Key takeaways:
Victoza (liraglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) are injectable medications approved for Type 2 diabetes. Victoza is a once-daily injection that’s FDA approved for adults and children ages 10 and older. Mounjaro is a once-weekly injection that’s only approved for adults.
In studies, Mounjaro helped lower hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c or A1C) by at least 2%. It also led to a nearly 15% body weight reduction. Victoza lowered A1C by up to 1% in studies. And people lost about 5% to 6% of their starting body weight with Victoza.
Victoza is also FDA approved for cardiovascular risk reduction in adults with Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Mounjaro doesn’t have proven cardiovascular benefits yet. But these benefits are currently being studied.
Victoza and Mounjaro are both available as brand-name medications. But you can also find Victoza as a lower-cost generic. GoodRx can help make your prescription more affordable.
In 2010, the FDA approved Victoza (liraglutide). It became the first once-daily injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist for Type 2 diabetes. Twelve years later, Mounjaro (tirzepatide) earned FDA approval for the same use.
But Mounjaro is a bit different from Victoza in several ways. These distinctions include how they work, how you use them, and how much they may lower your blood sugar (glucose) levels. Here, we’ll review seven differences to keep in mind when comparing Victoza versus Mounjaro.
1. Victoza and Mounjaro work in slightly different ways
Both Victoza and Mounjaro work by mimicking natural gut hormones (called incretins) in your body. But Victoza mimics one hormone, while Mounjaro mimics two.
Victoza is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. It acts like the hormone GLP-1. Mounjaro mimics this hormone, too. But it also targets a second hormone called glucagon-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). So it belongs to a different medication class, called dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists.
Even though they work slightly differently, both Victoza and Mounjaro have the following effects on the body:
Signal the pancreas to release your natural insulin when you eat
Reduce sugar production in the liver
Help sugar move from your blood into your cells better
Slow the passage of food through your digestive tract, helping you to feel fuller faster and for longer
Work in areas of the brain that regulate your appetite
May reduce cravings for certain foods
These actions help lower sugar levels and can lead to weight loss. But as we’ll detail later, targeting two gut hormones helps Mounjaro provide better sugar balance and greater weight loss than Victoza.
2. Victoza is injected more frequently than Mounjaro
One of the most obvious differences between Victoza and Mounjaro is how often you inject doses.
Victoza is a once-daily injection. You can administer it at any time of day with or without food. Just be sure to inject doses around the same time every day. This helps maintain consistent medications levels in your body.
How they work: Victoza and Mounjaro both act like incretins, natural gut hormones in the body. Learn more about how incretin-based medications work for Type 2 diabetes.
What it feels like: Three people share their experiences with Mounjaro, which can be beneficial for many people living with Type 2 diabetes.
Looking ahead: From injections to pills, many medications are available to treat Type 2 diabetes. Learn more about new diabetes medications on the horizon.
Mounjaro is a once-weekly injection. This dosage schedule can be more convenient for some people. Like Victoza, you can administer Mounjaro at any time of day with or without food. Just be sure to inject the medication on the same day of every week.
Good to know: Each Victoza pen can provide multiple doses and can be used more than once. But you’ll need to attach a fresh pen needle to the device before each use. Mounjaro comes as single-use pens and vials. Each pen or vial only contains enough medication for one dose. Mounjaro pens come with needles already attached to them. If you’re using the vials, you’ll need to draw up the medication with a syringe before injecting it.
3. Mounjaro may be better at lowering A1C compared to Victoza
Victoza and Mounjaro haven’t been directly compared in head-to-head studies. But based on individual clinical trial results, it appears that Mounjaro likely leads to greater hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c or A1C) reduction. Your A1C represents your average blood sugar levels over the past 2 to 3 months.
During clinical trials, Victoza lowered people’s A1C levels up to around 1% after 52 weeks (1 year), depending on the dose used. In its clinical trials, the highest Mounjaro dose (15 mg) lowered the A1C by about 2% after 40 weeks (about 9 months). With both Victoza and Mounjaro, people using higher doses experienced greater A1C reduction.
- MounjaroTirzepatide
- VictozaLiraglutide (Victoza)
- GlucophageMetformin
Keep in mind these numbers are averages. You may have greater or lesser A1C reduction than what’s discussed here. A1C changes depend on many factors. These include the foods you eat, how often you exercise, and other diabetes medications you may take.
4. Mounjaro can result in more weight loss compared to Victoza
If your diabetes treatment goals include weight loss, experts consider Mounjaro to be more effective for weight loss than Victoza. As mentioned above, these medications haven’t been compared in head-to-head studies. But the results of individual studies suggest Mounjaro has greater weight-loss potential.
In clinical trials, people using the highest dose of Mounjaro lost nearly 15% of their starting body weight after 72 weeks (about 16.5 months). Victoza led to a body weight reduction of about 5% to 6% after 56 weeks (about 13 months) in clinical trials, depending on the dose used.
Good to know: Neither Victoza nor Mounjaro are approved for chronic weight management. But the active ingredients in each are approved for weight loss under different brand names: Saxenda (liraglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide).
5. Victoza has proven cardiovascular benefits
If you have both Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, your prescriber may choose Victoza over Mounjaro.
Victoza can lower the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death) or MACE in adults with Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. A clinical trial found that Victoza lowered the risk of MACE by 13% compared to a placebo (an injection with no medication in it). Based on this study, the FDA approved Victoza for MACE risk reduction in 2017.
Mounjaro isn’t currently approved for cardiovascular risk reduction. However, an ongoing clinical trial is investigating Mounjaro’s potential heart benefits. That study is expected to be completed in 2025.
6. Victoza is approved for use in children, while Mounjaro is only approved for adults
Victoza was the first GLP-1 receptor agonist to be approved for use in children with Type 2 diabetes. In fact, it’s approved for this use in children as young as age 10. In a clinical trial, Victoza lowered children’s A1C levels by an average of 0.6% after 26 weeks (about 6 months) of use.
Mounjaro isn’t currently approved for use in children. But a clinical trial has been completed in children ages 10 to 17 with Type 2 diabetes. The results of this study haven’t been published yet.
7. Victoza is available in combination with other medications
Liraglutide (Victoza’s active ingredient) is also available in a combination injection called Xultophy (liraglutide / insulin degludec). Insulin degludec is a long-acting insulin. Xultophy can be a convenient option that helps lower the number of daily injections for people taking both medications.
Tirzepatide (Mounjaro’s active ingredient) isn’t currently available in combination with other medications.
Can you switch from Victoza to Mounjaro?
Yes, you can switch from Victoza to Mounjaro. But there are no standard dosage recommendations for doing this. You may need to start with the lowest dose of Mounjaro and follow the typical dosage schedule. Your prescriber can help determine the best way for you to switch from Victoza to Mounjaro.
Typically, you’ll start Mounjaro the day after your last dose of Victoza. But remember, you’ll only inject it once a week. So, whatever day you make the switch will become your usual Mounjaro injection day. Consider picking a day that will be convenient for you going forward.
Can you take Victoza and Mounjaro together?
No, it’s not recommended to take Victoza and Mounjaro together. Combining them could raise your risk of side effects. Common ones are digestive related, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. But you may also have a greater risk of more serious side effects, such as low blood sugar.
If you don’t feel like either medication is working well enough on its own, speak with your prescriber. There are oral and injectable medication options that can be safely combined with either Victoza or Mounjaro.
How to save on Victoza and Mounjaro
There are ways to save on Victoza and Mounjaro. Both are available as brand-name medications. But you can also find Victoza as a lower-cost generic. GoodRx can help you navigate the ways to save on your prescription.
Save with GoodRx. GoodRx can help you save over 60% off the average retail price of the generic version of Victoza. Generic liraglutide’s price at certain pharmacies is as low as $228.57 with a free GoodRx discount. You can also save an average of $238 on Mounjaro.
Save with a copay savings card. If you have commercial insurance and meet eligibility requirements, Mounjaro’s price is as low as $25 per prescription using a savings card from the manufacturer.
Frequently asked questions
Everyone responds differently to GLP-1 medications, such as Victoza and Mounjaro. But a few reasons you may not be losing weight may include:
You may not have used Victoza or Mounjaro long enough yet. It takes several months for most people to experience the full benefits of these medications, including weight loss.
You may not be using the right dose for you.
You may be able to make adjustments to your diet or exercise routine to help support your weight-loss goals.
You may be taking other medications that cause weight gain. For example, certain diabetes medications, such as insulin, can cause you to gain weight.
If you feel as though Victoza or Mounjaro isn’t working well enough for you, talk to your prescriber.
Mounjaro and Victoza cause similar side effects. But a review of clinical trials suggests Victoza may cause side effects more often. Most commonly, these medications cause digestive side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Side effects tend to be most noticeable when you first start taking one of them, or after a dose increase. And many people find that they improve or go away once their body adjusts to it.
Everyone responds differently to GLP-1 medications, such as Victoza and Mounjaro. But a few reasons you may not be losing weight may include:
You may not have used Victoza or Mounjaro long enough yet. It takes several months for most people to experience the full benefits of these medications, including weight loss.
You may not be using the right dose for you.
You may be able to make adjustments to your diet or exercise routine to help support your weight-loss goals.
You may be taking other medications that cause weight gain. For example, certain diabetes medications, such as insulin, can cause you to gain weight.
If you feel as though Victoza or Mounjaro isn’t working well enough for you, talk to your prescriber.
Mounjaro and Victoza cause similar side effects. But a review of clinical trials suggests Victoza may cause side effects more often. Most commonly, these medications cause digestive side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Side effects tend to be most noticeable when you first start taking one of them, or after a dose increase. And many people find that they improve or go away once their body adjusts to it.
The bottom line
Both Victoza (liraglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) are injectable Type 2 diabetes medications. But they have a number of differences. Victoza is a once-daily injection, while Mounjaro is a once-weekly injection. Victoza is FDA approved for people ages 10 and older and has proven cardiovascular benefits. But Mounjaro may provide greater blood sugar (glucose) and body weight reduction. However, Mounjaro is only approved for adults. Your prescriber can help you decide whether Victoza or Mounjaro may be right for you.
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References
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