Below are the general guidelines for dosing Victoza (liraglutide). Note that these dosages may be adjusted on a case-by-case basis for individual patients. Always follow your prescribing physician’s instructions for taking Victoza.
The following information comes from DailyMed, an FDA label information provider.
What if I miss a dose of Victoza?
If you miss a dose of this medicine, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
If you miss a dose of this medicine for 3 days or more, call your doctor to talk about how to restart your treatment.
What if I overdose on Victoza?
Overdoses have been reported in clinical trials and post-marketing use of VICTOZA. Effects have included severe nausea and severe vomiting. In the event of overdosage, appropriate supportive treatment should be initiated according to the patient’s clinical signs and symptoms.
How is Victoza administered?
Important Dosing and Administration Instructions
- Inspect visually prior to each injection. Only use if solution is clear, colorless, and contains no particles.
- Inject VICTOZA subcutaneously once-daily at any time of day, independently of meals.
- Inject VICTOZA subcutaneously in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. No dose adjustment is needed if changing the injection site and/or timing.
- When using VICTOZA with insulin, administer as separate injections. Never mix.
- It is acceptable to inject VICTOZA and insulin in the same body region but the injections should not be adjacent to each other.
- If a dose is missed, resume the once-daily regimen as prescribed with the next scheduled dose. Do not administer an extra dose or increase the dose to make up for the missed dose.
- If more than 3 days have elapsed since the last VICTOZA dose, reinitiate VICTOZA at 0.6 mg to mitigate any gastrointestinal symptoms associated with the reinitiation of treatment. Upon reinitiation, VICTOZA should be titrated at the discretion of the prescriber.
Adult Dosage
- Initiate VICTOZA with a dose of 0.6 mg daily for one week. The 0.6 mg dose is a starting dose intended to reduce gastrointestinal symptoms during initial titration, and is not effective for glycemic control in adults. After one week at 0.6 mg per day, increase the dose to 1.2 mg daily.
- If additional glycemic control is required, increase the dose to 1.8 mg daily after at least one week of treatment with the 1.2 mg daily dose.
Pediatric Dosage
- Initiate VICTOZA with a dose of 0.6 mg daily.
- After at least one week at 0.6 mg daily, the dose may be increased to 1.2 mg daily if additional glycemic control is required.
- If additional glycemic control is required, increase the dose to 1.8 mg daily after at least one week of treatment with the 1.2 mg daily dose.
How is Victoza supplied?
VICTOZA Injection: 18 mg/3 mL (6 mg/mL) clear, colorless solution in a pre-filled, multi-dose pen that delivers doses of 0.6 mg, 1.2 mg, or 1.8 mg is available in the following package sizes:
2 x VICTOZA pen NDC 0169-4060-12
3 x VICTOZA pen NDC 0169-4060-13
Each VICTOZA pen is for use by a single patient. A VICTOZA pen must never be shared between patients, even if the needle is changed.
| Prior to first use | After first use | |
| Refrigerated36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C) | Room Temperature59°F to 86°F (15°C to 30°C) | Refrigerated36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C) |
| Until expiration date | 30 days |
Disclaimer: this article does not constitute or replace medical advice. If you have an emergency or a serious medical question, please contact a medical professional or call 911 immediately. To see our full medical disclaimer, visit our Terms of Use page.
Medically Reviewed by:
Paul Bossung, Pharm. D. is a Missouri Board of Pharmacy certified pharmacist. He practices at a Mercy ospital in in the inpatient pharmacy aswell as other outpatient pharmacies. Paul attended St. Louis College of Pharmacy (STLCOP) and graduated in 2018. He worked at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon for six years as a student pharmacist prior to graduating.OVERVIEWDOSAGESIDE EFFECTSINTERACTIONSHALF-LIFE
Generic Name: Liraglutide
Brands: Victoza,Victoza 3-Pak, Victoza 2-Pak, Saxenda
Class: Antidiabetics, Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Agonists
Availability: Prescription only
Molecular Formula: C172H265N43O51
Substance UNII: 839I73S42A
What is Victoza?
Victoza is an injectable anti-diabetic drug regularly used with other diabetes medications. The generic drug liraglutide is often sold under the brand names Victoza 3-Pak, Victoza 2-Pak, and Saxenda.
What is Victoza Used For?
People with diabetes use Victoza along with diet and exercise to lower their blood sugar levels and to control their A1C(a blood test that detects blood sugar levels from the previous 3 months). Victoza can control blood sugar levels in adults and in children aged 10 and older who have type 2 diabetes when other medications have not worked well enough. When used along with a reduced calorie diet and exercise plan, this medication can help promote and maintain weight loss people who are overweight or obese and have weight-related medical problems.
Victoza can also reduce the risk of a heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes who also have heart and blood vessel disease.
How Does Victoza Work?
Victoza works by increasing the amount of insulin released by the pancreas and by decreasing the excessive release of glucagon. Namely, insulin “unlocks” body cells to allow the cells to absorb sugar, or glucose, from the bloodstream; absorption of glucose from the bloodstream allows blood sugar levels to drop. Glucagon is a hormone that stops the absorption of glucose from the bloodstream to prevent blood sugar levels from dropping too low. An excessive release of glucagon would thereby cause the body to maintain an unhealthy high blood sugar level, known as hyperglycemia.
How Long Does it Take for Victoza to Work?
It takes about two weeks for Victoza to lower blood sugar levels, according to the manufacturer’s website.
Do Not Use Victoza If:
There are several situations where Victoza may not be the right choice for a consumer. According to the FDA, the following should not use Victoza:
- Those with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma, a type of cancer that affects the thyroid, or in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia, which is a group of disorders that affect the endocrine system (a system that releases hormones to the body)
- Those with a prior serious hypersensitivity reaction, which is an overreaction of the immune system, to Victoza or any of its components
Please note that this list may not be complete, and there may be other situations where Victoza use is not advisable.
Disclaimer: this article does not constitute or replace medical advice. If you have an emergency or a serious medical question, please contact a medical professional or call 911 immediately. To see our full medical disclaimer, visit our Terms of Use page.
