Victoza for Type 2 Diabetes: A1C Results, Weight
Yes. Victoza is FDA approved for type 2 diabetes: blood sugar goes down with this medicine for adults and children age 10 and older. It is for people with type 2 diabetes, used along with diet and exercise. In SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes, people on Saxenda lost 7.4% of body weight on average, vs 3% on placebo.
- For type 2 diabetes
- FDA approved
- Active ingredient
- liraglutide
- How it is taken
- daily injection
- Best result (SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes)
- 7.4% weight loss
Victoza overview
Its half-life is about 13 hours. Only half remains at 13 h, while about 3% remains after five half-lives (2.7 d) in all.
In LEAD-3, people with type 2 diabetes lost 2.5 kg over 52 weeks, compared with 1.1 kg on placebo.
Reference: FDA DailyMed label.
Who qualifies for it?
| Source | Who qualifies for it? |
|---|---|
| FDA label | Blood sugar goes down with this medicine for adults and children age 10 and older. It is for people with type 2 diabetes, used along with diet and exercise. |
| FDA label | This medicine lowers the risk of death related to the heart, as well as heart attack and stroke. It is for adults with type 2 diabetes who also have heart disease. |
Reference: FDA DailyMed label.
Trial results for type 2 diabetes
This group includes no Victoza trial. The trials test other brands that use the same ingredient.
| Trial | Medicine | Who took part | Length | People | Main result | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes |  Saxenda | Adults with obesity or overweight who do not have type 2 diabetes | 56 weeks | 3,731 | 7.4% weight loss | 3% on placebo |
Trial source: SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes (FDA label (DailyMed)).
What is different with type 2 diabetes?
| What changes | What the label says |
|---|---|
| Hypoglycemia | Low blood sugar becomes more likely when you combine it with insulin or a sulfonylurea. Doses may need to be lowered. |
| Taken with insulin or sulfonylureas | If you take insulin or a sulfonylurea, including glipizide or glimepiride, together with it, low blood sugar is more likely. Your doctor may reduce those doses. |
Taken from FDA labels: FDA DailyMed label.
Warnings from the FDA DailyMed label.
Coverage for type 2 diabetes
Medicare Part D can cover these medicines when they are prescribed for diabetes or cardiovascular disease.
Sources: humana.com.
- Victoza Cost
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Alternatives for type 2 diabetes
| Medicine | For type 2 diabetes | How it is taken | Trial result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victoza | FDA approved | daily injection | Not listed |
 Ozempic | FDA approved | weekly injection | Not listed |
 Rybelsus | FDA approved | daily tablet | Not listed |
 Mounjaro | FDA approved | weekly injection | A1C down 2.3 points |
 Trulicity | FDA approved | weekly injection | A1C down 1.77 points |
| Byetta | FDA approved | twice-daily injection | Not listed |
 Wegovy | Not an approved use | weekly injection or daily tablet | 9.6% weight loss |
 Zepbound | Not an approved use | weekly injection | 14.7% weight loss |
 Foundayo | Not an approved use | daily tablet | 9.6% weight loss |
| Saxenda | Not an approved use | daily injection | 7.4% weight loss |
Sources cited: FDA label at DailyMed, PubMed.
Questions to ask your prescriber
- Will my other diabetes medicines, especially insulin or a sulfonylurea, have to change?
- How often do I need my eyes checked?
- What A1C level should I target?
See the full Victoza prescribing information on DailyMed.