Victoza Prefilled Pen

What is Victoza?

Victoza Pens 6 mg is a daily injectable prescription antidiabetic drug used to help improve blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. It should be used together with a healthy diet and regular exercise. Its active ingredient is liraglutide.

Both Victoza 2-Pak and Victoza 3-Pak are available from us. Every pen contains a total of 3mL of liraglutide. The strength of Victoza is 6mg/ml, for a total strength of 18 mg in each pen. However, you can only choose from the following strengths for each injection: 0.6 mg, 1.2 mg or 1.8 mg. Ask your doctor which dosage strength you should use.

What is it used for?

Victoza is typically used together with a healthy diet and regular exercise to improve blood sugar regulation in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is usually given after treatment with other diabetes medicines have been attempted without any success. It is not used for the treatment of type 1 diabetes.

Usage for weight loss

More recently, Victoza Pens 6 mg has been approved as a treatment to help you lose excess weight. It is specifically authorized for use in those people who are obese (with a Body Mass Index of 30 or greater), or overweight (with a Body Mass Index greater than 27), and the presence of at least one weight-related medical condition like high blood pressure, diabetes, or dyslipidemia (the abnormal presence of lipids in the blood). In order to help you with losing excess weight it should be used alongside a low-calorie meal plan together with increased physical activity.

How does Victoza Pens 6 mg work?

Victoza (liraglutide) belongs to a class of medicines called GLP-1 analogues, which help your body make more insulin when your blood sugar levels are high. It is very similar to a hormone that naturally occurs in the body to help control blood sugar, insulin levels, and digestion.

Liraglutide leads to insulin release from beta cells in your pancreas when there are elevated levels of blood sugar, like after you eat a meal. The insulin release slows as your blood sugar levels decrease and approach normal blood sugar levels. Glucagon, which is also produced and released from the pancreas, works the opposite of insulin in that it increases blood sugar. Liraglutide also decreases glucagon production and release, and increases the rate at which food leaves the stomach (delays gastric emptying).

How to take this medication

Make sure to take your medicine exactly as your doctor has prescribed for you. It is an injection which must be given under the skin (subcutaneously). Be careful to never inject it into a vein or muscle.

Before you use the pen for the first time your doctor will show you how to properly use it. The best places to give yourself the injection are in the front of your thighs, the front of your waist (abdomen) or in your upper arm. The injection can be done at any time of the day. Never share your pen or needles with anyone else, including family members, even if you have changed the needle.

Dosage

Usual dose:

Victoza Pens 6 mg can be administered at any time of the day and you take it with meals or without.

The typical starting dose is 0.6 mg once a day for at least the first week. Your doctor will tell you how long to keep taking this dose. Your dose may then be increased to 1.2 mg once a day. Your doctor may tell you to increase the dose If your blood sugar is not controlled well enough with a dose of 1.2 mg, up to 1.8 mg once a day. Do not change your dosage unless your doctor has specifically told you to. You will not need to test your blood sugar levels each day in order to adjust your dose, however, if you are taking a sulfonylurea medicine as well, your doctor may advise you to test your blood sugar levels daily. This will help your doctor to decide if the dose of the sulfonylurea needs to be changed.

Missed doses:

If you should happen to miss a dose, take your next dose on the next day as usual. Do not take an another dose or increase the dose on the following day to make up for the dose you missed. Do not stop using Victoza pens without talking to your doctor.

Warnings and Precautions

Do not use this drug if:

• You are allergic to any of the ingredients
• You or any family member has or has had in the past medullary thyroid cancer
• You have MEN 2 (Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 2)
• You are breastfeeding or pregnant

To help avoid any side effects and to ensure proper use, make sure to talk to your doctor before taking Victoza. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:

• Have type 1 diabetes
• You or any family member has or has had in the past medullary thyroid cancer
• Have ever had diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
• Have MEN 2 (Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 2)
• Have a high heart rate
• Have ever had an allergic reaction to liraglutide
• Have liver problems
• Have ever had pancreatitis
• Have any heart disease, such as angina, heart rhythm disturbances or congestive heart failure, or if you have ever had a myocardial infarction (heart attack)
• Have a condition called heart block (brachycardia)
• Have kidney problems
• Have severe diarrhea or vomiting or dehydration
• Have gastrointestinal problems
• Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed
• Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant

When you begin your treatment, you may experience some loss of fluids or dehydration, especially if you experience any diarrhea or vomiting. To avoid dehydration it is important to drink plenty of fluids. Contact your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.

Liraglutide may increase heart rate and could cause changes which are known as PR prolongation. Seldomly drugs with these effects cause changes in heart rhythm that result in dizziness, feeling of pounding, rapid or irregular heart beat, fainting or death. If you have heart disease, or if you are taking certain other drugs, these types of heart rhythm changes are more likely. It is important to follow your doctor’s advice about the dose of Victoza or about any special tests that you may need.

Tell your doctor about all the medications you take, including any minerals,vitamins, drugs, alternative medicines or natural supplements. In particular, tell your doctor if you are using a sulfonylurea medicine (such as glibenclamide or glimepiride) or insulin for the treatment of your diabetes.

The medicine may interact with:

• Drugs to treat hypertension
• Drugs to treat heart failure
• Drugs to treat HIV infection
• Drugs to treat attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder
• Drugs to suppress appetite or cause weight loss
• Decongestants
• Drugs to treat asthma

More information about Victoza

• Product Monograph – Health Canada
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration Medication Guide