FDA-approved
Liraglutide
The original daily GLP-1 for weight, now available as a generic.
KEY EVIDENCE
SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes (NEJM 2015)
VIDEO LESSON
How it's taken
• Daily injection, increased weekly over about 5 weeks to 3.0 mg for weight management
Side effects at a glance
• Nausea, diarrhea, constipation
• Headache and fatigue
Good to know
Generic liraglutide can lower cost. Weekly medicines usually produce more weight loss.
AT A GLANCE
Type
Medication
Brand names
Saxenda, Victoza, generic liraglutide
Status
FDA-approved
Reviewed by
Farhan Tahir, MD
Is this treatment right for you?
Prescription medicines and procedures need individual medical advice. Dr. Tahir’s team offers consults through Youthful Medicine.
How it works
A GLP-1 receptor agonist taken by daily injection (Saxenda for weight, Victoza for diabetes). It increases fullness, slows stomach emptying and boosts insulin release when glucose is high.
What the evidence shows
In SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes, liraglutide 3.0 mg produced a mean 8.0% weight loss at 56 weeks versus 2.6% on placebo. In LEADER, it reduced major cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetes.
Side effects & cautions
Gastrointestinal side effects are common. Rare pancreatitis and gallbladder disease. Thyroid C-cell tumor warning as with other GLP-1 medicines.
PRIMARY SOURCE
Pi-Sunyer X, et al. A randomized, controlled trial of 3.0 mg of liraglutide in weight management. N Engl J Med. 2015
TYPICAL RESULT IN TRIALS
About 8% average weight loss at one year.
PHYSICIAN FIRST
Is this right for you?
Prescription treatments need a review of your history, labs and other medicines. Never start or stop one on your own.