Victoza, a once-daily injectable remedy primarily used for sort 2 diabetes, can be prescribed off-label for sort 1 diabetes, prediabetes, and weight reduction.
What’s Victoza?
This remedy is a once-daily, injectable remedy that is available in a pre-filled pen and comprises liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonist. It’s authorized for youngsters ages 10 and up and adults with sort 2 diabetes.
Comparable GLP-1 agonists, like Ozempic, are prescribed for comparable functions.
The injection works by lowering glucose manufacturing within the liver and rising insulin secretion, which improves insulin sensitivity and helps handle blood sugar ranges.
Moreover, this drugs slows digestion, serving to you’re feeling full longer after meals.
Who can take Victoza?
Adults with a body-mass index (BMI, a measure of weight relative to peak) of 30 or greater, and folks with a BMI of 27 or greater who’ve a number of weight-related medical circumstances, are sometimes prescribed the once-daily shot off-label.
The off-label use of the remedy for folks with sort 1 diabetes isn’t FDA-approved because of the threat of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) when combining Victoza with insulin. Nonetheless, its use has develop into more and more widespread in recent times.
It isn’t really useful for folks with a private or household historical past of sure thyroid cancers resulting from a possible elevated threat of thyroid carcinomas.
Can Victoza enable you drop pounds?
Sure, vital proof means that it will possibly assist with weight reduction.
Though not FDA-approved for this function, the remedy suppresses urge for food, slows digestion, and reduces glucose manufacturing within the liver.
Many medical doctors prescribe it alongside a wholesome way of life, balanced weight loss plan, and common train.
Medical trials have proven that individuals on this remedy following weight loss plan and train tips usually tend to lose 5 % to 10 % of their whole physique weight, with a median extra lack of 5.8 kilograms (kg; 12.75 kilos) past weight loss plan and train alone.
How briskly does Victoza work for weight reduction?
Medical analysis signifies that weight reduction could start throughout the first few weeks of taking the drug, although the quantity and timeframe will fluctuate by individual.
A 2023 meta-analysis printed within the Journal of Medical Endocrinology & Metabolism discovered that liraglutide customers skilled vital weight reduction, averaging 5.3 to six.0 kg (11.6 to 13.2 kilos) over 20 to 56 weeks, with essentially the most notable reductions occurring throughout the first 3 months of remedy.
This loss seems to be sustainable, as research over a yr or extra have proven continued outcomes.
Elements comparable to beginning weight, weight loss plan, train, and general well being will affect how shortly and the way a lot weight you lose on this remedy. Talk about your weight reduction and well being targets along with your physician earlier than beginning Victoza.
Why am I not shedding weight on Victoza?
Weight reduction on this remedy can stall for varied causes.
Your dietary decisions, comparable to consuming high-calorie or unhealthy meals, and low bodily exercise ranges could counteract the remedy’s results.
See extra in: Meals to Keep away from Whereas Taking Victoza.
Particular person metabolism, influenced by components like age, genetics, or hormonal imbalances, additionally performs a job.
Moreover, if you happen to’re on a decrease dose of the drug, the impression in your urge for food and metabolism may be much less pronounced.
Sure medical circumstances, like hypothyroidism or PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), can additional complicate weight reduction.
It’s vital to remain constant along with your weight loss plan, train, and drugs and seek the advice of your healthcare supplier for customized recommendation and potential dosage changes.
Study extra in: Victoza Dosing: How A lot Ought to You Take?
When is the most effective time to take Victoza for weight reduction?
In line with the producer, this drugs might be taken any time of day, with or with out meals. The very best time to take it’s every time will probably be best so that you can get right into a routine and keep in mind your dose.
What are the uncomfortable side effects?
Once you begin taking this drugs, you might expertise some uncomfortable side effects. In line with the drugmaker, frequent ones embrace:
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Decreased urge for food
- Weight reduction
- Indigestion/heartburn
- Constipation
These signs normally enhance after just a few weeks. To assist reduce them, your physician could begin you on a decrease dose. Nonetheless, in case your uncomfortable side effects persist or worsen, contact your physician instantly.
Extra critical, much less frequent uncomfortable side effects embrace:
- Low blood sugar (particularly if you happen to additionally take insulin)
- Allergic reactions
- Pancreatitis (irritation of the pancreas)
- Kidney points
- Gallbladder issues
Earlier than beginning this remedy, inform your physician of any private or household historical past of thyroid most cancers. Victoza carries a black field warning because of the potential threat of thyroid tumors, together with medullary thyroid carcinoma, which has been noticed in animal research.
Whereas the chance to people isn’t totally established, it’s vital to debate this along with your healthcare supplier.
See extra in: Victoza Aspect Results: What You Must Know.
How a lot do you are taking for weight reduction?
This drug isn’t explicitly authorized by the FDA for this function, so there isn’t a really useful dose.
You probably have sort 2 diabetes and are enthusiastic about shedding weight, focus on your choices along with your physician. There are different drugs particularly authorized by the FDA for weight reduction, together with Saxenda, Wegovy, and Zepbound.
Who shouldn’t take Victoza for weight reduction?
This GLP-1 agonist isn’t really useful for folks with a private or household historical past of thyroid most cancers or a number of endocrine neoplasia syndrome, as animal research recommend a possible elevated threat of growing thyroid C-cell tumors.
Moreover, these with a historical past of pancreatitis are suggested in opposition to taking Victoza.
Individuals who use short-acting or rapid-acting insulin ought to be cautious when taking the remedy resulting from an elevated threat of hypoglycemia.
Whereas this remedy is usually prescribed for folks with sort 1 diabetes, notably these utilizing bolus or correction doses of insulin, it’s vital to concentrate on the chance of low blood sugar ranges and know how one can handle it.
Is Ozempic or Victoza higher for weight reduction?
Ozempic and Victoza perform equally, each serving to with weight reduction by suppressing urge for food, slowing digestion, and stabilizing blood sugar ranges. Whereas neither remedy is FDA-approved particularly for weight reduction, these results typically result in weight reduction in lots of customers.
A research printed in late 2022 supplied sturdy proof of weight reduction with Victoza however famous that folks tended to lose extra weight when taking Ozempic.
Nonetheless, there are vital execs and cons to every, so discussing choices along with your physician is crucial.
Study extra in Ozempic vs. Victoza: Which One Ought to You Select?
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