Dr. Ahmed Headache is a common symptom. Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus users have noticed that the frequency of headaches increased when they started using these drugs.
In clinical trials, headache was observed by about 14% of the patients compared to 10% of those who were using a placebo medicine.
So, definitely, there is some association between the drug (Semaglutide) causing headaches. Headache can also be a symptom of low blood glucose (hypoglycemia).
It is important to check blood glucose levels especially if the headache is also associated with other symptoms of hypoglycemia such as:
- sweating
- tremors and shakiness of the body
- palpitations (feeling your own heartbeats)
- drowsiness and anger
- feeling hungry
- fatigue and weakness
New-onset Headache with Ozempic:
Headache was found in a greater number of patients who were on Ozempic or another formulation of Semaglutide.
Headache was especially concerning in patients who used to have headaches. However, new-onset headache ranging in severity from mild to severe was also reported by people who started Ozempic treatment.
Here are some of the patients who developed headaches after they were started on Ozempic treatment.
The data is taken from different social media “Ozempic Discussion Forums”, particularly the Reddit community.
Headache getting worse with each dose:
A patient shared her story. She developed headaches after Ozempic treatment was initiated. This is how she described her experience:
“I took my 4th injection of 0.25 on Thursday. It seems like my headache is just getting worse after each dose and lingering on longer each time. I am worried about increasing the dose from next week if this is how I am going to feel”. |
She asked for advice if the headache was supposed to get better with time or will it worsen over time.
Most people who commented gave a positive reply. Some people suggested the following solutions to her headache:
- Drink plenty of water
- Use the right dose just before going to bed rather than in the morning
- Eat enough and take adequate rest and sleep
- Check your vitamins and mineral levels including sodium, magnesium, and potassium
- Take a healthy diet and do not strive to lose weight all of a sudden.
Meditation may relieve Ozempic headaches and prevent migraine attacks
My Migraine got Worse after Ozempic treatment:
For most patients who experienced headaches, the majority had underlying migraine. People reported an increase in the frequency and duration of their migraine headaches.
Here is a story of one of the patients who experienced worse migraine and bad headaches following Ozempic treatment initiation:
“I’ve had a major increase in the frequency and duration of my migraines over the last two months after Ozempic treatment (it’s ruining my life)” I’m trying to figure out if anyone else has had migraines from taking a Diabetes/Weight Loss drug called Semaglutide (Wegovy for weight loss or Ozempic for Diabetes). I’m really hoping it’s not Semaglutide (Ozempic). In addition, I’ve changed a lot of things so it might not be the cause. “Headache” is a side effect of Ozempic but…”headache” and getting a migraine almost every damn day aren’t really the same thing” |
The patient got some positive and negative responses to her queries on the social forum. Some of the positive responses she received are mentioned here:
Wegovy and Aimoveg:
One female had chronic migraine and was on preventive migraine treatment. She did not develop worsening migraine or had frequent attacks of migraine despite Ozempic treatment.
This was her reply:
” I am on Wegovy (high dose Semaglutide for weight loss) and Aimovig (Erenumab) for chronic migraine prevention. I have not noticed any worsening symptoms of migraine” |
This patient was on Aimovig (Erenumab). Aimovig is a novel class of drugs that targets the CCGPR (calcitonin gene-related peptide receptors). It got approval in 2018 by the FDA for the prevention of migraine.
I did not notice an increase in my migraine days:
Another patient responded positively. She stated that she was initiated Ozempic treatment in June. In September, she was also started on Emgality (Galcanexumab) treatment for the prevention of chronic migraines.
She stated:
” I have not noticed any increase in the number of migraine days. However, I had nausea and vomiting during the first six months of Ozempic treatment. These symptoms spontaneously faded away after six months (in December)” |
Again, this patient was on concomitant migraine prevention prophylaxis using a potent and novel drug, Emgality.
Emgality is the brand name of Galcanezumab. It is a human monoclonal antibody that targets CCGPR (calcitonin gene-related peptide receptors). It is used as a subcutaneous injection once a month for the prevention of migraine.
Emgality and Wegovy:
Another patient responded as:
” I am on the 10th dose of Wegovy (1 mg Semaglutide), titrating my dose upwards. However, for the last month, I have been using Emgality (Galcanexumab) for the prevention of migraine. I have not noticed a worsening in my symptoms but definitely, Emgality treatment could be contributing to my improvement in symptoms” |
This patient was also initiated on Emgality treatment for headache prophylaxis. She probably developed migraine headaches using Wegovy and got better with Emgality (Galcanezumab).
It is important to note that all patients who were started on Emgality treatment for migraine prophylaxis noticed a significant improvement in their symptoms.
Got a blind spot and migraine
This patient was started on Wegovy. Although she was still using the lower dose of 0.5 mg per week and she had only one injection in the last three weeks, she still noticed a worsening of her migraine symptoms.
She got frequent blind spots which got better with Ajovy (Fremanezumab) to some extent but were not completely relieved.
“I definitely have experienced worsening migraine symptoms. I wasn’t sure if it was due to the Wegovy or not. I was getting a blind spot migraine once a week. I went back on Ajovy (Fremanezumab) and my symptoms got better. But now I’ve gotten more again. Oddly enough In the last three weeks, I’ve only had one dose of Wegovy and it was small, 0.5mg, but I’ve got a blind spot every week. I don’t know if there’s any correlation or not, but it feels like maybe” |
Blind spots are one of the pre-headache symptoms of migraine. Patients who develop blind spots, see flashlights or sense abnormal smells are said to have migraine with aura.
Ajovy (Fremanezumab), like Emgality and Aimovig, is one of the drugs that target the CCGPR (calcitonin gene-related peptide receptors). It is used in the prevention of migraine.
Among all the patients who developed Ozempic or Wegovy-induced headaches or worsening migraines, people who used Emgality (Galcanezumab) did relatively better than Ajovy and Aimovig.
Worst Migraine Ever:
This patient had a severe headache following Ozempic treatment. She developed headaches after the first three doses.
Her symptoms got worse and she had to rush to the hospital. However, the ER medications did not help her. She was given analgesics including narcotics (morphine) but her headache persisted.
She could not use Triptans as she was on SSRIs. She plans her 4th injection but will skip it until her symptoms improve.
I am due to take my 4th dose tomorrow and I’m not going to. I spent from Wed morning till bow and a trip to the ER with the worst migraine ever. The cocktail given to me at the hospital did nothing, they even gave morphine and that only took the edge off. I can’t take Triptans as I’m on an SSRI. I can only think this is from the Wegovy. I’m going to see how the next couple of weeks go and then decide if I will take it again or not. |
Ended up in ER for migraine:
Another patient ended up in ER for a headache that she experienced for the first time. It was severe enough to scare her as if something was going wrong or if she has gotten the wrong injection.
“I ended up in the ER on week two of Wegovy (the first time ever) for the migraine. I was really scared something was wrong. But I’ve had a string of good days for the past few weeks so I’m feeling optimistic. The oral Sumatriptan is the only thing that is moderately effective for me (just found out recently after having bad side effects on the inhaled and injection kinds). And I had been thinking about finally getting on an SSRI in a few months (once I get used to my other meds). BUT knowing I would have to forgo the triptans…that might not be worth it, even if my anxiety is also crippling” |
Ozempic and Wegovy with Headache and perimenstrual syndrome:
Headache is also common immediately before and a few days after the start of menstrual cycles. However, some patients reported worse symptoms while they were on Ozmepic or Wegovy.
Females had severe headaches, backache, nausea, and vomiting during the perimenstrual period while they were on Ozempic (or Wegovy).
In conclusion:
Headache is a common symptom. People using Ozempic, Wegovy, or Rybelsus may develop a new onset of headache or have a worsening of headache symptoms and migraine.
People who reported worse migraines with Ozempic or Wegovy did quite well when they were prescribed CCGPR therapy (Aimovig, Ajovy, and Emgality in particular).
