Liraglutide is a once-daily injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medication that helps regulate blood sugar and appetite by mimicking the hormone GLP-1 that naturally occurs in your body. It was approved by the FDA for type 2 diabetes in 2010 and for chronic weight management in 2014.
Liraglutide is available under two main brand names:
Saxenda: FDA-approved for chronic weight management
Victoza: FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes management
In 2024, the FDA also approved a generic version of Victoza, which can now be used for type 2 diabetes treatment. However, there’s currently no generic version of Saxenda.
Liraglutide can be used to both manage weight and improve blood sugar. Here’s more about what it's used for and how it works.
Liraglutide is prescribed for two primary reasons:
Weight management: Saxenda can support weight loss and long-term weight management for adults with obesity or with overweight and a weight-related condition like high blood pressure. It’s also approved for children ages 12 and older with obesity. Saxenda should be paired with a reduced-calorie diet and regular exercise to maximize your health benefits. With that approach, research shows you can lose 5 to 10 percent of your body weight over 56 weeks.
Type 2 diabetes: Victoza helps control blood sugar levels in adults and children ages 10 and over with type 2 diabetes. Research shows it can reduce A1c levels by up to 1.14 percent. Similarly to Saxenda, you’re encouraged to pair Victoza with a reduced-calorie diet and exercise. Though it’s not FDA-approved to treat heart conditions, Victoza can also help reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death for some people with type 2 diabetes.
"Liraglutide works by mimicking the hormone GLP-1, which regulates blood sugar and appetite," says Dr. Supriya Rao, M.D., medical director of the obesity medical program at Tufts University’s Lowell General Hospital in Lowell, Massachusetts. "It increases insulin secretion, slows stomach emptying, and reduces your hunger.” In other words, it signals your brain that you’re full, which can help you eat less and lose weight over time.
Liraglutide also helps manage blood sugar by boosting your body’s insulin production after eating carbohydrates, says Dr. Michael Chichak, M.D., an internal medicine instructor at Northeast Ohio Medical University and ONE Health Ohio. Insulin is a hormone that helps turn blood sugar into energy. When you don’t have enough insulin, your blood sugar can rise to dangerous levels. By increasing insulin production, liraglutide can help prevent these spikes after meals and keep blood sugar levels down.
Your doctor will prescribe the right dose of Saxenda or Victoza based on your needs and will adjust it as your body gets used to the medication. Here’s an overview of what to expect.
Like all medications, Saxenda and Victoza may cause side effects. While most are mild and get better as your body adjusts, there are also some rare but serious side effects to be aware of.
According to the drug manufacturer, common side effects of liraglutide include:
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Constipation
Headache
Injection site reactions
Indigestion
The reason digestion-related side effects are so common is because liraglutide (and all GLP-1s) interact with receptors in your stomach and intestines to slow your stomach emptying and trigger fullness, says Chichak. Your gastrointestinal system needs time to adapt to these changes, which may cause temporary discomfort. That’s why these side effects are typically worse when you first start the medication or up your dosage. Luckily, “these are usually mild and improve over time,” says Rao.
Both Saxenda and Victoza should be stored the same way: Before using it for the first time, keep the pen in the refrigerator between 36 and 46 degrees. Don’t put it near the fridge’s cooling element or in the freezer — and if it does freeze, don’t use it.
After the first use, you can store the pen at room temperature (59 to 86 degrees) for up to 30 days or put it back in the fridge between uses. Always remove and discard the needle after each use, and store the pen with the cap on and without a needle attached.
