• Subcutaneous injection, to the abdomen, thigh or upper arm.
• Mode of Action:
  • The exact mechanism of action is not entirely clear.
  • Liraglutide is 97% similar to native GLP-1, a hormone that is released in response to food intake and acts as a physiological regulator of appetite.
  • It binds to and activates the GLP-1 receptor in the hypothalamus, causing increased fullness and decreased hunger signals.
  • Customers using liraglutide, feel full sooner and therefore eat less food, ultimately leading to weight loss.⁶
• Dose:
  • Once daily administration.
  • Starts at 0.6mg daily increased at weekly intervals until maintenance dose of 3mg daily, is achieved.
  • Treatment should be discontinued after 12 weeks on the 3mg/day dose if customer has not lost at least 5% of their initial body weight.
• Side effects include:
  • nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation (these usually go away after a few days or weeks), as well as insomnia, hypoglycaemia and dizziness.

Available on the NHS, however only offered through secondary care specialist multidisciplinary tier 3 weight management services.

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