Liraglutide Prescription Medication
What Is Liraglutide And How Does It Work For Weight Loss?
Liraglutide is a prescription medication that was approved by the FDA in 2010 to help individuals with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels. It was then FDA-approved in 2014 for weight management purposes in patients suffering from obesity and its related comorbidities.
Liraglutide is classified as a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, which means it copies the function of the naturally occurring GLP-1 hormone produced by our body. This hormone’s job is to help regulate the manufacture and release of insulin, which helps the metabolism run smoothly and efficiently.
Liraglutide aids in weight loss by helping to curb the appetite, slowing down how fast food passes through the stomach during the digestion process, and prolonging the feeling of being "full" after eating.
How Do You Use Liraglutide?
Liraglutide enters the body via a daily injection that is made under the skin (subcutaneously), usually in the thigh, abdomen, or upper arm. The individual uses a fresh needle with the pre-filled injector syringe each day and sets their appropriate dose from the customizable selections built into the injector pen. It is recommended that individuals administer their injection at or around the same approximate time each day.
Who Is A Candidate For Liraglutide®?
Liraglutide is FDA-approved for both adolescents and adults who meet certain BMI (body mass index) criteria as follows:
- Adults must possess a BMI of 27 or more and be suffering from a medical condition that is related to their weight or have a BMI of 30 or more.
- Adolescents must be between 12 and 17 and considered significantly over the normal percentile for kids the same age and height, or weigh at least 132 pounds.
Liraglutide® May Not Be Suitable If:
- The individual is using any other GLP-1 medication or other prescriptions that contain liraglutide.
- The individual is pregnant, nursing a baby, or attempting to become pregnant.
- The individual has a personal history or a family member diagnosed with medullary thyroid carcinoma.
- The individual has an uncommon genetic disorder called MEN2.
- The individual exhibits an allergy to the ingredients in liraglutide.
What Benefits Does Liraglutide Offer For Treating Obesity?
- It reduces hunger and helps to control overeating.
- It makes individuals feel full for longer by slowing down the digestion of food and keeping it in their stomach for a longer period of time.
- Helps regulate insulin to improve the body's ability to burn fat.
- Studies show that using liraglutide along with a healthy diet and lifestyle can help improve health conditions caused by obesity, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes type II.
Liraglutide Dosing
Using the injection pen for liraglutide is easy because it comes prefilled with 18mg of liraglutide and 3mg of solution. The pen can be set to give doses of 0.6 mg, 1.2 mg, 1.8 mg, 2.4 mg, or 3 mg.
Patients gradually increase their dose over five weeks to reduce common side effects like nausea and vomiting. After patients reach the 3mg dose, they stay on it for maintenance.
What Side Effects Are Associated With Liraglutide?
Adult patients have reported side effects such as nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, reactions at the injection location, headache, fatigue, low blood sugar, abdominal pain, and dizziness. Adolescents have experienced abdominal discomfort, hypoglycemia, and fever. Ask your doctor if you would like to learn more about the infrequent side effects of liraglutide.
The doctors at Kiini will evaluate your situation and assist in deciding if liraglutide is the best choice for you. Our team of physicians and coaches can help you achieve sustainable weight loss safely and efficiently. We are eager to help you achieve your weight-loss goals and make your efforts more effective.
