Victoza

Victoza is a once-daily injection containing the active ingredient liraglutide, a medicine in the GLP-1 receptor agonist class.

Victoza is used, alongside diet and exercise, to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes. In adults with type 2 diabetes and established heart disease it may also be used to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke.

Victoza lowers blood sugar (HbA1c) and, in people with type 2 diabetes and established heart disease, has been shown to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events.

Liraglutide mimics the natural hormone GLP-1. It triggers insulin release when blood sugar is high and reduces glucagon, both in a glucose-dependent way, and it slows stomach emptying. This insulin effect eases as blood sugar returns to normal, helping to lower the risk of low blood sugar.

Victoza is injected under the skin (subcutaneously) into the abdomen, thigh or upper arm once a day, at any time, with or without food. To reduce stomach side effects, treatment starts at 0.6 mg daily for one week (a starting dose, not enough for blood sugar control on its own), then increases to 1.2 mg, and to a maximum of 1.8 mg daily if more control is needed.

The most common side effects are nausea, diarrhoea, headache, vomiting, reduced appetite and indigestion. Nausea is most common when starting and usually eases over time.

Like other GLP-1 medicines, this medicine carries a boxed warning about the risk of thyroid C-cell tumours (including medullary thyroid carcinoma, MTC). These tumours were seen in rodent studies; the relevance to humans is not established. Do not use Victoza if you or a family member have had medullary thyroid cancer or MEN 2, or if you have had a serious allergic reaction to liraglutide. It is not for type 1 diabetes. Seek urgent advice for severe, persistent tummy pain (possible pancreatitis).

Use with caution if you have a history of pancreatitis or kidney problems, as dehydration from vomiting or diarrhoea can affect the kidneys. If you also take insulin or a sulfonylurea, your risk of low blood sugar is higher and your prescriber may lower those doses. Discuss pregnancy or breastfeeding with your prescriber.

Store new, unused pens in a refrigerator at 2-8°C, away from the cooling element; do not freeze. Once in use, a pen may be kept at room temperature (15-30°C) or refrigerated and should be discarded 30 days after first use, even if some medicine remains.

If you miss a dose, take your next dose at the usual time the following day. Do not take an extra dose or increase your dose to make up for a missed one. If more than 3 days have passed since your last dose, contact your prescriber, as you may need to restart at 0.6 mg daily.