Victoza – also known as Liraglutide – is a medication used to improve the control of blood sugar in patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Victoza is not insulin; rather, it is a Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist which helps your pancreas produce more insulin by encouraging cells (called beta cells) to work the way they should. Victoza works in 3 ways:
- Victoza can help slow down food evacuation from the stomach, which can regulate the amount of GLP-1 that is released from your small intestine when you eat. By slowing down the process of food leaving your stomach, your blood sugar levels will remain stable.
- Victoza regulates the amount of sugar that your liver produces. This can help keep your blood sugar levels stable.
- If your blood sugar levels are too high while on Victoza, Victoza can encourage your pancreas to produce more insulin in the body. Beta cells help control blood sugar, and Victoza helps control blood sugar by regulating the production and release of insulin.
Side Effects of Victoza
Victoza is used to treat a serious condition known as type 2 diabetes. As such, this medication may come with complications. Some common side effects of Victoza may include:
- Redness or rash where the medicine was injected
- Skin rash
- Tired or feeling tired or a tired feeling
- Cold symptoms
- Back pain
- Constipation
- Loss of appetite
- Indigestion
- Upset stomach
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Sneezing, stuffy nose, sore throat, sinus pain
There are, however, serious side effects of Victoza that must be immediately reported to your doctor. If you have any of the serious side effects listed below, contact your doctor as soon as possible. A discontinuation of the medicine may be in order:
- Unusual weakness
- Mouth sores
- Weight gain
- Pancreatitis
- Signs of incfection, such as fever, sore throat, flu symptoms, or chills
- Pounding heartbeats, heart palpitations, or fluttering in your chest
- Increased thirst or urination
- Loss of appetite
- Confusion
- Weakness
- Hoarse voice or trouble swallowing
- Swelling or a lump in your throat
Victoza Cost
Victoza, coupled with a healthy diet and exercise, can help greatly reduce the symptoms of type 2 diabetes by controlling high blood sugar. Since there is no generic version of Victoza, the payment options for uninsured Americans is limited. Even with a manufacturer’s coupon, the average price is around $920, which is $100 off the retail price of the drug. The $920 price tag pays for 1 carton (3 pens) of Victoza 18mg/3ml.
For the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes, 0.6 milligrams of Victoza should be injected under the skin once a day for a week. Depending on the level of blood sugar control that is required, your doctor may up the dosage. For the treatment of obesity, it is common to be prescribed 3mg per week.
Victoza Prescription Assistance
The Rx Solution understands the importance of readily available medication, especially for patients who suffer from serious conditions such as type 2 diabetes. For uninsured and under-insured Americans, choosing between the mortgage and their prescription medication is a very tangible reality. This is why the Rx Solution was founded. We help facilitate the enrollment of prescription assistance programs for qualified individuals. These programs can dramatically lower the cost of medications like Victoza. To find out if you qualify, contact us at (888) 823-0042 or visit our contact page today!