Single 1 mg Liraglutide Dose Triggers Severe Gastroparesis-like Syndrome in Healthy Female

Liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue, is a well-established treatment for obesity and type 2 diabetes due to its effects on glucose metabolism and appetite regulation. While generally safe and effective, GLP-1 receptor agonists are known to influence gastric motility, often leading to mild to moderate gastrointestinal side effects. This case report highlights a severe and acute presentation of gastroparesis-like syndrome following a single, unsupervised dose, underscoring potential risks outside of controlled clinical settings and the need for clearer guidelines.

This case report details a 30-year-old healthy female who self-administered a single subcutaneous injection of 1 mg liraglutide for weight loss, without medical supervision. Following the onset of severe symptoms, a comprehensive diagnostic workup was performed. This included various imaging studies and lab tests to rule out other potential causes for her severe abdominal pain and persistent vomiting. The patient received supportive care for her condition.

Within a few hours of receiving the single 1 mg liraglutide injection, the patient experienced severe abdominal pain and persistent vomiting. A thorough diagnostic review, including imaging and lab tests, found no other underlying systemic abnormalities to explain her symptoms, strongly implicating liraglutide as the cause. The symptoms were consistent with severe gastric motility impairment, resembling gastroparesis. The patient's condition gradually improved over two weeks with supportive care, leading to the complete resolution of her symptoms. This case suggests that even a single dose of liraglutide can induce significant gastrointestinal distress in susceptible individuals.

A single 1 mg liraglutide injection led to severe gastroparesis-like symptoms within hours, resolving over two weeks with supportive care.

Written by TitrateLab, separately from the study summarized above.