Victoza Dosages for Type 2 Diabetes: Your GoodRx Guide

When it comes to managing Type 2 diabetes, your prescriber will work closely with you to find the right medication and dosage for your blood glucose (sugar) goals. With some medications — like Victoza (liraglutide), a once-daily non-insulin injection — this involves starting with a lower dosage and working your way up. This helps reduce side effects and allow you to find the lowest effective dosage.

Though your healthcare team will walk you through your Victoza dosage schedule, you may have questions about typical and maximum Victoza dosages or what to do if you miss your dose. We cover these topics and more below.

What’s the typical Victoza dosage for adults?

Victoza comes in a prefilled, multi-dose pen that you’ll use to inject the medication. You can inject Victoza under the skin in one of three areas: your stomach, thigh, or upper arm. 

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Victoza pens can inject 0.6 mg, 1.2 mg, or 1.8 mg of medication at a time. So you’ll need to select your prescribed amount when you inject. One Victoza pen should last for 10 to 30 days, depending on your dosage.

Pay close attention to the dosage schedule from your prescriber, since your dosage may change over the first few weeks. You’ll likely start with a low dosage, which will increase over time. Here’s what a typical schedule looks like:

• Week 1: The recommended Victoza starting dosage is 0.6 mg injected once daily for 1 week. Starting with a low dosage can help lessen side effects such as nausea and vomiting. 

• Week 2: After 1 week, the recommended dosage is 1.2 mg once daily. 

• Week 3 and after: After at least 1 week at 1.2 mg, your prescriber will evaluate how you’re responding to treatment. If you need more help lowering your blood glucose levels, they may increase your dosage to 1.8 mg daily (the maximum dosage).

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What’s the typical Victoza dosage for children?

Victoza is also approved for children ages 10 and older who have Type 2 diabetes. The injection instructions for children are the same as those for adults. And the typical dosage schedule is also similar:

• Week 1: The recommended Victoza starting dosage is 0.6 mg once a day. 

• Weeks 2 and after: After at least 1 week of treatment, your child’s prescriber will determine how well the 0.6 mg dosage is working. If needed, your child’s dosage may be increased to 1.2 mg once daily. After at least 1 week at 1.2 mg, the dosage could be increased up to the maximum of 1.8 mg daily.

Are there any dosage adjustments for health conditions or interactions?

With Victoza, your prescriber will adjust your dosage based on how your body responds to the medication. They won’t need to make dosage adjustments based on other health conditions. Though, Victoza isn’t recommended for people with a personal or family history of certain types of thyroid cancer.

But if you take other diabetes medications with Victoza, your prescriber may choose to adjust the dosages of those medications to avoid potential interactions. This may be done when you start treatment with Victoza to lower the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood glucose). Examples of medications that may be adjusted include insulin, sulfonylureas, and meglitinides.

Even though it’s an injection, Victoza can interact with oral medications. That’s because it slows down how quickly your stomach empties, which may affect how you absorb these medications. Issues haven’t been found with certain oral medications that have been tested with Victoza. But your prescriber may need to adjust your oral medication dosage if it seems to be affected by Victoza.

Make sure your healthcare team has your full medical history and current medication list before you start treatment with Victoza.

What happens if you miss a dose of Victoza?

Victoza is a once-daily medication that can be injected at any time of the day, without regard to meals. But it’s best to inject Victoza at the same time each day so that the medication levels in your body stay consistent. 

If you happen to forget your Victoza dose, don’t fret. It’s recommended to skip the missed dose and wait until your next regularly scheduled one. Don’t take an extra or higher dose to make up for a missed one. 

If you miss three or more doses of Victoza in a row, talk to your prescriber. They may have you restart Victoza at the lowest dosage to avoid unpleasant side effects. From there, you will gradually increase your dosage until you’re back at your regular dosage.

What should you do if you inject too much Victoza?

Injecting too much Victoza raises your risk of side effects, including severe nausea and vomiting. Hypoglycemia, which can become life-threatening if it’s left untreated, is also possible. Symptoms of hypoglycemia include shakiness, a fast heartbeat, and sweating. If you experience these symptoms, follow your healthcare team’s instructions on how to bring your blood glucose levels back up.

Since Victoza pens administer three different dose options, double-check that you’re injecting the correct amount each time. If you’re using a compounded version of Victoza, the risk of injecting too much may be higher. Compounded products usually come in a vial and require you to measure out your specific dose with a syringe.

If you or someone you know takes too much Victoza, reach out to a prescriber or Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for guidance. Get immediate medical attention if any symptoms feel severe or life-threatening.

How to save on Victoza

There are ways to save on Victoza, which is currently only available as a brand-name medication. Generic versions won’t be available until June 2024, at the earliest. In the meantime, GoodRx can help make your Victoza prescription more affordable.

With a GoodRx coupon, you may be able to save over 30% off the average retail price of brand-name Victoza. At certain pharmacies, prices may be as low as $380.92. 

There’s also a patient assistance program available through the manufacturer of Victoza. This program provides Victoza at no cost for those who qualify.

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Written by:

Hope Chang, PharmD, AAHIVP

Hope Chang is a freelance writer and content reviewer for GoodRx. She attended Howard University College of Pharmacy in Washington, D.C. and completed post-graduate residency training at the University of California, Davis Medical Center.

Edited 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.

Reviewed by:

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP, is a board-certified ambulatory care clinical pharmacist. In his early career, he provided direct patient care in a variety of settings, including hospital and community pharmacies, and in a primary care clinic as a clinical pharmacist.

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