Liraglutide injection (Victoza) is used with a diet and exercise program to control blood sugar levels in adults and children 10 years of age and older with type 2 diabetes (condition in which the body does not use insulin normally and therefore cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood) when other medications did not control levels well enough.

How to use it?

Liraglutide injection comes as a solution (liquid) in a prefilled dosing pen to inject subcutaneously (under the skin) in your stomach, thigh, or upper arm. It is usually injected once a day with or without food. Use liraglutide injection at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use liraglutide injection exactly as directed. Do not use more or less of it or use it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of liraglutide injection and increase your dose after 1 week.

Liraglutide injection (Victoza) controls diabetes but does not cure it. Continue to use liraglutide injection even if you feel well. Do not stop using liraglutide injection without talking to your doctor.

If you are an adult using liraglutide injection (Saxenda) for weight loss and you do not lose a certain amount of weight after 16 weeks of treatment, it is not likely that you will benefit from using this medication. If you are a child 12 years of age and older using liraglutide injection (Saxenda) and you do not lose a certain amount of weight after 12 weeks on the maintenance dose, it is not likely that you will benefit from using this medication. Your doctor may tell you to stop using liraglutide injection (Saxenda) if you do not lose enough weight during the first weeks of your treatment.

You will need to buy needles separately. Ask your doctor or pharmacist what type of needles you will need to inject your medication. Be sure to read and understand the manufacturer's instructions for injecting liraglutide using the pen. Also make sure you know how and when to set up a new pen, and what to do if you drop your pen. If you are blind or have poor eyesight and cannot read the dose counter on the pen, do not use this pen without help. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to show you how to use the pen. Follow the directions carefully.

Always look at your liraglutide solution before you inject it. It should be clear, colorless, and free of particles. Do not use liraglutide if it is colored, cloudy, thickened, or contains solid particles, or if the expiration date on the bottle has passed.

Never reuse needles and never share needles or pens. Always remove the needle right after you inject your dose. Dispose of needles in a puncture-resistant container. Ask your doctor or pharmacist how to dispose of the puncture resistant container.

What side effects can this medication cause?

This medication may cause changes in your blood sugar. You should know the symptoms of low and high blood sugar and what to do if you have these symptoms.

Liraglutide injection may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• headache

• constipation

•  heartburn

•  runny nose, sneezing, or cough
  

•  tiredness
  

•  difficulty urinating or pain or burning on urination
  

•  injection site rash or redness
  

  
  

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience either of these symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING or SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS sections, stop using liraglutide injection and call your doctor immediately:

• ·         ongoing pain that begins in the upper left or middle of the stomach but may spread to the back

• ·         new or worsening depression

• ·         thinking about harming or killing yourself

• ·         unusual changes in mood or behavior

• ·         vomiting

• ·         nausea

• ·         diarrhea

• ·         clay-colored stools

• ·         yellow eyes or skin

• ·         heart pounding

• ·         fainting or feeling dizzy

• ·         swelling of the eyes, face, mouth, tongue, or throat

• ·         rash

• ·         itching

• ·         difficulty breathing or swallowing

Liraglutide injection may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while using this medication.