VICTOZA users

[PatW]

Re: VICTOZA

Hello all members,

Attended Diabetic Centre at local Hospital today and the Doctor was very pleased with the excellent results so far on Victoza. I started Victoza on 15th January 2010 and have already lost 9 lbs. This is due to the drug telling your brain that you are not hungry so you eat less. I am very happy so far as I still have jumbo oats for breakfast, a sandwich at lunch time and a meal of mashed potatoes, fish and peas, or similar on an evening. I also have an apple, kiwi and grapes throughout the day. The Doctor requested I return in six months then will probably go back to the care of my local GP. The Doctor said as long as you do not overeat, ie over-ride the full feeling, then the drug will carry on doing its job.

I am feeling good about this treatment. Will let you know how I progress.

Still taking 4 Metformin per day.

Good luck all

Pat

 

[cugila]

Re: VICTOZA

Hi PatW.
That all sounds really good Re weight loss. Well done. Do you know what your HbA1c was and what sort of Bg levels do you get throughout the day.

I'm interested to know as we don't seem to have had that information from you yet. It will give other members an idea of what to expect as well.

 

[PatW]

Re: VICTOZA

A bit more information for you.

My HbA1c was 7.5 a drop from 9.5 in November 2009. My Bg before breakfast is usually 6 to 6.6, before lunch about 6 and before bed between 6 and 7. I have never been asked to test Bg before so this has only happened since early December 2009 after being referred to Diabetic Centre at Hospital. Before starting Victoza on 15th January the readings ranged from 9 to 13. I think if my local GP had asked me to test earlier I would have understood what was happening more. I was diagnosed about ten years ago as Type 2 and diet only controlled for a few years. Then the Metformin started, then the Gliclizide, and the HbA1c result was still rising. The Gliclizide has now been stopped, about 2 weeks ago. Cholesterol is good at 3, take Rosuvastatin 10mg - 1 off. It can only carry on getting better. Hope this further info helps. Any other questions please ask.

Take care.

Pat

 

[cugila]

Re: VICTOZA

Hi Pat.
Thanks for all the info. Wow ! Everything seems to be going great for you. I think anybody would be proud of all those numbers. They are really good and you can consider yourself a Victoza success story I think. Keep up the good work.

I know I probably seem nosey but I really do want this thread to build like the Byetta one where everybody posts the successes and the failures. This will then become a great resource for all those who no doubt will eventually become Victoza users.

Thank you for the input, appreciated........

Ken

 

[cpp]

Re: VICTOZA

just been to hospital clinic,very pleased with my 21 lbs weight loss in 3 weeks,(she was !! I am extatic)my blood sugars were still a bit high, so they put me back on a bit of insulin and upped my dose to 1.8. Think reduction of 138 units insulin to 0 was a bit much for ME, metphormins alone was not doing the job, BUt, they say they will tweek it now to get my whole body working together with the drug.I feel marvelous, no major side effects,had fasting bloods done , and all is looking good,

 

[salute the world]

VICTOZA

Sorry if i am im the wrong place but i need to ask a question about Victoza today was my first time using it an i feel fine my problem being i am very heavy an i just stuck it in me belly and i felt nothing so i do not know if it worked or not.

 

[Hobs]

Re: VICTOZA

Sorry if i am im the wrong place but i need to ask a question about Victoza today was my first time using it an i feel fine my problem being i am very heavy an i just stuck it in me belly and i felt nothing so i do not know if it worked or not.

If you followed the instructions and and you heard the clicks as you pressed the end button, then in all probability the 0.6 dose went in. If the mixture inside the pen is at or around room temperature, you wont actually feel the liquid going in ... I didn't and I'm injecting the standard 1.2 dose.
As you get further into the daily routine, you will notice the red rubber plunger inside the pen advancing up the clear plastic barrel as the days pass, until it cant be advanced any more and then you start on the next pen.
I was very tubby around the middle when I first started and could not 'pinch' any fat to form a site to stick the needle in, so like you I simply stuck it in and pressed the end until the clicks stopped and then removed the needle from my skin 10 seconds later. Now I have lost some fat, I can at last kinda pinch some to tighten the fat up before sticking the needle in.
Keep at it and you will be surprised how full you feel after smaller meals as your weight begins to drop as well as your BG readings.... I think it is an excellent product *thumbsup*

 

[kay957]

Re: VICTOZA

Hi folks,
I am on day 21 of taking Victoza, it's working very well BUT I have developed a small problem, a swollen belly...has any one else had this and if so is it lasting? I am not in pain or anything just feeling bloated all the time, feels like I have gained a stone in weight but the scales tell me otherwise!

 

[buckedboy]

Re: VICTOZA

Hi All.

I am still confused with the victoza, my GP has said that it is not to do with the cost of the drug but simply that there is nothing in the BNF to guide him as to its use, when i contacted the Diabetes clinic of my local hospital i was told that my GP would need to refer me to them, but on the last occasion the specialist sent a letter to my GP with instructions for him to provide me with victoza, so it goes round and round and i get nowhere.

 

[cugila]

Re: VICTOZA

Buckedboy.
Your Consultant and your GP need to have a heart to heart. It is wrong to keep you off a Med that could no doubt assist you because of some internal wrangling.

Victoza is not listed in the BNF because although it is licenced here it is still being trialled. It is a new drug.

Bang their heads together and tell them to get it sorted. I have never come across a Consultant being ignored by a GP. ........ :shock:

Ken

 

[Hobs]

Re: VICTOZA

Hi All.

I am still confused with the victoza, my GP has said that it is not to do with the cost of the drug but simply that there is nothing in the BNF to guide him as to its use, when i contacted the Diabetes clinic of my local hospital i was told that my GP would need to refer me to them, but on the last occasion the specialist sent a letter to my GP with instructions for him to provide me with victoza, so it goes round and round and i get nowhere.

I feel your next step is to involve your local PCT because your GP is not discharging his/her duty of care towards your health condition by witholding Victoza when it is available for prescription. If you are unsure where to contact follow the link and find your nearest PCT

http://www.nhs.uk/SERVICEDIRECTORIES/Pages/PrimaryCareTrustListing.aspx

 

[Hobs]

Re: VICTOZA

According to The Nursing Times, "Draft guidance from NICE has deemed liraglutide a cost and clinically-effective option when given as a daily 1.2mg injection with two oral anti-diabetic tablets."

http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing...-approved-for-limited-nhs-use/5011491.article

 

[kay957]

Re: VICTOZA

Going into my fourth week of Victoza, still bloated but not putting weight on, actually losing weight steadily. Rang my GP who suggested I stop Victoza for a few days to see if the bloating will go down, however I don't like that idea one bit :? the GP isn't the one who will have hypers, and it keeps me awake all night, so I popped to my local Tesco Chemist and they suggested Motillium so I am givng that a whirl. Has any one here had that bloated feeling?

 

[Hobs]

Re: VICTOZA

Going into my fourth week of Victoza, still bloated but not putting weight on, actually losing weight steadily. Rang my GP who suggested I stop Victoza for a few days to see if the bloating will go down, however I don't like that idea one bit :? the GP isn't the one who will have hypers, and it keeps me awake all night, so I popped to my local Tesco Chemist and they suggested Motillium so I am givng that a whirl. Has any one here had that bloated feeling?

I hope you told Tesco your were trialing Victoza. Motilium is a trade name for domperidone, which is given to speed up gastric emptying. Part of the way Victoza promotes weight loss is by slowing gastric emptying so that you feel full quicker by eating less and feel satisfied for longer; also it slows the sudden release from carbs eaten helping to smooth any spikes.
I complained to my GP and having to 'sit' on the loo for longer (I used to be in & out in about 2 mins) and asked him for summat to shift the feeling, and I had it all explained to me that any form of laxative would counteract much of the way Victoza works and if I was THAT bothered I should cease using such an expensive trial drug and they would give it someone else.
So if you do use Moitilium, I would suggest you start with the lowest possible dose...at least that is my layman's opinion.

 

[kay957]

Re: VICTOZA

Going into my fourth week of Victoza, still bloated but not putting weight on, actually losing weight steadily. Rang my GP who suggested I stop Victoza for a few days to see if the bloating will go down, however I don't like that idea one bit :? the GP isn't the one who will have hypers, and it keeps me awake all night, so I popped to my local Tesco Chemist and they suggested Motillium so I am givng that a whirl. Has any one here had that bloated feeling?

I hope you told Tesco your were trialing Victoza. Motilium is a trade name for domperidone, which is given to speed up gastric emptying. Part of the way Victoza promotes weight loss is by slowing gastric emptying so that you feel full quicker by eating less and feel satisfied for longer; also it slows the sudden release from carbs eaten helping to smooth any spikes.
I complained to my GP and having to 'sit' on the loo for longer (I used to be in & out in about 2 mins) and asked him for summat to shift the feeling, and I had it all explained to me that any form of laxative would counteract much of the way Victoza works and if I was THAT bothered I should cease using such an expensive trial drug and they would give it someone else.
So if you do use Moitilium, I would suggest you start with the lowest possible dose...at least that is my layman's opinion.

Hi yes I did advise Tesco because I am on cytoxic drugs too and have too! The bloating was getting uncomfortable so they suggested this Motilium, well it worked and it didn't upset my BG levels etc...Tesco's did check it out with BNF to make sure it was safe to use with Victoza.

 

[samdalley]

Re: VICTOZA

Going into my fourth week of Victoza, still bloated but not putting weight on, actually losing weight steadily. Rang my GP who suggested I stop Victoza for a few days to see if the bloating will go down, however I don't like that idea one bit :? the GP isn't the one who will have hypers, and it keeps me awake all night, so I popped to my local Tesco Chemist and they suggested Motillium so I am givng that a whirl. Has any one here had that bloated feeling?

I sometimes get the bloated stomach feeling but it only lasts for an evening (it's always in the evening). It is very uncomfortable though. Luckily it's only happened 2 or 3 times in the 6 weeks I've been on Victoza. I've tried to pin it down to certain types of food but I can't be sure.

 

[SKii369]

victoza

hi, my first time here, so please be gentle with me!! I've been type 2 for seven years & been taking Metformin for about five of them. I started Byetta about six months ago, but was offered the chance to change to Victoza. It seemed to be going well, with my levels being the lowest for years & a little weight loss, but I then read about the reports linking it to thyroid cancer & being refused license in USA. After brief discussion with my gp I returned to Byetta. Has anyone else given up on Victoza for this reason or am I just being a wus?
Chris

 

[noblehead]

Re: victoza

Victoza is often the focus of discussion on the forum, I can't remember if it is for the reasons that you are asking. Try typing Victoza in the search facility on the top right-hand side of the screen, I am sure you will find ample information on the drug in question.

Nigel

 

[Hobs]

Re: VICTOZA

It has been cleared for use over the other side of the pond. Here is an extact from Web MD

Jan. 26, 2010 -- The FDA has approved Victoza (liraglutide), a once-daily injection to treat type 2 diabetes in adults.

Victoza is intended to help lower blood sugar levels along with diet, exercise, and selected other diabetes medicines. It isn't recommended as the first therapy patients try if they haven't adequately controlled their diabetes with diet and exercise alone.

Victoza belongs to a class of medicines known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, which help the pancreas make more insulin after eating a meal.

“Diabetes is a leading cause of death and disability, with more than 1.5 million new cases diagnosed annually,” says Mary Parks, MD, director of the division of metabolism and endocrinology products at the FDA.

“Controlling blood sugar levels is very important to preventing or reducing the long term complications of diabetes, and Victoza offers certain patients with type 2 diabetes a treatment option for controlling their blood glucose levels," Parks says.

 

[kay957]

Re: VICTOZA

I am now approaching over 4 weeks of being on Victoza, I still have a bloated feeling but other from that my BG levels are excellent, so much better controlled than on tablets. However the weight loss is now slowing down? has anyone else had this effect?