What Pharmacists Say About How Victoza Works (Plus 5 Tips on How to Take It)

Victoza (liraglutide) is an injectable medication used to treat Type 2 diabetes. It’s also FDA-approved to lower the risk of cardiovascular problems (like heart attack or stroke) in people with diabetes and heart disease.

Victoza is part of a group of medications called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists. These medications have gained popularity over the last few years because they’re good at lowering blood sugar and promoting weight loss. And they usually only cause mild side effects.

If you or a loved one is prescribed Victoza, you may be wondering how to get the most out of this medication. Here, we’ll cover how Victoza works and five tips for how to use this medication effectively.

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How does Victoza work?

Victoza and other GLP-1 agonists are called “incretin mimetics.” They have several positive effects on people with Type 2 diabetes. But before we talk about these effects, we need to understand how the incretin system works and how it affects diabetes.

Incretins are hormones products by the intestines. One of their functions is to release insulin from the pancreas when blood glucose (sugar) levels rise in the body. Insulin is a hormone whose main job is to pull glucose out of the blood and into the cells after you eat. This helps give the cells energy in the form of glucose. It also helps keep your blood glucose levels from getting too high.

GLP-1 is one type of incretin. Victoza works by mimicking GLP-1. When you eat, Victoza responds to the rise in blood glucose by attaching to GLP-1 receptors (binding sites) in the pancreas. This releases insulin.

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Victoza also has the following actions:

• Keeps the stored form of glucose from entering the blood, further lowering blood glucose levels.

• Slows the movement of food through the digestive tract. This makes you feel fuller longer and may limit how much food you eat. This may help you lose weight, even though Victoza isn’t FDA-approved for weight loss.

• Lowers blood pressure.

• Lowers cholesterol.

5 pharmacist-backed tips for taking Victoza

Before starting Victoza, talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist about how to use it. They can answer any questions you might have and make sure Victoza is the right medication for you.

Here, we’ll review some of the most common questions about Victoza and offer a few tips to help you get the most out of your medication.

1. What time of day should you take Victoza?

Victoza is a once-daily injection, and you don’t have to use it at any specific time. But it’s a good idea to inject it at the same time every day so you remember to use it daily.

You can inject Victoza into your stomach, thigh, or upper arm subcutaneously (under the skin). But you should rotate the exact location of the injection with each dose.

But this doesn’t necessarily mean you have to use a new area of the body with each injection. For example, you may inject Victoza into your stomach multiple times in a row, as long as you use a different part of your stomach. When you inject medication in the exact same place over and over, it can cause lumps to form under the skin.

2. Should you take your Victoza with food?

You can inject Victoza at any time. It doesn’t matter when you last ate. Food doesn’t affect how well Victoza is absorbed into the body.

3. What happens if you miss a dose of Victoza?

If you miss a dose of Victoza, wait to take your next dose at your usual scheduled time. Don’t take an extra dose to make up for the missed dose.

If it’s been more than 3 days since your last dose, contact your healthcare provider. You may need to restart Victoza at a lower dose to avoid stomach-related side effects. Your provider may then help you raise your dose as needed.

4. Should you separate your Victoza from other medications?

Victoza has possible drug interactions. But these interactions aren’t always associated with when you take Victoza. This means that Victoza interacts with certain medications regardless of how far apart you take your doses.

For example, Victoza may interact with other diabetes medications that lower blood sugar. This includes insulin, sulfonylureas, and glinides. When taken with Victoza, the combination of these medications can cause your blood sugar to drop too low (hypoglycemia).

To lower the chances of developing hypoglycemia, your healthcare provider may lower the dose of your insulin or other diabetes medications when starting Victoza.

If you experience any symptoms of hypoglycemia — like shaking, sweating, or feeling like your heart is pounding in your chest — you should treat it right away and contact your healthcare provider.

Victoza may also affect how well some oral medications are absorbed since it slows down your digestive tract. Because we don’t know how significant this interaction is, it’s best to give your pharmacist or healthcare provider a list of your current medications. They can help you screen for medications that might be affected.

5. What can you do if you experience side effects from Victoza?

You might experience some common Victoza side effects, especially when you first start the medication and after dose increases. Most of the time, mild side effects can be managed at home. But you may need to let your healthcare provider know if they don’t go away or if they become severe.

The most common Victoza side effects are stomach-related — like nausea and diarrhea. Indigestion and constipation are possible as well. Eating smaller meals and staying hydrated can help with these stomach-related side effects. And in some cases, your healthcare provider may recommend lowering your Victoza dose.

Severe side effects can include hypoglycemia, pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), and kidney problems. If you have signs of low blood sugar, severe stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, or shortness of breath, let your healthcare provider know. It could be a sign of a serious side effect.

Tips on how to save money with your Victoza prescription

Victoza is only available as a brand-name medication, and it can be expensive. But you may be able to save with Victoza’s patient assistance program. If you’re uninsured or have Medicare, you may be eligible for Victoza free of cost.

Why trust our experts?

Written 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.

Edited by:

Amy B. Gragnolati, PharmD, BCPS

Amy Gragnolati, PharmD, BCPS, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. Amy currently holds her pharmacist license in Georgia and California.

Reviewed by:

Tegan Smedley, PharmD, APh

Tegan Smedley, PharmD, APh, has 10 years of experience as a pharmacist. She has worked in a variety of settings, including retail, hospital, and ambulatory care.

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