What does liraglutide do?

Liraglutide is a synthetic peptide GLP-1 receptor agonist used in FDA-approved products: Victoza for type 2 diabetes and Saxenda for chronic weight management. The source describes it as about 97% similar to natural GLP-1 and modified with a fatty acid chain to extend its time in the body. It also reports FDA approval of a generic version as of 2024.

How does liraglutide work?

The source reports that liraglutide activates the GLP-1 receptor. Its reported actions include glucose-dependent insulin release, lower glucagon signaling, slower stomach emptying, reduced post-meal glucose spikes, and appetite effects through GLP-1 receptors in the hypothalamus.

Is liraglutide FDA approved?

Yes. The source lists liraglutide as FDA approved for diabetes under Victoza and for weight loss under Saxenda. It also states that a generic version was FDA approved as of 2024 and that Teva generic Saxenda launched in Aug 2025.

What side effects are reported for liraglutide?

Reported effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, headache, hypoglycemia when combined with insulin or sulfonylureas, pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, acute kidney injury, and a boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumors. The source notes gastrointestinal effects are common during dose escalation and that a clear human thyroid C-cell tumor link has not been established.

What dose information is reported for liraglutide?

The source lists a community-reported common dose of 1.8-3 mg daily, a range of 0.6-3 mg daily, and subcutaneous daily administration. A research row labeled FDA-approved prescribing information lists 0.6mg daily as a starting dose. These values are preserved for profile review and are not medical advice.

Weight Loss FDA Approved - approved for specific uses

Liraglutide

Also known as: Victoza, Saxenda

At a glance

PeptiGuide dataset · reviewed Aug 2026

What it is

FDA-approved daily GLP-1 peptide used in diabetes and chronic weight management contexts.

Status

FDA Approved

Evidence level: human clinical evidence

Typical dose

1.8–3mg

Subcutaneous injection daily

Researched for

Weight management, diabetes control, appetite suppression

Trial progress

PrePreclinical
IPhase I
IIPhase II
IIIPhase III
IVPhase IV
FDAFDA approved

FDA approved - FDA-approved for specific uses with established human evidence

Use the tools

In plain language

Synthetic receptor administered once daily by injection.
Source describes about 97% sequence similarity to natural GLP-1 and a fatty acid modification that prolongs activity.
FDA-approved as Victoza for type 2 diabetes and Saxenda for chronic weight management; generic approval is also reported.
Typical dose listed by the source is 1.8-3 mg daily, with a reported range of 0.6-3 mg daily.
Researched for weight management, diabetes control, and appetite suppression.

How it's thought to work

Liraglutide is reported to act as a receptor . The source describes glucose-dependent pancreatic insulin signaling, reduced glucagon activity, delayed gastric emptying, and central appetite-related GLP-1 receptor activity in the hypothalamus as mechanisms relevant to glucose control and satiety.

What the research shows

Where the research stands

The source characterizes liraglutide evidence as human clinical evidence rather than preliminary research. It reports that the LEADER trial enrolled 9,340 high-risk participants with type 2 diabetes and found cardiovascular death, heart attack, or stroke occurred in 13.0% with liraglutide versus 14.9% with placebo, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2016. For weight outcomes, the source cites the SCALE program, where adults without diabetes lost about 8% of body weight at 56 weeks on the 3.0 mg Saxenda dose. It also notes that nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are common, particularly during dose escalation, and that labeling includes a boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumors based on rodent findings without a confirmed human link.

What it shows

✓ Human clinical evidence

FDA-approved for specific uses with established human evidence

△ Limitations

Use only according to approved labeling and qualified medical guidance.

Bottom line: FDA approved for diabetes as Victoza and weight loss as Saxenda; source also reports Teva generic Saxenda launched Aug 2025. FDA Approved

Typical dosing

CommunityCommunity dataset

1.8–3 mg

daily

0.6 mgfull range seen3 mg

Community-reported dosing row for FDA-approved liraglutide products Victoza and Saxenda; source notes weekly titration. This is retained for review and is not dosing advice. · Subcutaneous injection daily

Research dosing

Indication-specificApproved for specific uses - study doses are indication-specific

Doses observed in studies

0.6mg daily (starting)

FDA Approved Labeling - Prescribed dose

Use only according to approved labeling and qualified medical guidance.

Duration: Long-term / chronic use
Administration: Subcutaneous injection daily
Frequency: Once daily

Timing & administration

Best time to take

Morning or evening, consistent daily

Once daily at consistent time

Food recommendation

With or without food

Why this timing?

Because the source describes liraglutide as a daily GLP-1, it reports consistent once-daily timing as the rationale for maintaining steadier levels.

Possible side effects

Not everyone experiences these. Individual responses vary with dose, duration, and personal factors.

Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Constipation
Headache
Hypoglycemia
Pancreatitis
Gallbladder disease
Acute kidney injury
Thyroid C-cell tumors

Not everyone experiences side effects, and severity can vary by context, purity, route, and individual health factors.

Sources

PubMed ClinicalTrials.gov FDA.gov

Frequently asked questions

Sequence

HAEGTFTSDVSSYLEGQAAK(1)EFIAWLVRGRG; palmitoyl-gamma-Glu linked at Lys20

One open dataset

Every fact on this page - doses, side effects, references - comes from the same PeptiGuide dataset that powers the Tracker, Compare, and the Lab.

Browse the dataset

Save to my research list Get updates on Liraglutide

Educational resource, not medical advice. Talk to your clinician before acting on anything here.

Community discussion

Comments are moderated before they appear. Keep it evidence-focused.

Liraglutide

In plain languageIn plain language

How it's thought to workHow it's thought to work

What the research showsWhat the research shows

Typical dosing

Research dosing

Timing & administrationTiming & administration

Possible side effectsPossible side effects

SourcesSources

Frequently asked questionsFrequently asked questions