From the FDA label

How to use Victoza

Victoza's FDA-approved Instructions for Use cover one product: pen. Each is below in the label's own words. Talk to your healthcare provider about how to inject it the right way.

The label's pictures are in the original: FDA label on DailyMed (Novo Nordisk), revised , version 31. Read every day: a new FDA version updates this page by itself.

Instructions for Use

Victoza: pen

Every step, in the label's own words
  • Victoza (liraglutide) injection
  • First read the Medication Guide that comes with your Victoza single-patient use pen and then read this Instructions for Use for information about how to use your Victoza pen the right way. These instructions do not take the place of talking with your healthcare provider about your medical condition or your treatment. 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. Your Victoza pen is a disposable single-patient-use prefilled pen injector that contains 3 mL of Victoza and will deliver doses of 0.6 mg, 1.2 mg or 1.8 mg. The number of doses that you can take with a Victoza pen depends on the dose of medicine that is prescribed for you. Your healthcare provider will tell you how much Victoza to take. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information about needles for your Victoza pen. Important Information Always use a new needle for each injection to prevent contamination. Always remove the needle after each injection, and store your pen without the needle attached. This reduces the risk of contamination, infection, leakage of liraglutide, blocked needles and inaccurate dosing. Keep your Victoza pen and all medicines out of the reach of children. If you drop your Victoza pen, repeat “ First Time Use for Each New Pen ” (steps A through D). Be careful not to bend or damage the needle. Do not use the cartridge scale to measure how much Victoza to inject. Be careful when handling used needles to avoid needle stick injuries. You can use your Victoza pen for up to 30 days after you use it the first time. Supplies you will need to give your Victoza injection: • Victoza pen • a new disposable needle • alcohol swab • cotton ball or gauze • sharps disposal container for throwing away used Victoza pens and needles. See “Remove and Dispose of the Needle” at the end of these instructions.
  • First Time Use for Each New Pen
  • Step A. Check the Pen • Take your new Victoza pen out of the refrigerator. • Wash hands with soap and water before use. • Check pen label before each use to make sure it is your Victoza pen. • Pull off pen cap (See Figure A ). • Check Victoza in the cartridge. The liquid should be clear, colorless and free of particles. If not, do not use. • Wipe the rubber stopper with an alcohol swab.
  • Step B. Attach the Needle • Remove protective tab from outer needle cap. • Push outer needle cap containing the needle straight onto the pen, then screw needle on until secure. (See Figure B ).
  • Pull off outer needle cap. (See Figure C ). Do not throw away
  • Pull off inner needle cap and throw away. (See Figure D ). A small drop of liquid may appear. This is normal.
  • Step C. Dial to the Flow Check Symbol This step is done only One Time for each new pen and is Only required the first time you use a new pen. • Turn dose selector until flow check symbol (--) lines up with pointer (See Figure E ). The flow check symbol does not administer the dose as prescribed by your healthcare provider. • To select the dose prescribed by your healthcare provider, continue to Step G under “ Routine Use ”.
  • Step D. Prepare the Pen • Hold pen with needle pointing up. • Tap cartridge gently with your finger a few times to bring any air bubbles to the top of the cartridge (See Figure F ).
  • Keep needle pointing up and press dose button until 0 mg lines up with pointer (See Figure G ). Repeat steps C and D, up to 6 times, until a drop of Victoza appears at the needle tip. If you still see no drop of Victoza, use a new pen and contact Novo Nordisk at 1-877-484-2869. Continue to Step G under “Routine Use”
  • Routine Use
  • Step E. Check the Pen • Take your Victoza pen from where it is stored. • Wash hands with soap and water before use. • Check pen label before each use to make sure it is your Victoza pen. • Pull off pen cap (See Figure H ). • Check Victoza in the cartridge. The liquid should be clear, colorless and free of particles. If not, do not use. • Wipe the rubber stopper with an alcohol swab.
  • Step F. Attach the Needle • Remove protective tab from outer needle cap. • Push outer needle cap containing the needle straight onto the pen, then screw needle on until secure (See Figure I ).
  • Pull off outer needle cap. Do not throw away (See Figure J ).
  • Pull off inner needle cap and throw away (See Figure K ). A small drop of liquid may appear. This is normal.
  • Step G. Dial the Dose
  • Victoza pen can give a dose of 0.6 mg (starting dose), 1.2 mg or 1.8 mg. Be sure that you know the dose of Victoza that is prescribed for you. • Turn the dose selector until your needed dose lines up with the pointer (0.6 mg, 1.2 mg or 1.8 mg) (See Figure L ).
  • You will hear a “click” every time you turn the dose selector. Do not set the dose by counting the number of clicks you hear.
  • If you select a wrong dose, change it by turning the dose selector backwards or forwards until the correct dose lines up with the pointer. Be careful not to press the dose button when turning the dose selector. This may cause Victoza to come out.
  • Step H. Injecting the Dose
  • Choose your injection site in either the stomach (abdomen), thigh, or upper arm (only if caregiver administered) and wipe the skin with an alcohol swab (See Figure M ). Let the injection site dry before you inject your dose. • Insert needle into your skin using the injection technique shown to you by your healthcare provider. Do not inject Victoza into a vein or muscle.
  • Press down on the center of the dose button to inject until 0 mg lines up with the pointer (See Figure N ).
  • Be careful not to touch the dose display with your other fingers. This may block the injection.
  • Keep the dose button pressed down and make sure that you keep the needle under the skin for a full count of 6 seconds to make sure the full dose is injected. Keep your thumb on the injection button until you remove the needle from your skin (See Figure O ).
  • Change (rotate) your injection sites within the area you choose for each dose. Do not use the same injection site for each injection. Step I. Withdraw Needle
  • You may see a drop of Victoza at the needle tip. This is normal and it does not affect the dose you just received. If blood appears after you take the needle out of your skin, apply light pressure with a cotton ball or gauze, but do not rub the area (See Figure P ).
  • Step J. Remove and Dispose of the Needle
  • Carefully put the outer needle cap over the needle (See Figure Q ). Unscrew the needle. • Safely remove the needle from your Victoza pen after each use.
  • Put your used Victoza pen and needles in a FDA-cleared sharps disposal container right away after use. Do not throw away (dispose of) loose needles and pens in your household trash. • If you do not have a FDA-cleared sharps disposal container, you may use a household container that is: o made of a heavy-duty plastic o can be closed with a tight-fitting, puncture-resistant lid, without sharps being able to come out o upright and stable during use o leak-resistant o properly labeled to warn of hazardous waste inside the container • When your sharps disposal container is almost full, you will need to follow your community guidelines for the right way to dispose of your sharps disposal container. There may be state or local laws about how you should throw away used needles and syringes. Do not reuse or share your needles with other people. For more information about the safe sharps disposal, and for specific information about sharps disposal in the state that you live in, go to the FDA’s website at: http://www.fda.gov/safesharpsdisposal. • Do not dispose of your used sharps disposal container in your household trash unless your community guidelines permit this. Do not recycle your used sharps disposal container.
  • Caring for your Victoza pen
  • After removing the needle, put the pen cap on your Victoza pen and store your Victoza pen without the needle attached (See Figure R ). • Do not try to refill your Victoza pen – it is prefilled and is disposable.
  • Do not try to repair your pen or pull it apart. • Keep your Victoza pen away from dust, dirt and liquids. • If cleaning is needed, wipe the outside of the pen with a clean, damp cloth. How should I store Victoza? Before use: • Store your new, unused Victoza pen in the refrigerator between 36ºF to 46ºF (2ºC to 8ºC). • If Victoza is stored outside of refrigeration (by mistake) prior to first use, it should be used or thrown away within 30 days. • Do not freeze Victoza or use Victoza if it has been frozen. Do not store Victoza near the refrigerator cooling element. Pen in use: • Use a Victoza pen for only 30 days. Throw away a used Victoza pen 30 days after you start using it, even if some medicine is left in the pen. • Store your Victoza pen at room temperature between 59ºF to 86ºF (15ºC to 30ºC), or in a refrigerator between 36ºF to 46ºF (2°C to 8°C). • When carrying the pen away from home, store the pen at room temperature between 59ºF to 86ºF (15ºC to 30ºC). • If Victoza has been exposed to temperatures above 86ºF (30ºC), it should be thrown away. • Protect your Victoza pen from heat and sunlight. • Keep the pen cap on when your Victoza pen is not in use. • Always remove the needle after each injection and store your pen without the needle attached. This reduces the risk of contamination, infection, leakage and inaccurate dosing.
Questions

Using Victoza: common questions

How do you inject Victoza?

Follow the FDA-approved Instructions for Use for your product, listed on this page. Your healthcare provider should show you how before your first dose.

Do you need to change where you inject Victoza?

From its FDA label: Rotate injection sites within the same region in order to reduce the risk of cutaneous amyloidosis [see Adverse Reactions (6.2)].

GLPcompare is an informational data platform, not a medical provider or pharmacy. Nothing here is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to start, stop, or change any treatment. Data is aggregated from public sources and can be incomplete or out of date. Always confirm with a licensed clinician and the current FDA label.