Fever / Flu-like Symptoms
Users on Reddit report experiencing a range of flu-like symptoms and feverish sensations, particularly chills and feeling cold, while on GLP-1 medications. These symptoms can vary in intensity and duration, with some users finding they subside over time.
Experiences with Fever / Flu-like Symptoms:
Feeling generally sick is common, especially after starting or increasing a dose. A user reported, "Laying in bed feeling sick as shit on it now because I took it less than 24 hours ago. First few days are miserable. "[2] Another described an experience where after their first GLP-1 dose, they "by PM felt sick as shit," which, compounded by other health issues, led to more severe complications. [10]
Some users explicitly compare the feeling to having the flu. A user with fibro said, "I feel like I have the flu for about a day" after their shot. [3] Another with fibro who took Wegovy "got what I thought was norovirus" (which has flu-like symptoms) and felt "really sick again" after resuming the dose. [4]
Persistent coldness is a frequently mentioned symptom. One user shared, "I get what I refer to as 'the shivers. ' I get so cold that I shiver and I have to get into bed, fully clothed, under the comforter. "[7] Another experienced "sudden 'drops' where I cannot get warm and get the shakes. "[8] Others stated, "I’m cold all the time now (I’m typing this under a heated blanket)"[9] and "I didn't even realize the cold could be a side effect, but it is real! "[11]
Symptoms like body aches, fatigue, and headache, which are characteristic of the flu, are also reported. A user with fibro noted, "The pain, the headaches, nausea, brain fog and fatigue have been amplified like crazy. "[6] Another user on their initial GLP-1 dosage felt "weak with sore muscles, nauseated with a bit of lightheadedness, dry mouth even after drinking so much water. "[12]
Temperature dysregulation was also noted: "When I first started on Mounjaro for my T2, I had horrible anxiety, fatigue, skin tingling, and even worse temperature dysregulation. My body adapted after maybe 6 weeks? "[13]
Remedies and Preventions Recommended:
Warmth and Comfort:
For chills: "I used a heated blanket and sometimes took a Tylenol. "[15]
Magnified chills were managed with "long showers to try to make them go away. "[5]
To combat intense cold and shivering: "I have to get into bed, fully clothed, under the comforter. "[7]
For sudden cold spells with shaking: "I've literally had to go out to the car, get hot soup and crank the heater up because even crawling under the sheets can’t make my teeth stop chattering during those incidents". [8] A hot shower was also suggested as a remedy for these episodes. [17]
Using a "heated blanket" was a common strategy for persistent coldness. [9, 15]
Medication for Symptom Relief:
Tylenol was mentioned for helping with chills. [15]
Though primarily for nausea, which can accompany flu-like states, anti-nausea medication like Zofran was recommended. [14, 16]
Hydration and Nutrition:
Staying hydrated is important: "I kept drinking water hoping to flush it out of my system quickly. "[12]
Maintaining electrolyte balance: "Keep up on electrolytes. "[16]
It's important to note that some users, particularly those with pre-existing conditions like fibromyalgia, reported an amplification of their baseline symptoms, including those that mimic the flu.
Experiences with Fever / Flu-like Symptoms:
- Some users describe intense chills.
Remedies and Preventions Recommended:
- Allowing Time for Adjustment: Several users found that flu-like symptoms, particularly feeling cold or general malaise, diminished over time.
It's important to note that some users, particularly those with pre-existing conditions like fibromyalgia, reported an amplification of their baseline symptoms, including those that mimic the flu.