Liraglutide
Also known as: NN2211, Victoza, Saxenda
Liraglutide (Victoza/Saxenda) is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes and obesity under physician supervision. Research-grade liraglutide is for laboratory use only. Not for unsupervised self-administration. Consult a licensed physician.
Overview
Liraglutide is a once-daily GLP-1 receptor agonist — the first long-acting GLP-1 analog approved for both type 2 diabetes (Victoza, 1.8mg) and chronic weight management (Saxenda, 3mg). It was the foundational GLP-1 agonist that established the class's cardiovascular benefits and set the stage for semaglutide and tirzepatide.
Research Summary
The LEADER trial (N=9340) demonstrated significant reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in high-risk T2D patients — the first cardiovascular outcomes trial for a GLP-1 agonist. The SCALE trials showed 5–8% mean weight loss at 3mg/day vs placebo. While superseded by semaglutide and tirzepatide in weight loss efficacy, liraglutide has the longest safety record in the class (approved 2010) and daily dosing allows finer tolerability titration.
Dosing Range
low
0.6mg
moderate
1.8mg
high
3.0mg
Units: mg · Frequency: Once daily subcutaneous injection
Dosing ranges are aggregated from preclinical research and community protocols. Not medical dosing guidance.
Administration Routes
Reconstitution Notes
Available as multi-dose pen (Victoza/Saxenda). Research-grade liraglutide is lyophilized powder — reconstitute with bacteriostatic water to 1mg/mL. Stable 30 days at room temperature or 12 weeks refrigerated after opening.Step-by-step reconstitution guide →
Supplies you'll need
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Reported Side Effects
- Nausea (most common, especially during initiation)
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Decreased appetite
- Injection site reactions
- Headache
- Increased heart rate (+2–3 bpm)
- Pancreatitis (rare)
- Thyroid C-cell hyperplasia (rodent data; contraindicated in MEN2/medullary thyroid carcinoma history)
Research Papers
2 peer-reviewed sourcesCommunity Experiences
Aggregated from public forums. Anecdotal — not clinical evidence.
Community experience with Saxenda — dosing, side effects, and weight loss timelines.
View original threadOverview
Liraglutide was the first GLP-1 analog engineered for once-daily dosing. Developed by Novo Nordisk, it introduced the concept that GLP-1 agonists could deliver durable cardiovascular protection beyond glycemic control — a finding that transformed T2D treatment guidelines globally.
Mechanism
Liraglutide is an acylated GLP-1 analog with ~97% sequence homology to native GLP-1. The fatty acid side chain enables albumin binding, extending its half-life to ~13 hours (vs ~2 minutes for native GLP-1). It activates the GLP-1 receptor in the pancreas, hypothalamus, gut, and cardiovascular system.
Key actions:
- Appetite suppression — signals hypothalamic satiety centers to reduce caloric intake
- Gastric emptying delay — slows nutrient absorption and prolongs satiety
- Glucose-dependent insulin release — stimulates insulin only when glucose is elevated (low hypoglycemia risk)
- Glucagon suppression — reduces hepatic glucose output
The GLP-1 Class Timeline
| Agent | Dosing | Weight Loss | Approval | |-------|--------|-------------|----------| | Liraglutide | Daily | ~5–8% | 2010 (DM), 2014 (obesity) | | Semaglutide 0.5–1mg | Weekly | ~6–9% | 2017 (DM) | | Semaglutide 2.4mg | Weekly | ~15% | 2021 (obesity) | | Tirzepatide 15mg | Weekly | ~22.5% | 2022 (DM), 2023 (obesity) |
Titration Protocol
Standard 4-week titration:
- Weeks 1–2: 0.6mg/day (tolerance building)
- Weeks 3–4: 1.2mg/day
- Week 5+: 1.8mg/day (diabetes maintenance)
- For weight loss (Saxenda): continue titrating to 3.0mg/day over 5 weeks
Daily dosing allows week-by-week adjustments if GI side effects are significant — an advantage over weekly agents where dose changes take longer to stabilize.
Cardiovascular Protection
LEADER trial findings in high-CV-risk T2D patients:
- 13% reduction in 3-point MACE (CV death, non-fatal MI, non-fatal stroke)
- 22% reduction in CV death
- Kidney protection: reduced progression of diabetic kidney disease
This was the first demonstration that a GLP-1 agonist could reduce CV mortality — a landmark finding that reshaped prescribing guidelines.
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