From the Guidelines
The maintenance dose for Victoza (liraglutide) is 3.0 mg daily, as this dose has been shown to decrease food intake and subjective hunger, and delay gastric emptying in individuals with obesity and without diabetes 1.
Key Considerations
- The dose of liraglutide should be initiated at 0.6 mg daily and increased by 0.6 mg weekly to a maximum dose of 3.0 mg daily, as tolerated by the patient, to minimize gastrointestinal side effects 1.
- In case of nausea or other gastrointestinal symptoms, the dose should be reduced to the previous tolerable dose 1.
- The medication should be discontinued if the patient has not lost at least 4% of body weight 16 weeks after initiation 1.
Administration and Monitoring
- Victoza should be injected subcutaneously once daily, at approximately the same time each day, regardless of meals, in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm.
- Dose adjustments should be based on clinical response and weight loss.
- Patients should be monitored for common side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation, as well as more serious side effects such as pancreatitis and suicidal ideation and behavior 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
2.1 Recommended Dosage Adult Patients • The recommended starting dosage of VICTOZA is 0.6 mg injected subcutaneously once daily for one week. • After one week at the 0.6 mg once daily dosage, increase the dosage to 1.2 mg injected subcutaneously once daily. • If additional glycemic control is required, increase the dosage to the maximum recommended dosage of 1.8 mg injected subcutaneously once daily after at least one week of treatment with the 1.2 mg once daily dosage.
The maintenance dose for Victoza (Liraglutide) is up to 1.8 mg injected subcutaneously once daily, after initial titration. 2
- The dose may be increased in increments of 0.6 mg after at least one week on the current dosage.
- The maximum recommended dosage is 1.8 mg injected subcutaneously once daily. 2
From the Research
Maintenance Dose for Victoza (Liraglutide)
- The maintenance dose for Victoza (Liraglutide) is typically 1.2 mg or 1.8 mg administered subcutaneously once daily 3, 4.
- Treatment is usually initiated with a dose of 0.6 mg to improve digestive tolerance, and the daily dose is increased to 1.2 mg (usual dose) after at least one week, and up to 1.8 mg (maximal dose) if necessary 3.
- Liraglutide has been shown to be effective in improving glycaemic control, with a low risk of hypoglycaemia, and is generally well tolerated, with the most common adverse events being gastrointestinal events, such as nausea, which decrease over time 5, 6, 4, 7.
- The dose of liraglutide can be adjusted based on the patient's response to treatment, and it can be used in combination with other antidiabetic agents, including oral antidiabetic drugs and basal insulin 6, 4, 7.