Liraglutide for weight loss

Liraglutide is an injectable medication used for the management of blood sugar in type 2 diabetes and more recently, a weight loss drug. Liraglutide for weight loss can reduce your appetite and is always prescribed alongside a healthy diet and exercise programme. You can find liraglutide under 2 brand names in the UK, and one generic brand name:

• Victoza – a type 2 diabetes treatment
• Saxenda – a weight loss treatment, which is long-term out of stock
• Nevolat – a generic liraglutide injection, it works in exactly the same way as Saxenda, it just has a different name, price, and packaging. It is available now with Asda Online Doctor

Liraglutide works in the same way your natural hormones do to send signals to your brain that you’re full which lowers your appetite, making it easier to stick to a healthy diet and supporting weight loss.

Liraglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. GLP-1 is a natural hormone your body produces. After you’ve eaten, your body releases GLP-1 and this sends signals to your brain letting it know that you’re full. When you inject liraglutide, it mimics GLP-1 and sends these same signals to lower your appetite and improve satiety (feeling full).

Liraglutide also delays how quickly your stomach empties, which makes you feel full after a meal for longer. These effects make it easier to lose more weight while following a healthy diet and exercise programme, as you won’t feel as hungry while reducing your calorie intake.

Is liraglutide an appetite suppressant?

Yes, liraglutide is an appetite suppressant as it mimics the GLP-1 hunger hormone to reduce appetite, helping you to feel fuller between meals.

Liraglutide is an injectable medication that comes in the form of a pre-filled injectable pen. There are no liraglutide tablets available in the UK for weight loss. Liraglutide should be injected every day, at the same time of day. Doing this improves its effectiveness, as it keeps the medication levels steady in your body. It may also help to reduce side effects.

You can take liraglutide with or without food and drink as it’s being injected rather than ingested (taken orally). However, your doctor may advise eating a light meal before injecting if you get side effects like nausea, as this may help reduce these symptoms.

When injecting liraglutide, make sure to:

• always inject under the skin, avoiding any veins or muscles
• inject in the front of the abdomen or thigh – you can also use your upper arm with some help from a friend or family member
• inject into a different part of your skin each time, even if this is in the same area, such as the other side of your stomach – this can reduce the chance of irritation and soreness at the injection site
• use a new needle for each injection, making sure it’s not damaged or unsealed
• follow any instructions in the patient information leaflet and from your doctor

What is the best time of day to take liraglutide for weight loss?

The best time of day to take liraglutide for weight loss is whatever time works best for you and your schedule. Once you’ve found a time of day that works, you just need to stick to this time every day. You can set a reminder or alarm on your phone to help you remember.

How long does it take for liraglutide to work?

It usually takes a couple of weeks for liraglutide to work, but you may notice its effects on appetite suppression after a few doses. Liraglutide is most effective once you reach the maintenance dose of 3mg, but you may lose weight before this.

The liraglutide injection follows a specific dosage schedule, which is in place to give your body time to adjust to the new medication and reduce side effects. When you start taking liraglutide you’ll follow the dosage schedule for 5 weeks, until you reach the maintenance dose, which is 3mg. If you stop taking liraglutide, you’ll need to start the dosage schedule again.

A liraglutide pen lasts around 2 weeks when you first start taking it and for 6 days once you reach the maintenance dose.

Liraglutide dosing schedule:

You’ll follow the liraglutide dosing schedule unless you get side effects that are bothering you a lot, in which case your doctor may recommend staying on a lower dose until your side effects get better. You may also choose to stay on a lower dose of liraglutide for the rest of your treatment but discuss this with your doctor first.

According to clinical studies, Saxenda (the branded version of liraglutide for weight loss) was found to help participants lose an average of 8% of their starting body weight compared to 2.6% in the placebo participants. This trial was carried out over 56 weeks on patients taking the maintenance dose of 3mg of liraglutide per day, alongside a diet and exercise regime.

To improve liraglutide effectiveness:

• take it at the same time each day
• try not to miss any doses
• stick to the healthy diet and exercise plan set out by your doctor

Like all medications, liraglutide can cause some side effects although most are mild to moderate and decrease over time. You’ll follow the dosage schedule to give your body time to get used to the medication at a lower dose before increasing it. Speak to your doctor if your side effects are severe or don’t go away.

Serious liraglutide injection side effects include:

• rare: a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) – symptoms include swelling in the face and throat, dizziness, and difficulty breathing
• uncommon: pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) – symptoms include persistent and severe stomach pain, nausea (feeling sick), and vomiting (being sick)

These are medical emergencies so you need to call 999 or get to a hospital straight away.

Very common liraglutide injection side effects include:

• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhoea
• headache
• constipation

Common liraglutide injection side effects include:

• an increase in pancreatic enzymes which would show in a blood test
• problems affecting the stomach and intestines, such as indigestion, inflammation of the stomach (gastritis), pain, discomfort, heartburn, wind, bloating, belching, and dry mouth
• changed sense of taste
• feeling tired or weak
• difficulty sleeping – this tends to happen in the first 3 months of taking liraglutide
• dizziness
• gallstones
• rash
• an injection site reaction, such as pain, bruising, rash, irritation, or itching – you can reduce the chances of this side effect by changing your liraglutide injection site every day
• low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) – symptoms may happen suddenly and include pale skin, cold sweats, feeling very hungry, nausea, anxiety, confusion, feeling sleepy or weak, shaking and fast heartbeat

Speak to your doctor straight away if you get symptoms of low blood sugar.

These side effects usually go away after a few days or weeks of taking liraglutide but may come back with a dose increase. Once you’re on the maintenance dose they should go away, but let your doctor know if they don’t.

Uncommon liraglutide injection side effects include:

• fast heartbeat
• loss of fluids (dehydration) – this is more likely at the start of treatment and can be caused by severe vomiting and diarrhoea
• a delay in the emptying of your stomach
• an inflamed gallbladder
• feeling generally unwell
• allergic reactions, such as a skin rash

Talk to your doctor if you get any of these side effects, especially if they’re severe. Speak to a doctor or call 111 straight away if you think you’re dehydrated.

Rare liraglutide injection side effects include:

• reduced kidney function
• acute kidney failure – symptoms include reduced urine volume, confusion, nausea or vomiting, dehydration, bruising easily, and a metallic taste in your mouth

These side effects are rare but serious and require immediate medical attention. Speak to a doctor or go to A&E straight away if you notice these symptoms.

Liraglutide is a prescription weight loss medication available to request on the NHS and privately online from services like Asda Online Doctor. Generic liraglutide is now available, Nevolat.

How can I get liraglutide for weight loss?

You will be able to get a prescription for liraglutide (Nevolat) through a private doctor service, such as Asda Online Doctor. Our doctors can prescribe weight loss injections like liraglutide and all you need to do is:

1. Complete a short, medical questionnaire about your health and weight, which may involve sending a few photos. Any images sent to us are only used to make sure the treatment is suitable and safe, as you must fit the eligibility criteria for body mass index (BMI) to be prescribed liraglutide.
2. Once a doctor has reviewed your questionnaire, they’ll issue an electronic prescription. If not suitable, they may offer alternative weight loss treatments instead.
3. Your liraglutide injections can be delivered to your home, with a range of delivery options to suit your needs. All our medication is sent in discreet packaging.
4. Follow-up advice and support are available in your free and private patient account. You can message a doctor at any time with any question, or order a repeat prescription.

Can you get liraglutide on the NHS?

Yes, to access liraglutide on the NHS you would need to book a consultation with your local GP and they will assess your eligibility based on a set criteria and requirements.

They may then refer you to a weight management specialist service if eligible, but waiting times can vary from a few months to a few years. You can find out more about NHS weight loss injections and their criteria in our guide.

Can you get liraglutide over the counter?

Liraglutide isn’t available over the counter, as it’s a prescription-only treatment that’s only safe to take if a doctor has checked your BMI and medical history. The only weight loss medication currently available without a prescription in the UK are alli and Orlos, which both contain 60mg of orlistat and work to reduce the amount of fat your body absorbs with each meal by around a third.

Liraglutide has commonly been found under 3 brand names:

Nevolat (generic liraglutide)

Generic liraglutide is available as Nevolat. It contains the active ingredient liraglutide and is available from Asda Online Doctor.

Saxenda

Saxenda is liraglutide for weight loss and is made specifically as a weight loss treatment. Asda Online Doctor prescribes Saxenda, although it’s currently long-term out of stock due to manufacturer supply issues.

Victoza

Victoza is a type 2 diabetes treatment, which also contains liraglutide. It can only be prescribed to you if you’ve got type 2 diabetes and need help regulating your blood sugar levels. It’s usually offered if other diabetes medicines are not working well enough. Victoza is prescribed with a different dosage from Saxenda to treat type 2 diabetes.

Both Wegovy and Mounjaro work similarly to liraglutide as they contain a GLP-1 receptor agonist. You can get a prescription for Mounjaro and Wegovy through Asda Online Doctor.

Liraglutide vs semaglutide

Liraglutide and semaglutide are 2 very similar medications, mainly because they’re both GLP-1 receptor agonists. This means they both mimic GLP-1, sending signals to your brain that you’re full and delaying the emptying of your stomach. They’re also both injectable medications that come as pre-filled dose pens.

Wegovy (semaglutide) is available in the UK on a private prescription and in selected areas through your GP who can refer to to the NHS weight loss management service if eligible. There isn’t a generic semaglutide injection available at the moment, but there’s likely to be one in the future.

The main differences between liraglutide and semaglutide (Wegovy) include:

• effectiveness – liraglutide leads to an average starting weight loss of 8% on the highest dose after 56 weeks and Wegovy leads to an average starting weight loss of 21% on the highest dose after 68 weeks
• when you take them – liraglutide is taken daily while semaglutide is taken once per week
• dosage – liraglutide has a maximum maintenance dose of 3mg while semaglutide has a maximum maintenance dose of 7.2mg, but this doesn’t mean that liraglutide is stronger than semaglutide
• side effects – although similar medications, some side effects differ or may be more or less common due to the different active ingredients
• brand names – while liraglutide for weight loss is usually found under the brand name Saxenda/Nevolat, semaglutide for weight loss is found under the brand name Wegovy and semaglutide is also a type 2 diabetes medication found under the brand name Ozempic

Read more about the differences between Wegovy and Nevolat in our guide.

Liraglutide vs tirzepatide

Liraglutide and tirzepatide are similar medications, as they both contain a GLP-1 receptor agonist. One of the biggest differences between the two is that tirzepatide is a dual agonist, which means it mimics a second hormone. Tirzepatide is a GLP-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonist and GIP is thought to further enhance the effects of GLP-1 for appetite suppression.

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is available in the UK on private prescription or through selected GPs who can refer you to the local NHS weight loss management service if eligible, but this depends on your area.

The main differences between liraglutide and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) are:

• effectiveness – liraglutide leads to an average starting weight loss of 8% on the highest dose after 56 weeks and Mounjaro leads to weight loss of up to 22.5% on the highest dose after 72 weeks
• when you take them – liraglutide is taken daily while tirzepatide is taken once per week
• dosage – liraglutide has a maximum maintenance dose of 3mg while tirzepatide has a maximum maintenance dose of 15mg, as well as lower maintenance doses of 5mg and 10mg
• side effects – although similar medications, side effects may differ, or be more or less common, as they’re different active ingredients and because tirzepatide mimics 2 hormones
• brand names – tirzepatide for weight loss is found under the name Mounjaro and it’s also used for type 2 diabetes under the same brand name but under a different dosage schedule

We’ve also created a guide on the main differences between the different GLP-1 injections Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Ozempic so you can find out more about each one.