Liraglutide (Saxenda, Victoza)

Liraglutide is an earlier GLP-1 receptor agonist, sold as Saxenda (for weight management) and Victoza (for type 2 diabetes). It arrived years before semaglutide and was, for a while, the leading GLP-1 drug — which is why you’ll still meet it in older articles and forum posts.

The key difference: daily, not weekly

Unlike semaglutide and tirzepatide, liraglutide is a once-daily injection. Seven shots a week instead of one is the practical reason it has largely been overtaken — both by adherence (a daily needle is a bigger ask) and by results.

How it compares on results

In its trials, Saxenda produced average weight loss in the range of 5–8% — meaningful, and a genuine breakthrough at the time, but well below the ~15% (semaglutide) and ~21% (tirzepatide) seen in the later trials. For most new patients today, prescribers reach for the weekly options first.

Where it still fits

Liraglutide hasn’t disappeared. It may be chosen for reasons specific to a person — insurance coverage, a daily-titration preference, availability during shortages of the newer drugs, or an established response. As always, which medication suits you is a prescriber conversation, not a leaderboard.