Victoza and Ozempic are not the same medication, but they are closely related. Both are injectable drugs made by the same manufacturer (Novo Nordisk) that belong to the same drug class, called GLP-1 receptor agonists. The key difference: Victoza contains liraglutide and is injected once daily, while Ozempic contains semaglutide and is injected once weekly. Semaglutide was developed after liraglutide as a longer-acting, more potent version of the same basic concept.
How They Work
Both drugs mimic a natural hormone called GLP-1 that your body releases after eating. This hormone signals the pancreas to produce insulin, slows down digestion, and acts on areas of the brain involved in appetite. GLP-1 receptors are found throughout the body, including in the pancreas, gut, heart, kidneys, and brain, which is why these medications have effects beyond just blood sugar control.
The problem with natural GLP-1 is that it breaks down in the body within minutes. Both liraglutide and semaglutide were engineered with a fatty acid chain that lets them attach to a protein in your blood called albumin, which dramatically extends how long they stay active. Semaglutide’s specific fatty acid design gives it a much longer survival time in the body, which is why it only needs to be injected once a week instead of every day.
Dosing and Administration
Victoza is a daily injection. You take it at the same time each day at a dose of 0.6 mg, 1.2 mg, or 1.8 mg. Most people start at the lowest dose and increase gradually to reduce side effects.
Ozempic is a once-weekly injection. Doses range from 0.25 mg (the starting dose) up to 2 mg. You pick a day of the week and inject on that same day each week. The starting dose of 0.25 mg is used for the first four weeks just to let your body adjust; it isn’t considered a therapeutic dose.
Both come as prefilled injection pens and are injected under the skin of the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm.
FDA-Approved Uses
Both medications are approved for the same two purposes: improving blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes (alongside diet and exercise), and reducing the risk of major cardiovascular events like heart attack and stroke in adults with type 2 diabetes who also have established heart disease. Neither is approved for type 1 diabetes.
It’s worth noting that Ozempic’s active ingredient, semaglutide, is also sold under the brand name Wegovy at higher doses specifically for weight management. Victoza’s active ingredient, liraglutide, is similarly sold under the brand name Saxenda for weight loss. So while both drugs can cause weight loss, their diabetes-branded versions (Victoza and Ozempic) are not officially indicated for that purpose.
Blood Sugar Reduction
Semaglutide appears to be the more effective of the two at lowering blood sugar. A meta-analysis of the SUSTAIN clinical trial program found that a 1.0 mg weekly dose of semaglutide reduced A1c (the standard measure of average blood sugar over two to three months) by 1.5% to 1.8% over 30 to 56 weeks. Liraglutide typically reduces A1c by about 1.0% to 1.5% at its highest dose. For context, a 1% drop in A1c is considered clinically meaningful.
Head-to-head trials have generally favored semaglutide for both blood sugar control and weight loss, which is one reason Ozempic has become the more widely prescribed of the two in recent years.
Side Effects
Because these drugs work through the same mechanism, they share a very similar side effect profile. The most common complaints are gastrointestinal: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and stomach pain. These tend to be worst when starting the medication or increasing the dose and often improve over several weeks as your body adjusts.
Both carry warnings about a rare but serious risk of thyroid tumors (based on animal studies), inflammation of the pancreas, and gallbladder problems. Neither should be used by anyone with a personal or family history of a specific type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma.
Storage
Both pens should be stored in the refrigerator (36°F to 46°F) before first use. Once you start using a Victoza pen, it can be kept at room temperature (59°F to 86°F) for up to 30 days. Ozempic pens follow a similar pattern. After opening, keep the pen cap on when not in use to protect it from light.
Cost
Both medications are expensive without insurance. Ozempic’s list price is about $1,028 for a one-month supply across all dose strengths. Victoza’s list price falls in a similar range. What you actually pay depends heavily on your insurance plan, whether the drug is on your plan’s formulary, and whether you qualify for manufacturer savings programs. Some insurance plans prefer one over the other, which can make a significant difference in out-of-pocket cost.
Can You Switch Between Them?
Switching from Victoza to Ozempic (or vice versa) is common and something doctors do regularly, often when a patient isn’t reaching their blood sugar goals or would benefit from the convenience of weekly dosing. Because the drugs work through the same receptor, the transition is relatively straightforward, though your doctor will typically start you at a lower dose of the new medication and gradually increase it. You shouldn’t take both at the same time.
If you’re currently on Victoza and wondering whether Ozempic might work better for you, the main advantages of switching are stronger blood sugar and weight reduction along with the convenience of one injection per week instead of seven. The main reason to stay on Victoza would be if it’s working well for you, costs less on your insurance plan, or if you’ve had trouble tolerating semaglutide in the past.