Victoza, a once-daily injectable medicine primarily used for sort 2 diabetes, can be prescribed off-label for sort 1 diabetes, prediabetes, and weight reduction.
This text explores how the remedy could assist with weight reduction and solutions frequent questions on its use.
What’s Victoza?
This remedy is a once-daily, injectable medicine that is available in a pre-filled pen and accommodates liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonist. It’s permitted for kids ages 10 and up and adults with sort 2 diabetes.
Related GLP-1 agonists, like Ozempic, are prescribed for related functions.
The injection works by decreasing glucose manufacturing within the liver and growing insulin secretion, which improves insulin sensitivity and helps handle blood sugar ranges.
Moreover, this drugs slows digestion, serving to you are feeling full longer after meals.
Learn extra in: Every thing You Have to Know About Victoza.
Who can take Victoza?
This drug is extensively prescribed, and its off-label makes use of (which means, its makes use of for functions that aren’t explicitly a part of the FDA’s official approval) have been rising lately.
Adults with a body-mass index (BMI, a measure of weight relative to top) of 30 or greater, and folks with a BMI of 27 or greater who’ve a number of weight-related medical circumstances, are sometimes prescribed the once-daily shot off-label.
The off-label use of the medicine for folks with sort 1 diabetes just isn’t FDA-approved as a result of threat of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) when combining Victoza with insulin. Nevertheless, its use has change into more and more well-liked lately.
It’s not beneficial for folks with a private or household historical past of sure thyroid cancers attributable to a possible elevated threat of thyroid carcinomas.
See extra in: Every thing You Have to Know About Victoza.
Can Victoza aid you shed pounds?
Sure, important proof means that it might assist with weight reduction.
Though not FDA-approved for this objective, the remedy suppresses urge for food, slows digestion, and reduces glucose manufacturing within the liver.
Many docs prescribe it alongside a wholesome life-style, balanced weight loss program, and common train.
Scientific trials have proven that individuals on this medicine following weight loss program and train pointers usually tend to lose 5 % to 10 % of their complete physique weight, with a median extra lack of 5.8 kilograms (kg; 12.75 kilos) past weight loss program and train alone.
How briskly does Victoza work for weight reduction?
Scientific analysis signifies that weight reduction could start inside the first few weeks of taking the drug, although the quantity and timeframe will range by particular person.
A 2023 meta-analysis revealed within the Journal of Scientific Endocrinology & Metabolism discovered that liraglutide customers skilled important weight reduction, averaging 5.3 to six.0 kg (11.6 to 13.2 kilos) over 20 to 56 weeks, with essentially the most notable reductions occurring inside the first 3 months of remedy.
This loss seems to be sustainable, as research over a 12 months or extra have proven continued outcomes.
Elements comparable to beginning weight, weight loss program, train, and total well being will affect how shortly and the way a lot weight you lose on this medicine. Talk about your weight reduction and well being objectives along with your physician earlier than beginning Victoza.
Why am I not shedding pounds on Victoza?
Weight reduction on this remedy can stall for varied causes.
Your dietary decisions, comparable to consuming high-calorie or unhealthy meals, and low bodily exercise ranges could counteract the medicine’s results.
See extra in: Meals to Keep away from Whereas Taking Victoza.
Particular person metabolism, influenced by elements like age, genetics, or hormonal imbalances, additionally performs a job.
Moreover, in case you’re on a decrease dose of the drug, the impression in your urge for food and metabolism is perhaps much less pronounced.
Sure medical circumstances, like hypothyroidism or PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), can additional complicate weight reduction.
It’s essential to remain constant along with your weight loss program, train, and drugs and seek the advice of your healthcare supplier for customized recommendation and potential dosage changes.
Study extra in: Victoza Dosing: How A lot Ought to You Take?
When is the very best time to take Victoza for weight reduction?
In keeping with the producer, this drugs may be taken any time of day, with or with out meals. The perfect time to take it’s each time it will likely be best so that you can get right into a routine and bear in mind your dose.
What are the unwanted effects of Victoza?
If you begin taking this drugs, chances are you’ll expertise some unwanted effects. In keeping with the drugmaker, frequent ones embody:
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Decreased urge for food
- Weight reduction
- Indigestion/heartburn
- Constipation
These signs normally enhance after a couple of weeks. To assist reduce them, your physician could begin you on a decrease dose. Nevertheless, in case your unwanted effects persist or worsen, contact your physician instantly.
Extra severe, much less frequent unwanted effects embody:
- Low blood sugar (particularly in case you additionally take insulin)
- Allergic reactions
- Pancreatitis (irritation of the pancreas)
- Kidney points
- Gallbladder issues
Earlier than beginning this medicine, inform your physician of any private or household historical past of thyroid most cancers. Victoza carries a black field warning as a result of potential threat of thyroid tumors, together with medullary thyroid carcinoma, which has been noticed in animal research.
Whereas the chance to people just isn’t absolutely established, it’s essential to debate this along with your healthcare supplier.
See extra in: Victoza Aspect Results: What You Have to Know.
How a lot Victoza do you are taking for weight reduction?
This drug just isn’t explicitly permitted by the FDA for this objective, so there isn’t a beneficial dose.
If in case you have sort 2 diabetes and are taken with shedding pounds, talk about your choices along with your physician. There are different medicines particularly permitted by the FDA for weight reduction, together with Saxenda, Wegovy, and Zepbound.
Who mustn’t take Victoza for weight reduction?
This GLP-1 agonist just isn’t beneficial for folks with a private or household historical past of thyroid most cancers or a number of endocrine neoplasia syndrome, as animal research counsel a possible elevated threat of growing thyroid C-cell tumors.
Moreover, these with a historical past of pancreatitis are suggested towards taking Victoza.
Individuals who use short-acting or rapid-acting insulin ought to be cautious when taking the medicine attributable to an elevated threat of hypoglycemia.
Whereas this remedy is usually prescribed for folks with sort 1 diabetes, significantly these utilizing bolus or correction doses of insulin, it’s essential to concentrate on the chance of low blood sugar ranges and know how you can handle it.
Is Ozempic or Victoza higher for weight reduction?
Ozempic and Victoza operate equally, each serving to with weight reduction by suppressing urge for food, slowing digestion, and stabilizing blood sugar ranges. Whereas neither medicine is FDA-approved particularly for weight reduction, these results usually result in weight reduction in lots of customers.
A research revealed in late 2022 supplied robust proof of weight reduction with Victoza however famous that folks tended to lose extra weight when taking Ozempic.
Nevertheless, there are essential professionals and cons to every, so discussing choices along with your physician is important.
Study extra in Ozempic vs. Victoza: Which One Ought to You Select? Did you discover this text useful? Click on Sure or No under to tell us!
