Liraglutide sold commercially under the name Victoza is an injection drug, indicated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, from the Novo Nordisk laboratory.
This drug designed to control blood sugar levels, acts similarly to the GLP-1 hormone, naturally produced by the pancreas, but in an 8-fold concentration.
When Victoza enters the bloodstream in addition to controlling blood sugar levels, it promotes satiety in a 24-hour period, causing the individual to have a 40% reduction in the amount of calories consumed daily and therefore, can be used for weight loss, but with caution and under medical guidance.
Indications
This medication is indicated for the ongoing treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in adults in combination with other oral hypoglycemic agents such as metformin to control blood glucose and is not a substitute for insulin.
Price
The price of Liraglutida (Victoza) is approximately 200 reais per box. Each box can have 1, 2, 3, 5 or 10 pens for application but the needles are not included in the product.
Contraindications
The Victoza has like any other contraindications that should be respected and should not be used by people under 18 years of age, pregnant women, breastfeeding women, patients undergoing cancer treatment, in case of renal impairment, digestive system, in case of allergy to any of the components of the formula and by type 1 diabetic patients.
Side effects
Side effects include loss of appetite, headache, and nausea within the first two weeks of treatment, and are well tolerated by the body after this time. Other effects that may be present are vomiting, poor digestion, abdominal pain, constipation, gas, reflux, toothache, tiredness and dizziness.
How to use
The indication is 1 injection of Victoza per day for the time recommended by your doctor. The initial dose of subcutaneous injection that can be applied to the abdomen, thighs or upper arm is 0.6 mg per day in the first week, and should be increased to 1.2 or 1.8 following medical evaluation.
After opening the carton, the medicine should be kept in the refrigerator. Preferably, the injection should be applied by a nurse or pharmacist, but it is also possible to apply this injection at home. Simply remove the protective caps from the needle, turn the marker on the daily dose marked on the medicine package itself and turn the marker in the amount indicated by your doctor, be it 0.6, 1.2 or 1.8 mg.
After this care, it is recommended to wet a small piece of cotton in alcohol and pass in the area where the injection will be applied to disinfect the region and then apply the injection.
