Understanding Your Victoza^® Pen

Recommended needles

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

NovoTwist^® is a "single-twist" needle that can attach to the Pen

NovoFine^® is a needle that screws tightly onto the Pen

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

The thickness of a needle is called its "gauge." The higher the gauge number, the thinner the needle. For example, a 32-gauge needle is thinner than a 30-gauge needle. The thinner the needle, the less you may feel the injection.

In fact, 90% of people surveyed found the NovoFine^® 30-gauge Tip needle (one of the needles that can be used with the Victoza^® Pen) to be practically pain-free. The needle recommended for the Victoza^® Pen is an even thinner 32-gauge Tip needle, which is the thinnest pen needle from Novo Nordisk that is available in the US.* The majority of people studied who used a 32-gauge Tip needle experienced little or no pain.^†

32-Gauge Tip Needle

The recommended needles for the Victoza^® Pen are NovoTwist^® and NovoFine^® 32-gauge Tip needles. The needle tip is about as small as the dot in the box to the left.

Injecting With the Victoza^® Pen

People testing the Victoza^® Pen found it easy to learn how to use (using practice injection tools). The needle goes right into the fat underneath your skin. Victoza^® will move from the fat into your bloodstream slowly, over time. The NovoFine^® 32-gauge Tip needle is only 6 millimeters long, and the NovoTwist^® 32-gauge Tip needle is only 5 millimeters long, to help you avoid injecting into muscle.

For comparison, here’s how the needle looks next to a dime

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

When You’re Ready

Once you have talked to your healthcare provider or pharmacist about how to use your Pen, and once you have read the instructional materials, you will be ready for your first injection. And remember, we’re here to help every step of the way. For questions or concerns about your Pen, you can call a VictozaCare^™ Coach at 1-877-4-VICTOZA (1-877-484-2869), Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 6:00 pm EST.

Prepare for your first injection

*Pen needles are sold separately and may require a prescription in some states.
^†Multicenter, randomized, open-label, 2-period, crossover trial in insulin-treated patients with diabetes (type 1 or type 2). Patients were randomized to self-administer insulin injections with one needle type followed by the alternative, each for 7–14 days. The 2 needle types used were NovoFine^® 32-gauge Tip x 6 mm and NovoFine^® 30-gauge Tip x 8 mm.

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.

Novo Nordisk provides patient assistance for those who qualify.
Please call 1-866-310-7549 to learn more about Novo Nordisk assistance programs.

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.