As with other drugs, Victoza (liraglutide) injections can cause side effects, such as nausea, diarrhea, and decreased appetite. If side effects of Victoza become difficult to tolerate, talk with your doctor.

Victoza is a brand-name injection pen approved for the following uses in people with type 2 diabetes:

If you have problems with side effects from Victoza, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can discuss ways to manage side effects or other available treatment options. Do not stop taking Victoza without consulting your doctor first.

For a general overview of Victoza, including its uses, see this in-depth Victoza article.

Victoza has a boxed warning for risk of thyroid tumors. A boxed warning is a serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details, see the “Side effect specifics” section.

Victoza can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects are usually temporary, lasting a few days or weeks. If the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Victoza in clinical trials:

To learn about these and other side effects of Victoza, see the following sections.

Mild side effects can occur with Victoza use. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Victoza’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Victoza can include:

  • nausea and vomiting
  • constipation
  • decreased appetite
  • indigestion
  • diarrhea
  • headache
  • hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which is more common in children than adults
  • injection site reactions, such as a rash or irritation

These side effects are usually temporary, lasting a few days or weeks. If the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medications safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking Victoza and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

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Victoza may cause serious side effects. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Victoza’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Victoza, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects and their symptoms can include:

  • Gallbladder disease. Symptoms can include:
    • pain in the abdomen
    • diarrhea
    • fever
    • jaundice (yellowing of the skin or white of the eyes)
    • nausea and vomiting
  • Kidney problems. Symptoms can include:
    • confusion
    • drowsiness
    • nausea
    • shortness of breath
    • swelling in the feet or lower legs
    • urinating less frequently than usual
  • Boxed warning: Risk of thyroid tumors (see “Side effect specifics” for details).
  • Pancreatitis (see “Side effect specifics” for details).
  • Allergic reaction (see “Side effect specifics” for details).

This section contains some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.

Is weight loss a possible side effect of Victoza?

It’s possible that you’ll experience minor weight loss while taking Victoza.

Weight loss wasn’t reported as a side effect in clinical trials of Victoza. However, some people did have decreased appetite, which can lead to weight loss.

The active ingredient in Victoza, liraglutide, is also the active ingredient in Saxenda, which is a prescription medication. Saxenda is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as a weight-loss aid. Saxenda and Victoza are prescribed at different doses, so you should not use Victoza for the purpose of losing weight.

If you have additional questions about weight loss and Victoza, talk with your doctor.

When will Victoza side effects go away?

It depends. Some side effects may occur when you start taking Victoza and after any dose increases. These side effects may go away within a few weeks as your body gets used to the medication.

It’s also possible for some side effects to occur each time you use Victoza, such as injection site reactions. And some serious side effects, such as liver problems, could last long term if they develop.

If you have side effects that don’t go away after several weeks, talk with your doctor. They can recommend ways to manage your side effects and can adjust your Victoza dosage if needed.

If I take Victoza, will I experience fatigue?

Fatigue wasn’t reported as a side effect in people taking Victoza in clinical trials. Fatigue is when you feel like you have less energy than usual.

However, some people taking Victoza in these trials developed minor infections, such as the common cold. Fatigue can be a symptom of certain infections.

Fatigue can also be a symptom of liver problems. Liver problems are a rare side effect that has been reported since Victoza was approved. Because the liver problems didn’t occur in clinical trials, it isn’t known for sure whether Victoza or something else was the cause.

If you have additional questions about fatigue and Victoza, talk with your doctor.

Does Victoza cause hair loss?

Hair loss wasn’t a side effect in people taking Victoza in clinical trials. Hair loss also hasn’t been reported in people taking the drug since it was approved.

If you’re concerned about hair loss, talk with your doctor. They can work with you to help find the cause and suggest possible treatments.

Can taking Victoza cause burping?

In clinical trials of Victoza, burping wasn’t a reported side effect in people taking the drug. Burping also hasn’t been reported in people taking Victoza since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the medication. However, a side effect of Victoza is indigestion, and burping may be a related symptom.

If burping is a concern, talk with your doctor. They can help determine the cause and suggest treatment options.

Is joint pain a side effect of Victoza?

Joint pain wasn’t a side effect in people taking Victoza in clinical trials. Joint pain also hasn’t been reported in people taking the drug since it was approved. However, the FDA has noted that another class of diabetes medication called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors may cause severe and disabling joint pain. Victoza belongs to the glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists (GLP-1) drug class, which doesn’t have the same warning.

If you have bothersome joint pain, talk with your doctor. They can recommend treatments that may help.

Learn more about some of the side effects that Victoza may cause.

Nausea

Nausea is one of the more common side effects of Victoza. Nausea was fairly common in people taking the drug in clinical trials.

Nausea may also be a symptom of a more serious side effect, such as gallbladder disease or pancreatitis.

What you can do

If you experience nausea while taking Victoza, talk with your doctor. They can show you how to deal with nausea caused by Victoza. Your doctor can also help determine if the nausea is related to a more serious side effect.

Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is a rare but serious side effect of Victoza.

Since Victoza was approved, there have been a few reports of acute pancreatitis. This includes hemorrhagic pancreatitis that, in rare cases, was fatal. With this type of pancreatitis, there’s bleeding within or around the pancreas. Another type of acute pancreatitis reported was necrotizing pancreatitis, in which part of your pancreas dies and may become infected.

In one specific case, a person receiving Victoza developed pancreatitis that was ultimately fatal. However, researchers weren’t able to definitively say that the death was caused by Victoza.

It’s important to note that it usually isn’t possible to tell whether a drug was responsible for a side effect reported after the drug was approved.

What you can do

While taking Victoza, watch closely for the following symptoms of pancreatitis:

  • bloating
  • fever
  • nausea and vomiting
  • persistent, severe abdominal pain that doesn’t go away
  • severe pain wrapping around your upper abdomen and to the back

If you experience symptoms of pancreatitis, talk with your doctor right away. They’ll typically have you stop taking Victoza. It’s recommended that you do not restart the drug once you’ve had pancreatitis.

Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is a potential side effect of Victoza. Low blood sugar wasn’t common in clinical trials.

Most people who developed low blood sugar with Victoza were using the drug in combination with a sulfonylurea, such as glipizide (Glucotrol XL).

What you can do

Watch for symptoms of low blood sugar while taking Victoza. These may include:

If you notice symptoms of low blood sugar, check your blood sugar level right away. If you’re unable to check your blood sugar, you should still treat yourself for low blood sugar.

Treating low blood sugar

You can treat mild low blood sugar by eating or drinking something with at least 15 grams (g) of carbohydrates in it. Examples include:

  • 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey
  • 1/2 cup fruit juice, such as orange or apple juice
  • 1/2 cup of non-diet soda (containing at least 15 g of sugar)
  • 3 to 4 glucose tablets, which you can purchase at a pharmacy

Keep in mind that a diet soda will not treat low blood sugar.

After having something to eat or drink, check your blood sugar again in 15 minutes. If it’s still low, you may need more glucose.

If you develop severe low blood sugar, call 911 or your local emergency number, or have someone drive you to an emergency room. You should not drive a car while your blood sugar is severely low.

Indigestion

Indigestion (upset stomach) is a potential side effect of Victoza.

What you can do

If you experience indigestion while taking Victoza, talk with your doctor. They may:

  • Recommend a medication to help with this side effect. This may be a new prescription drug or an over-the-counter (OTC) product.
  • Adjust your Victoza dose.
  • Suggest a different medication to treat your condition.

Risk of thyroid tumors

Victoza has a boxed warning for the risk of thyroid tumors. This is a serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A boxed warning alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.

In animal studies, Victoza has been shown to cause certain types of thyroid tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). Whether the drug can cause the tumors to form in humans isn’t known.

What you can do

Due to the risk of thyroid tumors, you should not use Victoza if you or a family member has a history of MTC.

You also should not use Victoza if you have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2). Like MTC, this is a type of cancer that’s hormone-related.

Your doctor will monitor you for MTC symptoms while you take Victoza. Symptoms they will look for include a hoarse voice, growths in your neck, shortness of breath, and difficulty swallowing. If you notice these symptoms while taking Victoza, talk with your doctor immediately. They may want you to stop taking the drug.

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, Victoza can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Allergic reactions weren’t reported in clinical studies. There have been a few reports of cases after Victoza was approved, but this wasn’t common. Symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious and can include:

  • rash
  • itching
  • flushing (warmth, swelling, or redness in your skin)
  • swelling under your skin, typically in your lips, eyelids, feet, or hands
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What you can do

For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. If you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.

Victoza may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Victoza. Factors to consider include those in the list below.

Boxed warning: Risk of thyroid tumors

This drug has a boxed warning for the risk of thyroid tumors. This is a serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A boxed warning alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous. For more information, see the “Side effect specifics” section.

Other precautions

Victoza may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Victoza. Factors to consider include:

  • allergic reaction to Victoza or any of its ingredients
  • kidney problems
  • liver problems
  • gastroparesis (slowed stomach emptying)
  • pancreas problems
  • upcoming surgery*

* Ozempic may cause pulmonary aspiration (accidental inhalation of liquid or other substances) with general anesthesia or deep sedation for surgery. If you need surgery while using Ozempic, inform your healthcare team that you take this drug before your surgery.

Alcohol use with Victoza

Drinking alcohol while taking Victoza may increase your risk for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). When your blood sugar level becomes low, your liver typically releases glucose, which is another name for sugar. Alcohol can block this action from occurring. If alcohol and Victoza are taken together, your risk for severe hypoglycemia increases.

Talk with your doctor about how much, if any, alcohol is safe for you to consume while being treated with Victoza.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking Victoza

Here’s some information on the use of Victoza while pregnant or breastfeeding:

  • Pregnancy. It’s not known if Victoza is safe to use during pregnancy. Animal studies have shown that Victoza can harm a fetus when given to a pregnant animal. It isn’t known if this also occurs when the drug is used during pregnancy in humans. Before taking Victoza, talk with your doctor if you’re pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant. They can advise you on the benefits and risks of the drug.
  • Breastfeeding. It isn’t known whether Victoza is safe to use while breastfeeding. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, talk with your doctor about whether Victoza is right for you.

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 other 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.