Liraglutide

What people use it for

• Type 2 diabetes
• Chronic weight management (adults and adolescents)
• Cardiovascular risk reduction in type 2 diabetes

What Liraglutide does in the body

Like semaglutide, it mimics GLP-1: it boosts insulin release when blood sugar is high, lowers glucagon, slows stomach emptying and reduces appetite. Its half-life of about 13 hours means it is injected daily rather than weekly.

Strength of evidence

Strong: large randomized controlled trials (LEAD, SCALE, LEADER).

Look up the evidence

• Reviews on PubMed: Summaries of the published research
• Clinical trials on PubMed: Published studies in people
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Registered trials, past and ongoing
• Prescribing information (DailyMed, US): Official US label
• Patient leaflets (emc, UK): Official UK product information

Live searches of official databases. New to the terms? See the glossary.

Reported side effects & risks

• Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation
• Gallbladder problems and pancreatitis (uncommon)
• Boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumors (GLP-1 class warning)
• Increased heart rate

Who should avoid it or take extra care

• Personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN2
• Pregnant, breastfeeding or planning pregnancy
• Past pancreatitis (talk to your doctor first)

Not a complete list. Check with a doctor or pharmacist about your own health and medicines.

Regulatory status

FDA-approved as Victoza (diabetes) and Saxenda (weight management). Generic versions are available in the US.

How it's taken

Route: Injection under the skin once daily

How long it lasts (half-life): About 13 hours