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Liraglutide is a medicine given as an injection under the skin once a day. Like semaglutide, it copies the natural gut hormone GLP-1, which tells the brain enough food has been eaten, so hunger and food cravings go down. For weight management in the EU it is sold as Saxenda, used together with a reduced-calorie diet and more physical activity.
Active ingredient: liraglutide. Dosages: 0.6 – 3 mg / day.

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What it is

Victoza contains the active ingredient liraglutide. It has been authorised for use in the EU since 23 March 2015. Victoza is centrally authorised and its EU authorisation remains in force — it contains the same active substance as Saxenda but is authorised for type 2 diabetes rather than weight management, and at lower doses. The Spanish medicines agency currently records all Victoza presentations as authorised but not marketed, so availability varies by country.

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What it’s used for

Type 2 diabetes that is not sufficiently controlled in adults, adolescents and children aged 10 and over, alongside diet and exercise — either on its own when metformin is unsuitable, or combined with other diabetes medicines.

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How it works

It copies the gut hormone GLP-1, which increases the feeling of fullness and reduces hunger and food cravings.

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What the studies reported

The SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes trial (N Engl J Med 2015;373(1):11-22; ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01272219) is the evidence behind liraglutide 3.0 mg for weight management. Everyone in the trial also received lifestyle counselling, people with type 2 diabetes were excluded, and the primary result covers 56 weeks only.

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What has been reported

Figures below are from the SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes trial, comparing liraglutide 3.0 mg with placebo.
Acute gallstone events were reported by 2.3% on liraglutide 3.0 mg versus 0.9% on placebo across the EMA weight-management trial pool, mainly gallstones (1.5% versus 0.5%).
Independently confirmed in 7 people (0.2%) on liraglutide 3.0 mg versus 1 person (under 0.1%) on placebo across the EMA weight-management trial pool.

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Dosing

1

Week 1

0.6 mg daily starting dose.
2

Following weeks

Step up through 1.2 mg, 1.8 mg and 2.4 mg as tolerated.
3

Maintenance

3 mg daily when appropriate.
4

Ongoing

Follow-up through the account chat.

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Who it is for

Adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more plus a weight-related illness.

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How Hi-Doctor handles it

A doctor may prescribe liraglutide if BMI and history match the indications, with required follow-up. Medication is paid separately at a pharmacy; see pricing for what the consultation fee covers.

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Sources

  • EMA EPAR — Saxenda (liraglutide)
  • EMA public assessment report — Saxenda (EMA/143005/2015)
  • SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes — N Engl J Med 2015;373(1):11-22
  • ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT01272219 (SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes)

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Start a consultation

Weight-loss consultation

Answer the weight-loss questionnaire and a registered doctor reviews it. They decide whether treatment is appropriate, which one, and at what dose — and declining is a normal outcome. See what it costs and how the review works.
This page is reference information, not medical advice and not a prescription. Whether a medicine is appropriate for you is decided by a registered doctor after reviewing your consultation.