Farxiga vs. Victoza

See how Farxiga and Victoza compare on approved uses, dosing, side effects, and cost.

Key Takeaways

  • Farxiga is a once-daily pill while Victoza is a once-daily injection, so how each drug is taken is a major practical difference.

  • Farxiga's most common side effects are genital and urinary infections, while Victoza's are gastrointestinal, so the two drugs rarely overlap in what patients notice.

  • Both lower blood sugar in type 2 diabetes, but Farxiga also treats heart failure and chronic kidney disease while Victoza is approved to cut cardiovascular events in adults with existing heart disease.

Farxiga vs. Victoza Drug Summary

Farxiga

Farxiga (dapagliflozin) is an SGLT2 inhibitor taken as a once-daily oral tablet. It treats type 2 diabetes and also carries separate FDA approvals for heart failure and chronic kidney disease, working by causing the kidneys to remove excess glucose through urine.

Victoza

Victoza (liraglutide) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist given as a once-daily injection under the skin. It treats type 2 diabetes and is also approved to lower cardiovascular risk in adults with existing heart disease, working by boosting insulin release and slowing digestion.

Farxiga vs. Victoza Side Effects

Farxiga

Most common
Female genital mycotic infections (up to 6.9%)
Nasopharyngitis (up to 6.3%)
Urinary tract infections (up to 4.3%)
Back pain (up to 4.2%)

Victoza

Most common
Diarrhea (up to 11.7%)
Nausea (5% or more)
Vomiting (5% or more)
Decreased appetite (5% or more)

Farxiga vs. Victoza Dosage

Farxiga

Dosage
Dosage Table
STAGE DOSE WHEN
Starting dose 5 mg once daily At the start
Maximum dose 10 mg once daily If needed
Dose changes 1 increase As tolerated

Victoza

Dosage
Dosage Table
STAGE DOSE WHEN
Starting dose 0.6 mg once daily Week 1
Maximum dose 1.8 mg once daily Week 3 onward
Dose changes 2 increases Every week

Farxiga vs. Victoza Indications

Farxiga

Farxiga treats type 2 diabetes and also carries specific FDA approvals for heart failure and chronic kidney disease, making it useful beyond blood sugar control alone. It's approved for adults and children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes.

  • Blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes

  • Reduce heart failure hospitalization and cardiovascular death

  • Slow chronic kidney disease progression

  • Approved for children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes

Victoza

Victoza treats type 2 diabetes as an add-on to diet and exercise, and it also carries an FDA approval to lower cardiovascular risk in adults with established heart disease. It's approved for adults and children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes.

  • Glycemic control in type 2 diabetes

  • Reduce major cardiovascular events in adults with heart disease

  • Approved for children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes

  • Used alongside diet and exercise

Farxiga vs. Victoza Pros and Cons

Farxiga

Farxiga's oral form and broad set of approvals across diabetes, heart failure, and kidney disease make it appealing for patients managing more than one condition. It's generally lower cost than Victoza but carries genitourinary infection risks that some patients want to avoid.

Pros

  • Oral tablet, no injections required

  • Also approved for heart failure and chronic kidney disease

  • No boxed warning

Cons

  • Risk of genital yeast infections and urinary tract infections

  • Not recommended for glycemic control at low kidney function levels

  • Rare risk of ketoacidosis even with near-normal blood sugar

Victoza

Victoza has a longer track record for cardiovascular risk reduction in people with established heart disease, delivered through a daily self-injection. It avoids the genitourinary infection risks seen with Farxiga but carries its own boxed warning and gastrointestinal side effects.

Pros

  • Specifically approved to reduce cardiovascular events in adults with heart disease

  • No genital or urinary infection risk

  • Long-standing approval history since 2010

Cons

  • Boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumor risk

  • Requires a daily injection

  • Common gastrointestinal side effects like nausea and diarrhea

Common Symptoms and Related Diseases You Can Explore

Explore a range of common symptoms the Doctronic Symptom Checker can help you understand.