lir-a-GLOO-tide
Liraglutide causes dose-dependent and treatment-duration-dependent thyroid C-cell tumors at clinically relevant exposures in animals. It is unknown whether liraglutide causes thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), in humans. Liraglutide is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC and Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). It is unknown whether monitoring with serum calcitonin or thyroid ultrasound will mitigate risk. Patients should be counseled regarding the risk and symptoms of thyroid tumors .
Commonly used brand name(s)
In the U.S.
- Victoza
Available Dosage Forms:
- Solution
Pharmacologic Class: Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist
Uses For liraglutide
Liraglutide injection is used to treat a type of diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes) called type 2 diabetes. Liraglutide is to be used when diet and exercise do not result in good blood sugar control.
liraglutide is available only with your doctor's prescription.
Before Using liraglutide
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For liraglutide, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to liraglutide or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric
Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of liraglutide in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.
Geriatric
Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of liraglutide in the elderly.
Pregnancy
| Pregnancy Category | Explanation | |
|---|---|---|
| All Trimesters | C | Animal studies have shown an adverse effect and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women OR no animal studies have been conducted and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women. |
Breast Feeding
There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.
Interactions with Medicines
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol
Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.
Other Medical Problems
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of liraglutide. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Alcohol abuse or
- Cholelithiasis (gallstones), history of—May increase risk for pancreatitis.
- Dehydration or
- Gastroparesis (stomach does not empty food normally) or
- Kidney disease (e.g., chronic renal failure), severe or
- Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), history of—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.
- Diabetic ketoacidosis (ketones in the blood) or
- Type I diabetes—Should not be used in patients with these conditions. Insulin is needed to control these conditions.
- Fever or
- Infection or
- Surgery or
- Trauma—These conditions may cause temporary problems with blood sugar control and your doctor may want to treat you temporarily with insulin.
- Medullary thyroid carcinoma (cancer of the thyroid), family history of or
- Multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)—Should not be used in patients with these conditions.
Proper Use of liraglutide
When you start using liraglutide, it is very important that you check your blood sugar often, especially before and after meals and at bedtime. This will help lower the chance of having very low blood sugar.
liraglutide should come with a Medication Guide. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.
You may take liraglutide with or without food.
You will be using liraglutide at home. Your doctor will teach you how the injections are to be given. Be sure you understand exactly how the medicine is to be injected.
liraglutide is given as a shot under the skin of your stomach, thighs, or upper arm.
Allow the medicine to warm at room temperature before you inject it. If the medicine in the pen has changed color, looks cloudy, or if you see particles in it, do not use it.
Use a new needle each time you inject your medicine.
Never share medicine pens with others under any circumstances. It is not safe for one pen to be used for more than one person. Sharing needles or pens can result in transmission of infection.
Throw away used needles in a hard, closed container that the needles cannot poke through (puncture-resistant). Keep this container away from children and pets.
Follow carefully the special meal plan your doctor gave you. This is the most important part of controlling your diabetes, and is necessary if the medicine is to work properly. Also, exercise regularly and test for sugar in your blood or urine as directed.
Dosing
The dose of liraglutide will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of liraglutide. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
- For injection dosage form:
- For type 2 diabetes:
- Adults—At first, 0.6 milligrams (mg) injected under the skin once a day for one week. Your doctor may increase your dose as needed and until your blood sugar is controlled.
- Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
- For type 2 diabetes:
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose of liraglutide, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
Storage
Keep out of the reach of children.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.
Store your new, unused medicine pen in the refrigerator, in the original carton, and protect it from light. Do not freeze liraglutide, and do not use the medicine if it has been frozen. You may store the opened medicine pen in the refrigerator or at room temperature for 30 days. Throw away any unused medicine after 30 days.
Remove the needle from the pen before storing the medicine. This prevents leaking of the remaining medicine and prevents air bubbles from forming in the cartridge.
Precautions While Using liraglutide
It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that liraglutide is working properly. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.
It is very important to carefully follow any instructions from your health care team about:
- Alcohol—Drinking alcohol may cause severe low blood sugar. Discuss this with your health care team.
- Other medicines—Do not take other medicines during the time you are using liraglutide unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This especially includes nonprescription medicines such as aspirin, and medicines for appetite control, asthma, colds, cough, hay fever, or sinus problems.
- Counseling—Other family members need to learn how to prevent side effects or help with side effects if they occur. Also, diabetic patients may need special counseling about diabetes medicine dosing changes that might occur because of lifestyle changes, such as changes in exercise and diet. Furthermore, counseling on contraception and pregnancy may be needed because of the problems that can occur during pregnancy in patients with diabetes.
- Travel—Keep a recent prescription and your medical history with you. Be prepared for an emergency as you would normally. Make allowances for changing time zones and keep your meal times as close as possible to your usual meal times.
- In case of emergency—There may be a time when you need emergency help for a problem caused by your diabetes. You need to be prepared for these emergencies. It is a good idea to wear a medical identification (ID) bracelet or neck chain at all times. Also, carry an ID card in your wallet or purse that says that you have diabetes and a list of all of your medicines.
Check with your doctor right away if you have the following symptoms while using liraglutide: a mass in the neck, difficulty with swallowing, hoarseness, shortness of breath, troubled breathing, or wheezing. These may be symptoms of a serious thyroid problem.
Pancreatitis may occur while you are using liraglutide. Tell your doctor right away if you have sudden and severe stomach pain, chills, constipation, nausea, vomiting, fever, or lightheadedness.
liraglutide does not cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). However, low blood sugar can occur when you use liraglutide with other medicines that can lower blood sugar, such as insulin, metformin, or a sulfonylurea. Low blood sugar also can occur if you delay or miss a meal or snack, exercise more than usual, drink alcohol, or cannot eat because of nausea or vomiting.
- Symptoms of low blood sugar include anxiety; behavior change similar to being drunk; blurred vision; cold sweats; confusion; cool, pale skin; difficulty with thinking; drowsiness; excessive hunger; a fast heartbeat; headache (continuing); nausea; nervousness; nightmares; restless sleep; shakiness; slurred speech; or unusual tiredness or weakness.
- If symptoms of low blood sugar occur, eat glucose tablets or gel, corn syrup, honey, or sugar cubes; or drink fruit juice, non-diet soft drink, or sugar dissolved in water to relieve the symptoms. Also, check your blood for low blood sugar. Glucagon is used in emergency situations when severe symptoms such as seizures (convulsions) or unconsciousness occur. Have a glucagon kit available, along with a syringe and needle, and know how to use it. Members of your family also should know how to use it.
Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) may occur if you do not take enough or skip a dose of your antidiabetic medicine, overeat or do not follow your meal plan, have a fever or infection, or do not exercise as much as usual.
- Symptoms of high blood sugar include blurred vision; drowsiness; dry mouth; flushed, dry skin; fruit-like breath odor; increased urination (frequency and amount); ketones in urine; loss of appetite; stomachache, nausea, or vomiting; tiredness; troubled breathing (rapid and deep); unconsciousness; or unusual thirst.
- If symptoms of high blood sugar occur, check your blood sugar level and then call your doctor for instructions.
liraglutide Side Effects
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
- Bladder pain
- bloody or cloudy urine
- cough or hoarseness
- diarrhea
- difficult, burning, or painful urination
- fever or chills
- frequent urge to urinate
- general feeling of discomfort or illness
- headache
- joint pain
- loss of appetite
- lower back or side pain
- muscle aches and pains
- nausea
- runny nose
- shivering
- sore throat
- sweating
- trouble sleeping
- unusual tiredness or weakness
- vomiting
- Blurred vision
- dizziness
- nervousness
- pounding in the ears
- slow or fast heartbeat
- Anxiety
- cold sweats
- coma
- confusion
- cool, pale skin
- depression
- increased hunger
- large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
- nightmares
- seizures
- shakiness
- slurred speech
- Agitation
- confusion
- decreased urine output
- depression
- hostility
- irritability
- lethargy
- muscle twitching
- rapid weight gain
- stupor
- swelling of the face, ankles, or hands
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
- Abdominal or stomach cramps, discomfort, or pain
- acid or sour stomach
- back pain
- belching
- body aches or pain
- constipation
- decreased appetite
- difficulty with breathing
- heartburn
- indigestion
- loss of voice
- nasal congestion
- pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones
- shortness of breath or troubled breathing
- sneezing
- stuffy nose
- swollen mouth and tongue
- tightness of the chest or wheezing
- unpleasant taste
- urge to have bowel movement
- weight loss
- Bleeding, blistering, burning, coldness, discoloration of the skin, feeling of pressure, hives, infection, inflammation, itching, lumps, numbness, pain, rash, redness, scarring, soreness, stinging, swelling, tenderness, tingling, ulceration, or warmth at the injection site
- Hives or welts
- itching
- redness of the skin
- skin rash
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
See also: liraglutide Subcutaneous side effects (in more detail)
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More liraglutide Subcutaneous resources
- Liraglutide Subcutaneous Side Effects (in more detail)
- Liraglutide Subcutaneous Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Liraglutide Subcutaneous Drug Interactions
- Liraglutide Subcutaneous Support Group
- 142 Reviews for Liraglutide Subcutaneous - Add your own review/rating
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