What is Liraglutide?
Liraglutide is the GLP-1 receptor agonist that started the modern class. Novo Nordisk sells it as Victoza (up to 1.8 mg daily, type 2 diabetes, approved 2010) and Saxenda (up to 3 mg daily, weight management, approved 2014).
It is a daily injection rather than a weekly one, and it produces less weight loss than semaglutide or tirzepatide. On efficacy it has clearly been superseded.
On price it has not. Liraglutide is the only GLP-1 with true FDA-approved generics — for diabetes since 2024 and for weight loss since August 2025 — which makes it the cheapest legitimate, FDA-approved GLP-1 you can get in the United States.
How it works
Liraglutide is a modified version of human GLP-1 with a fatty acid chain that lets it bind albumin in the blood. That binding slows clearance and stretches its half-life to about 13 hours, which is what makes once-daily dosing possible.
At the receptor it does what every GLP-1 does: glucose-dependent insulin release, glucagon suppression, slower gastric emptying, and appetite reduction. Semaglutide is a further-modified version of the same idea, engineered for a roughly week-long half-life — that engineering gap is most of the efficacy gap.
Dosing schedule
Liraglutide is titrated to a different ceiling depending on what it is treating. The weight-management ladder (Saxenda) steps weekly to 3 mg; the diabetes ladder (Victoza) stops at 1.8 mg:
| Dose | When |
|---|---|
| 0.6 mg / day | Week 1 — starter dose for both indications |
| 1.2 mg / day | Week 2 |
| 1.8 mg / day | Week 3 — maximum diabetes dose (Victoza) |
| 2.4 mg / day | Week 4 — weight management only |
| 3.0 mg / day | Week 5+ — maximum weight-management dose (Saxenda) |
Results in clinical trials
The SCALE trial produced 8.0% average weight loss (about 18.5 lbs) at 3 mg over 56 weeks versus 2.6% on placebo. At the 1.8 mg diabetes dose, LEADER showed a 13% reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events and a 22% reduction in cardiovascular death over 3.8 years.
Side effects
Common
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Decreased appetite
- Injection site reactions
Serious (rare)
- Pancreatitis
- Gallbladder disease
- Kidney injury from dehydration
- Increased heart rate
- Hypoglycemia with insulin or sulfonylureas
How much does Liraglutide cost?
This is liraglutide’s whole argument. It is the only GLP-1 where a generic actually exists, and the gap between brand and generic is large:
| Route | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Brand Saxenda (list price) | ~$1,300 / month |
| Brand Victoza (list price) | ~$800–$1,000 / month |
| Generic liraglutide | $230–$500 / month |
| With discount cards | Often ~$370 / month for the generic |
| With commercial insurance | $25–$100 / month copay (when covered) |
Prices vary by clinic, dose, and location — always confirm directly. See real local pricing on our clinic listings.
Frequently asked questions
Is generic liraglutide the cheapest GLP-1?
Among FDA-approved GLP-1s, yes. It runs roughly $230–$500 a month against $900–$1,400 list for the branded weekly drugs. The trade-off is a daily injection and about half the average weight loss.
How does liraglutide compare to semaglutide?
Semaglutide wins on efficacy and convenience: roughly 15% average weight loss versus 8%, and one injection a week versus seven. Liraglutide wins on price and on having a genuine generic. If cost is the deciding constraint, it is the realistic option.
What happens if I miss a dose of liraglutide?
Because the half-life is only about 13 hours, a missed dose matters more than it does with a weekly drug. Take the next scheduled dose as normal — do not double up. If you miss more than three days in a row, your provider will likely restart the titration to avoid a rough re-entry.
Is liraglutide still worth starting in 2026?
For some people, yes. If your insurance excludes weight loss drugs and the newer options are out of reach at $500–$1,000 a month, generic liraglutide is an FDA-approved GLP-1 you can actually afford. Clinically, most providers will steer you to semaglutide or tirzepatide first when cost allows.
Related medications
Guides
Primary sources
- Saxenda prescribing information — Novo Nordisk
- Victoza prescribing information — Novo Nordisk
- SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes trial — New England Journal of Medicine
This page is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Liraglutide is a prescription medication — talk to a licensed healthcare provider about whether it is right for you. GLPFinders is a directory service and does not prescribe, sell, or dispense medications.