Is it advisable to use VICTOZA even when blood sugar is fully under control with insulin ?

[patliputra]

The victoza, a GLP 1 analogue, liraglutide, is available in injection form. Is it better than insulin if you have associated cardiac problems ? Is it safe drug with minimum side effects ? Any experience or suggestion.

[SolitaryMan]

I used to take Victoza. The side effects were horrendous. Continual diarrhoea for 18 months!!! I still take Metformin and for the last couple of months, I inject once a week with trulicity dulaglutide 1.5 mg.

For the last fortnight I've been getting incredible indigestion and pain resulting in vomiting this morning after breakfast.

Both the Victoza and the trulicity appeared to be working, my readings certainly improved.

I will continue with the trulicity but if side effects continue then I'm coming off it.

Dave

[Activity2004 in reply to SolitaryMan]

Please let your doctor know about the side effects right away. It could also be related to another condition.

[patliputra in reply to SolitaryMan]

Solitaryman , thank you for sharing your experience. I have also talked to a couple of persons who took victoza. They have experience similar to you.

It is a comparatively new drug and long term effects are unknown .

[Activity2004 in reply to patliputra]

Some side effects are mimicking other medical issues, patliputra .

[patliputra in reply to Activity2004]

Maybe. But side effects disappeared after stoppage of medicine.

[SolitaryMan in reply to patliputra]

Once I stopped taking Victoza the diarrhoea stopped too.

Last week I had totally run out of my Diabetes medication, i.e. Metformin and the Dulaglutide. I put my renewal prescription in. I kept an eye on my blood sugars with the finger prick testing.

After the first day without medication I felt ok. I was without medication for five days, only restarting again this Monday.

I felt brilliant for those five days I really did. No pain, no dodgy feeling in my stomach. My blood sugars stayed fairly constant too which did surprise me a little.

Now I'm back on the Metformin again. I'm ok but not having the same feelings as I had last week

Dave

[Margaret9349]

I had horrendous problems like these on Metformin. I was put on Victoza and told it would decrease appetite but apart from first four weeks when I felt nauseous this is not the case. I think that it is a case is that there needs to be individual care and medication plans for each patient. What suits one may not suit someone else

[SolitaryMan in reply to Margaret9349]

Margaret, I totally agree with you. What drug works for one person doesn't mean it will work on another.

When I was using Victoza the side effects were awful for me.

Got to the stage where I was virtually a prisoner in my own flat as I hardly dared going out

After 18 months of hell I got them to take me off the drug

Dave