Liraglutide: What it is, how it works, and more

What is liraglutide?

Liraglutide is a once-daily injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medication that helps regulate blood sugar and appetite by mimicking the hormone GLP-1 that naturally occurs in your body. It was approved by the FDA for type 2 diabetes in 2010 and for chronic weight management in 2014.

Liraglutide brand names

Liraglutide is available under two main brand names:

• Saxenda: FDA-approved for chronic weight management
• Victoza: FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes management

In 2024, the FDA also approved a generic version of Victoza, which can now be used for type 2 diabetes treatment. However, there’s currently no generic version of Saxenda.

Liraglutide uses

Liraglutide can be used to both manage weight and improve blood sugar. Here’s more about what it's used for and how it works.

What is liraglutide used for?

Liraglutide is prescribed for two primary reasons:

• Weight management: Saxenda can support weight loss and long-term weight management for adults with obesity or with overweight and a weight-related condition like high blood pressure. It’s also approved for children ages 12 and older with obesity. Saxenda should be paired with a reduced-calorie diet and regular exercise to maximize your health benefits. With that approach, research shows you can lose 5 to 10 percent of your body weight over 56 weeks.
• Type 2 diabetes: Victoza helps control blood sugar levels in adults and children ages 10 and over with type 2 diabetes. Research shows it can reduce A1c levels by up to 1.14 percent. Similarly to Saxenda, you’re encouraged to pair Victoza with a reduced-calorie diet and exercise. Though it’s not FDA-approved to treat heart conditions, Victoza can also help reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death for some people with type 2 diabetes.

How does liraglutide work?

"Liraglutide works by mimicking the hormone GLP-1, which regulates blood sugar and appetite," says Dr. Supriya Rao, M.D., medical director of the obesity medical program at Tufts University’s Lowell General Hospital in Lowell, Massachusetts. "It increases insulin secretion, slows stomach emptying, and reduces your hunger.” In other words, it signals your brain that you’re full, which can help you eat less and lose weight over time.

Liraglutide also helps manage blood sugar by boosting your body’s insulin production after eating carbohydrates, says Dr. Michael Chichak, M.D., an internal medicine instructor at Northeast Ohio Medical University and ONE Health Ohio. Insulin is a hormone that helps turn blood sugar into energy. When you don’t have enough insulin, your blood sugar can rise to dangerous levels. By increasing insulin production, liraglutide can help prevent these spikes after meals and keep blood sugar levels down.

Liraglutide side effects

Like all medications, Saxenda and Victoza may cause side effects. While most are mild and get better as your body adjusts, there are also some rare but serious side effects to be aware of.

Common side effects

According to the drug manufacturer, common side effects of liraglutide include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Headache
• Injection site reactions
• Indigestion

The reason digestion-related side effects are so common is because liraglutide (and all GLP-1s) interact with receptors in your stomach and intestines to slow your stomach emptying and trigger fullness, says Chichak. Your gastrointestinal system needs time to adapt to these changes, which may cause temporary discomfort. That’s why these side effects are typically worse when you first start the medication or up your dosage. Luckily, “these are usually mild and improve over time,” says Rao.

Serious side effects

Though rare, the manufacturers say that serious side effects from taking liraglutide may include:

• Pancreatitis: In rare cases, people taking liraglutide have experienced inflammation of the pancreas. If you experience severe abdominal pain, call your doctor.
• Gallbladder issues: According to clinical trials, about 2 to 3 percent of people taking either Saxenda or Victoza experienced gallbladder disease, so visit your doctor if you experience symptoms like abdominal pain, jaundice, and fever.
• Kidney problems: Side effects like vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration, which in rare but severe cases can damage your kidneys. That said, studies have not found that liraglutide can be directly harmful to your kidneys, and staying hydrated should prevent any issues.
• Low blood sugar: If you’re taking a different diabetes medication in addition to liraglutide, their combined effects can lower your blood sugar too much and cause symptoms like shakiness, confusion, and blurred vision.
• Thyroid tumors: A special kind of thyroid tumors called Medullary thyroid cancer have been found in rodent studies, which is why the FDA puts a warning on liraglutide about the risk, but there haven’t been any studies on humans that show a connection.
• Serious allergic reactions: Though rare, some patients have had an allergic reaction to the medication, experiencing symptoms like difficulty breathing and swelling of the face or throat.

Alternatives to liraglutide

Other GLP-1 medications perform similarly to liraglutide and can also help regulate blood sugar and support weight loss. These include:

• Dulaglutide: Prescribed as Trulicity for type 2 diabetes (there is no dulaglutide approved for weight management)
• Semaglutide: Prescribed as Ozempic or Rybelsus for type 2 diabetes and Wegovy for weight management
• Tirzepatide: Prescribed as Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes and Zepbound for weight management

There are also alternatives to GLP-1s, including prescription weight-loss pills like naltrexone/bupoprion and Qsymia, both of which decrease your appetite.

For diabetes, other medications like metformin and SGLT2 inhibitors (which include brand-name medications like Branzavvy and Invokana) can also be effective at improving blood sugar, depending on your specific health needs, says Rao.

Liraglutide warnings and precautions

According to Rao, you shouldn't take liraglutide if you have a personal or family history of conditions like:

• Medullary thyroid cancer
• Multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2
• Pancreatitis

You should also avoid liraglutide if it causes allergic reactions like difficulty breathing, swelling of your face or throat, or a skin rash, says Chichak.

Finally, it’s best to avoid liraglutide if you’re planning to become pregnant, pregnant, or breastfeeding. GLP-1s haven't been studied on pregnant or breastfeeding women, and weight loss is never recommended for pregnancy.

Liraglutide interactions

Liraglutide can make other medications less effective or increase the risk of side effects. For example, if you’re taking insulin or sulfonylureas (both medications for diabetes), liraglutide can increase your risk for low blood sugar, says Chichak.

Liraglutide also slows down how fast your stomach empties, adds Rao. This can affect how well your body absorbs other drugs. If you take any other medications, let your doctor know so they can make sure your treatment plan is safe and works well for you.

Liraglutide cost and coupons

According to the manufacturer, Saxenda has a list price of $1,349.02 for a 30-day supply. Victoza has a list price of $543.51 for a package of two pens that administer 0.6 or 1.2 milligram doses, and $815.27 for a three-pack of pens that administer 1.8 milligram doses. There is also a generic version of Victoza that costs much less than the brand name version (but no generic Saxenda yet).

But the actual cost of liraglutide depends on factors like your insurance coverage, dosing, and the reason for your prescription, says Chichak. “For instance, liraglutide prescribed as Saxenda for weight loss may be subject to higher out-of-pocket costs than when prescribed as Victoza for diabetes,” he says. This is because weight-loss medications are less likely to be covered by insurance than diabetes medications.

That said, “there might be coupons and savings programs from manufacturers to help reduce cost,” says Rao. You can also check with your doctor or pharmacist to learn about any available discounts or financial aid.

Liraglutide storage

Both Saxenda and Victoza should be stored the same way: Before using it for the first time, keep the pen in the refrigerator between 36 and 46 degrees. Don’t put it near the fridge’s cooling element or in the freezer — and if it does freeze, don’t use it.

After the first use, you can store the pen at room temperature (59 to 86 degrees) for up to 30 days or put it back in the fridge between uses. Always remove and discard the needle after each use, and store the pen with the cap on and without a needle attached.

The bottom line

Liraglutide is a GLP-1 medication approved for both weight loss (as the brand name Saxenda) and diabetes (as the brand name Victoza). It works by mimicking a naturally occurring hormone, GLP-1, which increases insulin production, reduces appetite, and slows gastric emptying. While side effects like nausea or vomiting are possible, most are mild and should improve as your body adjusts to the medication. If you’re thinking about using liraglutide, talk to your doctor about your health concerns, other medications, and your personal and family health history to see if this medication is the right fit.