Victoza vs. Contrave
See how Victoza and Contrave compare on approved uses, dosing, side effects, and cost.
Key Takeaways
Victoza is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk reduction, not weight loss; using it specifically to lose weight is off-label, since Saxenda (a higher liraglutide dose) holds that approval.
Contrave is FDA-approved specifically for chronic weight management and is taken as a twice-daily pill after a three-week dose increase.
Victoza is a once-daily injection while Contrave is swallowed, and each carries its own boxed warning: thyroid tumor risk for Victoza, suicidal thoughts and behavior risk for Contrave.
Victoza vs. Contrave Drug Summary
Victoza
Victoza (liraglutide) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist approved to improve blood sugar control in adults and children with type 2 diabetes and to lower cardiovascular risk in adults with existing heart disease. It's given as a once-daily subcutaneous injection, with the dose increased over the first few weeks. It is not FDA-approved for weight loss; a higher-dose version, Saxenda, is used for that purpose.
Contrave
Contrave combines naltrexone, an opioid antagonist, with bupropion, an antidepressant, and is approved specifically for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight plus a weight-related condition. It's taken as an extended-release tablet, with the dose increased over three weeks to a twice-daily maintenance dose. Unlike Victoza, it is not used to treat diabetes or reduce cardiovascular risk.
Victoza vs. Contrave Side Effects
Victoza
Contrave
Victoza vs. Contrave Dosage
Victoza
Contrave
| 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 |
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 8 mg/90 mg once daily | Week 1 |
| Maximum dose | 16 mg/180 mg twice daily | Week 3 |
| Dose changes | 2 increases | Every week |
Victoza
| 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 |
Contrave
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 8 mg/90 mg once daily | Week 1 |
| Maximum dose | 16 mg/180 mg twice daily | Week 3 |
| Dose changes | 2 increases | Every week |
Victoza vs. Contrave Indications
Victoza
Victoza is approved to help control blood sugar in adults and children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes, and to lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death in adults with type 2 diabetes and existing heart disease. It is not approved for weight loss, though liraglutide at a higher dose is sold separately as Saxenda for that purpose. Using Victoza specifically to lose weight is an off-label use.
Adjunct to diet and exercise for glycemic control in adults and children 10+ with type 2 diabetes
Reduces risk of major cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease
Not approved for weight loss; Saxenda (higher-dose liraglutide) holds that approval
Not approved for type 1 diabetes
Contrave
Contrave is approved for chronic weight management in adults with obesity, or who are overweight with at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes. It's meant to be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. It is not approved to treat depression, aid smoking cessation, or for use in children.
Approved for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or a weight-related condition
Used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity
Not approved for major depressive disorder or other psychiatric conditions
Not approved for smoking cessation or pediatric use
Victoza vs. Contrave Pros and Cons
Victoza
Victoza has more than a decade of real-world use and is one of the few diabetes drugs proven to reduce cardiovascular events, but it requires a daily injection and carries a boxed warning for thyroid tumor risk seen in animal studies. It typically costs more per month than Contrave before insurance. Any use for weight loss on its own would be off-label.
Pros
FDA-approved to reduce cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes, not just control blood sugar
Once-daily injection with over a decade of clinical use since 2010
Approved for pediatric type 2 diabetes patients 10 and older
No boxed warning related to psychiatric side effects
Cons
Requires a daily injection rather than a pill
Boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumor risk seen in animal studies
Not FDA-approved for weight loss; that use is off-label
Roughly $935 to $1,470 per month without insurance, higher than Contrave
Contrave
Contrave is the only approved oral non-GLP-1 weight-loss combination pill, appealing to people who want to avoid injections, but it carries its own boxed warning for suicidal thoughts tied to the bupropion component. It has several contraindications, including seizure history and opioid use, and it costs less per month than Victoza before insurance. It does not address blood sugar control or cardiovascular risk.
Pros
Oral tablet, no injections needed
FDA-approved specifically for chronic weight management
Only branded oral weight-loss combination pill that isn't a GLP-1
Roughly $750 to $840 per month without insurance, lower than Victoza
Cons
Boxed warning for suicidal thoughts and behavior from the bupropion component
Twice-daily dosing after the initial titration period
Contraindicated with seizure history, uncontrolled hypertension, and opioid use
Not approved for diabetes management or cardiovascular risk reduction
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