What Is Liraglutide and When Is It Used for Weight Management?
Liraglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist available in FDA-approved prescription products, and the product Saxenda® has an approved indication for chronic weight management in appropriate patients. Whether liraglutide is suitable for an individual requires medical evaluation.
How liraglutide works
Liraglutide mimics the GLP-1 hormone, which affects appetite, fullness, and blood glucose regulation.
FDA-approved products
- Saxenda®: chronic weight management in eligible adults and certain adolescents
- Victoza®: type 2 diabetes
Safety considerations
Common side effects include nausea and other gastrointestinal effects. The label includes a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors and other risks that a physician should review before treatment.
Who may be evaluated
A physician considers body mass index, weight-related health conditions, medical history, contraindications, and other available options before recommending any weight-management medication.
Individual suitability requires medical evaluation and physician judgment.
Related pages
Talk With a Physician
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Saul Maslavi, MD to discuss your health goals, medical history, and which options may be appropriate.
Schedule An AppointmentConsultation questions: drmaslavi@peptidedoc.com
Educational information only, not medical advice. FDA approval status varies by medication and indication. Compounded medications are not FDA approved. Treatment recommendations depend on individual medical evaluation, eligibility, contraindications, and physician judgment. No dosing information is provided. PeptideDoc · Dr. Saul Maslavi, MD · 4232 Francis Lewis Boulevard, Bayside, NY 11361 · (718) 717-0003 Ext 7.