Can I get it?
Yes, if a doctor decides it is right for you. Liraglutide is authorised in the EU and can be prescribed after a medical review.
An EU-licensed doctor reviews your case and, if eligible, issues an electronic prescription valid at any EU pharmacy under Directive 2011/24/EU.

Full refund if a review is not approved · Medication, if prescribed, is dispensed and paid for separately at a pharmacy.
IN PLAIN TERMS
Liraglutide is a medicine given as an injection under the skin once a day. Like semaglutide, it copies the natural gut hormone GLP-1, which tells the brain you have had enough to eat, so hunger and food cravings go down. For weight management in the EU it is sold as Saxenda and is used together with a reduced-calorie diet and more physical activity. It has been authorised in the EU for weight management since March 2015.
Liraglutide has been authorised for use in the EU since 23 March 2015, so a licensed doctor can prescribe it when it is clinically appropriate for you.
Learn more about peptides at Peptidepedia.
Yes, if a doctor decides it is right for you. Liraglutide is authorised in the EU and can be prescribed after a medical review.
Our doctors review every Weight loss option and recommend what fits your history and goals.
See all Weight loss optionsEvery trial behind Liraglutide is listed below with its registry number, how many people took part, and whether the results are peer-reviewed or a company announcement.
Jump to the studiesVERIFIED EVIDENCE
WHAT IT IS
It copies the gut hormone GLP-1, which increases the feeling of fullness and reduces hunger and food cravings.
DEVELOPMENT STAGE
Every NCT identifier links to its ClinicalTrials.gov record. A readout is not the same as peer-reviewed publication.
| TRIAL / NCT | POPULATION | PARTICIPANTS | STATUS | READOUT / COMPLETION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes (NN8022-1839)NCT01272219 | Adults with a BMI of 30 kg/m² or more, or 27 kg/m² or more with treated high blood pressure or abnormal blood fats, without type 2 diabetes; all received lifestyle counselling | 3,731 | Read out | 2015-07-02 |
Results are grouped by source and evidence grade so journal data and manufacturer announcements cannot be confused.
| DOSE OR GROUP | MEAN WEIGHT CHANGE | WEEKS |
|---|---|---|
| 3.0 mg once daily | −8.0% | 56 |
| Placebo | −2.6% | 56 |
Everyone in the trial also received lifestyle counselling, people with type 2 diabetes were excluded, and the primary result covers 56 weeks only.
NAMED SAFETY SIGNALS
Reported by 40.2% of people on liraglutide 3.0 mg versus 14.7% on placebo in the SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes trial.
Reported by 20.9% on liraglutide 3.0 mg versus 9.3% on placebo in the same trial.
Reported by 20.0% on liraglutide 3.0 mg versus 8.7% on placebo in the same trial.
Reported by 16.3% on liraglutide 3.0 mg versus 4.1% on placebo in the same trial.
Acute gallstone events were reported by 2.3% on liraglutide 3.0 mg versus 0.9% on placebo across the EMA weight-management trial pool, mainly gallstones (1.5% versus 0.5%).
Independently confirmed in 7 people (0.2%) on liraglutide 3.0 mg versus 1 person (under 0.1%) on placebo across the EMA weight-management trial pool.
Serious adverse events were reported in 6.2% of the liraglutide group versus 5.0% of the placebo group in the SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes trial.
IN 60 SECONDS
About
Also sold as Saxenda, Victoza.
Active ingredient: Liraglutide · Dosages: 0.6 – 3 mg / day
Liraglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist given as a daily subcutaneous injection. It was one of the first in its class approved in Europe for weight management in adults with obesity, or overweight with comorbidities.
Compared with weekly GLP-1s, its daily dosing can be useful when flexibility of adjustment matters or when a semaglutide hasn't been tolerated. The doctor weighs this up in your consultation — two GLP-1 agonists are never combined.
HOW IT WORKS
Like other GLP-1 analogues, liraglutide mimics a natural gut hormone: it eases hunger signals and produces earlier fullness, so you tend to eat less. Being shorter-acting, its dose is adjusted day by day.
Liraglutide is a copy of a natural gut hormone called GLP-1, which the body releases after eating. The EU product information describes it as an acylated human GLP-1 analogue with 97% amino acid sequence homology to the human hormone, and it binds to and activates the GLP-1 receptor.
GLP-1 receptors also sit in brain regions that regulate appetite. The product information reports that liraglutide increases feelings of fullness and satiety while lowering hunger and prospective food consumption, so people eat less. It does not increase energy expenditure compared with placebo.
Liraglutide has an elimination half-life of roughly 13 hours, which is why it is injected once every day rather than once a week like semaglutide or tirzepatide. It also raises insulin and lowers glucagon in a glucose-dependent way, and weight is lost mainly as fat mass.
How it helps
Earlier fullness and calmer hunger signals through the day.
Daily titration lets the doctor fine-tune the dose to your tolerance.
Among the first weight-management GLP-1s approved in Europe.
What to expect
Treatment starts at a low daily dose and steps up through the intermediate doses as tolerated. Your doctor sets the pace and adjusts if side effects appear.
Typical escalation
DAY TO DAY
Liraglutide is injected once daily, at any time of day, with or without food. Unlike weekly injections it needs a dose every 24 hours, so it is easiest to pick a convenient time and keep to it.
Treatment starts at 0.6 mg once daily and rises by 0.6 mg at intervals of at least a week, reaching the 3.0 mg maintenance dose in week 5. The slow climb is there to improve stomach and bowel tolerance.
The injection goes under the skin of the abdomen, the thigh or the upper arm. It must never be given into a vein or a muscle. Rotate the site each day to reduce the risk of amyloid deposits building up under the skin.
Look at the liquid before you inject. It should be clear and colourless, or almost colourless. With a new pen, do the flow check described in the instructions so you can see a drop appear at the needle tip before setting your dose.
If you remember within 12 hours of your usual time, take the dose as soon as you can. If there is less than 12 hours until the next one, skip it and carry on as normal. Never take an extra dose.
Unused pens are kept in a refrigerator between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius, away from the freezer compartment, and must not be frozen. A pen in use can be stored below 30 degrees Celsius or refrigerated, and is discarded one month after first use.
Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea are common at the start and can leave you short of fluid. Dehydration has been linked to kidney impairment and acute kidney failure on GLP-1 medicines, so drink plenty and tell your doctor if you cannot keep fluids down.
Liraglutide is licensed as an addition to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, not as a replacement for them. Every trial result quoted on this page comes from people doing both alongside the daily injection.
Safety first
Liraglutide is an effective medicine — and like any medicine it carries risks. Your doctor screens for all of this before prescribing. Here's the honest picture, not just reassurance.
Stop and get urgent medical help if
seek medical help immediately
these need urgent attention, whatever the frequency
Very common
very common (≥1/10)
more than 1 in 10 people
Common
common (≥1/100 to <1/10)
between 1 in 100 and 1 in 10 people
Uncommon
uncommon (≥1/1,000 to <1/100)
between 1 in 1,000 and 1 in 100 people
Rare
rare (≥1/10,000 to <1/1,000)
between 1 in 10,000 and 1 in 1,000 people
Frequency not known
frequency not known (cannot be estimated from the available data)
reported, but nobody can yet say how often it happens
Adults with obesity (BMI ≥30) or overweight (BMI ≥27) with at least one weight-related condition such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or dyslipidaemia.
WHO SHOULD NOT TAKE IT, AND WHO NEEDS EXTRA CARE
| MEDICINE OR SUBSTANCE | WHAT CAN HAPPEN | WHAT THE DOCTOR DOES |
|---|---|---|
| Insulin and sulfonylureas (for example gliclazide) | Combined use in type 2 diabetes raises the risk of low blood sugar, sometimes severe. | The prescriber may lower the insulin or sulfonylurea dose and asks for blood glucose self-monitoring. |
| Other GLP-1 receptor agonists | Two medicines acting on the same receptor add side effects without an established extra benefit. | Liraglutide for weight management must not be combined with another GLP-1 receptor agonist. |
| Warfarin and other coumarin blood thinners | No interaction study was done, and a clinically relevant effect on warfarin cannot be excluded. | The prescriber arranges more frequent INR checks when liraglutide is started. |
| Oral medicines in general | Liraglutide slightly delays stomach emptying, which can slow how fast a tablet is absorbed. | Interaction studies showed no clinically relevant delay, so no dose change is required. |
| Paracetamol | Peak paracetamol level fell by 31% and was reached up to 15 minutes later; total exposure was unchanged. | No dose adjustment is needed for paracetamol taken alongside liraglutide. |
| Combined oral contraceptives | Peak ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel levels fell by 12% and 13%, with no relevant change in total exposure. | The contraceptive effect is expected to be unaffected, so no change is required. |
| Atorvastatin, digoxin and lisinopril | Peak levels fell by 38%, 31% and 27% respectively, with only small changes in total exposure. | No dose adjustment of any of these three is required based on those results. |
| General anaesthesia or deep sedation | Delayed stomach emptying can leave food in the stomach, and pulmonary aspiration has been reported. | Tell the anaesthetic team you take liraglutide before any procedure needing anaesthesia or sedation. |
EVIDENCE
The SCALE phase 3 programme tested liraglutide 3.0 mg once daily against placebo in 5,358 adults, and reported a mean body-weight change of -8.0% at 56 weeks compared with -2.6% on placebo.
3,731 adults with BMI >= 30, or >= 27 with dyslipidaemia or hypertension · 56 weeks
SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes. Placebo changed -2.6%. In kilograms the change was -8.4 kg versus -2.8 kg from a mean baseline of 106.3 kg.
Source: Saxenda 6 mg/mL solution for injection in pre-filled pen: Annex I Summary of Product Characteristics3,731 adults without type 2 diabetes · 56 weeks
In the same trial 26.6% of the placebo group reached 5%. For a loss of more than 10% the figures were 32.8% and 10.1%.
Source: Saxenda 6 mg/mL solution for injection in pre-filled pen: Annex I Summary of Product Characteristics2,254 adults with prediabetes at screening · 160 weeks
Placebo changed -1.8%. The weight loss occurred mainly in the first year and was sustained through week 160.
Source: Saxenda 6 mg/mL solution for injection in pre-filled pen: Annex I Summary of Product Characteristics2,254 adults with prediabetes and obesity or overweight · 160 weeks
Estimated time to onset of type 2 diabetes was 2.7 times longer on liraglutide, with a hazard ratio of 0.2 versus placebo.
Source: Saxenda 6 mg/mL solution for injection in pre-filled pen: Annex I Summary of Product Characteristics422 adults who had already lost at least 5% on a low-calorie diet · 56 weeks
SCALE Maintenance. Placebo changed -0.2%. 81.4% on liraglutide kept at least 5% of the run-in loss, versus 48.9% on placebo.
Source: SCALE Maintenance: weight maintenance and additional weight loss with liraglutide after low-calorie-diet-induced weight lossThese figures are group averages from randomised trials, not a prediction for any one person. Some participants lost far more than the average and some lost very little, and everyone in these trials was also following an energy-restricted diet with exercise counselling alongside the daily injection. The product information also notes that of the people who had lost less than 5% after 12 weeks on the full dose, 93.4% did not go on to reach a 10% loss at one year, which is why the prescriber reviews progress at that point.
ALTERNATIVES
| MEDICINE | HOW IT IS TAKEN | HOW OFTEN | TYPICAL DOSE RANGE | EU-AUTHORISED INDICATION | KEY EVIDENCE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semaglutide | Weekly injection | Once weekly | 0.25–2.4 mg | Adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for weight management in adults with BMI ≥30, or ≥27 to <30 with at least one weight-related comorbidity. | STEP 1: mean -14.9% body weight at 68 weeks versus -2.4% placebo |
| Tirzepatide | Weekly injection | Once weekly | 2.5–15 mg | Adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for weight management in adults with BMI ≥30, or ≥27 to <30 with at least one weight-related comorbidity. | SURMOUNT-1: mean -20.9% body weight at 72 weeks versus -3.1% placebo |
| Orlistat | Oral capsule | With each main meal | 120 mg per main meal | In conjunction with a mildly hypocaloric diet, for obese patients with BMI ≥30, or overweight patients with BMI ≥28 and associated risk factors. | XENDOS: mean 5.8 kg lost at four years versus 3.0 kg on placebo |
Not sure which one fits your case? The doctor reviews your history and tells you.
Start consultation · €25/monthACCESS AND COST
Liraglutide is a centrally authorised medicine that is subject to medical prescription across the European Union, so no pharmacy can supply it without a valid prescription from a doctor. Who pays varies a lot by country: most national health systems do not cover it for weight management, so the patient pays the pharmacy directly. The entries for Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Ireland and Poland come from the national sources listed below; the rows for France, Italy, Belgium and Austria record the general position for this indication and are not confirmed against a national decision. The national database linked on each row is the authority on the current position.
What you pay Hi-Doctor
€25/month (billed €25 every 28 days)
Answer a few questions and a licensed EU doctor reviews your case in less than 2 hours on average. Refunded in full if it's not right for you.
What the pharmacy charges
Hi-Doctor does not sell, stock or dispense medicines and does not set their price. The medicine is paid for separately at the pharmacy, and the amount depends on the country, the pack size, whether a generic is available and whether your health system covers it. The official national database linked in the table publishes the current authorised price.
| COUNTRY | HOW IT IS SUPPLIED | COVERED BY THE HEALTH SYSTEM? | OFFICIAL SOURCE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | Prescription-only | Not reimbursed for weight management | AEMPS CIMA |
| Germany | Prescription-only | Excluded from statutory health insurance as a weight-regulation medicine | PharmNet.Bund AMIce |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | Prescription-only | Not reimbursed for weight management | Base de données publique des médicaments |
| Italy | Prescription-only | Not reimbursed for weight management | AIFA Medicinali |
| Netherlands | Prescription-only | Restricted, conditions set in Regeling zorgverzekering bijlage 2 | CBG-MEB Geneesmiddeleninformatiebank |
| Portugal | Prescription-only | Not reimbursed for weight management | INFARMED Infomed |
| Belgium | Prescription-only | Not reimbursed for weight management | FAGG-AFMPS medicines database |
| Ireland | Prescription-only | Reimbursed by the HSE since January 2023, see national criteria | HPRA Find a Medicine |
| Austria | Prescription-only | Not reimbursed for weight management | BASG Medikamente Info Austria |
| Poland | Prescription-only | Not reimbursed, patient pays in full | Rejestr Produktów Leczniczych |
PRICING
€25/month for weight loss or €15/month (billed €45 every 90 days) for hair growth. €35 one-off is available for sexual health.
ONGOING PLAN
€25/month
Billed €25 every 28 days · cancel anytime
28-day treatment cycle
For ongoing treatment and doctor-reviewed renewals.
Renewals reviewed by your doctor
Full refund if a review is not approved
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Full refund if a review is not approved
If a review is not approved, we refund that period's €25 fee and cancel the plan.
Note: The medication, if the doctor prescribes it, is paid separately at the pharmacy at the price it sets. Hi-Doctor does not sell medications.
HOW THE DOCTOR DECIDES
An EU-licensed doctor reads your questionnaire and answers in less than 2 hours on average.
If the doctor decides it is not safe to prescribe, the consultation fee is refunded in full.
Follow-up happens in the private chat inside your account, under GDPR. No WhatsApp, no SMS.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
OTHER WEIGHT LOSS TREATMENTS
SOURCES
Saxenda (liraglutide): European public assessment report, medicine overview — European Medicines Agency, 2015
Saxenda 6 mg/mL solution for injection in pre-filled pen: Annex I Summary of Product Characteristics — European Medicines Agency, 2026
Saxenda 6 mg/mL solution for injection in pre-filled pen: Summary of Product Characteristics — electronic medicines compendium (emc), 2026
Saxenda 6 mg/mL solution for injection in pre-filled pen: Patient Information Leaflet — electronic medicines compendium (emc), 2026
Liraglutide (Saxenda, Diavic, Zegluxen): NHS medicines A to Z — NHS, 2026
SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes: a randomized, controlled trial of 3.0 mg of liraglutide in weight management — New England Journal of Medicine, 2015
SCALE Maintenance: weight maintenance and additional weight loss with liraglutide after low-calorie-diet-induced weight loss — International Journal of Obesity, 2013
Victoza (liraglutide): European public assessment report, medicine overview — European Medicines Agency, 2009
Saxenda (liraglutide) injection: US prescribing information, boxed warning and contraindications — DailyMed, US National Library of Medicine, 2026
CIMA: Saxenda presentations, marketing and prescription status in Spain — AEMPS (Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices), 2026
Sozialgesetzbuch V § 34: medicines excluded from statutory health insurance, including those for weight regulation — Bundesministerium der Justiz (gesetze-im-internet.de), 2026
Liraglutide: preparaattekst and vergoeding conditions in the Netherlands — Farmacotherapeutisch Kompas, Zorginstituut Nederland, 2026
Liraglutide (Saxenda): health technology assessment and HSE reimbursement decision — National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (Ireland), 2023
Rejestr Produktow Leczniczych: Saxenda registration record in Poland — Centrum e-Zdrowia (Poland), 2026
INFOMED: base de dados de medicamentos de uso humano — INFARMED (Portugal), 2026
STEP 1: Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity — New England Journal of Medicine, 2021
SURMOUNT-1: Tirzepatide once weekly for the treatment of obesity — New England Journal of Medicine, 2022
XENDOS: XENical in the prevention of Diabetes in Obese Subjects, a 4-year randomised study — Diabetes Care, 2004
Wegovy (semaglutide) solution for injection: Summary of Product Characteristics — electronic medicines compendium (emc), 2026
Xenical 120 mg hard capsules: Summary of Product Characteristics — electronic medicines compendium (emc), 2026
Reviewed by Hi-Doctor's medical team · Last reviewed 2026-07-27 · Next review due 2027-07-27
This page is educational information about a medicine, not a recommendation to take it and not a substitute for a medical consultation. Only a licensed doctor who has reviewed your history can decide whether a treatment is appropriate for you.
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