VICTOZA users

Re: VICTOZA

cugila said:

kay957 said:

Day 19 on Victoza, I had to reduce the drug back to 0.6 on tuesday because I was getting the effects of a hypo (but wasn't) the DN suggested the 0.6 and see what happens?. I am managing well on that dose, lost weight again this week, another 2lbs, slowly but surely the weight is going and on the lower dose. Feel great on the drug, the best thing since sliced bread i'd say!

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Hi Kay957.

What was your Bg reading when you had the hypo effects and more to the point what were your readings prior to this event. Sounds like you may have been getting the 'false hypo' effect when Bg readings have been high, then drop to a level which the body wrongly thinks is 'normal.' Hence the warning signals start and you feel bad.

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My readings when having the fake hypos was 5.6, I never get high reading because I am quite controlled by diet and tablets too.

That would mean that the drug is doing it's job and lowering Bg levels, this would all settle down once the levels were lower all the time.

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The drug Victoza is doing it's job, I feel great on this opposed to the tablets I was on before (Januvia)

I don't understand why the DN would tell you to lower a dose which is working properly ??? Seems rather strange to me. The feelings disappear gradually. I have had thenm a lot recently because of a drug which has messed up my Bg control. Neither I nor my Endo, or DSN have ever considered reducing Meds....last thing you need to do !

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The drug wasn't working properly it was infact making my BG levels go to far to quick I think, since reducing the dose I am back on track and doing well, even losing weight.
Ken

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Re: VICTOZA

Hi Kay957.

Thanks for answering my questions, we are trying to build up a good knowledge of Victoza as we haven't really got a great deal other than what the users let us know and some stuff we are allowed access to. So, the more information we can glean from people the better. Build up a knowledge base of the Drug.

Looks like you are one of the successes so keep up the good work. I see you are already adding to the information with your own updates. That's what we need more users to do. The more info we have here the better it will be for future users to access.

Ken.

Re: VICTOZA

Thanks Ken, it would be a great idea to keep a database of people who are on Victoza who experience problems or those like me who didn't (sickness etc).

I am my GP's guinea pig at the moment the only one on the drug in their practice, they are trying to get other patients on the drug but they are being hit with scepticism about it, maybe they should join here and see for themselves that it does work very well.

Re: VICTOZA

Ah, the great old database. I think TBH we might run into Data Protection here so I am not quite sure how a database would work in practice. Admin would have to be involved I think.

I just try and encourage everybody who is on it to post here when they have anything to report, bit like the Byetta thread, it will build up to a massive resource over time. Posts that are about Victoza often will get moved if posted elsewhere, so they all should end up here.

Ken.

Re: VICTOZA

hi all im feeling very down hearted at the moment i have been on victoza for 6 months which was working great losing weight and sugar levels fairly good have been on 1.2 for 5 months any way really bad news hb1ac was 11.5 higher than its been for years i phoned dn about increasing it ti 1.8 but she says it would be no good with levels that high on 1.2 ive got an appointment with her tomorrow to discuss going back on insulin im really not happy because of the weight i put on with insulin and since ive been off it i have lost 4 and a half stone has any body else had similar problems after been on victoza for a while?

Re: VICTOZA

candyog said:

hi all im feeling very down hearted at the moment i have been on victoza for 6 months which was working great losing weight and sugar levels fairly good have been on 1.2 for 5 months any way really bad news hb1ac was 11.5 higher than its been for years i phoned dn about increasing it ti 1.8 but she says it would be no good with levels that high on 1.2 ive got an appointment with her tomorrow to discuss going back on insulin im really not happy because of the weight i put on with insulin and since ive been off it i have lost 4 and a half stone has any body else had similar problems after been on victoza for a while?

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Awww ...thats a pity .. maybe its some kind of rebound issue that can be pushed back with a glitazone pill. I'm on metformin + pioglitazone with the Victoza to push the BG levels down.
I did notice the initial keen lowering of my BG did start to rise but has stabilised at just under the target figures.. so yes, there does seem to be a tailing off in the efficacy.
Good luck with you DN and if you cant agree ask to see the Dr asap.

Re: VICTOZA

hi hobbs thanks for that advice i am on metformin with the victoza i will ask if there is any other pill i could try with them before totally giving up on the victoza thanks again

Re: VICTOZA

I did not want to raise hopes too soon, but I can now confidently report Victoza has lowered my Systolic BP from hovering around the 135 to 140 mark to 125 to 130/70 mark.
I check my BP (Omron wrist monitor) each morning at the same time (10:00hrs) and mark it on a graph for my cardio review every 12 weeks, and the only thing different in my diet and daily living is Victoza, so it must be the Victoza effecting my systolic hypertension.
I will mention this to my DN as well as the cardiologist, and I can foresee that my appointments will soon be changed to 6 monthly or maybe even annually

I do take other heart meds but they have been long term and could not get me much below 140/70
Candesartan
Amlodipine
Sotalol
Rosuvastatin
Aspirin

Re: VICTOZA

Hi all

Its day 11 for me.......phoned dn on Friday and increased my dosage to 1.2 as all was going well. Frid was fine and so was sat.......sun was a whole diff ball game.....bs started off at 3.8 and I didnt feel well, had something to eat and then took my meds ......I was nauseous later in the afternoon but had not eaten very much......ended up eating then throwing up.......felt rubbish all day and had a terrible nights sleep.......vivid dreams, sweats etc although bs was ok.......got up this am and still feel rubbish so phoned dn but not able to get her yet.......bs was 4.8 so had something to drink and eat........dizzy, really tender to touch stomach and having just had a cup of coffee have thrown up again. I havent taken my meds yet and now bs is sitting at 13.

I think the problem is because I am not eating properly......the meds make you feel nauseous and unable to eat and its really a catch 22 if you get my drift. The dn said on Friday if I had problems with higher dose just to go back to lower dose so will do that until I hear from her. The good side is I am losing weight but I feel terrible .......anyway hopefully tomorrow will be better.

Lil
xx

Re: VICTOZA

just wanted to add for the previous poster that I take metformin with gliclazide and stopped the pioglitazone when starting Victoza.

Lil
xx

Victoza

Hello everyone. I am a new member to this site. I would like to introduce myself as a Type 2 who started on Victoza 15th January 2010. I started on the 0.6 for one week and then went up to 1.2 which I am still on. I had nausea when the dose went up to 1.2 for about 3 days but otherwise everything is alright.

I still take Metformin 2 twice daily. I did take Gliclizide x 4 per day but these have been stopped as my blood tests were low. Results are now reading 6 to 7.

I return to the Diabetic Clinic on Thursday afternoon for routine check up. Will keep you posted.

Re: VICTOZA

Hi again

Thought I would report back and say that after a dodgy weekend I reduced the dose to 0.6 and am feeling fine today!......thank goodness. Going to try and eat at least something at mealtimes and see if that helps. Off to have another look round the forum and see what is good for eating and what is bad.......not explained well but you know what I mean.....I hope!

Lil
xx

Re: VICTOZA

hi fellow Victozas,into3rd week of taking Victoza,bs still a bit high,going to see dn on Friday. I am fully expecting to be put on a gliclize or similar,to bring sugars readings down,or up dosage to 1.8. BUT something is working really well I have lost 20 1/2lbs,
Hubby making sure that want to or not I am eating at "meal times",which seems to help. I dont have any effects except the occassional queasy feeling, but that doesnt last long at all.Feel so thankful that at last there is something out there to help weight loss,I have always watched what I eat,so this is working WITH me.get my bs moving down and I will be happy,will keep you updated on next move

Re: VICTOZA

I have been on Victoza for 3 months now injecting once a day along with Lantus once a day. My sugars were so high that at times my meter couldnt even register the result. They are now so much better. For the first time ever since being diagnosed 7 years ago my morning sugars are now between 5 & 7. The evenings are still a little high at about 13 average but dropping to a decent 9/11& still dropping as time goes on, Apart from having a bit of nausea for the first month i have had no other side effects from the Victoza. I am slightly worried after having read this forum & seeing that it may cause thyroid cancer(?) I know all drugs come with side effects but this is a bit of a concern!

Re: VICTOZA

Hi everyone,
I am new here and saw the posts on Victoza and thought I would share my experience of it (limited though it is) with you.
Background: Diagnosed with type 2 5 years ago. Managed to control it by diet for 2 years and then was put on Metformin. Had 2 hip replacements last year (one in January and one in August - I'm only 41!) as I have had bad hips all my life, and the arthritis got so bad I couldn't exercise very much. My DN put me on Solostar Apidra 3 x a day and Lantus at night.
Since the first op in January my blood sugars went up to about 17 and then after the 2nd op in August they went up to about 19. Managed to get BG down to about 14-15 in December and my BGr remained at that level and I could not get them any lower. (due to first Op being very complicated, I am still on crutches and will be until July).
Saw DN last week and because I was taking 20 units of Apidra with each meal and 56 units of Lantus at night she decided to try me on Victoza. I stopped my Apidra straight away and strangely saw a reduction in BG..went from previous day reading of 15.3 to a reading of 12.6. Anyway started the Victoza last Wednesday at 9am @ 0.6. I felt a little sick to start off with with the feeling of sickness peaking about 3pm and I felt very spaced out! When my DN weighed me I was just under 17 stone. I weighed myself 3 days later so I could get my own benchmark and I had lost 8lb! My apetite has almost gone....find drinking a cup-a-soup very filling! I upped from 0.6 to 1.2 today..felt a little more spaced out but no more sickness feeling.
My diet now is 1 piece toast @ breakfast, cup a soup at lunch with one crispbread and the same for dinner. I cook a meal for hubby, but dont have any desire to eat a meal myself!
Hopefully will continue to lose a little more weight, my blood sugars are now in single figures..my morning one is the lowest @ 6.8 ,ight go down a bit now upped to 1.2. Have been told to lower my Lantus if my morning BG falls below 6.8.

Vicki

Re: VICTOZA

3 months in and still getting much better BG. Nausea has worn off.....shame wind hasn't!
Unfortunately, full feeling/loss of appetite wore off.

Re: VICTOZA

Hi folks,
I've been on Victoza since Sept, I no longer inject Insulin, I still go to the Gym 2/3 times a week and have lost 5 stone in weight. I feel 100% better than I have for years, so I would say percivere to reach a 1.8 dose, what few, if any, side effects will soon pass, so go for it and if and when they bring out the Victoza tablet, I'll be on it like Flynn.
Good luck to you all.

Re: VICTOZA

Hi i have been on victoza now for 4 months. I used to be on 138mg of insurlin twice aday for over 15 years. I take 1.8mg of victoza once aday and 160mg of glicazide twice aday now. My Dr asked me to test my blood sugers 4 times aday as they need this as a record. I have had some of the side effects (nausea,headache,painful tummy,fatigue and loss of appetite)My Dr said that victoza only works for half of those that it is given to.Since being on victoza my blood sugers have not been lower than 13.4 . I think that when i see the specialist at the end of march that they will have to try some thing else on me. For me victoza does not work and i have never felt so ill ...ps i have lost weight though....

Re: VICTOZA

Hi another newbie
Well what can i say? Victoza has transformed my life!
Diagnosed 10years ago on insulin 5 years. last couple of years BG has not been less than 10, constantly hungry, constantly tired. Life became so limited. GP's werent interested - just said eat less. That is so anoying when u are constantly hugery, battling to keep your BG and cholesterol down. Eventually i changed my GP (who is actually my boss as im a practice nurse) at first he nagged me to alter my diet, i tried so hard but blood sugars just did not go down. He decided it was time for a consultant referal. I saw consultant who added Victoza to my Novo rapid and Lantus regime. After 1 week with NO side effects my blood sugars dropped from 10 - 17 to 7 - 10. Increased Victoza still NO side effects and blood sugars dropped to 5 - 7 and i feel wonderful! My weight is dropping steadily, (im 12 stone so not massive) the hunger has gone yipeeeeeeeeee im no longer tired all the time. I keep raving to my husband about how well i feel - i just wished id tried this years ago. I no longer live in a mental fog. I FEEL I HAVE GOT MY LIFE BACK .

Re: VICTOZA

That is SO good to read and that Victoza has really changed your life in such a positive way... well done you and well done new GP for listening AND taking notice ...I applaud you both.