Victoza and Actos: Taking Them Together Safely
Studied together; Victoza was tested as an add-on to metformin plus a glitazone, the Actos drug class.
- Verdict
- Generally fine together
- Label names it
- No
- General caution
- Pills absorbed more slowly
Check a GLP-1 interaction
Victoza facts at a glance
Its half-life is about 13 hours: after 13 h, half is gone, and after five half-lives (2.7 d), about 3% remains.
During the 52-week LEAD-3 trial in type 2 diabetes, weight loss was 2.5 kg versus 1.1 kg with placebo.
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed).
Victoza and Actos: the verdict
Generally fine together
Word for word from the Victoza label on drug interactions:
“VICTOZA causes a delay of gastric emptying, and thereby has the potential to impact the absorption of concomitantly administered oral medications. In clinical pharmacology trials,”
Source: FDA label, DailyMed.
What the Victoza label says
The Victoza label does not name Actos (pioglitazone). These lines still apply to it.
| Named in the label | The risk | What the label tells doctors |
|---|---|---|
| Insulin or sulfonylureas | Low blood sugar | When you combine it with insulin or a sulfonylurea, such as glipizide or glimepiride, low blood sugar becomes more likely; your doctor might lower those doses. |
| Oral medicines | Pills absorbed differently | It slows stomach emptying, which can affect how other pills are absorbed. |
Source: Victoza label (DailyMed).
What the studies show
- study in a clinical trial involving metformin and a thiazolidinedione
- the Actos warning covers fluid retention
- Insulin or sulfonylurea interactions
Source: FDA label, DailyMed.
The practical rule
- Use both medicines as directed. Tell your doctor if you have swelling, fast weight gain, or trouble breathing.
- Tell whoever prescribes your GLP-1 about every pill you take, including this one.
- Ask your pharmacist if any of your pills need to stay at a steady blood level. When you start or raise the dose, those may need to be checked.
- Test your blood sugar more often during the first weeks and after each dose increase.
Source: FDA label, DailyMed.
Actos with other GLP-1s
None of the 10 GLP-1 labels includes Actos (pioglitazone) in its drug interactions section. Each label gives the same general caution about swallowed pills, so the answer remains the same for the whole class.
Source: FDA label, DailyMed.