Victoza Use for Weight Loss
Victoza is the brand name used for liraglutide in Europe. This drug is the first human Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 developed to be taken once per day in order to treat type 2 diabetes. It has only just received its approval for all of the states in the European Union for two uses:
Victoza is a new drug used for treating type 2 diabetes and has been found to promote weight loss in overweight and obese patients.
- As a treatment combined with metformin or one of the sulphonylureas among patients who suffer from a lack of glycemic control even after having tried the highest possible dose of metformin or sulphonylurea monotherapies.
- As a treatment combined with metformin and one of the sulphonylureas or metformin and one of the thiazolidinediones among patients who suffer from a lack of glycemic control even after having tried the dual therapy.
Clinical studies with Victoza that involved the participation of over 6,500 people suffering from type 2 diabetes demonstrated a notable decrease in blood glucose levels, allowing for weight loss without the a heightened risk of hypoglycemia. For this reason, it is now considered to be a beneficial type 2 diabetes treatment option and helps to further reduce the risks of the condition by allowing for weight loss.
The drug was first launched by Novo Nordisk – the manufacturer – within Germany, the United Kingdom, and Denmark during the summer of 2009, and throughout the second half of 2009 and throughout the year 2010 the drug will continue to be released throughout the rest of the European Union marketplaces.
The drug functions by only stimulating insulin release when the blood’s glucose levels are high enough to warrant its need. Weight loss is a very common side effect of this drug – one that is often considered very desirable, as one of the things that is most recommended to type 2 diabetes sufferers is weight loss in order to reduce the symptoms of their condition. It is believed that Victoza causes this weight loss because it decreases the speed at which gastric emptying occurs, so that the patient feels more satisfied after meals and for a longer period of time. The body naturally breaks down Victoza and does not need renal excretion for elimination.
Though the drug is not considered to be weight loss medication, it does include this side effect among one of the beneficial reactions that can occur when it is used in order to control type 2 diabetes – especially in cases where weight loss is recommended by the prescribing medical professional.
as usual the general advice of weight loss as a ‘cure’ for t2 diabetes. since most t2 diabetics become overweight due to the body’s inability to deal with excess carbohydrate in the first place. if being overweight caused diabetes then almost all the human race would be diabetic .
instead of the correct education with regards to the effect of carbohydrates on blood glucose levels and self monitoring. GP’s stuff their patients with drugs that cause weight gain and escalate the medication until the patient ends up on insulin. all prescribed drugs have side effects, victoza unfortunatley caused thyroid cancer in the rats it was tested on. shame to see it hasnt been mentioned in this glowing report.
T2 diabetics become overweight due to the body’s inability to deal with excess carbohydrate in the first place. This article has full of information. So thanks…
The most effective way for Losing Weight is exercise. You just do some cardio workout everyday like jogging and running for miles. That would effectively burn the fats in your body.
I have been on victoza for three months, sugar levels have gone down, I have lost 2 stone in weight, but I have lost mussle control in my legs, this might be due to a back problem even though it does not show on MRI scan, has any body experienced this proble
I have just started on Victoza as other drugs didnt work. After being tested at the age of 20 I was informed I was borderline diabetic and only needed to use diet to control it - and here I am now at 40 struggling with a weight problem and trying more medication to control the diabetes! So my conclusion is that there is definitely something in the theory that the diabetes causes the weight gain in the first place!
I was just very interested in your story. I too was diagnosed with borderline diabetes at the age of 18 and I never weighed 100 pounds. I only weighed 127 when I was 9 months pregnant with my first child. I had gestational diabetes when I was pregnant with her. Then, I had Graves disease and had my thyroid removed. I gained some weight, but I stayed around 125 - 130 pounds. I am 5′ 3″. I am now 61, and after going throuh menopouse, my weight has soared to 165. I hope this helps my weight as well as fend off Type 2 Diabetes.
I have just started on Victoza & in a weeks time watching what I eat I have lost almost 10lbs. Im a nurse so just stick with it
Are you concerned with the risk of thyroid cancer and the fact that this is a new medication and it is not fully understood what long term side effects might be?
I am also a nurse and just started Victoza this week. It would be careless not to be concerned about the risk of thyroid cancer and the long term effects. However, knowing the risks of diabetes and its effect on your heart and kidneys, I had to decide if the benefits outweigh the risks. My father is insulin dependent with an A1C of 10+ and is starting to have kidney damage. He had a heart attack at age 50 and has had several cardiac surgeries. Knowing what we do about heredity, and already starting to have some cardiac complications myself, I have decided that this is worth the risk for me because if I do not do something about my blood sugar and weight now I could be taking years off of my life. Whether or not the benefits outweigh the risks for you would be a good discussion to have with your physican.
how are you doing on the Victoza ? i have just started taking it.
I am doing well. Initially had some slight nausea that subsided after three days. The only side effect that continues is a lot of sneezing and runny nose. I have lost 5 pounds after the first week.
How are you doing? I am wondering if anyone else has had sneezing as a side effect.
i dont have any side effects at all, i am going to get weighed today so i will know how much i have lost. i am a little concerned that the dose i am taking may not be high enough.
Just started on the Rx Victoza. Very sick to my stomach and severe headaches. Is this normal?
I just started Victoza last night and today my appetite is gone. I hope it’s not like this for long. Nothing looks or tastes good right now.
I just saw my doctor today. Read the insert on Victoza. The side effect of thyroid cancer is scary. I do not know if I really need to proceed. I am now 53 pounds overweight. I have gained most of my weight since I developed diabetes. I think I might try excerise and diet along with my current meds for diabetes.
Started it yesterday, felt a little sicky but nothing too nasty
I just started Victoza one week ago. My endocrinologist took me off Glipizide and replaced it with the Victoza. first, let me say- I have NEVER been so sick in the first four days! I was going to throw in the towel. She really wanted me to stick it out at least two weeks an see hat happened. I started at .06 and today have gone to 1.2 dosing. The only releif I found was over the counter Emetrol. Phenergan did not help. Emetrol, as you know, is full of sugars so I had to monitor even more closely and use my fast acting insulin a few times. But so far it has been no picnic. I am hoping the ends will justify the means. If you get super nauseous just remember EMETROL it is OTC at every drug store and well worth it!
I was on Byetta 10mg for over a year and last week I started on Victoza, the lowest dose for a week then today I started the medium dose. Byetta would make me feel sick but I haven’t had those symptoms on Victoza.
That also scares me because I lost 20+ pounds on Byetta and I’ve gained 3 pounds this past week on Victoza….but my sugar level has been lower, overall than on the Byetta.
I am also having a great deal of tooth and lower jaw pain but I’m hoping that has more to do with the Actos than the Victoza…. we’ll see (I quit taking the Actos). If I don’t get relief from the tooth pain in the next couple of days I’m stoppng the Victoza, too.
I started the low does yesterday around 6p.m. and didn’t feel a thing. This morning I decided to dose before work. My-oh-my I CANNOT believe how awful I feel. I do admit though, that it’s not as bad as when you have a stomach virus, but for me, just being a little nauseated is horrible. I had already started to watch what I eat to get this sugar level down, but today beat all the other days of trying. I litterally took one bite of my lunch at work and that was it. I couldn’t take another bite. I couldn’t even finish my little sugar free jello that I love. I had to leave the table and go back to work because my co-worker’s lunches were making me ill to just see them. Now I understand why you lose weight on this drug. HA HA I sure hope I won’t be this way for 2 weeks. I have packing to do and moving to do. And right now all I want to do is lay down. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what to eat during this time? I know soup should be good, but right now, not even soup sounds good.
I started Victoza 8 days ago. The nausea and vomiting have been so bad I have had to go to a soft diet. I feel ok with the soft food but certainly not hungry. I was on Byetta for 2 years and did well. I was hoping the once a day injection would be better.
I also just started on this 5 days ago and have been so sick,even had to call into work ill.HAs anyone out there experienced this yet had it subside over time? its hard to keep going….
This is my second week on Victoza and I’m very pleased with the results. The first couple of days I felt like crap but now, I have energy, I’m eating less and my numbers are regulated during the day. My fasting levels are elevated but I will wait and see what happens when my I begin 1.8. I also lost 7 lbs. It was as little scary to learn about the thyroid cancer. I had a partial thyrodectomy in the summer and don’t want to experience surgery again. I hope that everyone who’s not having the same experience will eventually feel better.
Just started the Victoza yesterday. I am a type 1 diabaetic for 27 years, now age 44. I’ve had to decrease my basal insulin in my pump by 25% to stop the insulin reactions. However I am having alot of nausea, ect. I’m drinking AlkaSeltzer. Having my husband pick up the Emptrol now. I’ve had Symlin and Byetta before but could not make myself take it with each meal because I anticipated the nausea. I’m hopeful with only one injection per day I’ll be more likely to stay with it. I am a little bit better today with my nausea but literature says this will subside. I hope so. Any other Type 1’s out there on Victoza?
The literature accompying Victoza specifically states that it is NOT for Type I diabetics, so I am wondering why your physician would prescribe it. You should probably get a second medical opinion
Is it ok to take the victoza at night time. When I say night time I mean around 10:00 p.m.? I just started it tonight at 10:00. I took the Byetta before but I was sick the whole time and can’t afford to miss work so thats the reason I thought I would try this at night time.
I started victoza March 13, I take it at night time about 10:00 p.m. I don’t feel anything. I lost 3lbs
I have the Victoza to try………our health plan requires we loose weight by 2011 or we go to a 70/30 plan vs 80/20 plan. My father died of cancer….so the thought of the thyroid cancer scares me. Has anyone been on it a long time and if so what has been the outcome? Thanks!
I’ve been on Victoza since March 13. My first day I had no reaction (injection mid afternoon), the second day I experienced mild nausea after injection in the morning. I have had some dizziness. I have lost interest in food for which I am grateful. I also notice I am not as, oh, interested in stuffing myself - I feel satisfied with less food, but I find I am tired. I lost 7 lbs, but I am also following the Sparkpeople nutrition and exercise plan, but 7 lbs is too much, so I don’t know how much of the loss is attributable to the med.
I am 53, was obese before I was diagnosed with t2 diabetes. My blood sugar has fairly plummeted.
p.s. you can absolutely take Victoza at night. All the literature states that time of day is flexible, but should be independent of meals. This is my first day without significant side effects (5th day since beginning). DON’T TAKE IT IN THE MORNING. This is my advice.
p.p.s. Blood sugar has gone from 270 fasting to 142. The stuff works
I had a heart attack on 2/16/10 and from all appearances it was due to my being overweight, a smoker and a diabetic. I was completely unaware that I was diabetic and found out my A1C was 10.1 with my BS’s averaging 270. I was placed on glimeperide, metformin and the Novolog 70/30. My endocronologist had been discussing Byetta with me but advised me today that he wanted me to change to Victoza. My average BS’s, since the heart attack, have come down significantly and average 100 now with a low carb and exercise routine! He believes that in 6 months I should be able to come off all the meds due to diet control, exercise and the weight loss that should result from the Victoza. I just took my first dose and am hoping the evening shots will negate the upset tummy (the pharmacist advised me to take it at night)! I wish you all well and look forward to seeing more positive updates! Your good stories as well as the negative ones ALL help!