Over-the-Counter Victoza: What Exists, What Doesn't

No. Victoza needs a prescription in the US, and no GLP-1 is sold over the counter.

Prescription: RequiredFDA label (DailyMed)
Shortage: Some products short

A quick look at Victoza

How long it stays in your body

Its half-life runs about 13 hours: after 13 h, half has gone, and about 3% remains after five half-lives (2.7 d).

Main trial weight loss

In the LEAD-3 trial of 52 weeks, people with type 2 diabetes lost 2.5 kg, versus 1.1 kg for placebo.

Needed: FDA label (DailyMed)

Every legitimate route to Victoza, ranked

Prices checked November 2026. Each price links to its source page.

Sources: Novo Nordisk pricing, api.fda.gov.

Who qualifies

Any GLP-1 sold in the US requires a prescription. A prescriber writes the prescription for one of the uses approved by the label:

Used along with diet and exercise, the medicine lowers blood sugar for adults and for children 10 and older who have type 2 diabetes.
Among adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease, it lowers the risk of a heart attack, stroke, or heart-related death.

Source: FDA label (DailyMed).

Status of the Shortage

The current shortage list still includes liraglutide. Generics are available, but Victoza pens have limited availability. Saxenda will be discontinued in January 2027.

Liraglutide supply by product
Product	FDA status	Availability
Victoza 6 mg/mL pen (2-pack and 3-pack)	Current	Limited Availability
Victoza back order	Current	Back order

The FDA shortage list first showed it on July 18, 2023

Sources: api.fda.gov, ashp.org.

Scam signals

No prescription needed: a seller that skips the prescription cannot be a licensed US pharmacy.
If sold as a brand but compounded, these drugs have not been approved and are not Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro or Zepbound.
Telehealth companies got 30 warning letters over misleading claims that a product matches the brand.
A monthly price with the drug excluded: one program faced FTC action over this; read the NextMed review.

Sources: Novo Nordisk pricing, FDA.

State-by-state places to find it

Hims & Hers: Availability does not include every one of the 50 states
Noom Med: Availability does not include every one of the 50 states
NovoCare Pharmacy: the delivery network serves all 50 states, DC, Puerto Rico

The route changes most because of Medicaid rules. at present, GLP-1s for weight loss are covered by 10 state Medicaid programs. Select your state to see the rules for prior authorization and its drug list:

Sources: hims.com, noom.com, NovoCare.