What is Liraglutide?

Introduction

Liraglutide is a prescription medication used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. It is sold under the brand name Saxenda (for weight loss) and Victoza (for diabetes).

It was the first GLP-1 receptor agonist to be approved specifically for weight management, paving the way for newer medications like Wegovy and Mounjaro.

How It Works

Liraglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. It mimics the action of the naturally occurring hormone GLP-1 (Glucagon-like peptide-1).

• Appetite Suppression: It acts on receptors in the brain to reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness.
• Slows Digestion: It slows down the emptying of the stomach, keeping you full for longer after meals.
• Insulin Regulation: It helps the pancreas release the right amount of insulin when blood sugar levels are high.

Clinical Efficacy

In clinical trials (SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes), participants taking Saxenda (3.0 mg daily) lost an average of 8% of their body weight over 56 weeks, compared to 2.6% in the placebo group.