Library / Weight and metabolic

Liraglutide

Also known as Victoza, Saxenda

Approved medicine

Once daily GLP-1 receptor agonist peptide. Approved for type 2 diabetes and for chronic weight management.

Prescription medicine. Only a prescriber can decide whether a medicine suits you and at what dose. This page is information, not a recommendation.

Background

Developed by Novo Nordisk in Denmark by attaching a fatty acid to a slightly modified human GLP-1 so that it binds to albumin and lasts long enough for once daily injection (described in 2000). FDA approved as Victoza for type 2 diabetes in 2010 and as Saxenda for weight management in 2014.

How it is thought to work

Activates GLP-1 receptors: in the pancreas it boosts insulin release when glucose is high and lowers glucagon; in the brain it reduces appetite; and it slows stomach emptying. Its half life is about 13 hours versus 1.5 to 2 minutes for natural GLP-1.

What is claimed, and the evidence

Claim	Evidence	Notes
Chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight with a weight related condition, and adolescents 12 and over	Approved use	Saxenda label indication, with diet and exercise; approved on the ARTG.
Blood glucose control in type 2 diabetes (adults and children 10 and over)	Approved use	Victoza label indication.
Reducing heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular death in type 2 diabetes with heart disease	Approved use	Victoza label indication based on a cardiovascular outcomes trial.
Low dose 'microdosing' for appetite control or longevity in people without obesity	No published evidence	Online trend; not studied in trials.

Side effects

Effect	How often	Notes
Nausea	Common	39.3% versus 13.8% on placebo in Saxenda adult trials.
Diarrhoea	Common	20.9% versus 9.9%.
Constipation	Common	19.4% versus 8.5%.
Vomiting	Common	15.7% versus 3.9%.
Headache	Common	13.6% versus 12.6%.
Indigestion, fatigue, dizziness, abdominal pain, injection site reactions	Common	5% or more in label trials.
Low blood sugar Serious	Common	Mainly with insulin or sulfonylureas; also seen in adolescents without diabetes.
Gallstones and gallbladder inflammation Serious	Uncommon	Label warning.
Acute pancreatitis Serious	Rare	Stop if suspected.
Raised heart rate	Common	Label warning; monitor heart rate.
Kidney injury from dehydration Serious	Rare	Linked to vomiting and diarrhoea.
Serious allergic reactions Serious	Rare	Post marketing reports of anaphylaxis and angioedema.
Inhaling stomach contents under anaesthesia Serious	Rare	Reported with GLP-1 agonists; tell the anaesthetist before procedures.

Warnings

Boxed warning: causes thyroid C-cell tumours in rodents; contraindicated with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN 2.
Severe gastrointestinal reactions can occur; not recommended with severe gastroparesis.
Not to be combined with other GLP-1 receptor agonists; pharmacy compounding of GLP-1 agonists has been prohibited in Australia since 1 October 2024, so compounded or online products are unapproved.

Phase 3 trials

SCALE Kids

Phase 3a, Completed, published. 82 participants, 56 weeks plus 26 weeks follow-up. NCT04775082

Population: Children aged 6 to under 12 with obesity.
Arms: Liraglutide 3.0 mg daily or highest tolerated dose; Placebo
Primary outcome: Percentage change in BMI.
Results: BMI changed by minus 5.8% against plus 1.6% on placebo.
Safety: Gastrointestinal adverse events 80% against 54%. Serious adverse events 12% against 8%.
Source: Fox CK et al. N Engl J Med 2025;392:555-65.

Doses in these trials were given under medical supervision.

Regulatory status

Australia: Approved (ARTG, e.g. Saxenda and generic liraglutide). Schedule 4. Pharmacy compounding of GLP-1 receptor agonists has been prohibited since 1 October 2024.
United States: FDA approved (Victoza 2010 for type 2 diabetes; Saxenda 2014 for chronic weight management). Generic versions approved.

Sources

Also in Weight and metabolic

From the VialOwl library, reviewed 26 September 2026. For education and general information. It is not medical advice and not a recommendation to use Liraglutide.