Victoza FAQ
How Does Victoza Work?
The Victoza pen (generic: liraglutide) is an injectable diabetes medication that works by mimicking incretin hormones the body produces naturally to stimulate the release of insulin in response to a meal. The drug is intended to be used along with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.
What is the Dosing?
Victoza dosing should start at 0.6 mg per day for one week. The 0.6 mg dose is a starting dose intended to reduce gastrointestinal symptoms during initial titration, and is not effective for glycemic control. After one week at 0.6 mg per day, the dose should be increased to 1.2 mg.
How Much Does it Cost?
Without insurance, a carton of Victoza (3 pens, 18mg/3ml) costs about $524.02 in Walmart and Sam’s Club, but the price may vary in other stores.
Can Victoza Help With Weight Loss?
When taken at high doses, Victoza may help diabetes patients lose weight. A recent study found that Victoza users dropped about 11 pounds over the course of a year, compared to only 4 pounds shed by patients who were given a placebo.
How Should I Use Victoza?
- Never mix Victoza with insulin in the same injection.
- You may give an injection of Victoza and insulin in the same body area, but not right next to each other.
- Do not share your Victoza pen with other people, even if the needle has been changed (You may give other people a serious infection, or get a serious infection from them).
What’s the Problem?
Incretin mimetic diabetes drugs like Victoza have been found to cause sudden inflammation in the pancreas among some patients. This inflammation can, in turn, lead to acute pancreatitis, which is a risk factor for pancreatic cancer.
Has Victoza Been Linked to Other Side Effects?
In addition to being linked to pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, Victoza has been linked to serious side effects including thyroid cancer, kidney failure and severe allergic reactions.
Which Injuries is Your Law Firm Accepting?
At this time, our lawyers are only reviewing potential lawsuits for people who got pancreatic cancer after taking Victoza.
Has Victoza Been Recalled?
Even though advocacy groups have called for a recall of Victoza, the drug has not been recalled and it continues to be prescribed to unsuspecting patients across the U.S. It is believed by many that a Victoza recall is almost inevitable—the only question is when the recall will take place, and how many people will be injured prior to that recall.
What are Victoza Lawsuits Alleging?
Victoza lawsuits allege that manufacturer Novo Nordisk failed to adequately warn about the risk of pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, thyroid cancer, kidney failure and other serious side effects associated with use of the drug.
Is There a Class Action?
More than 800 lawsuits alleging pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer from Victoza have been filed against Novo Nordisk. These suits are not part of a class action; instead, they have been consolidated into a multidistrict litigation (MDL No. 2452) in California. The Victoza MDL is similar to a class action because it aggregates a large number of claims in one court. Unlike a class action, however, each lawsuit is independent and can have its own outcome.
Have There Been Any Settlements?
The Victoza litigation is still in its early stages and there have been no reports of settlement offers by Novo Nordisk. However, when they do take place, settlements are expected to be substantial. If you or a loved one got pancreatic cancer after taking Victoza, you may be entitled to file a lawsuit and receive compensation for your pain and suffering. Final settlement amounts depend on many different factors, and vary on a case-by-case basis.