Invokana vs. Victoza

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

Key Takeaways

  • Invokana is a once-daily pill that also protects the heart and kidneys in people with type 2 diabetes and existing heart or kidney disease, while Victoza is a once-daily injection with its own cardiovascular benefit.

  • The two drugs cause different side effects: Invokana raises the risk of genital yeast infections and UTIs, while Victoza commonly causes nausea, diarrhea, and other digestive symptoms, especially when starting.

  • Both are FDA-approved for children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes, but only Invokana is also approved to slow diabetic kidney disease, and only Victoza carries a boxed warning for thyroid tumor risk.

Invokana vs. Victoza Drug Summary

Invokana

Invokana (canagliflozin) is an SGLT2 inhibitor for type 2 diabetes that works by causing the kidneys to remove extra sugar through urine. It comes as a once-daily tablet, and is also approved to lower cardiovascular risk in people with heart disease and to slow diabetic kidney disease in those with kidney damage and protein in the urine.

Victoza

Victoza (liraglutide) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist for type 2 diabetes that boosts the body's own insulin response and slows digestion to smooth out blood sugar swings. It's given as a once-daily injection, and is also approved to lower cardiovascular risk in adults with established heart disease.

Invokana vs. Victoza Side Effects

Invokana

Most common
Genital yeast infection (up to 11%)
Urinary tract infection (up to 6%)
Increased urination (up to 5%)
Male genital yeast infection (up to 4%)

Victoza

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

Invokana vs. Victoza Dosage

Invokana

Dosage
Dosage Table
STAGE DOSE WHEN
Starting dose 100 mg once daily At the start
Maximum dose 100 mg once daily Same as starting
Dose changes None Fixed dose

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

Invokana vs. Victoza Indications

Invokana

Invokana is approved as an add-on to diet and exercise to control blood sugar in adults and children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes. It's also approved to lower the risk of major cardiovascular events in adults with established heart disease, and to slow diabetic kidney disease in adults with kidney damage and protein in their urine.

  • Add-on to diet and exercise for glycemic control (ages 10+)

  • Lowers major cardiovascular event risk in adults with heart disease

  • Slows diabetic kidney disease progression in adults with albuminuria

  • Not recommended for type 1 diabetes

Victoza

Victoza is approved as an add-on to diet and exercise to control blood sugar in adults and children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes. It's also approved to lower the risk of major cardiovascular events in adults with established heart disease. It's sometimes used off-label for weight loss, though Saxenda is the liraglutide product FDA-approved for that purpose.

  • Add-on to diet and exercise for glycemic control (ages 10+)

  • Lowers major cardiovascular event risk in adults with heart disease

  • Sometimes used off-label for weight loss (Saxenda is approved for that)

  • Not approved for type 1 diabetes

Invokana vs. Victoza Pros and Cons

Invokana

Invokana stands out among type 2 diabetes pills for its added heart and kidney protection, backed by large outcome trials, and it doesn't require an injection. It costs less out of pocket than Victoza before insurance, though genital and urinary infections are a real trade-off for how it works.

Pros

  • Taken as a once-daily pill, not an injection

  • Proven to slow diabetic kidney disease progression, not just blood sugar

  • Lower list price than Victoza, roughly $550 to $830 a month before insurance

Cons

  • Raises the risk of genital yeast infections and UTIs

  • Not recommended for glycemic control once eGFR drops below 30

  • Can cause dehydration and low blood pressure, especially in older adults

  • Carries a risk of diabetic ketoacidosis, even with normal blood sugar readings

Victoza

Victoza has a longer track record as one of the original GLP-1 drugs, with solid cardiovascular outcome data of its own, but it requires a daily injection instead of a pill. It costs more out of pocket than Invokana before insurance, and nausea and other digestive side effects are common when starting.

Pros

  • One of the earliest approved GLP-1 drugs, used clinically since 2010

  • No added risk of genital or urinary tract infections

  • Available in a pediatric-studied injection pen with clear dose steps

Cons

  • Requires a daily injection instead of a pill

  • Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are common, especially during the first weeks

  • Boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumor risk; avoid with a history of medullary thyroid cancer

  • Higher list price than Invokana, roughly $935 to $1,470 a month before insurance

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