Liraglutide is a type of GLP-1 medication that reduces your appetite.

It was originally used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes but was later approved to treat obesity. It works for weight loss by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone in your brain, making you feel less hungry and fuller for longer after a meal.

Liraglutide is taken as a daily injection and is suitable for anyone with a BMI over 30, or people with a BMI of 27 or more with a weight weight-related health condition, like heart disease or prediabetes.¹

Although Nevolat is safe to use, like any other medicine, it can cause side effects. Some of its common side effects (affecting 1 in 10 people) include:

• Feeling sick
• Digestive problems like indigestion, heartburn and bloating
• Feeling weak
• Differences to your sense of taste
• Dizziness
• Difficulty sleeping
• Gallstones
• Rashes
• Bruising, pain and irritation at your injection sites

Side effects may occur while your body gets used to the new medicine. If your symptoms do not go away, talk to your doctor. They will be able to advise you on the next steps.

If you take diabetes medication, you may be at greater risk of low or high blood sugar when taking liraglutide. You must tell your prescriber if you are being treated for diabetes before you take liraglutide.¹

If you have another health condition, you should tell your prescriber so they can make sure it is safe for you to take liraglutide.

Though they are not likely, some rare side effects (affecting 1 in 1000 people) can cause serious health issues and lead to a hospital stay. If you experience any of the following side effects, you must stop taking the medicine and talk to your doctor or call 111 straight away.

Serious side effects include:

• Continuous pain in your upper left or middle stomach that may spread to the back
• Symptoms of depression that are new or worse than usual
• Suicidal thoughts or feelings
• Changes to your mood or behaviour
• Feeling and being sick
• Diarrhoea or a change in the colour of your stools
• Yellow eyes or skin
• Feeling like your heart is pounding in your chest
• Feeling faint or dizzy
• Pancreatitis (an inflamed pancreas)
• Tachycardia (very fast heartbeat)
• Kidney problems
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If you have any of the following symptoms, it could be a sign of an allergic reaction:

• Getting swollen eyes, face, mouth, tongue, or throat
• Having an irritated, itchy rash
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing.³

Call 999 immediately if you cannot breathe or think you are having an allergic reaction.

Everyone reacts differently to medication. You can help minimise your risk of side effects by:

• Staying well-hydrated and drinking plenty of water
• Eating small amounts little and often instead of big meals
• Adopting a healthy, balanced diet and reduce fat and sugar intake
• Adopting an active lifestyle and aim to do 150 minutes of activity a week.⁴

If you’ve had any side effects, you should speak to your pharmacist or GP about them. They’ll be able to advise you on how they can be managed and whether your medication is still right for you.

Although a medicated weight loss treatment like liraglutide may help some people achieve their weight loss goals, it’s important to rely on a weight management approach that suits your needs. Your pharmacist or doctor may suggest alternatives based on your experience with the medicine.

As you adjust to your medication, you can get support from your pharmacist or GP. If you have any questions or concerns, they can advise you on the best approaches for your specific needs and situation.

The NHS also has resources online dedicated to safe weight loss and dietary changes as part of their Live Well campaign.