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Someone with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (M.E./CFS) posted that they started Saxenda (brand name for liraglutide) a week ago at a low dose and noticed their "food noise" — the constant thinking about food — disappeared, which they liked. But they also feel much more tired than their usual baseline for M.E./CFS, and they worry this extra fatigue might stick. They’ve gained weight previously and hope the drug will help with weight loss, but are uneasy about whether the tiredness will be temporary or permanent. Liraglutide is the active drug in Saxenda (for weight management) and a close cousin of drugs like Victoza used for diabetes. In plain terms, it acts like a natural gut hormone that tells your brain "you’re full" and slows how fast your stomach empties. That reduces appetite and can lead to weight loss. It’s given as a daily injection and is prescribed for people trying to lose weight, especially after lifestyle changes or medications caused weight gain. What we actually have here is a single-person report — an anecdote — not a controlled study. The person says they lost the urge to constantly think about food within a week, which fits how these drugs often work quickly on appetite. They also report increased fatigue that feels worse than their usual M.E./CFS baseline. Anecdotes like this can be useful signals but can’t prove cause and effect. Clinical trials of liraglutide have shown weight loss and common side effects like nausea, but people with M.E./CFS haven’t been studied extensively as a separate group, so we don’t know how typical this kind of increased fatigue is for them. Why this matters is simple: people with M.E./CFS are often already exhausted, so any treatment that might make fatigue worse is especially important to know about. For someone who gained weight while less active or on antidepressants, a drug that reduces appetite could be a useful tool. But if it makes your fatigue significantly worse, it may not be worth the trade-off. Clinicians and patients should weigh the potential benefit of weight loss against the risk of worsening energy levels, and monitor symptoms closely if they try liraglutide. Important caveats: this is one person’s experience, not proof. Liraglutide commonly causes side effects like nausea, stomach upset, and sometimes dizziness, and starting doses can make people feel worse before they improve; doctors often increase the dose slowly to reduce side effects. People with specific medical conditions or medications should check with their doctor; some groups (for example, people with certain thyroid cancers or severe pancreatitis history) are usually advised against these drugs. Regulatory approval is for specific uses and under medical supervision. If fatigue gets notably worse, the safe step is to contact your prescribing clinician to discuss stopping or adjusting the dose. Bottom line: Saxenda may quickly curb appetite, but someone with M.E./CFS reported new, worse fatigue after a week — that’s worth taking seriously and discussing with a doctor rather than assuming it will resolve on its own.
Source: r/Semaglutide