Liraglutide - Common brands: Saxenda, Diavic, Zegluxen

What liraglutide is for

Liraglutide is a type of medicine called a GLP-1 agonist. It can be used to manage type 2 diabetes or obesity, by helping you lose weight when you combine it with exercise and changes to your diet.

Liraglutide works for weight loss by reducing your appetite and helping you feel fuller for longer.

For type 2 diabetes it works by lowering high blood sugar levels and helps your body to make more insulin if it's needed. It also slows digestion which keeps your blood sugar levels stable after meals and can help prevent heart disease.

Liraglutide can be prescribed for weight loss by NHS weight management services which your doctor can refer you to if your BMI meets the eligibility criteria.

If you decide to get a private prescription for liraglutide, it's important to get it from a registered pharmacy. There are some websites that sell fake weight loss medicines.

How to use liraglutide

Liraglutide comes as an injection that you give yourself once a day.

Always check the packet or leaflet that comes with your medicine. It will tell you how to get the injection ready.

Keep your injection in the fridge until you're ready to use it.

Ask a pharmacist, nurse or doctor for advice if you're not sure how to use it or you have any problems.

When using liraglutide:

• try to inject at the same time each day – you can use it at any time of day
• inject into the fatty areas of your thigh, tummy or upper arm
• change the place you inject each day – you can use the same area but do not use the exact same spot
• inject into a different place if you inject insulin as well

If you miss a liraglutide injection

If you forget to give yourself liraglutide and:

• it's 12 hours or less since you should have had it, give yourself the injection as soon as you remember
• it's more than 12 hours since you should have had it, skip the missed injection

Then continue as usual and give yourself your next injection the next day.

Do not give yourself 2 injections at the same time to make up for a missed one.

If you use too much liraglutide

It's important to get medical advice if you use too much liraglutide because it can sometimes be dangerous.

How to stop taking liraglutide

Talk to your doctor if you want to stop using liraglutide, and do not stop suddenly. If you have type 2 diabetes it could affect your blood sugar.

Your doctor may suggest reducing your dose gradually.

Side effects of liraglutide

Like all medicines, liraglutide can cause side effects, but not everyone gets them.

Common side effects

Common side effects of liraglutide include:

• feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting)
• constipation or diarrhoea
• headache
• feeling tired
• itchy or red skin where you inject – redness maybe harder to see on brown or black skin

Serious side effects

Liraglutide can sometimes cause serious side effects, but most of them are rare.

Possible serious side effects of liraglutide include:

• an allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), which can cause symptoms such as a swollen throat or tongue, a raised, itchy rash or difficulty breathing
• low blood sugar (more likely if used with other diabetes medicines), which can cause symptoms such as headaches, vision problems, feeling dizzy, weak or confused, a fast heartbeat or sweating
• an inflamed pancreas (acute pancreatitis), which can cause severe pain in your stomach or back that does not go away
• gallstones or swelling of the gallbladder (cholecystitis), which can cause severe tummy pain

If you feel dizzy or have vision problems after using liraglutide, do not drive, ride a bike or use machinery until you no longer have these side effects.

Who can and cannot take liraglutide

Most adults and children aged 10 years and over can use liraglutide.

Liraglutide is not suitable for some people. For example, it may not be suitable if:

• you've had an allergic reaction or serious side effect from liraglutide or another GLP-1 agonist
• you're 75 years old or over
• you have stomach or gut problems such as gastroparesis or inflammatory bowel disease
• you have or have had an inflamed pancreas (acute pancreatitis)

Before using liraglutide, tell your doctor or a pharmacist if you have any medical conditions.

Breastfeeding and liraglutide

Tell your doctor if you're breastfeeding. Liraglutide is not used while breastfeeding as it's not known if the medicine passes into breast milk.

Pregnancy and liraglutide

Tell your doctor if you're pregnant or get pregnant while taking liraglutide.

Liraglutide is not used during pregnancy as there's not enough information to say it’s safe for your baby.

Your doctor will recommend other medicines to treat type 2 diabetes while you're pregnant.

Find out more about taking GLP-1 agonists, including liraglutide, during pregnancy on the Bumps (Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy) website

Using liraglutide with other medicines, food and drink

There are some medicines, herbal remedies and supplements that may not mix well with liraglutide.

These include:

• other diabetes medicines, such as gliclazide, glimepiride, metformin and tolbutamide
• insulin – your doctor or specialist nurse may need to adjust your dose
• other GLP-1 agonists such as semaglutide, dulaglutide, exenatide or lixisenatide
• a general anaesthetic (which puts you to sleep) or a sedative (which relaxes you) for an operation or dental procedure – tell the healthcare professional that you're using liraglutide

Before you use liraglutide, tell your doctor or a pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements.

Liraglutide and contraception

If there's a chance you could get pregnant, you'll need to use contraception while you’re taking liraglutide.

Food, drink and alcohol with liraglutide

You'll need to eat a healthy, balanced diet while using liraglutide.

It's best to avoid drinking alcohol while taking liraglutide because it can increase side effects like feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting).

Find out more about eating a healthy, balanced diet