TRIAL RESULTS · SIDE EFFECTS
Liraglutide side effects
ANSWER
In 42 placebo-controlled trials with posted results, the most common side effects of Liraglutide were nausea 26.4% (placebo 7.4%), diarrhoea 13.1% (placebo 6.1%), nasopharyngitis 12.4% (placebo 9.3%). Read from ClinicalTrials.gov on 2026-10-03. Not medical advice.
Trial register
Trials with posted results
79
with an arm on Liraglutide, of 518 registered
Against placebo
42
placebo-controlled trials
People in those trials
13,342
on Liraglutide · 9,706 on placebo
Read
2026-10-03
ClinicalTrials.gov
VS PLACEBO
Most common side effects, Liraglutide beside placebo
Share of people with each side effect in 42 placebo-controlled trials with posted results: 13,342 people on Liraglutide (all doses), 9,706 on placebo, same trials. Listed only when reported for at least half of the people on Liraglutide. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, read 2026-10-03. Not medical advice.
ALL TRIALS
The 100 most reported of 2330 side effects reported
Every trial with posted results and an arm on Liraglutide (n ≥ 20), all phases, by people affected. Placebo is shown where placebo-controlled trials reported the same event. Comparator arms are not counted.
| Side effect | Organ system | Liraglutide | Placebo | Trials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nausea | Gastrointestinal disorders | 22.7% (4,691 of 20,696) | 7.4% | 61 |
| Diarrhoea | Gastrointestinal disorders | 12.5% (2,485 of 19,916) | 6.1% | 53 |
| Nasopharyngitis | Infections and infestations | 12.3% (2,153 of 17,536) | 9.3% | 41 |
| Headache | Nervous system disorders | 7.9% (1,524 of 19,245) | 5.9% | 50 |
| Vomiting | Gastrointestinal disorders | 7.9% (1,503 of 18,960) | 2.1% | 51 |
| Constipation | Gastrointestinal disorders | 7.6% (1,375 of 18,091) | 3.1% | 47 |
| Decreased appetite | Metabolism and nutrition disorders | 7.0% (1,129 of 16,123) | 1.2% | 37 |
| Upper respiratory tract infection | Infections and infestations | 6.8% (1,010 of 14,763) | 4.7% | 29 |
| Hypoglycaemia | Metabolism and nutrition disorders | 7.5% (966 of 12,934) | 3.3% | 17 |
| Dyspepsia | Gastrointestinal disorders | 5.7% (865 of 15,149) | 1.3% | 35 |
| Back pain | Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders | 4.6% (689 of 15,039) | 3.8% | 28 |
| Influenza | Infections and infestations | 4.3% (645 of 15,072) | 3.3% | 27 |
| Lipase increased | Investigations | 4.4% (588 of 13,394) | 0.9% | 23 |
| Fatigue | General disorders | 4.4% (512 of 11,686) | 2.0% | 25 |
| Dizziness | Nervous system disorders | 3.3% (424 of 12,879) | 1.7% | 27 |
| Gastroenteritis | Infections and infestations | 3.2% (414 of 12,771) | 2.1% | 24 |
| Arthralgia | Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders | 3.5% (407 of 11,611) | 3.1% | 20 |
| Sinusitis | Infections and infestations | 3.4% (395 of 11,462) | 2.4% | 16 |
| Abdominal pain | Gastrointestinal disorders | 3.0% (390 of 12,803) | 1.6% | 24 |
| Urinary tract infection | Infections and infestations | 2.9% (371 of 12,811) | 2.5% | 21 |
| Viral upper respiratory tract infection | Infections and infestations | 5.2% (335 of 6,439) | 0.0% | 6 |
| Abdominal pain upper | Gastrointestinal disorders | 2.9% (331 of 11,262) | 1.6% | 21 |
| Bronchitis | Infections and infestations | 2.2% (267 of 12,085) | 2.1% | 19 |
| Oropharyngeal pain | Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders | 4.9% (258 of 5,296) | 5.0% | 12 |
| Cough | Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders | 4.4% (256 of 5,780) | 5.6% | 13 |
| Gastrooesophageal reflux disease | Gastrointestinal disorders | 1.8% (234 of 12,886) | 0.7% | 23 |
| Hypertension | Vascular disorders | 1.8% (223 of 12,737) | 1.6% | 19 |
| Diabetic retinopathy | Eye disorders | 2.7% (210 of 7,872) | 0.3% | 11 |
| Flatulence | Gastrointestinal disorders | 4.4% (207 of 4,717) | 2.5% | 13 |
| Pain in extremity | Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders | 2.4% (200 of 8,412) | 1.9% | 9 |
| Injection site haematoma | General disorders | 5.2% (195 of 3,717) | 7.8% | 5 |
| Acute myocardial infarction | Cardiac disorders | 1.6% (172 of 10,601) | 3.3% | 17 |
| Pneumonia | Infections and infestations | 1.1% (156 of 14,448) | 1.9% | 27 |
| Angina unstable | Cardiac disorders | 1.3% (154 of 11,735) | 2.2% | 13 |
| Eructation | Gastrointestinal disorders | 4.3% (142 of 3,269) | 0.6% | 9 |
| Hyperglycaemia | Metabolism and nutrition disorders | 1.5% (136 of 9,232) | 1.3% | 11 |
| Cardiac failure congestive | Cardiac disorders | 1.6% (129 of 8,257) | 2.5% | 12 |
| Coronary revascularisation | Surgical and medical procedures | 1.5% (126 of 8,626) | 2.1% | 6 |
| Cardiac failure | Cardiac disorders | 1.2% (118 of 9,822) | 2.3% | 8 |
| Acute kidney injury | Renal and urinary disorders | 1.4% (117 of 8,174) | 1.7% | 9 |
| Osteoarthritis | Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders | 0.9% (113 of 13,250) | 1.1% | 20 |
| Coronary arterial stent insertion | Surgical and medical procedures | 1.3% (113 of 8,699) | 1.8% | 5 |
| Angina pectoris | Cardiac disorders | 1.1% (109 of 9,877) | 1.6% | 14 |
| Myocardial infarction | Cardiac disorders | 0.7% (105 of 15,434) | 1.2% | 20 |
| Atrial fibrillation | Cardiac disorders | 0.8% (105 of 12,777) | 1.5% | 16 |
| Abdominal discomfort | Gastrointestinal disorders | 1.4% (104 of 7,252) | 0.4% | 15 |
| Abdominal distension | Gastrointestinal disorders | 1.5% (103 of 6,655) | 0.4% | 13 |
| Fall | Injury, poisoning and procedural complications | 0.8% (95 of 12,111) | 1.2% | 16 |
| Gastrointestinal hypomotility | Gastrointestinal disorders | 1.9% (94 of 4,928) | 0.0% | 2 |
| Cholelithiasis | Hepatobiliary disorders | 0.6% (93 of 14,758) | 0.5% | 27 |
| Oedema peripheral | General disorders | 1.2% (92 of 7,787) | 1.1% | 5 |
| Coronary artery disease | Cardiac disorders | 0.6% (86 of 14,929) | 1.2% | 23 |
| Coronary artery bypass | Surgical and medical procedures | 1.4% (84 of 6,060) | 2.2% | 3 |
| Musculoskeletal pain | Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders | 0.9% (73 of 7,753) | 0.3% | 8 |
| Chest pain | General disorders | 0.5% (67 of 12,871) | 0.8% | 16 |
| Diabetic foot | Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders | 1.1% (67 of 6,219) | 1.6% | 3 |
| Transient ischaemic attack | Nervous system disorders | 0.5% (64 of 13,406) | 1.0% | 17 |
| Cerebrovascular accident | Nervous system disorders | 0.6% (63 of 11,146) | 1.1% | 12 |
| Percutaneous coronary intervention | Surgical and medical procedures | 0.9% (63 of 6,803) | 1.1% | 7 |
| Lower respiratory tract infection | Infections and infestations | 0.8% (61 of 7,946) | 0.3% | 7 |
| Diarrhea | Gastrointestinal disorders | 16.1% (60 of 373) | 10.2% | 7 |
| Cholecystitis acute | Hepatobiliary disorders | 0.5% (59 of 12,196) | 0.3% | 17 |
| Non-cardiac chest pain | General disorders | 0.5% (59 of 11,789) | 1.0% | 17 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders | 0.5% (57 of 11,573) | 1.0% | 12 |
| Death | General disorders | 1.0% (56 of 5,406) | 1.0% | 4 |
| Ischaemic stroke | Nervous system disorders | 0.5% (55 of 10,670) | 0.8% | 12 |
| Sepsis | Infections and infestations | 0.5% (53 of 10,857) | 0.5% | 11 |
| Chronic kidney disease | Renal and urinary disorders | 1.1% (52 of 4,778) | 1.1% | 2 |
| Gastroenteritis viral | Infections and infestations | 0.5% (50 of 10,073) | 0.3% | 8 |
| Viral infection | Infections and infestations | 0.7% (47 of 6,388) | 0.1% | 8 |
| Prostate cancer | Neoplasms benign, malignant and unspecified (incl cysts and polyps) | 0.3% (46 of 14,307) | 0.6% | 18 |
| Cellulitis | Infections and infestations | 0.4% (46 of 12,615) | 0.8% | 18 |
| Syncope | Nervous system disorders | 0.4% (46 of 10,471) | 0.4% | 10 |
| Hypoglycaemic unconsciousness | Nervous system disorders | 0.6% (46 of 7,606) | 0.7% | 7 |
| Coronary angioplasty | Surgical and medical procedures | 1.0% (46 of 4,668) | 0.8% | 1 |
| Anaemia | Blood and lymphatic system disorders | 0.5% (45 of 9,714) | 0.4% | 8 |
| GI related | Gastrointestinal disorders | 46.7% (43 of 92) | 12.9% | 1 |
| Nephrolithiasis | Renal and urinary disorders | 0.3% (42 of 12,926) | 0.3% | 16 |
| GI | Gastrointestinal disorders | 77.8% (42 of 54) | - | 1 |
| Pharyngitis | Infections and infestations | 0.6% (41 of 6,389) | 0.5% | 11 |
| Acute coronary syndrome | Cardiac disorders | 0.5% (41 of 8,508) | 0.9% | 6 |
| Cataract | Eye disorders | 0.4% (38 of 10,200) | 0.6% | 10 |
| Pancreatitis | Gastrointestinal disorders | 0.3% (37 of 12,149) | 0.2% | 12 |
| Gastrointestinal pain | Gastrointestinal disorders | 14.2% (37 of 260) | - | 1 |
| Dehydration | Metabolism and nutrition disorders | 0.4% (35 of 9,449) | 0.4% | 9 |
| Readmissions | General disorders | 25.7% (35 of 136) | - | 1 |
| Upper respiratory tract inflammation | Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders | 5.9% (33 of 556) | 2.3% | 4 |
| Myocardial ischaemia | Cardiac disorders | 0.3% (32 of 10,735) | 0.5% | 10 |
| Cardiac failure chronic | Cardiac disorders | 0.4% (32 of 8,587) | 0.4% | 6 |
| Pyrexia | General disorders | 0.5% (31 of 6,839) | 0.5% | 11 |
| Asthenic conditions | General disorders | 11.5% (30 of 260) | - | 1 |
| Peripheral arterial occlusive disease | Vascular disorders | 0.4% (29 of 7,444) | 0.7% | 6 |
| Carotid artery stenosis | Nervous system disorders | 0.5% (29 of 5,905) | 0.3% | 3 |
| Peripheral revascularisation | Surgical and medical procedures | 0.6% (29 of 4,668) | 0.8% | 1 |
| Cholecystitis | Hepatobiliary disorders | 0.2% (28 of 11,769) | 0.2% | 15 |
| GI Symptoms | Gastrointestinal disorders | 41.2% (28 of 68) | 14.9% | 1 |
| Intervertebral disc protrusion | Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders | 0.2% (27 of 12,031) | 0.4% | 14 |
| Eczema | Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders | 0.3% (27 of 7,937) | 0.1% | 5 |
| Therapeutic response unexpected | General disorders | 6.0% (27 of 450) | - | 1 |
| Neurological symptom | Nervous system disorders | 10.4% (27 of 260) | - | 1 |
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov posted results, read 2026-10-03. A trial lists events above its own reporting threshold, so a rare event may be missing from some trials. Not medical advice.
FDA LABEL
What the FDA label says
Liraglutide ANDA218115 · label of 2026-07-27 Regulator
Most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥5%) in clinical trials are nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, decreased appetite, dyspepsia, constipation.
Serious reactions the label warns about: Risk of Thyroid C-cell Tumors, Acute Pancreatitis, Hypoglycemia, Acute Kidney Injury Due to Volume Depletion, Severe Gastrointestinal Adverse Reactions, Hypersensitivity Reactions, Acute Gallbladder Disease, Pulmonary Aspiration During General Anesthesia or Deep Sedation.
Saxenda NDA206321 · label of 2026-02-25 Regulator
Most common adverse reactions, reported in greater than or equal to 5% are: nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, injection site reactions, headache, hypoglycemia, dyspepsia, fatigue, dizziness, abdominal pain, increased lipase, upper abdominal pain, pyrexia, and gastroenteritis.
Victoza NDA022341 · label of 2025-10-14 Regulator
Most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥5%) in clinical trials are nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, decreased appetite, dyspepsia, constipation.
QUESTIONS
Does liraglutide cause nausea?
In 42 placebo-controlled trials with posted results, 26.4% of people on liraglutide reported nausea, against 7.4% on placebo. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, read 2026-10-03. Not medical advice.
Does liraglutide cause diarrhoea?
In 42 placebo-controlled trials with posted results, 13.1% of people on liraglutide reported diarrhoea, against 6.1% on placebo. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, read 2026-10-03. Not medical advice.
Does liraglutide cause nasopharyngitis?
In 42 placebo-controlled trials with posted results, 12.4% of people on liraglutide reported nasopharyngitis, against 9.3% on placebo. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, read 2026-10-03. Not medical advice.
Does liraglutide cause vomiting?
In 42 placebo-controlled trials with posted results, 9.0% of people on liraglutide reported vomiting, against 2.1% on placebo. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, read 2026-10-03. Not medical advice.
Does liraglutide cause constipation?
In 42 placebo-controlled trials with posted results, 8.8% of people on liraglutide reported constipation, against 3.1% on placebo. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, read 2026-10-03. Not medical advice.
REGISTERED STUDIES
518 registered clinical trials of Liraglutide
The 10 most recently updated are listed.
| NCT06836284 | The Evira Study: Additional Support During Obesity Treatment Status: RECRUITING · Updated 2026-09-10 |
|---|---|
| NCT07787936 | GLP-1/GIP Receptor Agonists in Obesity-Related HFpEF: The GLIDE-HF Registry Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING · Updated 2026-08-26 |
| NCT05965908 | Effect of Liraglutide in Obese Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Status: COMPLETED · Updated 2026-08-25 |
| NCT05220917 | Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of Four Second Line Pharmacological Strategies in Type 2 Diabetes Study Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING · Updated 2026-08-13 |
| NCT03883412 | Effect of Exercise and/or Liraglutide on Vascular Dysfunction and Insulin Sensitivity in Type 2 Diabetes ( ZQL007) Status: RECRUITING · Updated 2026-08-12 |
| NCT05313529 | LIGHT-MCI Trial: GLP-1 Agonist, SGLT2 Inhibitor, and DPP-4 Inhibitor for MCI Remission in Type 2 Diabetes Status: COMPLETED · Updated 2026-08-06 |
| NCT06374875 | Fibrosis Lessens After Metabolic Surgery Status: RECRUITING · Updated 2026-07-31 |
| NCT07225829 | A Trial to Investigate the Safety and Efficacy of Intra-articular 4P004 Injection in Subjects With Knee Synovitis and Osteoarthritis Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING · Updated 2026-07-27 |
| NCT07702461 | Determination of Resistance Training Status for Patients on Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists Status: RECRUITING · Updated 2026-07-24 |
| NCT07225816 | Examination of How the Duration of Fasting and Temporary Stopping of GLP-1 Medications Affect the Amount of Food Left in the Stomach in People Using Liraglutide (Injected), Semaglutide (Taken by Mouth) or Semaglutide (Injected) Status: RECRUITING · Updated 2026-07-21 |
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