Uses
What is liraglutide used for?
Liraglutide is commonly used to help lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
Liraglutide is used to lower the risk of cardiovascular events (heart attack, stroke, or death) in people who have type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Liraglutide may also be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.
Liraglutide is also available in a different form for weight management. See Saxenda for more information.
How does liraglutide work (mechanism of action)?
Liraglutide works to improve blood sugar in 3 different ways. It works to stimulate your pancreas to release more insulin after you eat, prevents your liver from releasing stored sugars, and slows down the movement of food through your body.
How is liraglutide supplied (dosage forms)?
Liraglutide is available in the following dosage forms that are injected under the skin.
- 18 mg/3 mL (6 mg/mL) solution for injection, pre-filled pens that deliver doses of 0.6 mg, 1.2 mg, or 1.8 mg
How should I store liraglutide?
Before using liraglutide injection liquid, store it in the refrigerator between 36 F to 46 F (2 C to 8 C). Unused liraglutide can be stored until the expiration date.
Once you start using liraglutide, store it with the cap on, at room temperature between 59 F to 86 F (15 C to 30 C) or in the refrigerator 36 F to 46 F (2 C to 8 C) for up to 30 days. Do not store liraglutide with the needle on it.
If you are storing liraglutide in the refrigerator, do not store the medicine next to the cooling element in the refrigerator.
Store in a place that is not exposed to direct sunlight and heat. Do not freeze.
Side Effects
What are the most common side effects of liraglutide?
The most common side effects of liraglutide are listed below. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you.
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Decreased appetite
- Indigestion
There may be other side effects of liraglutide that are not listed here. Contact your healthcare provider if you think you are having a side effect of a medicine. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or by calling 800-FDA-1088. In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.
What are the serious side effects of liraglutide?
While less common, the most serious side effects of liraglutide are described below, along with what to do if they happen.
Severe Allergic Reactions. Liraglutide may cause allergic reactions, which can be serious. Stop using liraglutide and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.
- Breathing problems or wheezing
- Racing heart
- Fever or general ill feeling
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
- Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
- Itching, skin rash, or pale red bumps on the skin called hives
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
- Stomach cramps
- Joint pain
Thyroid Tumors. Liraglutide may cause you to develop thyroid tumors. Some of these tumors could be cancerous. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you notice any of the following symptoms of a thyroid tumor.
- Swelling or a lump in your neck
- Hoarseness
- Trouble swallowing
- Trouble breathing
Pancreatitis. Liraglutide may cause inflammation of the pancreas, which is called pancreatitis. Stop using liraglutide and call your healthcare provider right away if you have symptoms of pancreatitis, including vomiting or severe pain in the upper part of your belly that travels to your back.
Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia). Liraglutide can cause low blood sugar, especially when used with insulin or other medicines that increase your insulin levels. Hypoglycemia can be serious and may lead to death. Your dose of insulin or other diabetes medicine may need to be lowered to decrease your risk of low blood sugar. Do not use liraglutide and call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of hypoglycemia.
- Headache
- Crankiness or anxiety
- Hunger
- Dizziness or confusion
- Blurry vision
- Slurred speech
- Sweating
- Feeling jittery or shakiness
- Fast heartbeat
- Seizures
Kidney Damage. Kidney damage can happen when using liraglutide. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of kidney damage.
- Reduced need to pee
- Swelling in your feet, ankles, or legs
- Weakness or unusual tiredness
- Difficulty catching your breath or chest pain/pressure
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Seizures
Gallbladder Problems. Using liraglutide can cause gallbladder problems, including cholecystitis and cholelithiasis (also known as gallstones). Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms.
- Your skin or the whites of your eyes turning yellowish in color (also called jaundice)
- Fever
- Pain in your upper stomach area
- Stool (poop) that is clay-colored
Warnings & Precautions
Who should not use liraglutide?
Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not use liraglutide.
- Liraglutide
- Victoza
- Saxenda
- Any other medicine that contains liraglutide
Any of the ingredients in the specific product dispensed
Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in liraglutide.
Type 1 Diabetes. Liraglutide is not used for type 1 diabetes.
Thyroid Cancer or Endocrine Condition. Liraglutide should not be used if you or someone in your family has had medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or if you have a condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Talk to your healthcare provider about your current and past health conditions and your family medical history.
What should I know about liraglutide before using it?
Review the Instructions for Use that come with your medicine when using liraglutide for the first time or when you have not used it in a while.
Do not use liraglutide unless it has been prescribed to you by a healthcare provider. Use it as prescribed.
Do not share liraglutide with other people, even if they have the same condition as you, and even if the needle has been changed. It may harm them.
Keep liraglutide out of the reach of children. Since this medicine can be kept in a refrigerator, take special precautions to keep it away from children who also use the refrigerator.
If you have nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, drink plenty of water so that you do not get dehydrated.
Use a new needle for each injection.
Avoid using the same injection site each time you use liraglutide by rotating where you inject it.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before using liraglutide?
Tell your healthcare provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them determine if liraglutide is right for you.
In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.
Stomach Problems. Tell your healthcare provider if you have stomach problems, such as slowed stomach emptying (gastroparesis) or problems digesting food. Your healthcare provider may choose another medicine to treat your type 2 diabetes.
Pancreas Problems. Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had pancreatitis or other problems with your pancreas. Your healthcare provider may choose another medicine to treat your type 2 diabetes.
Kidney Problems. Tell your healthcare provider if you have kidney problems, including long-term kidney failure or end-stage kidney disease, as this may worsen while using liraglutide.
Liver Problems. Tell your healthcare provider if you have liver problems. Your healthcare provider may choose another medicine to treat your type 2 diabetes.
Other Medicines and Supplements. Liraglutide may interact with other medicines and supplements. Before using liraglutide, tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section for more details.
Pregnancy. It is not known if or how liraglutide could affect pregnancy or harm an unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you are or plan to become pregnant.
Breastfeeding. It is not known if liraglutide passes into breast milk. Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
Interactions
Does liraglutide interact with foods or drinks?
There are no known interactions between liraglutide and foods or drinks.
It is unknown if drinking alcohol will affect liraglutide, but alcohol may affect blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. This may interfere with the effect of liraglutide. It is best to limit the amount of alcohol you drink.
Does liraglutide interact with other medicines (drug interactions)?
Always tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.
Make sure that you discuss if you are using insulin or taking another type of medicine for diabetes called a sulfonylurea (glimepiride, glyburide, glipizide). These medicines may increase your risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
Liraglutide works by slowing down the movement of food through your body. Because of this, liraglutide may affect the absorption of some other medicines that you take by mouth. Tell your healthcare provider about all medicines that you take or have recently taken.
Also tell your healthcare provider if you are using any other medicines that contain liraglutide, such as Saxenda.
This may not be a complete list of medicines that can interact with liraglutide. Always check with your healthcare provider.
Overdose/Missed Dose
What should I do if I accidentally use too much liraglutide?
If you or someone else has used too much liraglutide, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222.
What should I do if I miss a dose of liraglutide?
If you miss a dose, skip the missed dose and only take the next dose. Do not take double or extra doses.
If it has been more than 3 days since your last liraglutide dose, use the lowest available dose at first to reduce the risk of stomach-related side effects. Then follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations on increasing back to your previous dose.
Are you currently using Liraglutide (Victoza)?
This survey is being conducted by the WebMD marketing sciences department.