Victoza is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and prophylaxis for disorder of cardiovascular system as a result of type 2 diabetes. Its dosing involves titration to reduce gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting: initiate 0.6 mg daily subcutaneous injection for 1 week; increase to maintenance dose of 1.2 mg daily; and increase to 1.8 mg daily, as needed.
Liraglutide is also FDA-approved as Saxenda for obesity with a body mass index of 30kg/m2< or 27kg/m2 with the presence of at least 1 weight-related comorbid condition. Saxenda is initiated at 0.6 mg subcutaneous daily injection for 1 week, with weekly increments of 0.6 mg per day, until the maintenance dosage of 3 mg once daily is reached.3 If the patient misses a dose of liraglutide injection for more than 3 days, re-initiation at 0.6 mg is recommended to mitigate gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms.