Victoza weight loss online

As a GLP-1 receptor agonist, Victoza imitates the GLP-1 hormone that naturally occurs in the body. This hormone causes low blood sugar levels by increasing insulin production, limiting glucagon, and slowing the movement of food from your stomach to intestines, which prolongs the feeling of fullness. Victoza also curbs your appetite, which, when combined with the slowdown in digestion, helps you eat less and lose weight.

Unlike natural GLP-1, which breaks down within minutes, Victoza keeps working throughout the day, keeping hunger at bay. It should be used in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, both of which also contribute to weight loss.

In a clinical trial of people with obesity, those taking Victoza lost 10.6 to 12.1 pounds in 20 weeks (about 5 months).

In another clinical trial, people taking Victoza lost 4.7% of their initial body weight, on average, in 56 weeks (just over a year). If your initial weight is 250 pounds, that’s a weight loss of 11.75 pounds.

Victoza comes in an 18 milligram/3 milliliter (6 milligram/milliliter) prefilled pen that can be used to deliver doses of 0.6, 1.2, or 1.8 milligrams. Each pen contains multiple doses of the medication. Pens are sold in packs of 2 or 3 pens.

Typically, a healthcare provider will have you start at 0.6 milligrams daily for 1 week. Then, they’ll increase your dose to 1.2 milligrams daily. If they feel that you need a higher dose, they’ll increase your dose to 1.8 milligrams daily after 1 week on the 1.2-milligram dose.

Victoza is administered as a daily subcutaneous (under the skin) injection. It comes in a pre-filled pen. You give yourself a shot in the stomach, thigh, or upper arm. You don’t need to time your dose around meals.

If you miss a dose of Victoza, take it as your next scheduled dose. Never double up on doses to make up for a missed one. And always consult your provider before stopping or adjusting your medication.

While Victoza causes significant weight loss, other medications may deliver faster or greater weight loss results, according to clinical trials.

For example, weight loss pills, such as Qsymia (phentermine-topiramate) and Contrave (bupropion-naltrexone), can result in 5% to 10% weight loss over 56 weeks. In the same time frame, people taking Victoza lose 4.7% of their initial body weight, on average.

Among weight loss injections, all produce more weight loss than Victoza, including Saxenda — which contains the same active ingredient as Victoza, but in higher dosage strengths that go up to 3 milligrams. In a 56-week trial that directly compared the 2, people taking Saxenda lost 6% of their body weight, compared to 4.7% for those taking Victoza.

Weight loss injections such as Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide) produce even more weight loss — 14.9% in 68 weeks on Wegovy and up to 20.9% in 72 weeks on Zepbound. See a comparison of GLP-1 agonist medications.

Qsymia, Contrave, Saxenda, Wegovy, and Zepbound are FDA-approved for weight loss or weight management in people with obesity (a body mass index [BMI] of 30 or more} or overweight (a BMI of 27) with one or more weight-related health problems, when used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. All of them have side effects which vary but typically include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and headache. They may also cause serious side effects, such as allergic reactions, gallbladder problems, and/or suicidal thoughts or behavior.

The best way to find out which weight loss medication, if any, is best for you is to talk to a weight loss provider.