Liraglutide
NHS information about the medicine liraglutide, including what it's used for, who can take it, how to take it and side effects.
What liraglutide is for
Liraglutide is a type of medicine called a GLP-1 agonist. It can be used to manage type 2 diabetes or obesity, by helping you lose weight when you combine it with exercise and changes to your diet.
Liraglutide works for weight loss by reducing your appetite and helping you feel fuller for longer.
For type 2 diabetes it works by lowering high blood sugar levels and helps your body to make more insulin if it's needed. It also slows digestion which keeps your blood sugar levels stable after meals and can help prevent heart disease.
Liraglutide can be prescribed for weight loss by NHS weight management services which your doctor can refer you to if your BMI meets the eligibility criteria.
If you decide to get a private prescription for liraglutide, it's important to get it from a registered pharmacy. There are some websites that sell fake weight loss medicines.
How to use liraglutide
Liraglutide comes as an injection that you give yourself once a day.
Always check the packet or leaflet that comes with your medicine. It will tell you how to get the injection ready.
Keep your injection in the fridge until you're ready to use it.
Ask a pharmacist, nurse or doctor for advice if you're not sure how to use it or you have any problems.
When using liraglutide:
- try to inject at the same time each day – you can use it at any time of day
- inject into the fatty areas of your thigh, tummy or upper arm
- change the place you inject each day – you can use the same area but do not use the exact same spot
- inject into a different place if you inject insulin as well
Side effects of liraglutide
Like all medicines, liraglutide can cause side effects, but not everyone gets them.
Common side effects
Common side effects of liraglutide include:
- feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting)
- constipation or diarrhoea
- headache
- feeling tired
- itchy or red skin where you inject – redness maybe harder to see on brown or black skin
More about side effects
These are not all the side effects of liraglutide.
For a full list, see the leaflet that comes with your medicine or search for your medicine on the electronic medicines compendium website.
You can report any side effects you get on the Yellow Card website
Who can and cannot take liraglutide
Most adults and children aged 10 years and over can use liraglutide.
Liraglutide is not suitable for some people. For example, it may not be suitable if:
- you've had an allergic reaction or serious side effect from liraglutide or another GLP-1 agonist
- you're 75 years old or over
- you have stomach or gut problems such as gastroparesis or inflammatory bowel disease
- you have or have had an inflamed pancreas (acute pancreatitis)
Before using liraglutide, tell your doctor or a pharmacist if you have any medical conditions.
Breastfeeding and liraglutide
Tell your doctor if you're breastfeeding. Liraglutide is not used while breastfeeding as it's not known if the medicine passes into breast milk.
Pregnancy and liraglutide
Tell your doctor if you're pregnant or get pregnant while taking liraglutide.
Liraglutide is not used during pregnancy as there's not enough information to say it’s safe for your baby.
Your doctor will recommend other medicines to treat type 2 diabetes while you're pregnant.
Using liraglutide with other medicines, food and drink
There are some medicines, herbal remedies and supplements that may not mix well with liraglutide.
These include:
- other diabetes medicines, such as gliclazide, glimepiride, metformin and tolbutamide
- insulin – your doctor or specialist nurse may need to adjust your dose
- other GLP-1 agonists such as semaglutide, dulaglutide, exenatide or lixisenatide
- a general anaesthetic (which puts you to sleep) or a sedative (which relaxes you) for an operation or dental procedure – tell the healthcare professional that you're using liraglutide
Before you use liraglutide, tell your doctor or a pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements.
Liraglutide and contraception
If there's a chance you could get pregnant, you'll need to use contraception while you’re taking liraglutide.
Food, drink and alcohol with liraglutide
You'll need to eat a healthy, balanced diet while using liraglutide.
It's best to avoid drinking alcohol while taking liraglutide because it can increase side effects like feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting).
Find out more about eating a healthy, balanced diet
Find out more about your medicine
To find out more about your medicine, you can:
- check the leaflet that comes with it
- search for your medicine leaflet on the electronic medicines compendium website
- speak to a pharmacist or doctor for advice – if you recently started taking it for type 2 diabetes, you can get help with newly prescribed medicines from a pharmacist as part of the New Medicine Service
