Liraglutide: What People Actually Pay (2025 Cost Reports and Real-World Reviews)
Key numbers
- 3 mgMaximum adult daily dose of Saxenda, labeled for weight managementSource: dailymed.nlm.nih.gov, as cited 2026-11-07
- 1.8 mgMaximum daily dose of Victoza, labeled for diabetes treatmentSource: dailymed.nlm.nih.gov, as cited 2026-11-07
- 0.6 mgStarting daily dose of Victoza, taken for one week before increasingSource: dailymed.nlm.nih.gov, as cited 2026-11-07
At a glance
- Two brands / Saxenda for weight management, Victoza for type 2 diabetes, both once daily [1][2]
- Adult Saxenda dose / 3 mg once daily [1]
- Victoza maximum dose / 1.8 mg once daily [2]
- FDA-approved generic liraglutide / Yes, with products referencing each brand [3]
- Victoza approved for weight loss / No [2]
- Compounded liraglutide / FDA proposed on 30 April 2026 to exclude it from the bulk substances outsourcing facilities may compound with; no final decision found [4]
- Combining liraglutide products / Not recommended in the Saxenda label [1]
Why there is no single liraglutide price
Saxenda and Victoza are separate products from Novo Nordisk. Both contain liraglutide, both are once-daily subcutaneous injections of a GLP-1 receptor agonist, and each has its own approval, label and indication [1][2].
The maximum doses differ: 3 mg daily for Saxenda in adults, 1.8 mg daily for Victoza [1][2]. Saxenda is indicated for weight management, and its label states that safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients with type 2 diabetes have not been established [1]. Victoza is not approved for weight loss. Its indications are glycemic control in type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk reduction in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease [2].
The titration schedules differ too. Saxenda starts at 0.6 mg daily and rises weekly to 3 mg from week 5. Victoza starts at 0.6 mg daily for one week, then moves to 1.2 mg, with 1.8 mg as the maximum [1][2].
What people on Reddit report
Reddit accounts from people paying out of pocket or with partial insurance for liraglutide, who cut their dose to stretch each box. Some disagree on whether a lower dose is wise.
I'm in NZ and it costs at my pharmacy (where there has never been a supply issue) $525 per box of 5 pens. Recently there is simply no room in our budget for more so my last prescription after speaking to my Dr I made the decision to reduce to .6 daily dose whereby this box will last 5 months rather than 1.Read the source discussion
Ugh that's awful. I'm in Canada & they're charging us a smidgen over $500/ box. Only reason I can afford to stay on it is because my insurance pays 80%.Read the source discussion
Due to the cost, I made the decision to drop my dose as well. I did it at about the 9 month mark after losing 50 lbs and getting past my first two mini goals. I went to a 1.5 dose (exactly half) to make each box last twice as long.Read the source discussion
What dose have you been on for the first 6 months? Maybe .6 is too drastic, could you do 1.2? It'd still last much longer.Read the source discussion
Questions worth asking
Dr Arsalan on why liraglutide costs more in the US
Dr. Arsalan argues that liraglutide, sold as Saxenda, is much more expensive in the United States than in many other countries, and that medicines here can cost several times more. He compares listed prices on GoodRx for these injections and notes that Saxenda can be found from about one thousand three hundred dollars. In his view, the high price is a US problem and not something patients have brought on themselves. He stresses that this is his own opinion and encourages viewers to talk with their doctor and check whether their insurance will cover the medicine.
Who is speaking?
Dr. Arsalan Aspires. Presenter, as named on the Dr. Arsalan Aspires channel Background
FDA-approved generics
Generic liraglutide is FDA-approved [3]. FDA-approved generic liraglutide products reference either Saxenda or Victoza and carry labeling for the corresponding indication and dose. Generics referencing Saxenda include labels from Teva (ANDA 214568), Biocon (ANDA 217063) and Cipla (ANDA 217234). Generics referencing Victoza include Hikma (ANDA 215503, approved 2024-12-23), Lupin, Meitheal/NorthStar and a Teva authorized generic [3].
The Saxenda label also says coadministration with other liraglutide-containing products, or with any other GLP-1 receptor agonist, is not recommended [1].
Compounded liraglutide
On 2026-04-30 FDA proposed to exclude semaglutide, tirzepatide and liraglutide from the list of bulk drug substances that outsourcing facilities may compound with, finding no clinical need for outsourcing facilities to compound these drugs from bulk substances. The proposal was open for comment through June 29, 2026, and no final decision was found. FDA states that compounded drugs are not FDA approved [4].
Frequently asked questions
Is there a generic version of liraglutide?
Are Saxenda and Victoza the same product?
Can Victoza be prescribed for weight loss?
What is FDA's position on compounded liraglutide?
Can two liraglutide products be used together?
References
- U.S. National Library of Medicine, DailyMed. Saxenda injection (liraglutide) prescribing information. Saxenda injection (liraglutide) label
- U.S. National Library of Medicine, DailyMed. Victoza injection (liraglutide) prescribing information. Victoza injection (liraglutide) label
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- FDA Proposes to Exclude Semaglutide, Tirzepatide, and Liraglutide on Bulks List | FDA. FDA Proposes to Exclude Semaglutide, Tirzepatide, and Liraglutide on Bulks List | FDA
- Reddit participants. Reducing dose due to cost (r/liraglutide). Accessed 2026-11-11.
- Dr. Arsalan Aspires. Saxenda for Weight Loss | The Rise of GLP-1 Agonists for Weight Loss. Accessed 2026-11-11.