Key takeaways
Invokana (canagliflozin) and Victoza (liraglutide) are both medications used to manage Type 2 diabetes, but they work in different ways and have different forms. Invokana is an oral medication that belongs to the sodium glucose transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor class, which helps lower blood sugar by causing your body to excrete excess sugar through urine. It also helps reduce the risk of heart and kidney problems. On the other hand, Victoza is an injectable GLP-1 agonist that lowers blood sugar by increasing insulin release, reducing sugar production, and slowing digestion. While Invokana is taken once daily before the first meal, Victoza is injected once daily at any time, with or without food. Both Invokana and Victoza are only available as a brand-name medication. Common side effects of Invokana include yeast infections and urinary tract infections, while Victoza often causes nausea and diarrhea. Additionally, Invokana carries a risk of leg and foot amputations, whereas Victoza has a warning for potential thyroid cancer and pancreatitis.
