Victoza (liraglutide) is a prescription drug used to treat type 2 diabetes. Doctors also prescribe it to lower the risk of cardiovascular problems in people with both type 2 diabetes and heart failure. The drug comes in prefilled pens for injection. It’s usually used once daily.
Victoza is used to:
- Improve blood sugar management in adults and in children ages 10 years and older who have type 2 diabetes. For this purpose, Victoza is a part of a treatment plan that includes a nutritious, balanced diet and exercise.
- Lower the risk of major cardiovascular problems in adults with type 2 diabetes who already have heart disease. Cardiovascular problems involve the heart and blood vessels. Examples include heart attack and stroke.
The active ingredient in Victoza is liraglutide. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.)
Victoza belongs to a group of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists.
This article describes the dosages of Victoza, as well as its strength and how to use it. To learn more about Victoza, see this in-depth article.
Note: Victoza should not be used to treat type 1 diabetes. It also should not be used with other medications that contain liraglutide.
This section covers common dosage information for Victoza.
What is the form for Victoza?
Victoza comes as a liquid solution in a prefilled pen. You’ll use the pen to inject Victoza under your skin.
Victoza comes in a package that contains either two or three pens. Each pen is prefilled with multiple doses of Victoza.
What strength does Victoza come in?
Victoza comes in one strength: 6 milligrams (mg) per milliliter (mL) of liquid solution. Each Victoza pen holds 3 mL of solution containing a total of 18 mg of active drug.
The Victoza pen can deliver three different doses: 0.6 mg, 1.2 mg, or 1.8 mg. You’ll use Victoza according to the dosage instructions that your doctor or healthcare professional gives you.
The number of doses per pen depends on your dosage. This is shown in the Victoza pen dosage table below.
| Victoza dosage | Number of doses per pen |
| 0.6 mg once per day | 30 |
| 1.2 mg once per day | 15 |
| 1.8 mg once per day | 10 |
What are the typical dosages of Victoza?
Typically, your doctor will start you on a low dosage. Then they’ll adjust your dosage over time to reach the amount that helps manage your blood sugar levels. Your doctor will ultimately prescribe the lowest dosage that provides the desired effect.
The dosing guide below describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended for adults.* But be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.
You’ll use a prefilled pen to inject Victoza under your skin. The dosing frequency of Victoza is once per day. You can inject it under the skin of your abdomen, upper arms, or thighs. (For more information, see the “How is Victoza used?” section below.)
The usual starting dosage of Victoza is 0.6 mg once per day. After 1 week of treatment, your doctor will increase your dosage to 1.2 mg once per day.
After at least 1 more week of treatment, your doctor will likely recheck your blood sugar levels. If they’re still high, your doctor may increase your dosage of Victoza to 1.8 mg once per day.
The maximum daily dose of Victoza is 1.8 mg.
* For children’s dosage, see “What’s the dosage of Victoza for children?” below.
Is Victoza used long term?
Yes, Victoza is typically used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Victoza is safe and effective for you, it’s likely that you’ll use it long term.
What’s the dosage of Victoza for children?
Victoza is approved for use in children ages 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes.
The dosage of Victoza for children is the same as it is for adults. For more information, see “What are the typical dosages of Victoza?” above.
Get answers to some frequently asked questions about Victoza dosage.
Is Victoza used for weight loss? If so, what’s the dosage?
Victoza isn’t approved for weight loss. However, some people lose weight when they take Victoza at the dosage prescribed to manage type 2 diabetes.
Liraglutide also comes as the brand-name prescription drug Saxenda, which is approved for weight loss. For a comparison of Victoza and Saxenda, see this article.
If you have questions about liraglutide for weight loss, talk with your doctor.
What’s the difference in dosage and average weight loss with Victoza compared with Saxenda?
Both Victoza and Saxenda are brand-name prescription drugs that contain the same active drug, liraglutide. But their approved uses and dosages are different.
Unlike Saxenda, Victoza isn’t approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for weight loss. It’s FDA-approved to treat type 2 diabetes in adults and some children. For this purpose, it’s used with a balanced diet and exercise.
It’s also used to reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems in adults with both type 2 diabetes and heart disease. (Cardiovascular problems involve the heart and blood vessels.)
Victoza’s typical dosages are 0.6 milligrams (mg), 1.2 mg, or 1.8 mg once per day.
In studies, people who took 1.2 mg of Victoza per day lost an average of 2.1 kilograms (kg), or about 4.6 pounds (lb), after a year of treatment. People who took Victoza 1.8 mg per day lost an average of 2.5 kg (about 5.5 lb) after a year of treatment.
Saxenda is FDA-approved to help people lose weight. The recommended dosage of Saxenda is 3 mg each day. It’s meant to be used with a balanced diet and exercise.
A study looked at people who took 3 mg of Saxenda per day. Some also followed an exercise program of moderate to vigorous intensity. After a year, the results showed that they lost an average of 4.1 kg (about 9 lb) with just exercise, 6.8 kg (about 15 lb) with just Saxenda, and 9.5 kg (about 21 lb) with both Saxenda and exercise.
For more information about how Victoza and Saxenda affect weight, talk with your doctor.
You’ll use the Victoza pen to give yourself an injection under your skin once per day.
A healthcare professional will show you how to inject Victoza before you use it for the first time. In addition, detailed instructions with pictures are included with every package of Victoza pens. You can also watch a video that demonstrates how to inject Victoza.
To use Victoza pens, you’ll need pen needles. You’ll attach a new needle to the pen before you inject each dose.
Victoza doesn’t come with pen needles. You’ll need to get them separately from your pharmacy. Some states require a prescription for pen needles. For more information, check with your pharmacist.
You can inject it under the skin of your abdomen, upper arms, or thighs. It’s best to rotate your injection site. This means to inject Victoza in a different area every time you inject a dose. Doing so helps prevent thickening of the skin near the injection site.
Instructions for insulin users
If you use insulin, follow these precautions to avoid risk of low blood sugar levels:
- Do not mix Victoza and insulin together in the same injection.
- Do not transfer Victoza to an insulin syringe.
- If you want to inject insulin and Victoza in the same area of your body area, make sure there are several inches between injection sites.
If you have questions about Victoza’s dosage and administration, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Don’t use more Victoza than your doctor prescribes. Using more than this can lead to serious side effects.
Symptoms of overdose
Symptoms caused by an overdose of Victoza can include:
- severe nausea or vomiting
- severely low blood sugar levels
What to do in case you use too much Victoza
Call your doctor right away if you think you’ve used too much Victoza. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately or go to the nearest emergency room.
You’ll inject one dose of Victoza each day. It doesn’t matter what time of day you take your dose. But it’s best to take your Victoza dose around the same time each day. This will help you get into a routine so that you won’t forget to take it.
If you miss a dose of Victoza, skip it. Continue with your regularly scheduled dose the next day. Don’t take an extra dose or higher dose of the drug to make up for the missed dose.
If you miss more than 3 days of Victoza doses, talk with your doctor. They may have you restart with the starting dosage of Victoza, which is 0.6 milligrams once per day.
If you need help remembering to take your dose of Victoza on time, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm and downloading a reminder app. A kitchen timer can work, too.
The sections above describe the typical dosages provided by the drug manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Victoza for you, they’ll prescribe the dosage that’s right for you.
Remember, you shouldn’t change your dosage of Victoza without talking with your doctor first. Only use Victoza exactly as prescribed. If you have questions or concerns about your current dosage, talk with your doctor.
Here are some examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- Would a lower dosage of Victoza help reduce my risk of side effects?
- Do I need to change my insulin injection routine when I start Victoza?
- Do my other medications affect the dosage of Victoza that’s best for me?
- Should I receive a higher dosage of Victoza if I’ve had a heart attack or stroke in the past?
To learn more about Victoza, see these articles:
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Q:
Will my dosage of Victoza need to be changed if it doesn’t work well enough for me?
AnonymousA:
It’s possible. Make sure to tell your doctor if your blood sugar levels are still high after 1 week of using the 1.2-mg dose of Victoza daily. Your doctor or healthcare professional may recommend increasing your dosage of Victoza to 1.8 mg once daily.
The Healthline Pharmacist TeamAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
