Victoza for Seniors: Evidence, Eligibility, Coverage
Victoza has no separate rule for adults 65 and older. It is approved for type 2 diabetes and heart risk.
- Active ingredient
- liraglutide
- How it is taken
- daily injection
- Approved for
- Type 2 diabetes and heart risk
Victoza overview
Its half-life is about 13 hours. After 13 h, half is gone; about 3% remains once five half-lives have passed (2.7 d).
In LEAD-3 over 52 weeks with type 2 diabetes, weight loss was 2.5 kg, compared with 1.1 kg on placebo.
Sources: FDA label on DailyMed.
Who qualifies?
| Source | Who qualifies |
|---|---|
| FDA label | Used with diet and exercise, this medicine lowers blood sugar in adults and children 10 and older who have type 2 diabetes. |
| FDA label | For adults with type 2 diabetes who also have heart disease, the risk of a heart attack, stroke, or heart-related death drops. |
Sources: FDA label on DailyMed.
What is different for seniors?
| What changes | What the label says |
|---|---|
| Hypoglycemia | Using it together with insulin or a sulfonylurea makes low blood sugar more likely, and those doses may need to be lowered. |
| Acute Kidney Injury Due to Volume Depletion | Fluid loss from vomiting or diarrhea may lead to kidney injury. Drink fluids and report heavy fluid loss. |
| Taken with insulin or sulfonylureas | The chance of low blood sugar goes up if you take this medicine with insulin or a sulfonylurea, for example glipizide or glimepiride. The doctor may reduce those doses. |
The source is the FDA labels, shown in the FDA label on DailyMed.
Label warnings: FDA label on DailyMed.
Coverage for seniors
Medicare Part D can cover these medicines when they are prescribed for diabetes or cardiovascular disease.
A GLP-1 may be covered through Part D for fatty liver disease, sleep apnea that is moderate to severe, or type 2 diabetes.
Medicare Part D does not cover a GLP-1 when it is used only for weight loss.
Where Medicaid covers weight-loss GLP-1s, prior authorization is usually required.
Sources: humana.com, medicare.gov, 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 seniors
| Medicine | For older adults | How it is taken | Trial result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victoza | Approved uses apply | daily injection | Not listed |
 Ozempic | Approved uses apply | weekly injection | Not listed |
 Wegovy | Approved uses apply | weekly injection or daily tablet | 6.5% for heart attack, stroke, or death from heart disease |
 Rybelsus | Approved uses apply | daily tablet | heart attack, stroke, or death from heart disease: 12% |
 Mounjaro | Approved uses apply | weekly injection | Not listed |
 Zepbound | Approved uses apply | weekly injection | Not listed |
 Foundayo | Approved uses apply | daily tablet | Not listed |
 Trulicity | Approved uses apply | weekly injection | heart attack, stroke, or death from heart disease: 12% |
 Saxenda | Approved uses apply | daily injection | Not listed |
| Byetta | Approved uses apply | twice-daily injection | Not listed |
Label sources: FDA label on DailyMed.
Questions to ask your prescriber
- Am I eligible for coverage through Medicare Part D, or through the GLP-1 Bridge?
- How do we keep muscle as I lose weight?
- Which medicines I take now could interact?
On DailyMed, read all of the Victoza prescribing information.