VICTOZA users

[smurffsmom]

Re: VICTOZA

I started taking Victoza on Monday night. Since then I have absolutely no appetite except for breakfast. An hour or less after breakfast, I feel like I've eaten Christmas dinner with extra helpings. I have not had any nausea but I burp constantly after lunch and dinner. I can't eat much at either meal as I feel full all day long. In 3 days, I've dropped 4 pounds (I'm from the U.S. and don't know the conversion). I am taking the smallest dose and will move up to the mid dose next week. I feel tired a lot but I also just returned from Vacation on Sunday and think that I may just be tired from that. I've seen people say they feel chilled-out. I feel more of a weak/just need to sleep kind of thing. Does anyone have any suggestions for the burping? Also what kind of changes can I expect once I increase the dosage? Thanks.

 

[edshazell]

Re: VICTOZA

Hi Smurffsmum

I have now been on the mid dose 1.2mg for 5 days and was expecting more side effects but nothing has changed. I think that if you get through the first week with mild side effects then you will be OK when you increase, may not be true for everyone as we are all different. In England we use the abbreviation of Lbs for pounds so 3lbs equals 3 pounds its just a different way of writing it, your 4 pounds is very good I hope you can keep it up. I don't have burping problems but I expect you will get better with time. Keep up the good work and just watch those pounds fall off.

Ed

 

[danebabe]

Re: VICTOZA

I have been using Victoza since Jan2011, I was using Byetta prior to that, and had big problems with hives and injection site itching...

Victoza is simple to use, I inject at about 6pm each evening and never give it another thought, I have had no problems with the hives or itching.
Due to personal circumstances (son in hospital with bowel cancer) and a severe attack of Helibactor Pylori, my first three months did not result in better HBa1c results or weight loss (surprising considering I had 38 days of constant diarrhoea).

Since then I have had to start taking Gliczide along with my Metformin and Victoza, and now my daily tests are really down in the 5-6 range, whereas before they were 17 -20 !. I'm not doing well on weight loss but that is more due to me than the medication......

I had considerable problems getting my surgery to send me to the hospital Diabetic team, but am so glad I kept pushing for it, as they are 100% more knowledgeable than the doctors surgery. The only hassle is you get your Victoza prescription from Hospital pharmacy and your needles from doctors,so a bit of running about to be done, but hey ho its worth it.

If you are scared of injecting, don't be, its painless and easy, if you are scared of any side effects don't be....everyone is different, just get in the mind set that you are in control and give it a try what do you have to lose, if you decide after 3 months that its not for you then fine go back and say so....who's body is it anyway!!!!

 

[clairy clutterbuck]

Re: VICTOZA

Hi again, is anyone else being told they might be taken off victoza after the NICE guidleines earlier this year?

HBA1C level was down to 6.2 from 6.8 last check up and in the early sevens before that and cholesterol and blood pressure are still both fine too. But I had an operation last autumn and although I had lost 35lbs I had gained 18 from sitting around for four months unable to move about and I have since lost half of that but because the doctor at the surgery is seeing a 10lb gain they are saying I will probably have to come off victoza. Tried to explain that since I was able to get back to swimming and regular eating my weight is coming back down and they said "will have a think and chat with another doctor and let you know!". I asked them to let me stay on for another three months to let them see how good it is for me, and she said if they decide not they would be thinking about insulin. I dont want to go on insulin when my levels are fine on victoza as it will make me put on weight? Won't it? Has anyone had this trouble?

and I thought I was doing so well! Obviously not. I was so excited my HBA1C was so good and cholesterol and blood pressure..... ah well.

 

[mehdave]

Re: VICTOZA

Surely if you dont agree with what they are saying and are finding its working for you. You can refuse to go on insulin and stick with your current treatment. I thought they could only shove you off of it for a valid medical reason. Doesn't insulin cause weight gain more than victoza.

If they try it fight it because im pretty sure as the patient we have rights? It sounds like you will continue to lose weight and its been rare circumstances that has caused the weight gain hopefully they will see that and leave you on it.

 

[clairy clutterbuck]

Re: VICTOZA

I am a bit timid when it comes to all this but I do think I am going to have to argue if they try to take me off it. I am hoping they will let me at least show them my weight is still reducing now I am on an even keel and my other results are improving so much too. From what I understand insulin increases weight which isnt a good idea for sure. Thank you for your comments. I would never have dreamt about challenging a doctor, albeit carefully, but having been reading through some of the other posts I can see it needs to be done on occasion. My husband is teaching me to have more confidence! I hope he doesnt regret it :lol:

 

[alaska]

Re: VICTOZA

Victoza is significantly more expensive than insulin.

It is quite possible that they're looking to cut costs.

It does rather look as though they've picked you as an easier target as they could argue that the Victoza hasn't helped with your weight and therefore they cannot justify continuing to prescribe the high cost Victoza on this basis.

However, stick to your guns. There's a reason why you gained some weight as you said. On insulin, the weight gain could have been significantly more.

I believe mehdave may be right about them needing a particularly strong reason to get you off the drug.

Victoza is not giving you any side effects (I presume ) and so any move to stop prescribing the drug would be on a cost cutting basis.

Well worth holding firm on this one I think. Insulin is sadly quite often linked with weight gain, particularly with type 2 diabetes, plus there's a significantly larger risk of hypoglycaemia.

These are two quite strong arguments against going onto insulin instead.

Best of luck clairy

Ed

 

[mehdave]

Re: VICTOZA

Indeed having a quick look into it further I think you would have a very good point in telling them that moving from victoza to insulin is medically not in your best interests and thats the main thing so stick with it

 

[clairy clutterbuck]

Re: VICTOZA

Thank you, I will keep my fingers crossed they give me the next couple of prescriptions at least as my weight is definitely still coming down, just need to time to prove it is still working. I have lost seven stone plus and some on the victoza already. Its really odd as my gp surgery is normally very forward thinking and supportive. It certainyl seems a good drug on the whole and from the amount of people on here starting to use it the word is getting out at last.

Clairy

 

[edshazell]

Re: VICTOZA

Hi

15 days now since I started Victoza and I have lost 7lbs and except for the first week I now have no side effects at all. I just hope the weight loss keeps going, I have been dieting and thats very easy to do with Victoza knocking out any hunger.

Ed

 

[diesel duck]

Re: VICTOZA

hi, well after six days OFF victoza i am now feeling much better, and more like my old self. the energy is returning. i still have the rash on both my legs, but am now on antihistamines and antihistamine cream. my dr. increased my metformin and i am due to see the diabetes specialist in august when he thinks i will be put on insulin. iam so pleased i have stopped both byetta and then victoza. would i recommend them .. no, definately not!!

Like all medications, sometimes they will work, sometimes they won't work, but it should not mean we should not at least try. I am sorry byetta and victoza have not worked for you, have you sent details of your problems to the Yellow card scheme :

http://www.mhra.gov.uk/Safetyinformation/Howwemonitorthesafetyofproducts/Medicines/TheYellowCardScheme/index.htm

Personally I get a small rash around injection sites at times, but that is not too much of a problem and the slight nausea on eating a bit too much has completely gone, unfortunately for me, as my weight loss has stalled - all my own fault I might add. I have however got great blood sugar results that don't really rise above 7.5 two hours after eating and my most recent HbA1c was 6.0, so I've got to say, Victoza is (so far) working pretty well for me.

 

[freddiefrog]

Re: VICTOZA

Hi

I have been following this thread for a while as I am a type 2 who has been on Victoza since September 2010 and I thought my experience may be useful to those who find that Victoza becomes less effective over time.

My history is the usual one of increasing medication over years to deal with gently but relentlessly rising blood sugar levels. By the time I was put on Victoza I was on the max of Gliclazide and Metformin and some Pioglitazone plus added statins and aspirin (if you shook me I rattled) but with an HbA1c of 8.3.

I took the normal dose of Victoza starting on 0.6 and then up to 1.2. I kept up the max of Metformin (4x500 slow release) but reduced the Pioglitazone to 30g and ditched the Gliclazide altogether. Victoza was effective in bringing down my blood sugar - 6.0s on waking and 5.0s through the day. Three months after starting my HbA1c was down to 7.2 and I lost some weight too.

However about 6 months after starting my blood sugars started to go up at first slowly and then rapidly and by early May this year I was recording 15’s and 18’s on waking. I was put back on the Gliclazide -2x30mg in addition to the rest of the meds - but this did not seem to do much good as the figures were pretty much the same for 5 weeks afterwards. In June I had a fasting blood test and recorded an HbA1c of 9.3.

I was pretty much resigned to insulin and was asked to record my sugars over 2 weeks so that the likely dose could be assessed. Then the oddest thing happened and the sugars started to go down again. Over that 2 week period I did not record a double figure and the insulin idea has been shelved - at least for the moment.

I have been trying to figure out likely reasons for this. I don’t think it’s diet as it has remained pretty much the same (moderate carb intake of around 130/150 a day) nor exercise as that’s remained the same too. I thought that it might have taken some time for the Gliclazide to kick in but I have been told that’s pretty much instantaneous. I did have some problems with ears and teeth over this time and took some serious pain killers so it is possible that that interfered with the Victoza. The other possible explanation is my general state of health linked to these complaints as I believe there is some evidence that this has a big impact on blood sugar levels.

There does not seem to be much research on this – certainly for the non-medic. I found a couple of American chat rooms which suggests that some users have found that the effectiveness of the drug varies between batches. Some suggest that this might be explained by the way it’s kept. I always keep unopened pens in the fridge, opened ones in a cool dark place and use them within 30 days of opening so I don’t think that this is an explanation for my experience. You can get these sites by searching on “reduced effectiveness of Victoza” through Google

Obviously I will discuss this with the doctor but the Victoza side is managed by the hospital so I will have to wait until my next appointment in August. I will post any interesting information I get at that meeting.

Sorry for the long post but thought it best to get all the info in as it’s not a subject much discussed.

 

[batavia]

Re: VICTOZA

Hi, I am new to this site,but thought I would share with you my experience of Victoza. I was on Actos & Januvia but my prick test was around 13 in the mornings,so I was sent to Hospital & 4 weeks ago was put on Victoza,bit concerned about the side effects sickness & diaorroha,but neednt have worried as felt slightly sick in beginning & again when I increased the dose,but pleased to say me fears were needless. I am now getting used to the once a day injection & feeling fine,losing weight & now test in the mornings is 7.7. so I am very pleased,going back to Hospital on Thursday,so hope all goes well. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes about five years ago. I am a 66yr.old mother of 4 sons.

 

[smurffsmom]

Re: VICTOZA

I am not losing weight on the Victoza. I have no side effects except that I am very listless and devoid of any energy. My appetite is very low and I am not eating but about 900 calories a day. I have no problem eating breakfast but must force myself to eat lunch and dinner. I lost 4 pounds the first three days but I've been on it two weeks now and have not lost anymore. Is this normal? Will I overcome this hurdle? The good thing is that my blood sugar readings have gone from "good for a diabetic" to normal non-diabetic readings.

 

[rainy]

Re: VICTOZA

just started using victoza two weeks ago starting on0.6 raising to 1.2 for the last week, feeling a bit sick but not all the time, not lost any weight, but does seem to suppress appetite, not too sure what to expect but sugars seem no different at the moment.

 

[Megamuppet]

Re: VICTOZA

Hi I Started on Victoza in May last year and have mixed feelings about it.

I didn't really suffer too much when I first started and lost about 1and half stones but think that was down to nausea and going off a lot of foods. I first started on glucophage and rosiglitazone but glucophage was increased to max dose and it was causing digestive problems!!!. The nurse then advised i could try byetta but when i saw the specialist diabetes nurse she advised Victoza as it had been licensed with use for rosiglitazone. The rosiglitazone was removed from the market and i went on to pioglitazone. Prior to the pioglitazone my HbA1c was 6.9 last November, a decrease as it had been over 7. My weight shot up once on the pioglitazone. I started the Atkins diet in April this year and after the initial half stone loss didn't lose anything so joined weightwatchers online still making an effort to cut the carbs. Have lost over 2 stone and just had my bloods done and my HbA1c was shock horror too low at 5.4 so they told me. I knew I had some good blood sugar levels but really put it down to the pioglitazone being more effective as victoza tends to work on higher blood sugar levels. I thought i would get taken off the Victoza but the nurse wants me to stay on it as they have not heard of such good levels whilst on Victoza but i don't think the major factor is the Victoza, instead they want to reduce the pioglitazone. Felt really disappointed. I expressed my thoughts to the nurse who advised to speak to the specialist again.

Anybody got any thoughts on this?

Cheers

 

[keltieseaber]

Re: VICTOZA

I have been on Victoza since November 2010, as had put on 3 stone of fluid with Lantus(insulin)... in just over 2 months and didn't feel too gooWas prescibed by hospital consultant.

Fluid gone. Down from 90 kilos back to 68 and feel back to normal. The only other sugar control I take is Metformin as I am allergic to glicazide and rosigilcazide (Avandia) which I was taking (not sure I've spelt either of these right!) has been withdrawn.My sugar control on the isulin (one injection in the evening) was good, but I often had lows and always felt not quite right...also the gallons of fluid were becoming quite difficult to live with...swollen ankles, and my skin felt tight!

Sugar levels run higher in general, so no lows at all..daily levels anywhere between 4 - 9. Have to be careful with carbs...but not all of them. Excercise helps...so off out with the dogs. But...feel fantastic and normal!!! Apparently there is another control tablet which I could use to fine tune...but am holding on that at the moment.

Side effects...have read about but for me the benefits outweigh the risks and I am monitored regularly and have access to my hospital nurse by phone at any time.

So it works for me... and good luck to any out there starting on this

 

[keltieseaber]

Re: VICTOZA

...just to add..I'm also off the insulin completely!!! :

 

[Bill Harborne]

Re: VICTOZA

I took my first dose today (Havent lost any weight yet lol) I have been diabetic (Type 2) since 1996 and have gradualy increased medication until I went on insulin 3 years ago. One little thing that worries me is that the consultant has told me to continue with the insulin, but the leaflet that comes with Victoza says it is not reccomended for use with insulin. I am currently 19 stone in weight and I am hoping Victoza will help me.

 

[edshazell]

Re: VICTOZA

Hi Bill

I have been on Victoza for just over 5 weeks now and have lost 10 pounds but I find you have to diet to do it but thats easy to do as you will not feel hungry. My nurse told me that the local Hospital was treating type 2 diabetics who were on insulin with Victoza and slowly reducing insulin as time goes by and eventually getting them off insulin completely so hang in there.

Ed