Victoza for PCOS: Evidence, Eligibility, Coverage
Victoza is not FDA approved for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It is approved for type 2 diabetes and heart risk. Some doctors prescribe it when one of those uses also applies. In SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes, people on Saxenda lost 7.4% of body weight on average, vs 3% on placebo.
- Active ingredient
- liraglutide
- How it is taken
- daily injection
- Approved for
- Type 2 diabetes and heart risk
- Best result (SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes)
- 7.4% weight loss
Victoza in brief
The half-life is about 13 hours: after 13 h, half is gone, and after five half-lives (2.7 d), about 3% remains.
In LEAD-3, people with type 2 diabetes lost 2.5 kg over 52 weeks, compared with 1.1 kg on placebo.
Label source: FDA label (DailyMed).
Who qualifies?
| Who sets the rule | Who qualifies |
|---|---|
| FDA label | Along with diet and exercise, this medicine lowers blood sugar in adults and children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes. |
| FDA label | This medicine lowers the chance of heart attack, stroke, or heart-related death in adults with heart disease and type 2 diabetes. |
| Typical commercial plan (Aetna policy) | BMI 30 or higher |
| Typical commercial plan (Aetna policy) | BMI 27 or higher with a weight-related condition |
| Typical commercial plan (Aetna policy) | a program of diet and activity for 6 months comes first |
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed), aetna.com.
Trial results for PCOS
In every trial, enrollment was not limited to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The adults involved had obesity or overweight but did not have type 2 diabetes.
| Trial | Medicine | Who took part | Length | People | Main result | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes |  Saxenda | Adults with obesity or overweight, without type 2 diabetes | 56 weeks | 3,731 | 7.4% weight loss | 3% on placebo |
Trial sources: SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes (FDA label (DailyMed)).
What is different for PCOS?
| What changes | What the label says |
|---|---|
| Hypoglycemia | Using it with insulin or a sulfonylurea raises the risk of low blood sugar. The doses of those medicines may need lowering. |
According to the FDA labels on DailyMed.
Label warning source: FDA label at DailyMed.
Coverage for PCOS
If a GLP-1 is used only for weight loss, Medicare Part D will not cover it.
When Medicaid covers weight-loss GLP-1s, prior authorization is the standard.
Sources: humana.com, KFF.
- Victoza Cost
- Victoza Coupon and Savings Card
- Victoza Cost Without Insurance
- Victoza Cost With Insurance
- Does Medicare Cover Victoza? Criteria, Copay, How to Appeal
- Cheapest Way to Get Victoza
- Is Victoza Covered by Insurance? Criteria, Copay, Appeal
- Does Medicaid Cover Victoza? Criteria, Copay, How to Appeal
Alternatives for PCOS
| Medicine | For PCOS | How it is taken | Trial result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victoza | Not a listed use | daily injection | Not listed |
 Ozempic | Not a listed use | weekly injection | Not listed |
 Wegovy | Not a listed use | weekly injection or daily tablet | 14.9% weight loss |
 Rybelsus | Not a listed use | daily tablet | Not listed |
 Mounjaro | Not a listed use | weekly injection | Not listed |
 Zepbound | Not a listed use | weekly injection | 20.9% weight loss |
 Foundayo | Not a listed use | daily tablet | 11.1% weight loss |
 Trulicity | Not a listed use | weekly injection | Not listed |
| Saxenda | Not a listed use | daily injection | 7.4% weight loss |
| Byetta | Not a listed use | twice-daily injection | Not listed |
Label source: FDA label (DailyMed).
Ask your prescriber these questions
- Will this affect my birth control in any way?
- When should I stop, before I try to get pregnant?
- When PCOS is the main reason, will my plan probably cover it?
Read the full Victoza prescribing information on DailyMed.