Victoza vs. Mounjaro: 7 Important Differences Between These Type 2 Diabetes Medications

In 2010, the FDA approved Victoza (liraglutide). It became the first once-daily injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) 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 glucose (sugar) 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 (incretins) in your body. But Victoza mimics one hormone, while Mounjaro mimics two.

Victoza is a GLP-1 agonist. It acts like the incretin GLP-1. Mounjaro mimics this hormone, too. But it also targets a second incretin 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 glucose production in the liver

• Help glucose 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 glucose levels and can lead to weight loss. But as we’ll detail later, targeting two incretins helps Mounjaro provide better glucose balance and greater weight loss than Victoza.

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• 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.

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. Just be sure to inject doses around the same time every day. This helps maintain consistent medications levels in your body.

Mounjaro is a once-weekly injection. This dosing schedule can be more convenient for some people. Like Victoza, you can administer Mounjaro at any time of day. 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 glucose levels over the past 2 to 3 months.

During clinical trials, Victoza lowered people’s A1C levels up to 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.

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 recommended Mounjaro over 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 reduction in 2017.

Mounjaro isn’t currently approved for cardiovascular risk reduction. However, an ongoing clinical trial is investigating this benefit. That study is expected to be completed in 2024.

6. Victoza is approved for use in children, while Mounjaro is only approved for adults

Victoza was the first GLP-1 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 10 years old. 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 there’s an ongoing clinical trial in children aged 10 to 17 years old with Type 2 diabetes. This study is expected to be finished by the end of 2027.

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 dosing 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 gastrointestinal related, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. But you may also have a greater risk of more serious side effects, such as low blood glucose.

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

Victoza and Mounjaro are only available as brand-name medications. If you’ve been prescribed one of them to treat Type 2 diabetes, there’s a good chance it’ll be covered by insurance. But you may have a higher copay or coinsurance. Your insurance plan may also require your prescriber to complete extra steps, such as a prior authorization, before they’ll cover them.

If you need more help affording your prescription, manufacturer copay cards and patient assistance programs can help. If you’re eligible, you could pay as little as $25 per prescription for Mounjaro with a manufacturer copay card. There’s also a patient assistance program that provides Victoza at no charge to people who are uninsured or have Medicare and meet certain income requirements.

Good to know: Victoza may have a generic version available soon. Manufacturers may be able to start producing a generic version after June 2024. Once available, this could offer an additional way for you to save money on Victoza.

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Written by:

Makita Crawford, PharmD

Makita has over 15 years of pharmacy experience. She started as a certified pharmacy technician and is now a registered pharmacist.

Edited by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

Reviewed by:

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD, is the director of pharmacy content for GoodRx. She has over a decade of experience as a pharmacist and has worked in clinical, academic, and administrative roles.

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