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GLP-1 receptor agonist

Liraglutide

Liraglutide was the first GLP-1 approved for weight loss, and generic versions are now on the market.

Clinician review pending Updated

How it works

It mimics GLP-1 like semaglutide, but it is cleared faster, so it needs a daily injection.

Half-life: about 13 hours, which is why it's dosed daily.

Brands

BrandApproved forHow takenDose range
SaxendaWeightonce daily injection0.6 mg to 3 mg
VictozaType 2 diabetesonce daily injection0.6 mg to 1.8 mg

Brand pages

Novo Nordisk

Saxenda

Daily liraglutide injection for weight management, the older daily option

Open Novo Nordisk

Victoza

Daily liraglutide injection for type 2 diabetes in adults and children 10 and older

Open

Explainer · 0:23

1 · THE GUT HORMONE GLP-1 the medicine copies it and lasts for days 2 · SLOWER EMPTYING full sooner, full for longer 3 · THE BRAIN lowhigh HUNGER 4 · BLOOD SUGAR blood sugar after a meal + insulin withoutwith GLP-1 tirzepatide: + GIP 0:23 · voiced · captions on
After you eat, your gut releases a hormone called GLP-1. GLP-1 medicines copy it, but last much longer in the body.
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How GLP-1 medicines work
Read the transcript
  1. After you eat, your gut releases a hormone called GLP-1. GLP-1 medicines copy it, but last much longer in the body.
  2. It slows how fast your stomach empties, so you feel full sooner and stay full for longer.
  3. It also acts on appetite centers in the brain, which quiets hunger and constant thoughts about food.
  4. When blood sugar is high, it helps the pancreas release insulin. Tirzepatide also acts on a second gut hormone, GIP.

Sources

  1. DailyMed: FDA labels

Clinician review pending. Drafted from primary sources and waiting for sign-off by a licensed clinician (MD, DO or PharmD) before launch. Every number is checked against its source. Drug facts are re-checked quarterly, prices monthly and whenever a label changes. How we review · Report an error