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GLP-1 Receptor Agonist

Liraglutide

Brand names: Victoza (T2DM), Saxenda (obesity)

Liraglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist (a daily injection) used in type 2 diabetes and, at higher doses, for weight management; it lowers glucose with weight loss.

Dosing — being independently re-sourced

ClinCalc Pro is rebuilding its dose data from primary open sources — the manufacturer SmPC (eMC), the WHO Model Formulary and other official references — under clinician review. This drug's structured dose is not yet published here. Confirm all doses against the product SmPC and your local formulary before prescribing.

US labelling (FDA)

Reference — US labelling, may differ from UK

Adult Patients: Initiate at 0.6 mg injected subcutaneously once daily for one week then increase to 1.2 mg daily. If additional glycemic control is required, increase the dose to 1.8 mg daily after one week of treatment with the 1.2 mg daily dose. ( 2.1 ) Pediatric Patients: Initiate at 0.6 mg injected subcutaneously once daily for at least one week. If additional glycemic control is required increase the dose to 1.2 mg daily and if additional glycemic control is still required, increase the dose to 1.8 mg daily after at least one week of treatment with the 1.2 mg daily dose. ( 2.1 ) Inspect visually prior to each injection. Only use if solution is clear, colorless, and contains no …

Source: US FDA prescribing information (openFDA / DailyMed), label dated 2025-11-13. Accessed 2026-06-12. US dosing and indications can differ from UK practice — use UK sources for prescribing decisions.

Clinical monograph

How it works

It mimics GLP-1 — increasing glucose-dependent insulin secretion, suppressing glucagon, slowing gastric emptying and reducing appetite.

Prescribing in practice

  • Gastrointestinal effects (nausea, vomiting) are common during dose escalation — titrate slowly.
  • Delayed gastric emptying is relevant around anaesthesia or sedation and can affect oral drugs; rare pancreatitis.
  • Hypoglycaemia risk is low alone but higher with a sulfonylurea or insulin (reduce those); it is not for type 1 diabetes or DKA.

Monitoring

Monitor HbA1c and weight; review gastrointestinal tolerance and remain alert to pancreatitis.

Counselling the patient

  • It is a once-daily injection; nausea is common at first and usually improves.
  • Tell anaesthetic or endoscopy teams you take it.
  • Report severe, persistent abdominal pain.

Evidence & guidelines

A GLP-1 receptor agonist for type 2 diabetes (NICE NG28) with cardiovascular benefit (LEADER), and licensed for weight management.

Reference: LEADER Trial (Marso et al, NEJM 2016); SCALE Trial; NICE TA664; Drug verified in RxNorm (NLM); confirm dosing against the manufacturer SPC (eMC). Verify against your local formulary and current prescribing references before prescribing. Monograph status: clinician-reviewed (2026-07-04).

Related

Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.

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