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Liraglutide Vs. Victoza: Drug Comparison

Compare common side effects, interactions, warnings, and more.

Medical Review byMike Bohl, MD, MBA, MPH, MS, ALMDec 18, 2024

Medication Name

Liraglutide

*image for illustrative purpose only

Victoza

*image for illustrative purpose only

Liraglutide

*image for illustrative purpose only

Victoza

*image for illustrative purpose only

Summary

Prescription only

Liraglutide is the active ingredient in the brand-name medication Victoza®. The information below is about brand name Victoza. According to the FDA, “Generic medicines use the same active ingredients as brand-name medicines and work the same way, so they have the same risks and benefits as the brand-name medicines.”

Victoza (liraglutide) is an injectable medication used to improve blood sugar control in adults and children aged 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes. It works as a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, enhancing insulin secretion, inhibiting glucagon release, and slowing gastric emptying to lower blood sugar levels. Victoza is also indicated to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, such as heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death,] in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease. Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, and headache. It should be used with caution in patients with a history of pancreatitis​.

Prescription only

Victoza® (liraglutide) is an injectable medication used to improve blood sugar control in adults and children aged 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes. It works as a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, enhancing insulin secretion, inhibiting glucagon release, and slowing gastric emptying to lower blood sugar levels. Victoza is also indicated to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, such as heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death,] in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease. Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, and headache. It should be used with caution in patients with a history of pancreatitis​.

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Drug Category

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist

Approved Uses

Victoza (liraglutide) is indicated:

  • As an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients aged 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus

  • To reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and established cardiovascular disease

Victoza (liraglutide) is indicated:

  • As an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients aged 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus

  • To reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and established cardiovascular disease

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Dosage

  • Typically taken as an injection once daily

  • Comes in single-patient-use pens that deliver 0.6 mg, 1.2 mg, or 1.8 mg per injection

  • Typically taken as an injection once daily

  • Comes in single-patient-use pens that deliver 0.6 mg, 1.2 mg, or 1.8 mg per injection

Known Common Side Effects

Most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥5%) in clinical trials are:

  • Nausea

  • Diarrhea

  • Vomiting

  • Decreased appetite

  • Indigestion

  • Constipation

Immunogenicity-related events, including hives, were more common among Victoza-treated patients (0.8%) than among comparator-treated patients (0.4%) in clinical trials


Most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥5%) in clinical trials are:

  • Nausea

  • Diarrhea

  • Vomiting

  • Decreased appetite

  • Indigestion

  • Constipation

Immunogenicity-related events, including hives, were more common among Victoza-treated patients (0.8%) than among comparator-treated patients (0.4%) in clinical trials


Interactions & Contraindications

  • Patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2

  • Patients with a serious hypersensitivity reaction to liraglutide or any of the excipients in Victoza

  • Drug interactions: Victoza delays gastric emptying and may impact absorption of concomitantly administered oral medications

  • Patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2

  • Patients with a serious hypersensitivity reaction to liraglutide or any of the excipients in Victoza

  • Drug interactions: Victoza delays gastric emptying and may impact absorption of concomitantly administered oral medications

Warnings & Precautions

  • Pancreatitis

  • Never share a Victoza pen between patients, even if the needle is changed

  • Low blood sugar: Adult patients taking an insulin secretagogue or insulin may have an increased risk of low blood sugar, including severe low blood sugar

  • Acute kidney injury

  • Hypersensitivity reactions

  • Acute gallbladder disease

  • Pregnancy: Victoza should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus

  • Pancreatitis

  • Never share a Victoza pen between patients, even if the needle is changed

  • Low blood sugar: Adult patients taking an insulin secretagogue or insulin may have an increased risk of low blood sugar, including severe low blood sugar

  • Acute kidney injury

  • Hypersensitivity reactions

  • Acute gallbladder disease

  • Pregnancy: Victoza should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus

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Boxed Warning

WARNING: RISK OF THYROID C-CELL TUMORS

Liraglutide causes thyroid C-cell tumors at clinically relevant exposures in both genders of rats and mice. It is unknown whether Victoza causes thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), in humans, as the human relevance of liraglutide-induced rodent thyroid C-cell tumors has not been determined.

Victoza is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC or in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Counsel patients regarding the potential risk of MTC and the symptoms of thyroid tumors.

WARNING: RISK OF THYROID C-CELL TUMORS

Liraglutide causes thyroid C-cell tumors at clinically relevant exposures in both genders of rats and mice. It is unknown whether Victoza causes thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), in humans, as the human relevance of liraglutide-induced rodent thyroid C-cell tumors has not been determined.

Victoza is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC or in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Counsel patients regarding the potential risk of MTC and the symptoms of thyroid tumors.

References

*This information is from the label for brand name Victoza®. See the Full Prescribing Information for more complete information. Liraglutide, the active ingredient in Victoza, may also be the active ingredient in other medications, and this information may not be accurate for all medications that include the active ingredient liraglutide.

*This information is from the label for brand name Victoza®. See the Full Prescribing Information for more complete information. Liraglutide, the active ingredient in Victoza, may also be the active ingredient in other medications, and this information may not be accurate for all medications that include the active ingredient liraglutide.

The information provided here is NOT MEDICAL ADVICE and is for informational and educational purposes only. The drug comparison tool does not determine eligibility for medications or treatments provided via the Hims/Hers platform. Consultation with a healthcare provider is required to assess suitability for any medical treatment based on individual health and medical history. All product names and associated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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