Good Lifestyle

Three years ago, a Reddit user started a thread To get help with what they described as headache and "life -breaking" migraines that started when taking a semaglutide medication like Wegovy and Ozempic . To date, other weight loss The drug addicts intervene, sharing their stories of debilitating strikers who last days or even weeks at a time.

"I cannot continue like this", a person said . "Each week, I had hammered headaches", " said another. "Yesterday was my first dose increase and I have been fighting a migraine since ... One of those that makes you sick."

While Wegovy and Ozempic list "headaches" as a common side effect which was found during the drugs " Clinical trials , many patients say that what they experience is not your average pain. We have asked doctors and health experts to explain why these symptoms occur and what you can do if you want them to stop.

In relation: Doctors warn that drugs like Ozempic make you "lean fat"

Why headache are common with Wegovy and Ozempic

"" Headache are a common side effect of most semaglutides, including Wegovy, especially at the start of treatment or when patients increase their dose, ”explains Seyed Hassan Fakher, MD, A specialist in orthopedic and gastrointestinal medicine in Medical victim , an online telemedicine supplier.

"This side effect is mainly due to the effect of suppression of the appetite of the drug, which can lead to the consumption of calories, dehydration and a lower electrolytic imbalance, which can all trigger headaches."

In Wegovy clinical trials, 14% of adults and 17% of adolescents reported headache as a side effect. And on Reddit, many users say they are the most common due to the start of a semaglutide, after the injection day (which is required once a week) or increasing their dose.

Dr. Fakher says it checks. "Side effects tend to appear early with treatment before the body adapts, and also reappears by increasing the dose, but tends to solve once the body adapts to the drug, generally in the first 4 weeks."

How to treat them and avoid them

If this looks like you, considerably increasing your water The contribution and eating healthy foods can help these headache to disappear, says Blen tesfu, md , general practitioner at Welzo , a platform of supplements and well-being based in the United Kingdom.

"The general rule is that you have to drink at least 8 to 10 cups, 64 to 80 ounces, water per day, considering personal needs and activity rates," she said.

Markyia Nichols, MD , chief doctor at CIBA Santé , a personalized digital care platform focused on the fight against the deep causes of health problems, goes further by recommending that you drink at least half of your body weight in ounces of water every day.

"Add electrolytes - in particular sodium, magnesium and potassium - to support balance, especially if nausea or vomiting are present," adds Dr. Nichols. "And avoid excess caffeine And alcohol, which can both worsen dehydration. »»

In relation: I tried liquid I.V. Hydration for two weeks and noticed 4 changes to my body

Regarding your diet, all the experts we have spoken suggest entire nutrient foods to keep the headache at a distance.

"Even with reduced appetite, it is important to consume high quality proteins with each meal to maintain lean mass," explains Dr. Nichols. "Think of beef, chicken, fish or lean chickpeas."

It also recommends healthy fats, complex carbohydrates, moat vegetables, nuts, seeds and eggs to maintain your energy and stable nutrient levels.

Another advice: space your meals throughout the day, even if they are small, to help regulate your blood sugar, which is another key player in headache.

"In some cases, rapid weight loss or insufficient consumption can trigger hypoglycemia, which can arise in the form of headache, dizziness or fatigue," explains Dr. Nichols. "Monitoring blood sugar (especially in people with diabetes or prediabetes) is essential. Talk to your doctor about the order of a continuous glucose instructor (CGM) for real -time blood sugar readings, and note what types of foods create drastic tips or drops in blood sugar. »»

Users of Wegovy and Ozempic on Reddit say that these methods have been useful, even if it can be difficult when these drugs make you little desire to eat or drink, well, a lot.

"I found that I received migraines because I was not hydrated enough around the injection day," has a The user wrote July 8. "Drinking a bunch of days of water before [sic] and injection day and migraines have never come. Dry obviously a lot of water the rest of the days too."

When to ask for medical care

Unfortunately, some patients say that their headaches are persistent and relentless even after months of these drugs.

A Reddit user said he was taking Ozempic for a year before spending Wegovy due to insurance problems. Suddenly, headaches started that were so powerful, they found themselves in the emergency room.

Others complained of several weeks migraines that "alter life". "The pain of this marathon migraine is not worth the few kilos I lost", a user wrote .

Obviously, these side effects are serious and you should request medical care as soon as possible.

"Patients should obtain medical help in the event of serious or chronic symptoms, or the combination of headache and other symptoms, such as changes in their vision, their nausea or dizziness," said Dr. Tesfu.

"It can be signs of electrolyte breaks linked to more complicated dehydration or problems with gallbladder, which can create the need for timely care."

Paul Rosenberg, MD, The plastic surgeon at the head New Jersey breast reduction center , which often treats patients to lose weight before surgery, says that other intense problems should also be considered an emergency.

"If headaches are accompanied by intense pain, dizziness, loss of balance or symptoms attributable to a stroke Or aneurysm, such as abundant vomiting, disruption of the approach, linked speeches, etc., it is imperative to immediately contact a health professional, "he said.

In relation: More ozempic patients complaining of brutal sunburns, metal tongue and more

Considering alternatives of drug loss

All these doctors have said that if Wegovy or Ozempic causes you pain in the brain, there are other options that you can consider with your primary care doctor.

"Tirzepatide (zepbound or Mounjaro ) is a more recent GIP / GLP-1 GLP-1 agonist, "said Dr. Fakher." Some data suggest similar or even larger weight loss, with a comparable side effect profile. Headaches are possible, but not always reported at the same frequency. »»

Dr. Rosenberg says that many of his patients who did not tolerate Wegovy succeeded with Mounjaro. That said, more pronounced problems are possible, leading to a pick-seeing style decision.

"Saxenda (Liraglutide) can offer similar advantages," explains Dr. Nichols. "It requires daily injections, which can reduce the intensity of the side effects linked to dose climbing compared to weekly options." However, its ability to remove appetite is less serious, so you cannot lose weight So quickly.

Finally, "the contravene is an agent containing bupropion and the naltrexone who influences the brain reward system and controls appetite," said Dr. Tesfu. Taken in the form of a pill, this weight loss medication is generally cheaper than Wegovy or Ozempic, but is only approved for adults and has several common side effects, including, you guessed it, headaches.

In the end, what suits you best is something that you should carefully consider with your doctor. All these weight loss drugs are delivered with a few kind of side effect - many of which Always under study . In addition, it is important to consider your own medical history, causes of weight gain, tolerances, etc.

"GLP-1 surpassing programs explore why someone knows weight gain or metabolic dysfunction and needs a GLP-1 in the first place, whether it be insulin resistance, stress , Intestinal dysbiosis or hormonal imbalance, ”underlines Dr. Nichols.

"Often people can completely avoid GLP or get out of it safely under the direction of a doctor by reconstructing metabolic health, starting with the deep cause of the problem."