Weight Loss Injections and Migraines What if Meal Skipping is a Trigger?
Posted on October 21, 2026 by Sally-Anne Turner
We’ve all skipped meals.
Usually, you’re running out the door for a late shift or a deadline looms.
When you start to take weight loss injections like Mounjaro, or even oral GLP-1s like Wegovy, you may skip more than one meal. Why? These medications reduce appetite and can make it easier to go about your day without lunch.
However, if you are diagnosed with migraines and you know that one of your triggers is skipping a meal, this presents a real issue. After all, your weight loss journey should not be overshadowed by migraines, which can be debilitating.
At the Bodyline Clinic, we believe that everyone should have their chance to lose weight with GLP-1’s, even if they may have a more complex medical history. Our team has nearly 20 years of experience helping people to lose weight across the UK and has helped over 100,000 people to hit their weight loss goals. But we know that specialised health issues require specialised care. And that is what makes us different from other GLP-1 providers.
So, if you suffer from migraines, can you take GLP-1s?
What is a Migraine?
It has been said that a migraine is just a bad headache. It isn’t!
According to the National Migraine Centre, a migraine is often a symptom of a brain disorder. The nerves become overstimulated, and a barrage of chemicals is released. The blood vessels in the brain dilate, and then the migraine symptoms appear.
For most people, those symptoms include:
- Throbbing headache.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Sensitivity to light.
- Abdominal pain.
- Loose stools, constipation or diarrhoea.
- Sensitivity to sound and movement.
- Dizziness.
The Migraine Trust notes that a migraine can last anywhere from four to 72 hours without treatment. This does not appear to differ based on the type of migraine.
The cause of migraines is complex. Genetics and environment are thought to be common triggers. If one of your parents suffers from migraines, you have a 40% chance of suffering from them too. Differences in the brainstem and the link to certain nerves, like the trigeminal nerve, may be involved.
Then we come to serotonin. There has been a mountain of research suggesting that serotonin (the brain chemical involved in mood and appetite) is linked to migraines. Indeed, a common trigger for migraines is dietary, with skipping meals and low blood sugar being some of the most prevalent predictors of migraine onset reported.
And this is where it gets complicated with GLP-1s if you already have a diagnosis of migraines. GLP-1s are known to reduce appetite, change dietary preferences and, of course, lower blood sugar. Pair this with data that highlights a link between having a higher BMI and a higher likelihood of suffering from migraines, and you have a complex medical interaction brewing.
If you’re unsure how your weight may affect your health, a BMI calculator can provide an initial indication. However, BMI alone does not determine whether weight loss injections are suitable for you and if you have a history of migraines, you will need additional medical oversight.
Mental Health and Migraines
Then there is the link between migraines and mental health issues.
We can round this up quickly!
- Depression— Approximately 27% of people with depression were found to have migraines.
- Anxiety (generalised anxiety disorder)— 66.7% of those with GAD had comorbid migraines.
- Bipolar Disorder— 20% co-occurrence with migraines, but this is from a small study.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder— 30% of those with PTSD are thought to have migraines.
This does not mean that if you have migraines, you have a mental health issue. Based on what we know about migraines, serotonin and inflammation (particularly in PTSD), this link seems rather clear. There are, of course, other potential causes of migraines. However, a common treatment for migraines in the UK from GPs includes selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s), which are also used to treat depression, anxiety and some cases of post-traumatic stress disorder.
GLP-1s and Migraines
Considering that around 10 million UK adults live with migraine, and research associates obesity with 28% higher odds of migraine, what does the evidence tell us about how GLP-1 medications might affect migraine?
A study that was published in August of 2026 (and included 189,392 people who had started semaglutide) found that triptan use was 7% lower at 12 months than predicted. This was more significant in women, and no notable change was noted in men. This study did look at medication dispensing rather than migraine attacks alone, and thus, it is hard to say conclusively that Wegovy did or did not cause the improvement.
Looking at Mounjaro, there seems to be less clinical data that explores this. Unlike semaglutide, headaches are not noted as a side effect in the SmPC for this GLP-1. Anecdotal data from the internet highlights that with Mounjaro, many people experienced worsening migraines and others noted improvements.
A VERY small study from July 2026, published in Obesity and Migraine, looked at two patients who had started tirzepatide. They noted improvements in their migraines as they took this injectable medication. However, as they lost weight, it could not be determined if it was the weight loss that lowered the migraine risk, or the medication.
This begs the question: why?
Several theories are being floated by researchers as to why it can be hard to determine the cause of migraine reduction with GLP-1s.
Inflammation
People who have migraines often have systemic inflammation markers. These can be due to serotonin deficiencies (serotonin is an anti-inflammatory), illness or even autoimmune disease. As we know, GLP-1’s like Mounjaro reduce inflammation and have protective properties relating to brain tissue.
Metabolic health
As mentioned before, migraines often overlap with autoimmune disease, fibromyalgia, and an array of other metabolic health conditions. GLP-1s can impact metabolic health in a positive way, meaning that the chances of a migraine developing as a side effect of a metabolic condition are lowered.
Lifestyle Changes
We all know that when someone starts taking a GLP-1, they may lose their cravings for salty, sugary and high-fat foods. They will also likely be placed on a diet plan and will begin exercising. Having a healthier diet, exercising and reducing sugar can all help to reduce the likelihood of having a migraine attack.
What Makes Bodyline Different?
You don’t want or need migraines when you are undertaking weight loss injections.
However, if you have a history of migraines, this is an area that will need close monitoring to ensure your overall health is not impacted by taking GLP-1s. Do you already take SSRI- based migraine medication? Please tell our team as part of your assessment, as this allows us to review this medication and assess whether appetite changes, hydration and gastrointestinal symptoms will impact the GLP-1 treatments we offer.
When you choose to start your weight loss journey with the Bodyline Clinic, our clinical team will take the time to get to know and assess your full medical history. We don’t sign off a prescription and leave you to it! We know what it takes to keep you safe when using GLP1s and to minimise their impact in other areas of your life.
We are equipped and happy to offer specialised treatment for those who:
- Are older. We can offer GLP-1 medications to people over the age of 75.
- Have certain cardiovascular diseases.
- May be diagnosed with a gastrointestinal condition.
- Are living with certain mental health issues.
We also support you through your weight loss journey and even when you have hit your weight loss goals, to help you keep the weight off and stay healthy.
If you are looking for a team who truly cares during your weight loss journey, then contact our team at the Bodyline Clinic today for a consultation.
Bodyline Works. Bodyline Cares.
FAQs
How Long Can a Migraine Last?
You may have asked how long does a migraine last? A migraine can last from four to 72 hours if it is not medicated. When people diagnosed with migraines take GLP-1 liraglutide, the length of migraines each month was cut in half, according to the European Academy of Neurology (EAN).
How Does Wegovy Work for Migraines?
It is noted that a common side effect of the Wegovy injection can be headaches. However, a migraine and a headache are different. Data from 2026 suggests that Wegovy can lower migraines by 7% over 12 months. This is found to be more significant in women than men.
Can Wegovy Cause Depression?
In a word, no. Wegovy injections (or the pill) have not been noted to cause depression. As depression has been linked to migraines, there is a minimal chance that taking this GLP-1 can lead to depression, which could increase the chance of migraines.
Can You Take Mounjaro in the UK if You Have Migraines?
If you are considering Mounjaro UK and have a history of migraines, you will need to have your medical history and current medication assessed before you choose which GLP-1 is appropriate. As this entire article says, having migraines is not an immediate exclusion from GLP-1’s, but you will need additional monitoring for migraine frequency and to keep hydration levels up.
