Liraglutide is a drug for controlling blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes and for weight loss in obese people. This drug can reduce the risk of diabetes complications, especially heart disease.
Liraglutide works by increasing insulin production and reducing glucagon production so that blood sugar levels can be reduced. This drug also slows gastric emptying and reduces appetite, making it beneficial for weight loss. 
To increase the effectiveness of treatment, the use of this drug must be accompanied by a balanced nutritional diet and regular exercise.
Trademarks for liraglutide: Saxenda, Victoza, Xultophy
What is Liraglutide
| class | Prescription drug |
| Category | Antidiabetic/antiobesity (GLP-1 Agonists) |
| Benefit | Managing type 2 diabetes and losing weight in obese patients |
| Used by | Adults and children over 10 years of age |
| Liraglutide for pregnant and lactating women |
Category C: Animal studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus, but there have been no controlled studies in pregnant women.
Drugs should only be used if the expected benefit outweighs the risk to the fetus. However, liraglutide should not be used for weight loss in pregnant women. It is not known whether liraglutide is absorbed into breast milk or not. If you are breastfeeding, do not use this medicine without consulting your doctor first. |
| Drug form | Inject |
Precautions Before Using Liraglutide
Liraglutide should not be used carelessly. There are several things that you should pay attention to before using this drug, namely:
- Do not use liraglutide if you are allergic to this drug. Tell your doctor about any allergies you have.
- Tell your doctor if you or your family have a history of thyroid cancer or tumors in other glands of the body.
- Tell your doctor if you have or have had heart disease, hyperthyroidism , high triglyceride levels, pancreatitis , liver disease, kidney disease, digestive disorders, gastroparesis , or gallstone disease, such as gallstones .
- Tell your doctor if you have or are suffering from a mental disorder , such as depression, sudden changes in behavior or mood, or thoughts of suicide or self-harm.
- Tell your doctor if you have diarrhea, are vomiting, can't get enough fluids by mouth, or have a condition that increases your risk of dehydration .
- Avoid consuming alcoholic beverages while undergoing treatment with liraglutide, because it can increase the risk of side effects.
- Do not drive or do activities that require alertness if you experience dizziness or blurred vision after taking liraglutide.
- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning a pregnancy.
- Tell your doctor if you are taking certain drugs, supplements or herbal products, to anticipate drug interactions.
- See a doctor immediately if you experience serious side effects or an allergic drug reaction after using liraglutide.
Dosage and Rules for Using Liraglutide
Liraglutide is given by injection under the skin (subcutaneously/SC). The following is the liraglutide dosage determined based on the goal of treatment and the age of the patient:
Purpose: Treatment of type 2 diabetes
Mature:
- Initial dose: 0.6 mg once daily for the first week, then increase to 1.2 mg. Dosage may be increased if target blood sugar levels have not been reached.
- Maintenance dose: 1.2–1.8 mg once daily
- Maximum dose: 1.8 mg per day.
Children aged ≥10 years:
- Initial dose: 0.6 mg 1 time per day. If necessary, the dose may be increased gradually after 1 week, depending on the patient's condition and response to treatment.
- Maintenance dose: 0.6–1.8 mg once daily.
- Maximum dose: 1.8 mg per day.
Goal: Losing weight in obese patients
Adults with BMI ≥27 kg/m 2 : Dosage is given gradually to reduce the risk of side effects on the digestive system. Here are the details:
- Week 1: 0.6 mg once daily.
- Week 2: 1.2 mg once a day.
- Week 3: 1.8 mg once daily.
- Week 4: 2.4 mg once daily.
- Week 5: 3 mg once a day.
If digestive disorders occur, increasing the dose may be delayed for 1 week.
The maintenance dose of liraglutide for adults is 3 mg once daily. However, if after that bothersome side effects occur, or the body weight is not reduced by at least 5% after 12 weeks, treatment should be stopped.
Children aged ≥12 years with body weight ≥60 kg or BMI ≥30 kg/m 2 : Dosage is given gradually to reduce the risk of side effects on the digestive system. Here are the details:
- Week 1: 0.6 mg once daily.
- Week 2: 1.2 mg once a day.
- Week 3: 1.8 mg once daily.
- Week 4: 2.4 mg once daily.
- Week 5: 3 mg once a day.
If digestive disorders occur, the increased dose may be extended for up to 8 weeks.
The maintenance dose of liraglutide for children is 2.4–3 mg once daily. However, if after that bothersome side effects occur, or the body weight is not reduced by at least 4% after 12 weeks, treatment should be stopped.
How to Use Liraglutide Properly
Always follow the doctor 's recommendations and read the information on the drug packaging before using liraglutide.
Liraglutide can be used before or after meals. This drug is injected under the skin (subcutaneously / SC). The location for injecting liraglutide can be in the stomach, thigh, or upper arm.
Before injecting medicine, make sure to always clean the site where you will be injected using a cotton swab soaked in alcohol or an alcohol swab . Always use a new needle every time you inject medicine and try not to inject drugs at the same location consecutively.
If you forget to use liraglutide, use this drug immediately if the break with the next scheduled use is not too close. If it is close, ignore the missed dose and do not double the next dose.
If you are taking this drug together with other injectable anti-diabetic drugs, such as insulin, try to inject the drugs in a different place. The doctor may also prescribe injectable glucagon in anticipation of severe hypoglycemia .
Consult a doctor regularly while undergoing treatment with liraglutide. You may be asked to undergo certain medical tests regularly, such as a blood sugar test, to monitor your condition and response to treatment.
In order for treatment to be more effective, the use of liraglutide must be accompanied by a healthy lifestyle. Eat a balanced nutritious diet, do regular exercise, avoid consuming alcoholic beverages, and don't smoke.
Store unopened medication in the refrigerator. For drugs that have been used, store the drug in the refrigerator or at room temperature and make sure to use the drug for no more than 30 days. Make sure the medicine is at room temperature before use.
Do not use liquid medicine if it has frozen, changed color, or has particles in it.
Store liraglutide in a dry place away from direct sunlight. Do not store medicine in the freezer. Keep medicine out of reach of children.
Liraglutide Interactions with Other Drugs
The use of liraglutide together with other drugs can cause a number of interaction effects, including:
- Increased risk of hypoglycemia when used with injectable insulin or sulfonylureas
- Prolongs the action of drugs consumed by mouth because liraglutide slows gastric emptying
- Increase your risk of side effects from other GLP-1 agonist drugs, such as semaglutide
Liraglutide Side Effects and Dangers
Some of the side effects that may appear after using liraglutide are:
- Nauseous
- Vomit
- Stomach ache
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea or even constipation
- Headache
- Dizzy
- Tired
- skin rash
Check with your doctor if these side effects don't go away or get worse. Immediately see a doctor if you experience an allergic drug reaction or more serious side effects, such as:
- Symptoms of a tumor on the thyroid gland, such as swelling or a lump in the neck, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, or shortness of breath
- Heart beat
- Changes in mood, behavior, or thoughts of suicide
- Dehydration, which can be characterized by extreme thirst, feeling hot, difficulty urinating, excessive sweating, or dry skin
- Disorders of the pancreas or gallbladder, which can be characterized by nausea, vomiting, fever, yellowing of the eyes or skin ( jaundice ), and severe pain in the upper abdomen that appears suddenly and spreads to the back
Although useful in lowering blood sugar levels, liraglutide can cause blood sugar levels to become too low (hypoglycemia). This condition can be characterized by headaches, hunger, sweating, dizziness, palpitations, tremors, anxiety, or irritability.
If you experience symptoms of hypoglycemia, immediately consume foods or drinks that are high in sugar, such as candy, honey or sweet tea. However, if the symptoms do not improve after consuming sugar several times, immediately go to the doctor or the nearest emergency room.