Liraglutide
Saxenda · Victoza
Daily GLP-1 agonist — the predecessor to semaglutide, still useful where fine dose control matters.
Class
GLP-1 receptor agonist
Half-life
~13 hours (once-daily dosing)
Evidence
Randomized human trials
Randomized human trials
Supported by randomized controlled trials in humans. Several compounds at this level are FDA-approved for specific indications.
Overview
Liraglutide was the first GLP-1 agonist approved for weight management. It uses a single fatty-acid chain for albumin binding, which extends its half-life to about 13 hours — long enough for daily dosing but far shorter than semaglutide's week.
Efficacy is meaningfully lower than the newer agents: the SCALE trial showed about 8% mean body weight reduction at 56 weeks versus roughly 15% for semaglutide. The LEADER trial did establish cardiovascular benefit in type 2 diabetes.
Its remaining advantages are practical. Daily dosing means side effects can be dialled back quickly rather than persisting for a week, and the short half-life clears fast if a problem arises. That makes it a reasonable choice for people who tolerate weekly agents poorly.
How it works
- GLP-1 receptor agonism producing glucose-dependent insulin secretion and glucagon suppression.
- Delayed gastric emptying and increased satiety signalling.
- Hypothalamic appetite suppression via arcuate nucleus GLP-1 receptors.
- Shorter receptor occupancy than weekly agents, producing a peak-and-trough profile rather than steady state.
What the research shows
Researched effects
- Mean ~8% body weight reduction at 56 weeks (SCALE, 3.0 mg daily)
- 13% relative reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events (LEADER)
- HbA1c reduction of roughly 1.0–1.5 percentage points
- Reduced progression from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes
Limitations & what it won't do
- Roughly half the weight-loss efficacy of semaglutide and a third of tirzepatide's.
- Daily injection burden reduces adherence relative to weekly agents.
- Same regain-on-discontinuation pattern as the rest of the class.
Dosing protocols
These ranges reflect published trials and community protocols. They are reference information, not a prescription. Doses are per injection unless noted.
Weight management titration (Saxenda)
0.6 mg → 3.0 mg0.6 mg week 1, 1.2 mg week 2, 1.8 mg week 3, 2.4 mg week 4, 3.0 mg from week 5.
Type 2 diabetes (Victoza)
0.6 mg → 1.8 mgReconstitution & measuring your dose
Handling
- Typical vial sizes
- 5 · 10 mg
- Suggested BAC water
- 2 mL
- Storage
- Refrigerate at 2–8 °C. Commercial pens are stable at room temperature for 30 days after first use.
- After reconstitution
- Reconstituted: approximately 28 days refrigerated.
Why 2 mL? A 10 mg vial in 2 mL yields 5 mg/mL — 0.6 mg lands on 12 units and 3.0 mg on 60 units of a U-100 syringe.
Dose calculator
Draw to
12units
= 0.12 mL · 50 mcg per unit
Concentration
5000 mcg/mL
Doses per vial
16
Side effects
Common
- Nausea
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Headache
- Injection-site reactions
- Fatigue
Serious / rare
- Acute pancreatitis
- Gallbladder disease
- Acute kidney injury from dehydration
- Hypoglycemia with insulin or sulfonylureas
Contraindications & interactions
Do not use if you have
- Medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN2 (personal or family)
Boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumours. Absolute contraindication.
- Pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to conceive
Contraindicated in pregnancy.
- Pancreatitis history
Prior pancreatitis is a contraindication.
Use caution if you have
- Gastroparesis or delayed gastric emptying
Additive delayed gastric emptying.
- Gallbladder disease or gallstones
Increased gallstone risk with rapid weight loss.
- Diabetic retinopathy or eye disease
Monitor with rapid glycemic correction.
- Kidney disease
Dehydration risk from GI effects.
Medication interactions
- avoidInsulin — Requires prescriber-managed insulin dose reduction to avoid hypoglycemia.
- avoidSulfonylureas — Additive hypoglycemia risk.
- avoidGLP-1 / GIP agonists — Duplicate mechanism.
- cautionHormonal contraceptives / HRT — Absorption may be affected by delayed gastric emptying.
Don't stack with
- Semaglutide — Duplicate GLP-1 agonism.
- Tirzepatide — Duplicate GLP-1 agonism.
- Retatrutide — Duplicate GLP-1 agonism.
What to monitor
- HbA1c and fasting glucose
- Renal function
- Body composition and lean mass
- Lipase if abdominal pain develops
Commonly combined with
References
- SCALE — Liraglutide 3.0 mg for Weight ManagementNEJM 2015;373:11-22
- LEADER — Liraglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in T2DNEJM 2016;375:311-322
Research & educational information only — not medical advice.
You must be 18 or older to use this site. The peptides described are presented as research chemicals intended for research purposes only. Most are not approved by the FDA for human use. Dosing ranges reflect what has appeared in the scientific literature or community protocols and are not prescriptions. Nothing here replaces evaluation by a licensed physician who knows your full medical history.
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