Liraglutide is still available after Victoza
A brand discontinuation, a shortage and a withdrawn authorisation each mean something different. The UK parliamentary answer describes Victoza being discontinued as a brand, with liraglutide still supplied by others. You do not need to stop liraglutide, and no safety problem has been identified. Ask your pharmacy about stock using the exact current product name.
What Victoza treats
Victoza contains liraglutide and treats type 2 diabetes. It improves glucose control alongside diet and exercise, sometimes with other diabetes medicines. The EMA assessment describes a daily injection for adults and for children from age ten under its authorisation. UK clinicians must follow the current UK product information for whichever alternative they prescribe.
How Victoza differs from Saxenda
Saxenda also contains liraglutide. Saxenda is licensed for weight management and uses a different dose schedule. Do not swap one branded pen for another because the ingredient matches. A diabetes review and an obesity assessment also aim at different clinical goals. Losing weight during diabetes treatment does not make every liraglutide product a licensed weight-loss medicine.
Changing to another liraglutide pen
Your prescriber and pharmacist should confirm the alternative product, the dose, the device instructions and any change to monitoring. Ask for a demonstration if the pen looks different, even after years of injecting. Check whether the new pen needs different needles and how to store it. Do not rely on an old pen guide or a conversion chart from social media.
Keep the rest of your diabetes plan in place
Liraglutide is not insulin. Changing liraglutide brand gives no reason to stop insulin or alter other glucose-lowering medicines without a plan. MHRA has warned about ketoacidosis when insulin was cut quickly after GLP-1 treatment started. If supply looks uncertain, contact your care team before you run out. They can arrange continuity, glucose monitoring and an alternative prescription.
Reading older Victoza information
Older trials and health pages often say "Victoza" because the studies used that product. The science can still apply while the buying advice is out of date. Keep the historical evidence apart from today's supply position. For your own prescription, focus on the correct active ingredient, licensed product, dose and follow-up. Do not hunt for the old brand from an unverified seller.
Ask what replaces Victoza on your prescription
If you are told to use "another liraglutide", get a precise prescription before anything changes. Ask whether the new product has the same intended use and dosing, and whether your repeat list updates automatically. If the pharmacy cannot supply the named alternative, go back to your clinical team for a plan. Do not look for leftover Victoza on informal marketplaces. A documented substitution keeps you on the correct treatment and keeps a professional responsible for monitoring it.
Sources
Your own medicine leaflet and prescriber come first. A source from another country does not mean the same rule applies in the UK.
- EMA: Victoza assessment and product information ema.europa.eu
- UK Parliament: liraglutide supply and Victoza discontinuation questions-statements.parliament.uk
- Saxenda: UK prescribing information medicines.org.uk
- MHRA: GLP-1 medicines and rapid insulin reduction gov.uk
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