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

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

Contrave

Most common
Vomiting (up to 10.7%)
Nausea (up to 32.5%)
Constipation (up to 19.2%)
Headache (up to 17.6%)

Victoza vs. Contrave Dosage

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

Contrave

Dosage
Dosage Table
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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