Medications Directory

Approved indications: Liraglutide is approved as Victoza to improve glycemic control in adults and children 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes and to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease, and as Saxenda (and its generics) for chronic weight management in adults with obesity (BMI ≥30) or overweight (BMI ≥27 with at least one weight-related condition) and in adolescents 12–17 years old with obesity who weigh at least 60 kg.

Off-label uses: Clinicians may prescribe liraglutide off-label for conditions such as prediabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, or weight regain after bariatric surgery, where small to moderate studies suggest benefit but evidence is less robust and the uses are not FDA-approved.

Efficacy in diabetes: In type 2 diabetes, liraglutide typically lowers A1c by about 1–1.5 percentage points, produces modest weight loss (often a few kilograms), and in high-risk adults reduces major cardiovascular events when added to standard care.

Efficacy in weight management: For chronic weight management, many patients lose roughly 5–10% of their starting weight over 6–12 months when liraglutide is combined with calorie restriction and increased physical activity, with appetite reduction often within days and visible weight change over several weeks.

Comparison to similar drugs: Compared with newer once-weekly GLP-1–based agents like semaglutide or dual agonists such as tirzepatide, liraglutide generally causes somewhat less average weight loss and requires daily injections but still offers clinically meaningful improvements in blood sugar and weight for many people.

Type 2 diabetes dosing: For adults and children 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes, liraglutide (Victoza) is injected subcutaneously once daily, starting at 0.6 mg for at least 1 week to reduce stomach side effects, then usually increased to 1.2 mg and, if additional control is needed, up to a maximum of 1.8 mg once daily.

Weight-management dosing: For chronic weight management in adults and in adolescents 12–17 years old with obesity who weigh at least 60 kg, liraglutide (Saxenda and generics) is injected subcutaneously once daily, beginning at 0.6 mg daily and increased weekly to 1.2 mg, 1.8 mg, 2.4 mg, and then 3 mg daily, with 3 mg as the recommended maintenance and maximum dose if tolerated.

How to take it: Inject under the skin of the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm at about the same time each day, with or without food; rotate injection sites, do not share pens with anyone else, and if using insulin give the injections separately (never mix them in the same syringe or injection).

Special dosing instructions: Doses of other diabetes medicines, particularly insulin or sulfonylureas, may need to be reduced to lower the risk of hypoglycemia, and people with kidney, liver, or gastrointestinal disease may require slower dose increases and closer monitoring as directed by their prescriber.

Missed doses and overdose: If you miss a dose, take your next scheduled dose at the usual time without doubling up, and if more than 3 days are missed your clinician may restart at 0.6 mg and re-titrate; in case of overdose or taking far more than prescribed, contact poison control or seek emergency care because severe nausea, vomiting, or low blood sugar can occur.

Common side effects: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, indigestion, decreased appetite, headache, and fatigue are common, especially when starting or increasing the dose, are usually mild to moderate, and often lessen over time.

Serious or rare adverse effects: Serious problems can include pancreatitis (severe, persistent abdominal pain with or without vomiting), gallbladder disease, acute kidney injury from dehydration, severe allergic reactions (rash, swelling of face or throat, trouble breathing), very low blood sugar when combined with insulin or sulfonylureas, increased heart rate, and, with weight-management use, rare mood changes or suicidal thoughts that require urgent medical attention.

Warnings and precautions: Liraglutide has a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors and should not be used by people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or with MEN2; it should be used cautiously in those with a history of pancreatitis, significant kidney impairment, or severe gastrointestinal disease (such as gastroparesis), and weight-loss formulations are generally avoided in pregnancy and breastfeeding, with insulin usually preferred for diabetes in pregnancy.

Relative safety compared with other drugs: Unlike many older diabetes medicines, liraglutide tends to cause weight loss rather than weight gain and has a low risk of hypoglycemia when used without insulin or sulfonylureas, but gastrointestinal side effects are more frequent and there are small risks of pancreatitis and gallbladder problems.

Reporting and safety updates: Patients should promptly report side effects to their healthcare provider and can also report them to the FDA MedWatch program (online or by phone) and review FDA or manufacturer resources for the latest safety communications.

Drug and supplement interactions: Liraglutide has few direct drug–drug interactions but increases the risk of low blood sugar when used with insulin or sulfonylureas, and because it slows stomach emptying it may delay or alter absorption of some oral medicines (such as pain medicines, antibiotics, or birth control pills), so timing adjustments or monitoring may be needed.

Food, alcohol, and procedures: No specific foods must be avoided, but limiting alcohol is advisable because it can increase the risk of hypoglycemia and pancreatitis, and you should inform all healthcare providers that you use liraglutide before surgery, imaging with contrast, or procedures that require fasting so other diabetes medicines can be adjusted safely.

Conditions and co-medications requiring caution: Liraglutide is contraindicated in people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN2 and is generally avoided for weight loss in pregnancy; it should be used carefully in those with prior pancreatitis, severe gastrointestinal disorders (such as gastroparesis), gallbladder disease, or significant kidney impairment, and in anyone taking other glucose-lowering drugs that predispose to hypoglycemia.

Monitoring: Typical monitoring includes periodic checks of blood glucose and A1c (for diabetes), body weight and waist circumference (for weight management), kidney function and sometimes liver tests in at-risk patients, and watching for symptoms of pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, thyroid lumps, mood changes, and persistent increases in heart rate.

Q: What is liraglutide used for?
A: It is a once-daily injection used at lower doses to improve blood sugar control (and reduce cardiovascular risk) in people with type 2 diabetes and at higher doses to help adults and some adolescents with obesity lose weight and keep it off when combined with diet and physical activity.

Q: How long does it take for liraglutide to start working?
A: Blood sugar levels can begin to improve within days, appetite is often reduced in the first week, and most people notice meaningful changes in A1c or body weight over several weeks to a few months.

Q: Will I need to take liraglutide long term?
A: Liraglutide is usually intended as long-term therapy for diabetes or chronic weight management, and benefits often lessen if the medication is stopped, so duration depends on how well it works for you and whether any side effects or life changes occur.

Q: Can liraglutide be taken with other diabetes medicines?
A: Yes, it is often combined with metformin, SGLT2 inhibitors, or insulin, but doses of insulin or sulfonylureas may need to be lowered to reduce the risk of low blood sugar, so any changes should be guided by your prescriber.

Q: What should I do if I miss a dose of liraglutide?
A: Simply take your next dose at the usual time without taking extra medicine, and if you have missed more than a few days in a row, contact your healthcare provider because you may need to restart at a lower dose and increase gradually again.