Highest Approved Dose of Victoza (Liraglutide)
The maximum approved dose of Victoza (liraglutide) for type 2 diabetes is 1.8 mg subcutaneously once daily. 1
Dosing Schedule and Titration
- Initiate treatment at 0.6 mg subcutaneously once daily for one week to reduce gastrointestinal symptoms during initial titration; this starting dose is not effective for glycemic control in adults 1
- After one week, increase to 1.2 mg once daily, which represents the usual therapeutic dose for most patients 1, 2
- If additional glycemic control is required, escalate to the maximum dose of 1.8 mg once daily after at least one week of treatment at 1.2 mg 1, 2
Pediatric Dosing (Ages 10 Years and Older)
- Start at 0.6 mg subcutaneously once daily 1
- Increase in 0.6 mg increments after at least one week on the current dose if additional glycemic control is needed 1
- The maximum recommended dose remains 1.8 mg once daily 1
Administration Considerations
- Victoza is administered once daily at any time of day, independent of meals 1, 3
- Inject subcutaneously in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm 1
- Rotate injection sites within the same region to reduce the risk of cutaneous amyloidosis 1
- When using Victoza with insulin, administer as separate injections—never mix 1
Important Safety Considerations
- Victoza is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2) due to thyroid C-cell tumor risk observed in rodent studies 1
- The most common adverse events are gastrointestinal (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), which typically diminish over time 2, 3
- Hypoglycemia risk is low when used as monotherapy but increases when combined with sulfonylureas; consider reducing sulfonylurea dose 3, 4
- No dose adjustment is required for renal or hepatic impairment 4
Clinical Context
- Liraglutide at 1.2 or 1.8 mg produces mean A1C reductions of 0.6–1.6% as monotherapy and up to 1.5% in combination therapy 4
- Weight loss of up to 3.38 kg has been documented in clinical trials, making it suitable for obese patients with type 2 diabetes 4
- The 1.8 mg dose represents the ceiling for glycemic benefit; higher doses are not approved for diabetes management under the Victoza brand 1
Note on Higher-Dose Liraglutide
While Victoza's maximum dose is 1.8 mg daily for diabetes, liraglutide is also available as Saxenda at 3.0 mg daily specifically for obesity treatment—this is a separate indication and product 5. For type 2 diabetes management, 1.8 mg remains the highest approved Victoza dose 1.