Victoza (liraglutide) is a prescription drug used to treat type 2 diabetes and reduce certain heart risks. Its mechanism of action is mimicking a natural hormone (GLP-1) that manages your blood sugar levels. The effectiveness of this drug may vary based on your medical history and diagnosis.

Victoza helps lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. It also reduces the risk of major cardiovascular (heart- and blood vessel-related) events in adults who have both type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Cardiovascular events include conditions such as heart attack and stroke.

Victoza belongs to a class of medications called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. (A receptor is an attachment site.) GLP-1 receptor agonists work in several ways to reduce blood sugar levels. (GLP-1 receptor agonists are also called GLP-1 drugs or GLP-1 medications for short.)

The way a drug works is known medically as its mechanism of action. The mechanism of action for Victoza may vary depending on the condition it’s being used to treat.

How it treats type 2 diabetes

With type 2 diabetes, your body doesn’t respond to insulin the way it should. Insulin is a hormone made in your pancreas. Its role is to move sugar from your bloodstream into your cells. Once inside your cells, the sugar is used for energy.

When your body doesn’t respond to insulin properly, the sugar can’t get into your cells. This prevents your cells from working properly. It also causes high levels of sugar in your blood, which can damage your eyes, kidneys, nerves, and other organs.

Victoza contains the GLP-1 receptor agonist, liraglutide. Drugs in this class are made to act like GLP-1, which is a naturally occurring hormone in your body. When GLP-1 hormone attaches to its receptor, it helps regulate your blood sugar levels and makes you feel full after you’ve eaten a meal.

By mimicking your body’s natural GLP-1, Victoza manages your blood sugar levels in several ways:

  • It increases how much insulin your pancreas releases.
  • It prevents your liver from releasing more glucose (sugar) into your bloodstream.
  • It causes your stomach to empty more slowly than usual after a meal, which slows down how fast sugar from the food you ate is released into your blood.

How it reduces risk of cardiovascular events

The exact way that Victoza reduces the risk of cardiovascular events isn’t known for sure. However, it’s thought that Victoza helps your heart muscles use sugar and oxygen more effectively. This reduces how hard your heart has to work, which may lead to a reduced risk of heart attack and stroke.

Victoza starts working in your body within several hours after you start taking it. (Victoza is received as a subcutaneous injection, which is an injection under the skin.) However, it may take 1 to 4 weeks to see the full effects of the drug on your blood sugar levels.

For more information, talk with your doctor about what to expect during treatment with Victoza.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.