What’s the best time to take Victoza for weight loss?

In this article:

• Best time to take Victoza
• Missed dose
• Maximizing benefits
• Side effects
• The bottom line

In this article

• Best time to take Victoza
• Missed dose
• Maximizing benefits
• Side effects
• The bottom line

Victoza (liraglutide) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist commonly prescribed to people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus to manage their blood sugar levels, along with diet and exercise. People with Type 2 diabetes are at higher risk of cardiovascular or heart disease—partially because people with this condition often have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or obesity. Victoza is also approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events like heart attack, stroke, and death in people with heart disease and diabetes. While weight loss is a common side effect of this medication, it’s considered an off-label use of Victoza, similar to another well-known GLP-1 agonist for diabetes, Ozempic (semaglutide). People without diabetes should not take Victoza solely for weight loss without support from a healthcare professional. Saxenda, a drug containing the same active ingredient as Victoza, is approved for weight management in people with obesity or excess weight with a weight-related health condition.

Victoza can be taken at any time of day, with or without food. Depending on your reaction to it, you may find more success taking the medication at night or during the day.

When is the best time to take Victoza for weight loss?

“Anytime is fine!” confirms Sulagna Misra, MD, a primary care provider specializing in medical weight loss. Victoza is a once-daily injection administered via a prefilled pen. The best time depends on your daily routine and the side effects you experience. Victoza aids weight loss by slowing the digestion of food in the gut, which helps to curb your appetite as you feel full longer, no matter when you take it.

“Some people may have nausea, vomiting, constipation, gastrointestinal distress, acid reflux, and fatigue,” Dr. Misra explains. “For patients with those symptoms, I generally recommend taking it at night so that hopefully you sleep through the symptoms.”

You can choose whatever time works best for you. Just make sure to take it at the same time each day consistently. Making it a part of your daily routine makes it more likely you will remember your daily dose.

What if I miss a dose of Victoza?

According to experts, one missed dose of Victoza is no reason to panic. “If you miss a dose, just continue the next day with the same dose, you should not double up the dose,” advises Mert Erogul, MD, director of metabolic health in the division of bariatric surgery at Maimonides Medical Hospital in Brooklyn, New York.

The recommended starting Victoza dosage is 0.6 mg injected once daily for one week. Then, the dosage is increased to 1.2 mg once daily. If the 1.2 mg dose is not enough to control your blood sugar, the dosage can be increased to 1.8 mg daily after taking the 1.2 mg dose for at least one week. The dosage for Saxenda can go even higher, with doses of 2.4 mg and 3 mg. If you miss several doses, seek medical advice from your healthcare provider to determine the best course of action.

How do I get the most out of my Victoza?

While Victoza has been shown to cause weight loss, the amount can vary. There are a few strategies that can maximize your results:

• Stick with a consistent routine: Using the Victoza pen at the same time every day can help you remember to do so. Taking the medication consistently improves results.
• Follow the injection instructions: “These injections should go directly into the subcutaneous tissue, aka the fat, but the site itself doesn’t matter,” says Dr. Misra. You can inject it into the fatty tissue of your upper arm, stomach, or thigh.
• Make changes to your nutrition: According to the Obesity Medicine Association, the best way to maximize weight loss on Victoza is to consume a balanced diet. A possible diet for weight loss may include a balance of lean protein, carbohydrates, vegetables, fruit, and healthy fats. Great protein sources for weight loss include poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts. It is also important to control portion sizes and drink plenty of water.
• Get enough exercise. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), physical activity is key to maximizing weight loss, as the body needs to burn calories to lose fat. A healthy adult should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week, such as walking, biking, or even yard work. Talk to your healthcare provider before embarking on a new fitness routine.
• Work with your provider to find the right dose. If your healthcare provider is prescribing Victoza off-label for weight loss, they prescribe a similar dose to Saxenda. The dosage for Saxenda begins at 0.6 mg and increases weekly until reaching the full dosage of 3 mg. Since weight loss is an off-label use of Victoza, the dosage is not standardized. Work closely with your provider to find out the proper dose for your body.

What are the possible side effects of Victoza?

If you’re considering Victoza for weight loss, you should be aware of the potential risks. The most common side effects of Victoza are gastrointestinal, such as:

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Decreased appetite
• Indigestion
• Constipation

Other more serious side effects of Victoza include:

• Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
• Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), which would cause pain in the stomach or back
• Kidney problems
• Gallbladder problems
• Increased risk of thyroid cancer, especially in people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC)
• Allergic reaction, with symptoms such as swelling in the face, lips, tongue or throat, trouble breathing or swallowing, severe rash or itching, rapid heartbeat or fainting

You should not take Victoza if you have medical conditions involving your stomach, such as gastroparesis. To avoid drug interactions, tell your healthcare provider or pharmacist about any over-the-counter medications or dietary supplements you are using before starting Victoza.

The bottom line

You can take Victoza for weight loss at whatever time of day fits into your routine. Just make sure to be consistent to achieve maximum results. Work with your healthcare provider to figure out the dosage schedule that works best for you.