Victoza Before and After: Real Timelines and the Trial Numbers
Victoza was tested mainly for its effect on blood sugar. In SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes, which tested Saxenda, the same medicine at a higher dose, people on liraglutide 3.0 mg daily lost 7.4% on average over 56 weeks, against 3% on placebo.
- Average loss, top dose
- 7.4%
- On placebo
- 3%
- Trial length
- 56 weeks
- Trial
- SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes
Victoza in brief
The half-life is about 13 hours: after 13 h, half is gone, and five half-lives (2.7 d) leave about 3% behind.
In the LEAD-3 trial, people with type 2 diabetes lost 2.5 kg over 52 weeks, while the placebo group lost 1.1 kg.
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed).
Victoza before and after: the numbers first
Victoza was tested mainly for its effect on blood sugar. The weight trials here come from Saxenda, which is the same medicine at a higher dose.
| Trial | Dose group | Average weight lost | Placebo or comparison | Weeks | Who was in it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes | Liraglutide 3.0 mg daily | 7.4% | 3% | 56 | Adults who have obesity or are overweight, with no type 2 diabetes |
Source: SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes (FDA label (DailyMed)).
Victoza before and after: the numbers first
The 7.4% average from the trial was applied to three starting weights. These numbers are only a calculation, not a prediction for one person: some people lose more, and some lose less.
| Starting weight | Average loss on liraglutide 3.0 mg daily | Average loss on placebo |
|---|---|---|
| 180 lb | about 13 lb | about 5 lb |
| 220 lb | about 16 lb | about 7 lb |
| 260 lb | about 19 lb | about 8 lb |
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed).
Week by week
- Early weeks: stomach side effects occur most often while the dose remains low and is increasing. After every dose increase, they often come back for a few days.
- Week 56: the SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes trial ends at this point, and the average weight loss listed above was measured then.
Sources: health.clevelandclinic.org, PubMed.
What makes it stall, and what helps
- Check your place in the dose steps. Every trial above showed less weight loss at lower doses.
- Add up any doses you missed or took late during the past month.
- Record what you eat and drink for a few days. If portions get smaller, liquid calories and grazing pile up.
- Also discuss switching medicines if your progress has stalled for months. Ask your prescriber about checking your thyroid or blood sugar.