About Victoza^®

What is Victoza^®?

Victoza^® is a once-daily medication that may help to improve blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Victoza^® is not insulin. It is used along with healthy eating and staying active to help keep blood sugar under control.

More about Victoza^®

How does Victoza^® work?

Victoza^® is very similar to a hormone in your body called GLP-1. After you eat, GLP-1 helps your pancreas release the right amount of insulin to help sugar enter into your body’s cells. GLP-1 also prevents the liver from releasing too much sugar. People with type 2 diabetes produce less insulin and may have problems with GLP-1. When your blood sugar is high, Victoza^® helps your body release more insulin by acting as GLP-1. Victoza^® lowers your blood sugar at the right time to help keep your blood sugar from becoming too low (resulting in hypoglycemia).

While not a weight-loss product, Victoza^® may help you lose weight. Medical studies showed that most people taking Victoza^® lost weight. However, not all people who took Victoza^® lost weight. Individual results may vary. You should discuss healthy eating, as well as safe and sensible ways to stay active, with your diabetes care team.

How Victoza^® can help you

How is Victoza^® different from other treatments for type 2 diabetes?

Victoza^® is an injectable medication used to treat type 2 diabetes, but it is not insulin. It is used along with healthy eating and staying active to help keep blood sugar under control.

How Victoza^® may help lower blood sugar

Can I take Victoza^® with insulin?

Victoza^® may be taken with other oral diabetes medications, including those you may already be taking. However, Victoza^® is not insulin, does not contain insulin, and should not be taken with insulin.

Learn how Victoza^® is different

How do I take Victoza^®?

Victoza^® is injected once each day, at any time during the day. So it is best to take it at a time that you will remember to take it with or without food.

Victoza^® comes in a prefilled pen. Needles are sold separately and may require a prescription in some states. Your healthcare provider must teach you how to inject Victoza^® before you use it for the first time.

Preparing for your first injection

What are the most common side effects with Victoza^®?

The most common side effects with Victoza^® include headache, nausea, and diarrhea. Nausea is most common when first starting Victoza^®, but it decreases over time in most people.

Your risk for getting low blood sugar is higher if you take Victoza^® with another medication that can cause low blood sugar, such as a sulfonylurea.

You should discuss additional safety information with your doctor prior to starting Victoza^®. Before using Victoza^®, be sure to read the Medication Guide and the Prescribing Information.

What to expect when taking Victoza^®

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Using the Victoza^® Pen

I’ve never used an injectable medication before—how do I get started?

Many people have concerns about using injectable medications to treat type 2 diabetes, but with practice you can make it part of your daily routine. Talk to your healthcare provider or a VictozaCare™ Coach about any questions or concerns you may have. You can also find answers to many of your questions by reading the Medication Guide that comes with your Victoza^® Pen. Instructions for Use can help you become more confident about using Victoza^® by showing you how to use your Victoza^® Pen the right way.

These instructions do not take the place of talking with your healthcare provider or diabetes care team. If you have additional questions about your Pen, call a VictozaCare™ Coach at 1-877-4-VICTOZA (1-877-484-2869), Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 6:00pm EST.

How to use the Victoza^® Pen

What are the Victoza^® Pen needles like?

There are two disposable needles from Novo Nordisk that are recommended for use with the Victoza^® Pen:

Both needles are available in 30-gauge and 32-gauge Tip sizes and work with the Victoza^® Pen.*

Of people surveyed, 90% found the NovoFine^® 30-gauge needle (one of the needles that can be used with the Victoza^® Pen) to be practically pain-free. The needle recommended for use with the Victoza^® Pen is an even thinner 32-gauge Tip pen needle, which is the thinnest needle from Novo Nordisk that is available in the United States. Because a thinner needle has a higher gauge number, a 32-gauge needle is thinner than a 30-gauge needle.

*Pen needles are sold separately and may require a prescription in some states.

How do I take care of my Victoza^® Pen?

Always protect your Victoza^® Pen from heat and sunlight, and be sure to keep the cap on when your Victoza^® Pen is not in use. Use a Victoza^® Pen for only 30 days; it should be thrown away after 30 days, even if some medication is left in the Pen. The Victoza^® Pen should only be used with Novo Nordisk disposable needles. After removing needle, put the cap on your Victoza^® Pen and store your Victoza^® Pen without the needle attached. Never try to refill your Victoza^® Pen—it is prefilled and disposable.

Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information about needles for your Victoza^® Pen.

Be sure to read the Medication Guide that comes with your Victoza^® Pen, and the Instructions for Use, to learn more about how to properly care for your Victoza^® Pen.

Watch the Instructions for Use video

How should I store my Victoza^® Pen?

Your new, unused Victoza^® Pen should be stored in the refrigerator at 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C). If Victoza^® is stored outside of refrigeration (by mistake) prior to first use, it should be used or thrown away within 30 days. Victoza^® should not be frozen.

After first use, store your Victoza^® Pen for up to 30 days at 59°F to 86°F (15°C to 30°C), or until expiration in a refrigerator at 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C).

Safety and the Pen

How many doses of medication are available in each Victoza^® Pen?

Your Victoza^® Pen contains 18 mg of Victoza^® and will deliver doses of 0.6 mg, 1.2 mg, or 1.8 mg. The number of doses that you can take with a Victoza^® Pen depends on the dose of medication that is prescribed for you. Your healthcare provider will tell you how much Victoza^® to take.

Read the Instructions for Use 

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Living With Type 2 Diabetes

What kind of support is available to me when I start on Victoza^®?

In addition to working with your diabetes care team, you can get ongoing support that’s tailored to your needs by enrolling in VictozaCare™. When you enroll you’ll receive valuable information to help you stay on track with your treatment. And you’ll also receive:

• Helpful advice on using the Victoza^® Pen
• Tools for planning delicious menus and making recipes for the whole family
• Unique tips to help you stay active and motivated

And you’ll receive a free gift for signing up. It’s our way of welcoming you to the Novo Nordisk family.

Sign up for VictozaCare™ now

What questions should I ask my doctor when beginning treatment with Victoza^®?

When it comes to learning about type 2 diabetes and how to control it, talk to your doctor and other members of your diabetes care team about how to get the most from your treatment. It’s important you get the answers you need to develop a type 2 diabetes management plan that works for you.

Download questions in Talking With Your Doctor

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Coverage and Reimbursement for Victoza^®

Are there ways to save on my Victoza^® prescriptions?

Yes.

If you have received your Victoza^® prescription and Patient Starter Kit from your doctor, you can simply activate the card included in the kit before you visit the pharmacy to fill your prescription. You may be eligible to start saving up to $25 on your first 24 Victoza^® prescriptions. This 2-year offer only applies for cards activated by December 31, 2012.^†

Activate your card now

^†Restrictions apply.

If you did not receive an Instant Savings Card or a Patient Starter Kit with your prescription for Victoza^®, please call 1-877-4-VICTOZA (1-877-484-2869).

You may also be able to participate in the Victoza^® eVoucherRx™ Program. More than 25,000 pharmacies nationwide participate in this program. Bring your Victoza^® prescription to a participating pharmacy and get an automatic copay reduction right at the pharmacy counter when you pick up your prescription.

View participating pharmacies

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Indications and Usage

Victoza^® is an injectable prescription medicine that may improve blood sugar (glucose) in adults with type 2 diabetes when used along with diet and exercise.

Victoza^® is not recommended as the first medication to treat diabetes. Victoza^® is not insulin and has not been studied in combination with insulin. Victoza^® is not for people with type 1 diabetes or people with diabetic ketoacidosis. It is not known if Victoza^® is safe and effective in children. Victoza^® is not recommended for use in children.

Important Safety Information

In animal studies, Victoza^® caused thyroid tumors—including thyroid cancer—in some rats and mice. It is not known whether Victoza^® causes thyroid tumors or a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) in people which may be fatal if not detected and treated early. Do not use Victoza^® if you or any of your family members have a history of MTC or if you have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). While taking Victoza^®, tell your doctor if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. These may be symptoms of thyroid cancer.

Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) may be severe and lead to death. Before taking Victoza^®, tell your doctor if you have had pancreatitis, gallstones, a history of alcoholism, or high blood triglyceride levels since these medical conditions make you more likely to get pancreatitis.

Stop taking Victoza^® and call your doctor right away if you have pain in your stomach area that is severe and will not go away, occurs with or without vomiting, or is felt going from your stomach area through to your back. These may be symptoms of pancreatitis.

Before using Victoza^®, tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, especially sulfonylurea medicines or insulin, as taking them with Victoza^® may affect how each medicine works.

Also tell your doctor if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in Victoza^®; have severe stomach problems such as slowed emptying of your stomach (gastroparesis) or problems with digesting food; have or have had kidney or liver problems; have any other medical conditions; are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is unknown if Victoza^® will harm your unborn baby or if Victoza^® passes into your breast milk.

Your risk for getting hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is higher if you take Victoza^® with another medicine that can cause low blood sugar, such as a sulfonylurea. The dose of your sulfonylurea medicine may need to be lowered while taking Victoza^®.

Victoza^® may cause nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea leading to dehydration, which may cause kidney failure. This can happen in people who have never had kidney problems before. Drinking plenty of fluids may reduce your chance of dehydration.

The most common side effects with Victoza^® include headache, nausea, and diarrhea. Nausea is most common when first starting Victoza^®, but decreases over time in most people. Immune system related reactions, including hives, were more common in people treated with Victoza^® compared to people treated with other diabetes drugs in medical studies.

Please click here for Prescribing Information and Medication Guide.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch , or call 1-800-FDA-1088.