What is liraglutide? What are the uses for liraglutide?
- Victoza is used with diet and exercise to improve control of blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.
- Victoza should not be used for treating diabetic ketoacidosis or type 1 diabetes and should not be used as the first agent for treating diabetes after failure of diet and exercise.
What brand names are available for liraglutide?
Victoza
Is liraglutide available as a generic drug?
No
Do I need a prescription for liraglutide?
Yes
What are the side effects of liraglutide?
- The most common side effects of Victoza are
- Reactions at the injection site
- Combining Victoza with
insulin or drugs that stimulate release of insulin (for example,
glyburide) may
increase the occurrence of
low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). The dose of insulin
or the insulin release stimulating drug should be reduced. - There have been
reports of
acute pancreatitis associated with the use of
Victoza. Patients
developing severe, persistent
abdominal pain that might be caused by
pancreatitis, should seek prompt medical attention. If pancreatitis is
suspected, Victoza should be discontinued and not started again until the
presence of pancreatitis has been excluded. - Victoza can cause
thyroid tumors
that occur more frequently at higher doses and with longer duration of
treatment. Since Victoza is a synthetic protein patients may develop
antibodies to Victoza. Victoza antibodies may reduce the effectiveness
of Victoza.
What is the dosage for liraglutide?
- Victoza is injected under the skin of the abdomen, thigh,
or upper arm. - Each pre-filled pen can deliver 0.6, 1.2, and 1.8 mg doses. The
initial dose is 0.6 mg daily for one week. - The initial dose helps the body to
build a tolerance to stomach related side effects. - Victoza is not effective for
controlling blood glucose. - After one week the dose is increased to 1.2 mg daily.
- The maximum dose is 1.8 mg daily.
Which drugs or supplements interact with liraglutide?
- Victoza slows down transit of food and drugs
through the intestine and, therefore, may reduce the absorption of drugs that
are taken orally. Although Victoza did not significantly affect the
absorption of oral dugs tested in studies, it is still prudent to separate
administration of Victoza and oral medications. - Combining Victoza with
insulin or drugs that stimulate release of insulin (for example, glyburide
[Micronase, Diabeta, Glynase, Prestab]) may
increase the occurrence of low blood
sugar (hypoglycemia). The dose of insulin
or the insulin release stimulating drug should be reduced.
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Is liraglutide safe to take if I’m pregnant or breastfeeding?
- There are no adequate studies of Victoza in
pregnant
women. Most experts agree that insulin is the drug of choice in
pregnant women
with diabetes. - There are no adequate studies of Victoza in
nursing mothers, and it is not known whether
Victoza is excreted in
human breast milk.
What else should I know about liraglutide?
What preparations of liraglutide are available?
Multiple dose pre-filled pen: 18
mg in 3 ml (6 mg/ml)
How should I keep liraglutide stored?
- Victoza should be refrigerated between 2-8 C (36-46 F)
prior to first use. - After the first use it can be stored at room temperature
15 C – 30 C (59 F – 86 F) or refrigerated at 2 C – 8 C (36 F – 46 F).