Liraglutide
leer-ah-GLOO-tide
An earlier GLP-1 weight loss injection — taken daily instead of weekly, with a strong safety track record.
Also known as: Saxenda, Victoza
FDA approved for: Chronic weight management (Saxenda) · Type 2 diabetes (Victoza)
Last reviewed: April 2026
What It Does
Liraglutide works the same way as semaglutide — it mimics the GLP-1 hormone to reduce appetite and improve blood sugar. The main difference is it's taken daily instead of weekly, and it produces slightly less weight loss (about 8–10% vs semaglutide's 15–20%). It has a longer track record with more years of safety data.
Why People Take It
How It's Administered
Subcutaneous Injection
Daily injection into belly, thigh, or upper arm
Frequency
Once daily
Pain Level
●○○ Minimal
Self-Administered
Yes — at home
Typical Range
0.6mg – 3.0mg
What To Expect
Week 1–2
Dose titration begins. Mild appetite changes.
Month 1–2
Appetite noticeably reduced. Early weight loss.
Month 6
Average 8–10% body weight loss.
Side Effects
Overall: Mild
Very Common (>10%)
Nausea
Most common in first weeks. Gradual dose increase helps.
Common (1–10%)
Constipation
Slower gastric emptying can cause constipation.
Headache
Usually resolves as body adjusts.
Who Should NOT Take This
• Personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer
• MEN 2 syndrome
• Pregnancy
• History of pancreatitis
Drug Interactions
• Insulin — may need dose reduction
• Oral medications — delayed absorption possible
• Other GLP-1 agonists — do not combine
Pregnancy: Do not use during pregnancy. Discontinue at least 2 months before conception.
Clinical Details
Show Clinical Details (for healthcare professionals)Hide Clinical Details▼
Half-Life
~13 hours
Bioavailability
~55% (subcutaneous)
Mechanism of Action
GLP-1 receptor agonist with 97% homology to native GLP-1. Acylated with a C-16 fatty acid for albumin binding, extending half-life from minutes to ~13 hours.
Published Research
SCALE Maintenance Trial — Liraglutide for Weight Management (2015) ↗Compare With Similar Peptides
First-generation daily GLP-1 for weight loss. Semaglutide and tirzepatide have largely superseded it due to greater efficacy and weekly dosing.
Semaglutide
A medication that reduces appetite and helps your body lose weight by mimicking a natural gut hormone.
Tirzepatide
A dual-action weight loss medication that mimics two gut hormones at once for enhanced metabolic results.
Frequently Asked Questions
FDA-approved for at least one indication. Your provider will determine if this is appropriate for you.