Can Semaglutide Cause Headaches?

Key Takeaways

Compounded semaglutide is a popular prescription weight loss solution. Like any medication, several common and adverse side effects have been identified by its users. These include—but aren’t limited to—nausea, fatigue, and headaches. Although headaches aren't fully established as a direct side effect of semaglutide, they have been reported and may be linked to the drop in blood sugar that the medication can cause. If you’re on the medication and experiencing severe headaches, you should consult with your healthcare provider. 

Many people have found success when using semaglutide on their weight loss journey. This prescription medication, which is one of several diabetes medications, is administered as a weekly injection and helps with weight loss by slowing digestion and suppressing appetite. Although once-weekly semaglutide works well for many people, including those who use it for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, it is not for everyone. It is important to discuss potential risks and side effects with your doctor or healthcare provider before taking this medication. 

The most common side effects of semaglutide are those that affect the digestive tract like nausea and vomiting. However, some users report other adverse effects like headaches and fatigue. This article will share all about whether taking once-weekly semaglutide can cause headaches and what you need to know before getting prescribed. 

What is Semaglutide?

Semaglutide is an injectable prescription medication that can be prescribed to support weight loss and help with blood sugar control and glycemic control for people with type 2 diabetes. It does this in part by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone and slowing gastric emptying. In order to start once-weekly semaglutide treatment, you’ll have to first visit a healthcare provider either in person or virtually in order to determine if you are a good candidate for this treatment plan. 

This medication works on the glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptors in the brain, helping to suppress the appetite and stimulate the release of insulin from the pancreas. Semaglutide also affects your digestive tract by slowing down the movement of food through your digestive tract. These effects help you eat less and feel full for longer. Semaglutide is typically administered as a weekly injection. 

Side Effects of Semaglutide

As with any medication, semaglutide in adults does have potential side effects that are common across most GLP-1 receptor agonists. The most common side effects of semaglutide are gastrointestinal side effects such as: 

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Heartburn
• Belching
• Shortness of breath

Other potential side effects may occur such as those related to having a lower blood sugar level and eating less. These adverse effects may include lightheadedness, severe headaches, shortness of breath, or dizziness. 

Mild side effects are common when taking once-weekly semaglutide and will likely go away over extended periods of time as your body gets used to the medication. With that in mind, it is important to note that there are some more severe side effects to look out for when taking semaglutide. 

Rare but serious side effects can occur when taking semaglutide. If you experience any of the serious gastrointestinal side effects or other kinds listed below, you should seek medical treatment immediately.

• Persistent pain in the upper abdomen that spreads to the back
• Swelling of the face, eyes mouth, or tongue or difficulty breathing, as these can be signs of allergic reactions
• Decreased urination, swelling of the legs, ankles or feet
• Changes in vision
• Fainting or dizziness
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes
• Rapid heartbeat
• Thyroid tumors
• Acute kidney injury
• Heart disease

Certain health conditions can place you at an increased risk when taking semaglutide so it is important to talk with someone from your healthcare team—whether it's your doctor, healthcare provider, or another healthcare professional about any health issues you or your immediate family members have so that they can best determine if you are a good candidate for semaglutide. 

How Long Do Side Effects Last?

Typically, semaglutide side effects should go away within a few weeks of taking the medication. This is because your body will get used to the effects of the medication over time. If your dosage of semaglutide increases, you may experience a spike in side effects during this time. Side effects will typically level out again once your body adjusts to the new dose. It is most common to experience adverse effects from semaglutide when first starting the medication and when changing dosages. 

Deeper Dive Into Semaglutide and Headaches

Some users have reported that semaglutide causes headaches, even severe headaches. These users have reported both mild headaches and tension headaches. While headaches aren’t a known side effect of semaglutide itself, they may occur as a result of some of the other effects of the medication. Because semaglutide causes blood sugar to drop, headache symptoms can occur as a result of having low blood sugar. Semaglutide can also cause dehydration which can be another underlying cause of severe headaches. 

For these reasons, it is important to be mindful of your daily habits when taking semaglutide. Glycemic control can help positively affect the symptoms you’re experiencing. You’ll want to ensure that you are eating a nutrient-rich diet and hydrating properly. Because you will be eating less you’ll want to make sure the calories you are getting are from nutrient-dense foods like fruits and vegetables. 

Ahara’s weight loss service not only provides you with a convenient way to get semaglutide but it also includes access to registered dieticians who will help guide you on your weight loss journey. The experts at Ahara can help provide you with the most up-to-date health recommendations that you can integrate into your lifestyle to help you feel your best and see the results you are hoping for. 

Relieving Semaglutide-Induced Headaches

When it comes to treating semaglutide-related headaches, the key is to determine the underlying cause of the headache occurrences or headache triggers. The most common reasons why you may experience a headache while taking semaglutide are low blood sugar or dehydration. It is also a good idea to keep track of the severity of headaches you are experiencing to discuss with your doctor or other medical professionals.

Semaglutide causes the blood sugar to drop and it also causes you to eat less. For these reasons, it is common for people taking semaglutide to have their blood sugar drop lower than it should. When this happens, you may experience feelings of dizziness, weakness, lightheadedness, or headache. 

Your doctor may recommend that you monitor your blood sugar levels while taking semaglutide, even if you do not have diabetes. Because you’ll be eating smaller portions while taking semaglutide, it is important to eat small frequent meals. This can help you lower your risk of hypoglycemia by keeping your blood sugar where it needs to be. The quick solution to treating hypoglycemia is to eat something sugary like fruit, juice, or applesauce to bring your blood sugar back up.

It is common to experience dehydration when taking semaglutide. Dehydration from semaglutide can happen for several reasons. First off, semaglutide often causes gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea and nausea which can ultimately lead to dehydration. It can also increase urination which will also dehydrate you more. The simple solution to avoiding dehydration when taking semaglutide is to ensure that you are drinking enough water throughout the day. 

Bring a water bottle with you when you leave your home and make sure to pay attention to how much you are drinking. Make sure to increase your hydration if you are experiencing diarrhea or nausea since this will make you less hydrated. Also, you’ll want to drink more water when you are sweating or exercising to compensate for this loss. 

It is important to talk to your doctor or healthcare professional before using counter medications to treat your headaches and headache triggers, or even other unrelated conditions like a cold. Nonprescription medication such as aspirin and decongestants can have interactions with semaglutide. 

If symptoms start to become severe or unmanageable and are significantly impacting your quality of life, you will need to seek medical treatment to potentially receive additional medication. You may need medical attention from a health care professional for the occurrence of headaches from semaglutide if: 

• Your headache is severe and not going away even with attempted and various stages of treatment
• Your headache is interfering with your daily life and activities
• You are experiencing severe symptoms of dehydration or low blood sugar that you aren’t able to manage on your own

When To Consult Your Healthcare Provider

Semaglutide is not for everyone. If semaglutide side effects are not going away or remain severe, you may need to discuss some alternative options with your healthcare professional. If severe diarrhea or vomiting is making you dehydrated, you may need medical attention from a health care professional or health care provider to receive IV fluids for rehydration.

To have the best experience when taking semaglutide, you’ll want to keep an open dialogue with your provider about any challenges you face. You and your provider can work together to determine the best plan going forward for treating and preventing semaglutide side effects or other adverse reactions so that you can have the best experience and have a successful weight loss journey.

The best way to prepare for your visits with your provider is to track your symptoms closely as they are happening. Keep a journal or note in your phone where you jot down any adverse effects you have, when you have them, and if anything makes them better or worse. That way when you see your provider you can accurately go over any issues you’re facing. 

Key Takeaways and Final Thoughts

Semaglutide, known to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease, has been proven to have significant weight loss benefits for those who use it. As with any medication and even some alternative medications, there are some drawbacks that come along with taking semaglutide. You may experience mild side effects that could be an annoyance and will likely fade away over time, but everyone will react differently. There is a small risk of more serious side effects which is why it is important to talk in depth about your medical history (and family history) with your provider to first determine if you are a good candidate for semaglutide or not. 

Keeping track of side effects is one of the best ways to get the most out of taking semaglutide. If you work with Ahara for your weight loss medication needs, you will get online access to a provider who can work closely with you in determining your goals and needs throughout your treatment plan. Our service includes virtual doctor visits, an online source to order semaglutide and nutritional support from registered dieticians. 

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