Please click here for Prescribing Information and Medication Guide.
Have questions about Victoza®?
Find out more about how noninsulin Victoza® works with your body to help control blood sugar.
What is Victoza®?
Victoza® is a noninsulin diabetes medication used along with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar in adults and children 10 years of age and older with type 2 diabetes. Victoza® starts to lower blood sugar levels in as soon as 2 weeks, lowers A1C, and keeps it down.a Victoza® also reduces the risk of major cardiovascular events, such as heart attack, stroke, or death, in adults with type 2 diabetes with known heart disease.
Victoza® comes in a prefilled pen you use just once a day. While not a weight-loss product, Victoza® may help adults lose some weight. In clinical studies of adults with type 2 diabetes, ranging from 26 to 52 weeks in length, many lost some weight. In a large study, when Victoza® was added to metformin, adults lost on average up to 6.2 pounds. While many adults in clinical trials lost weight, some did gain weight.
Victoza® can be taken with long-acting insulin and with diabetes pills. It is used along with healthy eating habits and exercise to help keep blood sugar under control.
aVictoza® has been shown to keep A1C down in a 2-year medical study.
Featured Question
Can Victoza® reduce my risk of heart attack, stroke, or death?
With type 2 diabetes, your risk for heart attack or stroke is significantly greater than it is for someone without diabetes. In addition to lowering A1C, Victoza® also reduces the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes with known heart disease.
How does Victoza® work?
Victoza® works in 3 ways like the hormone GLP-1 (7-37)b to help control blood sugar. GLP-1 is normally released from your small intestine when you eat. It helps your pancreas produce more insulin and helps keep your liver from making too much sugar. GLP-1 also slows down the process of food leaving your stomach, which helps control your blood sugar levels after meals.
bGLP-1 (7-37) represents <20% of the total circulating GLP-1 produced by your body.
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 or insulin. In children who are 10 years of age and older, the risk for low blood sugar may be higher with Victoza® regardless of use with another medicine that can also lower blood sugar. Talk to your doctor about the signs and symptoms of low blood sugar.
Victoza® is not for weight loss, but it may help adults lose some weight. In clinical studies of adults with type 2 diabetes, ranging from 26 to 52 weeks in length, many lost some weight. In a large study, when Victoza® was added to metformin, adults lost on average up to 6.2 pounds. While many adults in clinical trials lost weight, some did gain weight.
How is Victoza® different from other treatments for type 2 diabetes?
Victoza® is an injectable medicine used to help lower blood sugar in adults and children who are 10 years of age and older with type 2 diabetes, but it is not insulin. It is used along with healthy eating habits and exercise to help keep blood sugar under control. Victoza® is also used to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke or death in adults with type 2 diabetes and known heart disease.
Featured Question
What can I expect when I start taking Victoza®?
Our weekly planner spells out what you should know and do along the way. It's designed to help you get started and stay on track with Victoza®.
Does Victoza® replace my other diabetes medications?
Victoza® may be taken alone, with oral diabetes medications (pills), or with long-acting insulin. Your health care professional will tell you if you should continue taking the medications you're taking now.
When using Victoza® and insulin, take them as separate injections. Never mix insulin and Victoza® together in the same syringe. It is acceptable to inject Victoza® and insulin in the same body region, but the injections should not be adjacent to each other.
Your risk for getting hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is higher if you take Victoza® with another medication that can cause low blood sugar, such as a sulfonylurea or insulin. In children who are 10 years of age and older, the risk for low blood sugar may be higher with Victoza® regardless of use with another medicine that can also lower blood sugar.
How do I take Victoza®?
Victoza® is injected once a day. It can be taken at any time during the day, with or without food. It's best to get into a routine so you remember to take Victoza® at the same time every day.
Victoza® comes in a prefilled pen. Needles are sold separately and may require a prescription in some states. Your health care professional will teach you how to inject Victoza® before you use it for the first time. Also, be sure to check out the next section of this FAQ, "Using the Victoza® Pen."
What is the most important information I should know about Victoza®?
Victoza® may cause serious side effects, including:
- Possible thyroid tumors, including cancer. Tell your health care provider if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. These may be symptoms of thyroid cancer. In studies with rats and mice, Victoza® and medicines that work like Victoza® caused thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer. It is not known if Victoza® will cause thyroid tumors or a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in people.
Who should not use Victoza®?
Do not use Victoza® if:
- you or any of your family have ever had MTC or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
- you are allergic to liraglutide or any of the ingredients in Victoza®. See symptoms of serious allergic reaction in “What are the possible side effects of Victoza®?”.
What is Victoza®?
Victoza® (liraglutide) injection 1.2 mg or 1.8 mg is an injectable prescription medicine used:
- along with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar (glucose) in adults and children who are 10 years of age and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
- to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus with known heart disease.
Victoza® is not for use in people with type 1 diabetes. It should not be used with other medicines that contain liraglutide. It is not known if Victoza® is safe and effective to lower blood sugar in children under 10 years of age.
Important Safety Information (cont'd)
What should I tell my health care provider before using Victoza®?
Before using Victoza®, tell your health care provider if you:
- have or have had problems with your pancreas, kidneys, or liver.
- have any other medical conditions or severe problems with your stomach, such as slowed emptying of your stomach (gastroparesis) or problems with digesting food.
- are pregnant or breastfeeding or plan to become pregnant or breastfeed.
Tell your health care provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, herbal supplements, and other medicines to treat diabetes, including insulin or sulfonylureas.
How should I use Victoza®?
- Inject under the skin of your stomach (abdomen), thigh, or upper arm. Do not inject Victoza® into a muscle or vein.
- Change (rotate) your injection site within the area you choose with each injection to reduce your risk of getting lumps under the skin (cutaneous amyloidosis). Do not use the same site for each injection.
- Do not mix insulin and Victoza® together in the same injection.
- You may give an injection of Victoza® and insulin in the same body area (such as your stomach area), but not right next to each other.
- Do not share your Victoza® pen with other people, even if the needle has been changed. You may give other people a serious infection, or get a serious infection from them.
What are the possible side effects of Victoza®?
Victoza® may cause serious side effects, including:
- inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis). Stop using Victoza® and call your health care provider right away if you have severe pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that will not go away, with or without vomiting. You may feel the pain from your abdomen to your back.
- low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Your risk for getting low blood sugar may be higher if you use Victoza® with another medicine that can cause low blood sugar, such as a sulfonylurea or insulin. In children who are 10 years of age and older, the risk for low blood sugar may be higher with Victoza® regardless of use with another medicine that can also lower blood sugar. Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar may include: dizziness or lightheadedness, blurred vision, anxiety, irritability or mood changes, sweating, slurred speech, hunger, confusion or drowsiness, shakiness, weakness, headache, fast heartbeat, and feeling jittery.
- kidney problems (kidney failure). In people who have kidney problems, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting may cause a loss of fluids (dehydration), which may cause kidney problems to get worse.
- serious allergic reactions. Stop using Victoza® and get medical help right away if you have any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat, problems breathing or swallowing, severe rash or itching, fainting or feeling dizzy, or a very rapid heartbeat.
- gallbladder problems. Gallbladder problems have happened in some people who take Victoza®. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get symptoms of gallbladder problems, which may include pain in the upper stomach (abdomen), fever, yellowing of skin or eyes (jaundice), or clay-colored stools.
The most common side effects of Victoza® may include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, decreased appetite, indigestion, and constipation.
Victoza® is a prescription medication.
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.
What is the most important information I should know about Victoza®?
Victoza® may cause serious side effects, including:
- Possible thyroid tumors, including cancer. Tell your health care provider if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. These may be symptoms of thyroid cancer. In studies with rats and mice, Victoza® and medicines that work like Victoza® caused thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer. It is not known if Victoza® will cause thyroid tumors or a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in people.
Who should not use Victoza®?
Do not use Victoza® if:
- you or any of your family have ever had MTC or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
- you are allergic to liraglutide or any of the ingredients in Victoza®. See symptoms of serious allergic reaction in “What are the possible side effects of Victoza®?”.
What is Victoza®?
Victoza® (liraglutide) injection 1.2 mg or 1.8 mg is an injectable prescription medicine used:
- along with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar (glucose) in adults and children who are 10 years of age and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
- to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus with known heart disease.
Victoza® is not for use in people with type 1 diabetes. It should not be used with other medicines that contain liraglutide. It is not known if Victoza® is safe and effective to lower blood sugar in children under 10 years of age.
Important Safety Information (cont'd)
What should I tell my health care provider before using Victoza®?
Before using Victoza®, tell your health care provider if you:
- have or have had problems with your pancreas, kidneys, or liver.
- have any other medical conditions or severe problems with your stomach, such as slowed emptying of your stomach (gastroparesis) or problems with digesting food.
- are pregnant or breastfeeding or plan to become pregnant or breastfeed.
Tell your health care provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, herbal supplements, and other medicines to treat diabetes, including insulin or sulfonylureas.
How should I use Victoza®?
- Inject under the skin of your stomach (abdomen), thigh, or upper arm. Do not inject Victoza® into a muscle or vein.
- Change (rotate) your injection site within the area you choose with each injection to reduce your risk of getting lumps under the skin (cutaneous amyloidosis). Do not use the same site for each injection.
- Do not mix insulin and Victoza® together in the same injection.
- You may give an injection of Victoza® and insulin in the same body area (such as your stomach area), but not right next to each other.
- Do not share your Victoza® pen with other people, even if the needle has been changed. You may give other people a serious infection, or get a serious infection from them.
What are the possible side effects of Victoza®?
Victoza® may cause serious side effects, including:
- inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis). Stop using Victoza® and call your health care provider right away if you have severe pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that will not go away, with or without vomiting. You may feel the pain from your abdomen to your back.
- low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Your risk for getting low blood sugar may be higher if you use Victoza® with another medicine that can cause low blood sugar, such as a sulfonylurea or insulin. In children who are 10 years of age and older, the risk for low blood sugar may be higher with Victoza® regardless of use with another medicine that can also lower blood sugar. Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar may include: dizziness or lightheadedness, blurred vision, anxiety, irritability or mood changes, sweating, slurred speech, hunger, confusion or drowsiness, shakiness, weakness, headache, fast heartbeat, and feeling jittery.
- kidney problems (kidney failure). In people who have kidney problems, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting may cause a loss of fluids (dehydration), which may cause kidney problems to get worse.
- serious allergic reactions. Stop using Victoza® and get medical help right away if you have any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat, problems breathing or swallowing, severe rash or itching, fainting or feeling dizzy, or a very rapid heartbeat.
- gallbladder problems. Gallbladder problems have happened in some people who take Victoza®. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get symptoms of gallbladder problems, which may include pain in the upper stomach (abdomen), fever, yellowing of skin or eyes (jaundice), or clay-colored stools.
The most common side effects of Victoza® may include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, decreased appetite, indigestion, and constipation.
Please click here for Prescribing Information and Medication Guide.
Victoza® is a prescription medication.
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.
