Victoza

Generic name: Liraglutide
Drug class: Incretin mimetics

Usage of Victoza

Victoza is similar to a hormone that occurs naturally in the body and helps control blood sugar, insulin levels, and digestion.

Victoza is used together with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults and children 10 years of age and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Victoza may also help reduce the risk of serious heart problems such as heart attack or stroke in adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease. It is usually given after other diabetes medicines have been tried without success. Victoza is not for treating type 1 diabetes.

Victoza side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Victoza: hives; fast heartbeats; dizziness; trouble breathing or swallowing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

racing or pounding heartbeats;

sudden changes in mood or behavior, suicidal thoughts;

severe ongoing nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea;

signs of a thyroid tumor - swelling or a lump in your neck, trouble swallowing, a hoarse voice, feeling short of breath;

gallbladder problems - fever, upper stomach pain, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes);

symptoms of pancreatitis - severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea with or without vomiting, fast heart rate;

severely low blood sugar - extreme weakness, confusion, tremors, sweating, fast heart rate, trouble speaking, nausea, vomiting, rapid breathing, fainting, and seizure (convulsions); or

kidney problems - little or no urination; painful or difficult urination; swelling in your feet or ankles; feeling tired or short of breath.

Common Victoza side effects may include:

nausea (especially when you start using Victoza), vomiting, stomach pain;

diarrhea, constipation;

headache, dizziness; or

feeling tired.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Victoza

You should not use Victoza if you are allergic to liraglutide, or if you have:

multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (tumors in your glands);

a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (a type of thyroid cancer); or

diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment).

To make sure Victoza is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

stomach problems causing slow digestion;

kidney or liver disease;

high triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood);

heart problems;

a history of problems with your pancreas or gallbladder; or

a history of depression or suicidal thoughts.

In animal studies, Victoza caused thyroid tumors or thyroid cancer. It is not known whether these effects would occur in people using regular doses. Ask your doctor about your risk.

Follow your doctor's instructions about using Victoza if you are pregnant or you become pregnant. Controlling diabetes is very important during pregnancy, and having high blood sugar may cause complications in both the mother and the baby.

It may not be safe to breastfeed while using liraglutide. Ask your doctor about any risk.

Victoza is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

Relate drugs

How to use Victoza

Usual Adult Dose of Victoza for Diabetes Type 2:

Initial dose: 0.6 mg suBCutaneously once a day for 1 week; this dose is intended to reduce gastrointestinal symptoms and is not an effective dose for glycemic control. Maintenance dose: Inject 1.2 mg subcutaneously once a day; if acceptable glycemic control is not achieved, may increase to 1.8 mg subcutaneously once a day Maximum dose: 1.8 mg once a day Comments: -Consider dose reduction of the insulin secretagogue to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia. -This drug is not recommended as a first-line therapy for patients with inadequate glycemic control on diet and exercise.

Warnings

The Saxenda brand of liraglutide is used together with diet and exercise to help people lose weight when they have certain health conditions. Saxenda is not for treating type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Do not use Saxenda and Victoza together.

You should not use Victoza if you have multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (tumors in your glands), a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer, insulin-dependent diabetes, or diabetic ketoacidosis.

In animal studies, liraglutide caused thyroid tumors or thyroid cancer. It is not known whether these effects would occur in people using regular doses.

Call your doctor at once if you have signs of a thyroid tumor, such as swelling or a lump in your neck, trouble swallowing, a hoarse voice, or shortness of breath.

What other drugs will affect Victoza

Victoza can slow your digestion, and it may take longer for your body to absorb any medicines you take by mouth.

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:

insulin; or

oral diabetes medicine - Glucotrol, Metaglip, Amaryl, Avandaryl, Duetact, DiaBeta, Micronase, Glucovance, and others.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with liraglutide, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Disclaimer

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