Ozempic vs. Victoza

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

Key Takeaways

  • Ozempic is injected once a week while Victoza requires a daily injection.

  • Both drugs are GLP-1 receptor agonists approved for type 2 diabetes and lowering cardiovascular risk, but only Ozempic is also approved to slow chronic kidney disease progression.

  • Victoza is approved for children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes, while Ozempic is approved for adults only.

Ozempic vs. Victoza Drug Summary

Ozempic

Ozempic (semaglutide) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist used to control blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes, alongside diet and exercise. It is injected once a week and is also approved to lower cardiovascular risk and slow chronic kidney disease progression in people with type 2 diabetes.

Victoza

Victoza (liraglutide) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist used to control blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, including children 10 and older. It is injected once a day and is also approved to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events in adults with established heart disease.

Ozempic vs. Victoza Side Effects

Ozempic

Most common
Nausea (up to 20.3%)
Vomiting (up to 9.2%)
Diarrhea (up to 8.8%)
Abdominal pain (up to 7.3%)

Victoza

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

Ozempic vs. Victoza Dosage

Ozempic

Dosage
Dosage Table
STAGE DOSE WHEN
Starting dose 0.25 mg once weekly Weeks 1-4
Maximum dose 2 mg once weekly If needed
Dose changes 3 increases Every 4 weeks

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

Ozempic vs. Victoza Indications

Ozempic

Ozempic is FDA-approved to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes, along with diet and exercise. It also carries approvals to lower cardiovascular risk in people with known heart disease and to slow chronic kidney disease progression. Some clinicians prescribe it off-label for weight loss in people without diabetes.

  • Blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes

  • Reduce cardiovascular risk with known heart disease

  • Slow chronic kidney disease progression

  • Off-label use for weight loss

Victoza

Victoza is FDA-approved to improve blood sugar control in adults and children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes, along with diet and exercise. It is also approved to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events in adults with established heart disease. It served as the basis for the higher-dose weight-loss drug Saxenda.

  • Blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes

  • Reduce major cardiovascular events with heart disease

  • Approved for children 10 and older

  • Basis for weight-loss drug Saxenda

Ozempic vs. Victoza Pros and Cons

Ozempic

Ozempic and Victoza are chemically related and share a similar side effect profile, but Ozempic's once-weekly schedule and added kidney-protection approval set it apart. Both carry the same boxed warning about thyroid tumors seen in animal studies.

Pros

  • Only needs one injection per week instead of one every day

  • FDA-approved to slow chronic kidney disease progression, an indication Victoza does not have

  • Higher maximum maintenance dose (2 mg) allows further glycemic titration

Cons

  • Not approved for use in children

  • Weight loss benefit is off-label, not part of the FDA-approved indication

  • Fewer years on the market than Victoza, which has a longer track record

Victoza

Victoza has a longer track record, having been on the market since 2010, and is the only one of the two approved for children with type 2 diabetes. Its daily dosing means more injections but allows more gradual dose changes.

Pros

  • Approved for children as young as 10 with type 2 diabetes, an option Ozempic does not offer

  • Longer real-world safety record dating back to 2010

  • Daily dosing allows easier adjustment if side effects occur during titration

Cons

  • Requires a daily injection instead of a once-weekly shot

  • Lower maximum maintenance dose (1.8 mg) than Ozempic's 2 mg ceiling

  • Not studied or approved for chronic kidney disease progression

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