Victoza · Saxenda
Daily GLP-1 agonist — the original injectable for weight loss.
FDA
Approved
WADA
Not Listed
HALF-LIFE
13 hours
ROUTE
SubQ injection (daily)
SCHEDULE
Daily
In Plain English
Daily GLP-1 agonist — the original injectable for weight loss.
Status & Legality
NATTY?
No Test ExistsNo established test exists for this compound.
FDA
ApprovedFDA approved for human use.
WADA
Not ListedNot currently on WADA prohibited list.
COMPOUNDING
Rx AvailableAvailable at licensed pharmacies with prescription.
PRESCRIBED
By prescriptionPhysicians can prescribe this compound legally.
ROUTE
SubQ injection (daily)Administration via subq injection (daily).
Weight loss
Type 2 diabetes
Cardiovascular protection
Liraglutide was the first GLP-1 agonist approved for chronic weight management (as Saxenda). While less potent than semaglutide for weight loss, it has a longer track record and is still widely used. It showed a 5–8% average body weight reduction in trials. Requires daily injection vs semaglutide's weekly.
Nausea
Diarrhea
Constipation
Headache
Injection site reaction
Rare: pancreatitis
Choosing liraglutide when semaglutide is available — weekly injection and meaningfully better weight loss make semaglutide the better choice for most
Not titrating properly — the weekly titration schedule is critical to tolerability
Missing daily injections — liraglutide's short half-life means missed doses matter significantly more than with once-weekly semaglutide
Insulin and sulfonylureas — hypoglycemia risk; reduce mealtime insulin when starting
Oral medications — slowed gastric emptying affects drug absorption; monitor levels for narrow therapeutic index drugs
Warfarin — monitor INR during active weight loss phases
Liraglutide works but is largely superseded by semaglutide in 2025+. The main reasons to choose it: shorter washout for pregnancy planning, specific insurance coverage, or established tolerance with an existing prescription. If starting fresh with no constraints, semaglutide is the better option for almost everyone.
Stats
Sources & Studies
Marso SP. et al., N Engl J Med, 2016