Victoza is an injectable prescription medication manufactured by Novo Nordisk that contains the active ingredient liraglutide. It is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to manage Type 2 diabetes in adults and children ages 10 and older. It works by mimicking a hormone that lowers blood sugar (glucose) levels after eating. While primarily a diabetes medication, Victoza is sometimes prescribed off-label for weight loss. This article explores the use of Victoza for weight loss, its effectiveness, potential side effects, and important considerations.
How Victoza Works
Liraglutide, the active ingredient in Victoza, acts as a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. It mimics the action of GLP-1, a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. Insulin is an essential hormone that helps the body absorb blood sugar for energy. People with Type 2 diabetes often have insulin resistance, in which their body doesn’t respond well to insulin. As a result, they may produce more insulin to compensate, which can lead to fat storage.
When paired with a healthy diet and exercise, Victoza may improve weight management by slowing how long it takes for food to travel through the stomach and reducing appetite.
Victoza for Weight Loss: The Evidence
Several studies, including animal studies and human clinical trials, have shown that Victoza can lead to weight loss. In a series of studies known as the LEAD trials, people who took Victoza for about six months to a year lost between 2-7 pounds on average.
Another study published in The Lancet compared the weight loss effects of different doses of Victoza against a placebo (a treatment with no active drug) and another weight loss drug, orlistat. People in this study did not have diabetes. They found that those who took liraglutide lost more weight-between 11 and 16 pounds-over 20 weeks than those who took the placebo or orlistat.
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While Victoza has been shown to cause weight loss, the amount of weight loss can vary.
Victoza vs. Other Medications
While Victoza may help promote weight loss in people with Type 2 diabetes, it’s not the only medicine for diabetes with this effect.
- Saxenda: Saxenda is approved specifically for weight loss, unlike Victoza, which is primarily for Type 2 diabetes management.
- Mounjaro (tirzepatide): This injectable drug increases insulin release and suppresses glucagon, which, in turn, reduces blood sugar levels. Many people may experience weight loss with Mounjaro due to its effects on appetite.
- Ozempic (semaglutide): Ozempic is another injectable GLP-1 receptor agonist for Type 2 diabetes. It works similarly to Victoza but with a longer duration of action. Instead of once-daily dosing, Ozempic is administered once every week.
- Byetta (exenatide): Also in the GLP-1 agonist class, Byetta helps lower blood sugar levels while slowing down gastric emptying. It works similarly to Victoza and may help promote weight loss.
- Trulicity (dulaglutide): Trulicity is another GLP-1 receptor agonist available to treat Type 2 diabetes. It also stimulates insulin secretion and blocks glucagon to control blood sugar.
- Rybelsus (oral semaglutide): Rybelsus is the brand name for the oral form of semaglutide. It’s the first GLP-1 medication in pill form, which makes it an alternative for people who prefer oral medications over injections. Rybelsus may also help manage weight by decreasing appetite and food intake, much like Victoza does.
- Metformin: Metformin is one of the most widely used medications for Type 2 diabetes. It works by improving the body’s sensitivity to insulin and reducing the amount of glucose produced by the liver.
- SGLT2 inhibitors: SGLT2 inhibitors are a class of medications that include drugs like canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, and empagliflozin. These drugs work by preventing the kidneys from reabsorbing glucose back into the blood, which causes it to be excreted through the urine.
- Pramlintide: Pramlintide is an injectable medication used alongside insulin for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. It mimics the action of amylin, a hormone naturally produced in the body. Pramlintide helps control blood sugar, especially after meals, and can lead to weight loss.
While weight loss can be a beneficial side effect for some people with diabetes, not everyone may experience this effect with these medications. The main goal of these medications is to control blood sugar levels.
Important Considerations Before Taking Victoza for Weight Loss
People without diabetes should not take Victoza solely for weight loss without support from a healthcare provider due to potential risks and lack of approval for this use. The dosages of Victoza for weight loss are not standardized.
If you’re considering Victoza as an option for weight loss with your healthcare provider, you may need to be aware of potential risks and precautions. Serious side effects are also possible. Always consult a healthcare provider about any severe problems that develop, persist, or worsen. It is not known whether Victoza is harmful to an unborn baby or a breastfeeding child.
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It is very important that your doctor check your or your child's progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.
Contraindications and Warnings:
- Do not use Saxenda® if you are also using Victoza®. They contain the same medicine.
- Alcohol: Drinking alcohol may cause severe low blood sugar. Discuss this with your health care team.
- Other medicines: Do not take other medicines during the time you are using liraglutide unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This especially includes nonprescription medicines such as aspirin, and medicines for appetite control, asthma, colds, cough, hay fever, or sinus problems.
Counseling:
Other family members need to learn how to prevent side effects or help with side effects if they occur. Also, diabetic patients may need special counseling about diabetes medicine dosing changes that might occur because of lifestyle changes, such as changes in exercise and diet. Furthermore, counseling on contraception and pregnancy may be needed because of the problems that can occur during pregnancy in patients with diabetes.
Travel:
Keep a recent prescription and your medical history with you. Be prepared for an emergency as you would normally. Make allowances for changing time zones and keep your meal times as close as possible to your usual meal times.
Emergency Situations:
There may be a time when you need emergency help for a problem caused by your diabetes. You need to be prepared for these emergencies. It is a good idea to wear a medical identification (ID) bracelet or neck chain at all times. Also, carry an ID card in your wallet or purse that says that you have diabetes and a list of all of your medicines.
Potential Side Effects
This medicine may increase the risk of having thyroid tumors. Tell your doctor right away if you have a lump or swelling in your neck or throat, trouble swallowing or breathing, or if your voice gets hoarse.
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Pancreatitis (swelling of the pancreas) may occur while you are using this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have sudden and severe stomach pain, chills, constipation, nausea, vomiting, fever, or lightheadedness.
This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis and angioedema, which can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, hoarseness, large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or genitals, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth after using this medicine.
This medicine does not cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). However, low blood sugar can occur when you use liraglutide with other medicines that can lower blood sugar, such as insulin, metformin, or a sulfonylurea. Low blood sugar also can occur if you delay or miss a meal or snack, exercise more than usual, drink alcohol, or cannot eat because of nausea or vomiting. Victoza® may increase the risk for low blood sugar in children 10 years of age and older, even if they are not using other medicines that can lower blood sugar.
Symptoms of low blood sugar include: anxiety, behavior changes similar to being drunk, blurred vision, cold sweats, confusion, cool, pale skin, difficulty with thinking, drowsiness, excessive hunger, a fast heartbeat, headache (continuous), nausea, nervousness, nightmares, restless sleep, shakiness, slurred speech, or unusual tiredness or weakness.
If symptoms of low blood sugar occur, eat glucose tablets or gel, corn syrup, honey, or sugar cubes, or drink fruit juice, non-diet soft drink, or sugar dissolved in water to relieve the symptoms. Also, check your blood for low blood sugar.
Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) may occur if you do not take enough or skip a dose of your antidiabetic medicine, overeat or do not follow your meal plan, have a fever or infection, or do not exercise as much as usual. Symptoms of high blood sugar include: blurred vision, drowsiness, dry mouth, flushed, dry skin, fruit-like breath odor, increased urination (frequency and amount), ketones in the urine, loss of appetite, stomachache, nausea, vomiting, tiredness, trouble breathing (rapid and deep), unconsciousness, or unusual thirst.
If symptoms of high blood sugar occur, check your blood sugar level and then call your doctor for instructions.
Check with your doctor right away if you have bloody urine, decreased amount of urine, increased blood pressure, increased thirst, loss of appetite, lower back or side pain, nausea, swelling of the face, fingers, or lower legs, trouble breathing, weight gain, or vomiting. These may be symptoms of dehydration which can lead to serious kidney problem.
This medicine may cause severe stomach and bowel problems. Check with your doctor right away if you have stomach problems that are severe or will not go away. Check with your doctor right away if you have gaseous stomach pain, indigestion, recurrent fever, severe nausea or vomiting, stomach fullness, or yellow eyes or skin. These may be symptoms of gallbladder problems (eg, cholelithiasis, cholecystitis).
If you are using Saxenda®:
Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. If you think you have become pregnant while using this medicine, tell your doctor right away.
This medicine can increase your heart rate while you are at rest. Your doctor should check your heart rate while you are using this medicine.
It may also cause some people to have suicidal thoughts and tendencies or to become more depressed. Tell your doctor if you develop any mood changes, strange thoughts, or any unusual behavior while you are using this medicine.
Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.
According to the official prescribing information, patients should be aware of the following potential side effects:
- Possible thyroid tumors, including cancer.
- Inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis).
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
- Dehydration leading to kidney problems.
- Severe stomach problems.
- Serious allergic reactions.
- Gallbladder problems.
- Food or liquid getting into the lungs during surgery or other procedures that use anesthesia or deep sleepiness (deep sedation).
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA.
Maximizing Victoza's Benefits
One of the key ways to maximize Victoza’s benefits is to follow your doctor’s instructions for taking the medication. Before opening Victoza, store it in the refrigerator.