Liraglutide: Benefits, Dosage & FDA Status
Liraglutide (Saxenda / Victoza)
The original once-daily GLP-1 receptor agonist. Lower weight-loss magnitude than semaglutide but a longer real-world track record across diabetes and obesity.
FDA Status
FDA-approved for weight management (Saxenda) and type 2 diabetes (Victoza)
Typical Dose
0.6–3.0 mg daily (subcutaneous)
Evidence Grade
A+Strong RCT evidence + FDA approval
Half-Life
~13 hours
Routes of Administration
subcutaneous
First Synthesized
1996
Clinics Indexed
540 providers have offered Liraglutide in our tracked directory.
Mechanism of Action
Daily GLP-1 receptor agonist; albumin-binding fatty-acid linker extends half-life to 13 hours.
Key Reported Benefits
- ✓Weight loss
- ✓Appetite suppression
- ✓Glycemic control
Benefits listed reflect commonly reported effects from clinical trials and practitioner use. Individual response varies. Evidence-grade A+ indicates strong rct evidence + fda approval.
Reported Side Effects
- •Nausea
- •Constipation or diarrhea
- •Pancreatitis (rare)
Contraindications
- ⚠Personal/family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma
- ⚠MEN-2 syndrome
- ⚠Pregnancy
Regulatory & Safety Context
FDA status: FDA-approved for weight management (Saxenda) and type 2 diabetes (Victoza)
This page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Peptide use outside of an FDA-approved indication should be discussed with a licensed medical professional. Source quality, cold-chain storage, and injection hygiene all materially affect safety outcomes.
See state-by-state legality: US peptide legality by state →
References
Selected primary literature on Liraglutide. Full PubMed records linked. Additional citations are available on request.
Last reviewed: 2026-04-30
Related Peptides
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A+A GLP-1 receptor agonist and the gold standard for evidence-based weight loss peptide therapy. Demonstrated 14.9–16.9% mean body weight reduction in the landmark STEP trials.
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Survodutide
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