What is Victoza and how does it work?
Victoza is a prescription medication used to treat the symptoms of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Victoza may be taken alone or with other medications.
These injections contain “liraglutide,” which belongs to a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists. Unlike endogenous GLP-1, liraglutide is stable to metabolic degradation by peptidases and has a plasma half-life of 13 hours.
What is the mechanism of action of Victoza Injection?
1- Liraglutide reduces meal-induced hyperglycemia – for 24 hours after administration by increasing insulin secretion (only) when the rise in glucose levels requires it.
2- Delaying gastric emptying and digestion of a meal.
3- Suppression of prandial glucagon secretion. The hormone is best known for its action in stimulating glucose production in the liver and thus maintaining adequate plasma glucose concentration.
Liraglutide causes insulin release in pancreatic beta cells when blood glucose levels are elevated. This insulin release decreases when glucose concentration decreases and approaches normal blood glucose levels. It also decreases glucagon secretion in a glucose-dependent manner.
And it delays gastric emptying and digestion of food, resulting in low blood glucose.
Victoza Pen
The Victoza is available as a pre-filled pen. That pen comes with three milliliters of solution that contains 18mg of Liraglutide, i.e., 6mg/ml. Thus, one pen delivers 30 doses of 0.6mg, or 15 doses of 1.2mg, or 10-doses of 1.8mg Liraglutide.
Victoza dosage:
The recommended starting dose for people with type 2 diabetes is 0.6 mg once a day. Your doctor will increase the dose as needed, depending on the results of blood glucose tests and whether you experience hypoglycemia or other side effects such as nausea and diarrhea.
Usually, doctors prescribe the following dosage
0.6 mg/day for the first week, 1.2 mg/day for the second week, 1.8 mg/day for the third week, 1.2 mg in the morning, 1.8 mg in the evening, or 3 mg/day for the fourth week.
The dosage depends on your body’s response to liraglutide, that is, side effects and blood sugar control. If your blood sugar is controlled with a low dose, this will be your regular daily dose.
The purpose of the low dose is to see if you have severe allergic reactions, GI problems or not. If no severe side effects occur, the dose will be increased until the desired blood sugar level is reached.
Overdose
An overdose can cause serious side effects that may endanger your life.
If you know or suspect that you have taken too much Victoza, contact your healthcare provider right away. Take the dose exactly as prescribed and follow all instructions carefully.
