anyone who enjoys cocktails and wine (not to excess) is that I have almost an aversion to this. Smaller meals, no need to snack, increased walking and I feel great. 10 more pounds to go and not in any hurry. The fact that I can achieve these results at the lowest dosage also makes me happy!"

• Pha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 24, 2020

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have been taking Saxenda since December 2019. I have lost 16kgs (35 pounds). I have had some of the worst side effects. Nausea, acid reflux, vomiting, and constipation - but I am afraid to stop taking it as I don’t want to gain the weight back. Can anyone offer any advice?"

• Tir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 13, 2021

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started Saxenda 1/17/21. I am up to the 2.4 dose and have lost 18 lbs. The side effects have been rough. Nausea and vomiting occur weekly and get worse after I increase the dose. I am hopeful that my body will get accustomed to the med and the side effects will lessen. I find that I don’t eat a lot because I feel sick most of the time. I was thin half my life and obese the other half, and have gotten to the point I don’t want to go out because of my weight. If the weight loss continues, it will be worth the constant sickness. I just take one day at a time and set my mind to my goal - to feel better about myself."

• Pam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 22, 2020

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Well, I started Saxenda on May 15, 2020. My starting weight was 235 lb and after a week, I'm now 229 lb. I haven't experienced any nausea, vomiting, bloating, or changes in bowel patterns. I've been diligently working on my nutrition for a long while so a low-calorie diet has not been my issue; weight plateau and emotional eating have been my problems. My doctor gave me a thorough description of how the medication works, so I had a good understanding going in. Plus, my sister had gastric sleeve surgery and this drug seems like it works similarly to a sleeve or band surgery, without the surgery. If you overeat, you will get sick. And as far as the injection goes, it's a piece of cake! I look forward to seeing my progress in a few months."

• Jen...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 1, 2018

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started taking Saxenda two years ago. I was at my wit's end. I was 37 and weighed 235 lb, which was the most I’d ever weighed. I’ve struggled with weight loss my whole life. Saxenda takes some getting used to. Make sure you titrate up to the recommended dose or you will feel very ill. Headaches, vomiting, fatigue. I am sensitive to medication side effects. I fought through that, and after about 3 months, the side effects went away as long as I took it at the same time every day. I dropped 20 lbs immediately, then it slowed. I was 207 lb for a whole year and was ready to quit, when I dropped another quick 20. I am now 160 lbs (just dropped 5 lbs last week) and, literally, none of my clothes fit me (even my 'skinny' clothes). I work out sporadically and I eat what I want, just much less of it. I don’t feel hungry anymore. I stop eating after about eating 1/2 of my food, and I feel stuffed. I never thought I’d find something that worked so effectively for me."

• RPa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 5, 2020

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Started Saxenda Feb 28, 2020. Lost 18 lbs in six weeks. The first month was rough. Lots of nausea and indigestion. If I ate too much, I would vomit. I stayed the course and learned to cut down on my food intake and avoid foods that aggravated my nausea. I also slowly titrated to the 3.0 mg dose. I stayed on 1.8 mg for an extra week as the nausea was bad. I'm now up to 3 mg and the nausea is not too bad. I'm very happy about the weight loss and still have 25 lbs more to lose. I plan on starting an exercise regimen."

• Pat...
• June 5, 2021

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have been on Saxenda for 1 week now and just increased my dose to 1.2 today. From the first day I experienced a suppressed appetite, which was great. When I started last week, I was 120 kg, and today I weighed in at 118 kg. I am happy that it is heading in the right direction. At day 5 of injections, I became very ill with reflux, vomiting, headache, burping, no energy, bloating, and abdominal pain... a horrible feeling. Because of this, I have not exercised at all. Today on day 8, I feel a little better, but the bloating still remains and is uncomfortable. I will stick with it because I do have high hopes for this medication. In Australia, I’m paying around $380 plus needles (100 for $19). It is suppressing my hunger and cravings, my body wants fruit and veg, anything else feels wrong and does not satisfy. Stay hydrated. I'm off to the chemist to hopefully find some relief for my bloated tummy... it’s like I’m 7 months pregnant!! Hope to follow up with some good news next week!!"

• Nos...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 2, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I’ve been on this drug for about 2 months and have lost 26 lbs. I’m just on the 2.4 dose. I feel nauseous for a week after dosing up. I also feel like I need the bathroom but I’m constipated most of the time until a few days later with a big bout of diarrhea. I’ve vomited twice from the nausea. My injection sites get bruised, raised, and itchy lately. My experience is positive for me. I had gained over 100 lbs in 2 years from another medication prescribed to me for depression. Well, rapid weight gain and obesity doesn’t help to feel good about yourself. Bottom line, I am feeling like garbage but losing weight is far superior to feeling like garbage and gaining weight. I also seem to ease up on side effects the longer I’m on a dose. I am definitely a satisfied customer."

• Exo...
• March 11, 2021

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Works great, I lost 8.4 lbs in the 1st week, but at a cost. Never so sick in my life! Threw up everything but my spleen! Started out with the belching. Sounded like an old drunk. Then the bloat began. My stomach looked and felt like I swallowed a hot air balloon. Next, the diarrhea, nothing but pure liquid. At this point, I was a little concerned about becoming dehydrated. Finally, the vomiting, the violent, whatever you ate was coming out of your nose kind of vomiting. I was like, 'There is no way a medicine could make a person feel this bad!' But it can, and did! However, I still feel this could be a good weight loss solution, especially since I have high BP, and this doesn't have stimulants and is 'safer.' Reading over other reviews, some people are having great luck with it. My doctor called me in Zofran, and I'm only going to do 0.3 every other day to see if my body adjusts. If I don't see an improvement in 2 weeks, I will just accept this is not a medication for me and go another route."

• Pet...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 20, 2021

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I've read through the other reviews and feel sorry for the people experiencing severe side effects. Makes me wonder if it's a result of using the maximum 3 mg dose from the start? I will say that my experience wasn't free of side effects. Started off on 0.6 mg per day. Just sipping water or thinking about food caused me to vomit violently. I mean, I wouldn't be surprised if my boots flew out of my mouth. The first two days were a struggle just to stay hydrated. Day three, I started to feel okay. I had to struggle to eat a bowl of soup. By day seven, I could eat a bowl of soup and some toast. Due to the side effects, I stayed on 0.6 for a fortnight before moving up to 1.2 mg. Now I'm on the full 3.0 mg dose with no side effects at all. I am satisfied with a bowl of cereal for breakfast, one sandwich for lunch, and 170 g of steak and a small amount of veggies for dinner would be a feast. Losing 2 kg/5 lbs per week. At week 10, lost 25 kg/55 lbs."

• Hig...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 2, 2020

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Started on Saxenda after a lengthy prior auth process. Right away, I had dizziness and vertigo, plus mild nausea. When I finally titrated to the 3.0 dosage, I had not only dizziness and vertigo but also nausea and vomiting, and headache. Meanwhile, I have lost 15 lbs. It really seems to control the hunger. However, I just couldn't live with the side effects. So I discontinued the drug. I am hoping that the weight loss will 'spur' me on to continue with healthy choices and that I can keep up the weight loss."

• Zoe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 2, 2020

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started Saxenda at 349 lbs. and an insulin-dependent diabetic. I've been on it before, go a couple of months and have to go off it to reset my body due to side effects. Each time I go back on, the side effects are worse and I have more of them. I don't have a scale at home so I don't know if I've lost any weight. Right now, I have had one critical low that could have killed me but was treated in time. Constant nausea and gagging, vomiting on occasion but always feeling like I need to. Diarrhea is epic, and so frequent that I experience bleeding. I know if I continue, the constipation will take over and that will get VERY bad. The exhaustion is constant. The side effects are severe and I don't know if I'll be able to stay on it this time. They keep getting worse."

• Zoe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 2, 2020

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I started Saxenda at 349 lbs. and an insulin-dependent diabetic. I've been on it before, go a couple of months and have to go off it to reset my body due to side effects. Each time I go back on, the side effects are worse and I have more of them. I don't have a scale at home so I don't know if I've lost any weight. Right now, I have had one critical low that could have killed me but was treated in time. Constant nausea and gagging, vomiting on occasion but always feeling like I need to. Diarrhea is epic, and so frequent that I experience bleeding. I know if I continue, the constipation will take over and that will get VERY bad. The exhaustion is constant. The side effects are severe and I don't know if I'll be able to stay on it this time. They keep getting worse."

• Nic...
• April 23, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have lost a total of 62 lbs and still counting. I have been using Saxenda for 8 months. I work out daily to keep my body toned with muscle. The side effects in the beginning were horrible, which included vomiting, nausea, constipation, and no energy. After I reached the highest dose, it all went away. I feel great, and I'm enjoying my results. Hang in there, it gets better!"

• Jen...
• October 22, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Just started taking Saxenda on Sunday, October 14. My start weight was 112.2 kgs (247 pounds). I weighed myself on Sunday, October 20, and the scales really shocked me, it said I was 108.4 kgs (239 pounds). I have been overweight and dieting all my life. I was recently diagnosed with PCOS. Losing weight has been very hard. I track my steps and calories, I have been reducing the size of my meals. I had half a tuna sandwich and had to stop eating. The drug works on suppressing appetite, but the side effects are also very high for me. I have had diarrhea, constipation, lack of energy, headaches, feeling sick, and vomiting. I have dry mouth and am taking Hydralyte to compensate for the lack of fluids I can keep in my system. I am in two minds about this drug, I don't know if I am going to continue it after I finish the 5 pens in my first box. The drug costs so much, $389 Australian, and can't claim anything back on my private health."

• ECa...
• June 13, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Saxenda at 0.6 5/1/19 going great, noticed I was getting full quicker. I started 1.2-dose & no side effects. Next week I go up to 1.8 and I'm vomiting a lot, horrible stomach pain in the middle of my belly. The next day I was a little better so I stayed on 1.8. A week later I get sick again, stomach pain, vomiting & the runs. I skip a day of meds & take it @ night instead, down to 1.2. I was fine for a few days and occasionally still get a pain in my stomach and start throwing up. Not every day, but nauseous. I am pushing through because this is working for me, but the side effects are no joke. I'm 5'9, female, started @ 263 lbs my heaviest on 5/1/19, and it is now 06/13/19 and I am down 18 lbs. I almost feel like if I don't poop for a few days I throw up instead. My insurance did cover most of it, it was supposed to cost me about $240.00 for 5 pens, but in my first trial pack, I got a savings card and that saved me $200, so 5 pens was $40. I picked up my prescription the 2nd time for 5 pens and it was only $24.99."

• Ell...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 12, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I'm a 28-year-old who started Saxenda on 18th of October at a starting weight of 120 kg. Reasons: binge eating disorder (BED) from boredom. So on the Saxenda, I feel much less hungry or interested in food at all, and doses 0.6 and 1.2 worked wonders. But I am at dose 1.8, and my stomach is really bad for me. I have lazy digestion, so I feel like the medicine is aggravating my stomach cramps and causing added constipation. But the worst is when I have, on occasion, eaten more than normally, I have or around 1700 calories. I get so nauseous and have severe vomiting. If I stay under 1200 calories, I feel fine, but I feel I need to stay aware that I am eating at all. I need to drink way more water, and if I don't get my protein, I feel dizzy and exhausted. So watch out for the side effects and drink lots of water and eat protein."

• Sid...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 5, 2020

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Started 0.6 mg then moved to 1.2 mg 1 week later. Horrible bloating, gas, nausea, vomiting. It did take my appetite away completely, but to an unhealthy point. I lost 28 lbs in 2 months (starting weight 240 lbs, female, 36, non-diabetic, binge eating disorder, PCOS). I could only barely tolerate the 1.2 mg dose. I increased my water intake to 80-100 oz, and if I ate more than 600-800 cal during the day, I’d feel like throwing up. I had to stay on a liquid diet of smoothies and protein shakes, as solid food increased the nausea and bloating. I added a probiotic per my doctor, but no help. I tried taking the injection at night to decrease the side effects, it only made sleeping more difficult as I was up during the night with a headache and diarrhea. I experienced extreme lack of energy and shortness of breath in doing simple tasks (such as taking out garbage). My doctor and I decided to stop due to the side effects. It helped start the weight loss, but I’m not convinced it was healthy for me."

• Ann...
• May 8, 2017

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I am a 51-year-old female, have been on Saxenda for one month now and have lost 10 lbs. I have had no side effects, other than the odd day of redness around my injection site. No nausea or vomiting. I have had occasional constipation, but find that has been when I haven't drank at least 6-8 glasses of water. I'm eating much healthier, more vegetables and fruit, smaller portions of meat and cheese... NO FAST FOOD. My appetite has definitely decreased, and I don't have the same cravings as before. I am listening to my body more, and recognizing hunger as opposed to mindless snacking just because. When I feel like a treat, I have dried apple slices, hummus and low-cal crackers, healthy snack bars instead. Motivated :)"

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 8, 2020

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "It is currently Sunday, March 8th, 2020, and I took my first injection of Saxenda Wednesday, March 4th, 2020, with a starting weight of 359 lbs. I took the injection later in the evening because I needed my mom to show me how (she’s a nurse). I hadn’t had dinner yet, and after the shot, my stomach was growling nonstop, so I just ate a sandwich and some mac salad. Three hours later, I became increasingly nauseous, then, at around 2 am, I ran to the bathroom and vomited until there was nothing left, and then some. The entirety of the next day, Thursday, was spent either in bed or on my bathroom floor next to the toilet. The nausea was horrible! I didn’t eat the whole day and could barely stomach water. I didn’t take the injection again until today because I was busy and, quite frankly, afraid to feel like that again. The only time I’ve ever been that sick was when I had the flu as a child. I mean... I guess you can say it works so far because I’m down to 356 lbs haha."

• Slo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 18, 2019

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I have been on Saxenda for 3 weeks, going into my 4th. Just started on my 1.8 dose. I started off at 198 lbs and am now at 186 lbs. 12 lbs in 3 weeks isn’t bad. Exercising about 2-3 times a week. But stay physically active at work all day. Eating pretty much the same stuff when I do eat. Suppresses my appetite so much that I have to remind myself to eat sometimes. I had 1 night of vomiting about a week ago. But other than that, no real side effects. I do have a little diarrhea here and there. I see it as a good thing though, cleaning out the bad stuff. Pretty pleased overall. My insurance covers all but $20 of the script, so that is good too. Will continue to update. Hope to lose at least 26-31 more lbs."

• Joe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 29, 2016

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "My starting weight was 297. Now, two weeks later, I'm 283. After each increase, I did have nausea and vomiting for a day or two. I thought I would have to stop, and then I discovered Pepto-Bismol. My second day of Pepto-Bismol, I felt like a new man. According to the label, you can have 2 tablespoons up to eight times a day, which means every couple of hours. This really made a difference in the side effects. I rated it a 9, only because of the side effects, other than that, I'm 100% satisfied with this new medication!"

• Ban...
• July 12, 2021

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "Have been taking Saxenda for about a month but haven’t been able to up my dose to 3.0 since I’ve been having horrible severe headaches and nausea, watery diarrhea, and vomiting nonstop for weeks. I have no energy. I’m miserable. I wonder, will this be worth it? :( I’ve lost about 4 kg, that’s all, and I can barely eat or do anything from how sick and weak I am. Was very excited to try the medication, but I’m so upset. Any recommendations? :("

• Smi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 10, 2021

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "I’ve been on Saxenda for a month now and lost 12 pounds. I’ve increased my movement and lowered my calorie intake. I’m at 1.8 mg and have started feeling most of the common symptoms: nauseous, diarrhea, and vomiting. I’m hoping my body will adjust soon."

• Gen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 15, 2022

For Weight Loss (Obesity/Overweight) "My experience with Saxenda was mixed. There were some good things and some not so good things. My first attempt with Saxenda lasted about three weeks. My water intake increased and my sweet tooth disappeared, most food was unappealing. My appetite disappeared completely. I experienced lots of heartburn and nausea. Three weeks in, that became hyperemesis, I vomited multiple times after every meal. I woke up in the night and vomited. I passed out while at my local dog park. The good things: I lost 22 pounds. I became more physically active, and my impulse eating has decreased. I'd recommend Saxenda to others. I would recommend that prescribers offer more support and contact to people taking Saxenda."