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Victoza has shown the ability to aid in weight loss, but many people fear you must avoid certain foods while taking it. Let's explore what (if any) Victoza foods to avoid.
If you’re taking Victoza® (liraglutide) as part of your weight loss journey, you may be wondering which foods, if any, you should limit.
While there are no strict foods to avoid while taking Victoza, some foods and drinks can worsen side effects or interfere with how the medication works.
We’ll dive into how Victoza works for weight loss so you know the foods to avoid and how to minimize potential side effects.
Here’s everything you need to know about Victoza and which foods to avoid. Let’s dive in.
Victoza is the brand name for the drug liraglutide, manufactured by Novo Nordisk. It belongs to the GLP-1 receptor agonist medication class. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved it to treat type 2 diabetes in 2010. A year before that, European officials approved it for the same treatment.
Liraglutide is FDA-approved for adults and children 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes. Another bonus of liraglutide is that it’s proven to lessen the risk of cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes.
Liraglutide comes in a prefilled subcutaneous (under-the-skin) injectable pen. You use the pen once daily, injected into your upper arm, thigh, or abdomen.
As a GLP-1 receptor agonist, Victoza works by mimicking GLP-1, an incretin hormone your body already makes. GLP-1 is involved in regulating the amount of insulin the pancreas produces and helping manage appetite and boost fullness.
If you have type 2 diabetes, you most likely know insulin is a crucial hormone for lowering blood sugar levels. When you have type 2 diabetes, overweight, or obesity, your body may have impaired insulin secretion levels or may not make enough, known as insulin resistance.
So, Victoza works to help reduce blood sugar levels by regulating insulin levels and slowing the rate at which your body digests your meals after you eat—also called gastric emptying. All of this can help you lose weight.
Although there aren’t any Victoza foods to avoid, you may want to eat fewer certain foods to ease possible side effects and ensure the medication works most effectively. These foods include:
Liraglutide has been shown to aid in meaningful weight loss results. In fact, the obesity drug, Saxenda®, also made by Novo Nordisk, has a higher dose of liraglutide as its main active ingredient. The FDA has approved Saxenda for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or with overweight in the presence of at least one weight-related condition like high blood pressure. It’s also approved for teens aged 12 to 17 with a weight above 132 pounds and obesity.
Even though Victoza has a lower dose of liraglutide, doctors prescribe it off-label for weight loss because of its successful weight-management capabilities. For more than 10 years, studies have been performed on the weight-loss efficacy of liraglutide. One clinical trial review published in 2016 in Clinical Pharmacokinetics found after evaluating many studies that adults showed significant weight loss when Victoza was added to metformin.
The same review also mentions that in one study, after about three weeks of taking Victoza, participants' appetite and hunger was significantly reduced as compared to the placebo group, aiding in its ability to help with weight loss.
Victoza has some common side effects similar to other GLP-1 medications. Tell your healthcare provider if you experience them, and always disclose other medications or supplements you take..
Here are the most common side effects when taking Victoza:
Victoza’s prescribing information also notes rare but serious side effects, including:
Novo Nordisk warns against taking Victoza if “you or any of your family have ever had medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or if you have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).” In addition, Victoza isn’t for those who are pregnant, and should be discussed with a provider for those who are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed
Experiencing any side effects is no fun, but there are ways to manage them. Novo Nordisk suggests:
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GLP-1*
GLP-1 prescriptions, filled through your local pharmacy, are now available as part of Found's weight-loss toolkit. While GLP-1s are effective for weight loss, they are not clinically appropriate for everyone. Eligibility for a GLP-1 is based on a thorough evaluation of your medical history, eating behavior, lab work, and insurance coverage. If a GLP-1 is not appropriate for you, our providers will work with you to determine an effective medication for your health profile.
About Found
Found is among the largest medically-supported weight care clinics in the country, serving more than 200,000 members to date. To start your journey with Found, take our quiz.
The content provided is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a basis for diagnosing or treating any health condition, or for determining actual costs incurred. Always follow your health care provider’s instructions to ensure safe and effective management of your health conditions. Certain medications are only FDA approved to treat conditions other than weight but may be prescribed to help aid in weight loss. For key risk information by drug, visit the Found medication page. Any prescription medications referenced are always subject to individual provider evaluation and clinical eligibility.
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