Weight loss on Victoza (Liraglutide)

I've been using victoza for about 9 months now and it produced a dramatic reduction in most of my blood glucose readings but the reduction in HbA1c has so far been only about 1% point. However the last test was maybe 3-4 months ago. Checkups and clinics up here can be a little random.

Today I went to the Diabetes clinic and saw a new specialist who dropped the bombshell that I may be taken off the drug unless I show a significant weight loss which so far has not happened. I get the feeling that there is a hidden cost agenda here. I have only now realised that during the consultation she never asked what dose I had got up to and I never brought it up. It had been left to me to increase the dose until a good reduction in blood sugars had been achieved and I had never gone beyond the 1.2mg/day dose

I seem to have read that some people have not seen the weight loss effect until they have gone up to the 1.8mg dose. Can anyone please tell me of their weight loss experience versus dose please?

I have been given a follow up appointment 8 months away which gives me a certain leeway in achieving some weight loss and I would be very unhappy to be taken off this drug as it is the most effective I have ever been given. If I feel confident I plan to increase my dose myself to the higher level but I would appreciate some feedback... please

Hi Benedict,
I'm afraid in the absence of any reply I went ahead and made the change up to 1.8mg on the 3rd Sept.
So far all that's happened is a further decrease in my blood sugar readings but nothing exceptionally (dangerously) low. My appetite is slightly reduced but nothing that's going to make any difference to my bad habits. I saw the dietitian yesterday for the first time since I was diagnosed in 2005! Without going into detail her initial advice is some changes to our chaotic mealtimes. My partner has different medical problems and needs to eat all he can, so there is some incompatibility as well. The dietitian wants me to come back for an hour's appointment in November and to bring my partner along in part to emphasize how important this is for my health.
I'm very disappointed in my diabetic clinic. There has been no consistency. First they are all enthusiastic and give me folders and charts to fill in for subsequent visits then I don't hear from them for 4 years. Suddenly it's all back on but every time I go I see a new expert who has different ideas for treatment. They also seem very dependent on the computer records to know anything about me but whenever we look at them there are test results omitted and visits to other specialists unrecorded. A person could get very despondent
I'll let you know if a leg falls off or whatever :roll:

Brian

Thanks for the background info Anna. Gives me a lot to think about. No, I didn't tell the dietitian about the visit to the diabetic clinician or my change to the dosage. She actually knows nothing about my treatment regime at all, such is the level of communication here. I requested to see her independently following a visit to my GP.

I have spinal stenosis and other spinal problems that seriously limit my mobility and leave me in chronic pain the entire day. It's the major reason why I put on the last 2-3 stone. I already take high levels of painkillers and am on the list for an epidural nerve block and have been offered a laminectomy but the latter is being kept well in reserve because of its risks which are compounded by being diabetic. The upshot of my consultation was that the only thing I can now do to stabilise my condition is to lose weight. I'm sure you don't need to be told that this has been tried many times in the past but one more time won't hurt, particularly if it will qualify me for continued treatment with liraglutide which is the only treatment standing between me and insulin injections.

The only reason I felt happy to increase my dosage was that I had been given leave to do this by the previous consultant, as required, on my own initiative. I even have it in writing. It was never mentioned that there was an imperative to lose weight as part of the 'contract' for receiving it or indeed that I should be engaged in any specific weight loss program.

I am surprised that there is supposed to be this direct linkage between appetite suppression and BG reduction. I have had very little reduction in appetite though I think this is mediated by being rather depressed. Nevertheless this drug has made large reductions in my day to day BG levels and an initial 1% reduction (9.5=>8.5) in my first HbA1c result made 3-4 months ago. It's the most effective treatment I've ever received.

I will see if I can get a chat with my GP but the lack of cooperation between all these health care professionals is very dispiriting. The only way I can keep them all on track with my back condition is to keep writing to each of them with copies to the others.

I'll try and remember to post and let you know the result. Thanks again.

Brian

Having now read the NICE guidelines at http://guideline.gov/content.aspx?id=25679 I have now decided to return to the 1.2mg dosage to avoid making unnecessary waves. Hopefully I will achieve the required weight loss and all will be well. At least it seems I have nearly 8 months to achieve this.

Reading the guidelines it seems that my BMI at 35.8 is marginal for the treatment with Victoza per se but another qualifier seems to be my back condition and its relation to weight. I must remember to keep a copy of this document handy at my next consulation. :wink:

I gain particular heart from this sentence: 'People with type 2 diabetes currently receiving liraglutide who do not meet the criteria specified above or who are receiving liraglutide 1.8 mg should have the option to continue their current treatment until they and (my emphasis) their clinicians consider it appropriate to stop'.