What is liraglutide?
Liraglutide is a GLP-1 medicine made by Novo Nordisk, injected once a day. It is sold as Victoza for type 2 diabetes and Saxenda for weight management.
It was approved in 2010 (Victoza) and 2014 (Saxenda), years before the weekly GLP-1 medicines semaglutide and tirzepatide.
What is liraglutide used for?
Victoza lowers blood sugar in type 2 diabetes and lowers the risk of heart attack and stroke in adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Saxenda is approved for long-term weight management in adults and in children 12 and older with obesity.
How does liraglutide work?
Liraglutide copies GLP-1, a gut hormone released after eating. It helps the pancreas release insulin when blood sugar is high, slows stomach emptying and reduces appetite.
What does the research on liraglutide show?
In the main Saxenda trial (SCALE), adults with obesity lost about 8% of their body weight over 56 weeks on average, compared with 2.6% on placebo. That is less than the weekly medicines: semaglutide and tirzepatide produced roughly 15% and 21% in their main trials.
Liraglutide side effects
The most common side effects are nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting and reduced appetite, mostly while the dose is rising. Serious risks include pancreatitis, gallbladder problems and low blood sugar with insulin or similar drugs.
Like other GLP-1 medicines, it carries a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors seen in rodents.
Is there a generic liraglutide?
Yes. Generic versions of Victoza became available in the US in 2024, and in August 2025 the FDA approved the first generic Saxenda, the first generic GLP-1 for weight loss.
Generics usually cost less than the brands, though insurance coverage still varies.
Is liraglutide legal?
Yes, with a prescription. Brand and generic liraglutide are FDA-approved; the GLP-1 titration schedule shows the Saxenda step-up on a calendar.