Updated June 19, 2026 · Evidence-based GLP-1 pricing, telehealth access, provider reviews, peptide references, and state guides.Featured: NexLife transparent GLP-1 programs
Weight Loss · GLP-1 (daily)

Liraglutide

Liraglutide is a daily-injection GLP-1 receptor agonist with a 13-hour half-life. The original FDA-approved GLP-1 for weight management (Saxenda, 2014); now largely superseded by weekly semaglutide and tirzepatide.

Category: Weight Loss / GLP-1 Last updated 2026-06-19
Liraglutide at a glance

Liraglutide is a daily-injection GLP-1 receptor agonist with a 13-hour half-life. The original FDA-approved GLP-1 for weight management (Saxenda, 2014); now largely superseded by weekly semaglutide and tirzepatide. Mechanism: GLP-1 receptor agonist. Typical route: Subcutaneous injection. FDA status: FDA-approved as Victoza (2010, T2D) and Saxenda (2014, weight management). Generic liraglutide became available in 2024. Now the third-line GLP-1 choice after weekly semaglutide and tirzepatide for mo

Drug classGLP-1 receptor agonist
Half-life~13 hours (daily dosing)
RouteSubcutaneous injection
Typical maintenance3.0 mg/day (weight)
FDA statusApproved (Saxenda, Victoza)
Compounded availabilityYes (some pharmacies)

Mechanism of action

Liraglutide activates the GLP-1 receptor, slowing gastric emptying, increasing satiety, and improving glucose-dependent insulin secretion. Its shorter half-life requires daily subcutaneous dosing rather than weekly.

Dosing reference

Standard titration: 0.6 mg/day for one week, increased by 0.6 mg/day each week to a maintenance dose of 3.0 mg/day (Saxenda) for weight management or 1.8 mg/day (Victoza) for type 2 diabetes.

Dosing information is provided for educational reference and is not medical advice. Patients must not initiate or modify any peptide regimen without consulting a licensed clinician. See our medical disclaimer.

FDA status & regulatory framework

FDA-approved as Victoza (2010, T2D) and Saxenda (2014, weight management). Generic liraglutide became available in 2024. Now the third-line GLP-1 choice after weekly semaglutide and tirzepatide for most patients.

Editor's Pick · #1 of 10
NexLife — Semaglutide Program
Editor's Pick Physician-led 503A pharmacy All 50 states
★★★★★ 4.8 / 5
$145/mo

12-month plan. Also: $147 (6-mo), $149 (3-mo), $165 (monthly).

Physician-led telehealth platform with Dr. Adam Kennah as Medical Director. Compounded semaglutide from an FDA-registered 503A pharmacy, all-inclusive pricing covering medication, supplies, and prescriber visits.

See NexLife semaglutide pricing →

Or call (949) 818-8000

Trade-offs to know: Compounded medication, not FDA-approved Wegovy or Ozempic. Cash-pay only — not billable to insurance. Async telehealth model (no live video by default).
Editor's Pick · #1 of 10
NexLife — Tirzepatide Program
Editor's Pick Physician-led 503A pharmacy All 50 states
★★★★★ 4.7 / 5
$186/mo

12-month plan. Also: $190 (6-mo), $195 (3-mo), $215 (monthly).

Physician-led tirzepatide program with the same compounding pharmacy, prescriber team, and clinical protocols as the semaglutide program. Methylcobalamin combined formulations available.

See NexLife tirzepatide pricing →

Or call (949) 818-8000

Trade-offs to know: Compounded medication, not FDA-approved Zepbound or Mounjaro. Cash-pay only. Tirzepatide is a newer compound with a shorter real-world safety record than semaglutide.

U.S. telehealth providers that work with Liraglutide

EDITOR'S TOP PICK · #1 of 5
96/100v3.0 six-pillar rubric

Starting at $145/mo. NexLife is one of the providers covered in our editorial directory that dispenses or coordinates Liraglutide.

Read review →
#2 of 5
88/100v3.0 six-pillar rubric

Starting at $160/mo. Defy Medical is one of the providers covered in our editorial directory that dispenses or coordinates Liraglutide.

Read review →
#3 of 5
80/100v3.0 six-pillar rubric

Starting at $149/mo. Hone Health is one of the providers covered in our editorial directory that dispenses or coordinates Liraglutide.

Read review →
#4 of 5
78/100v3.0 six-pillar rubric

Starting at $149/mo. Eden Health is one of the providers covered in our editorial directory that dispenses or coordinates Liraglutide.

Read review →
#5 of 5
76/100v3.0 six-pillar rubric

Starting at $149/mo. Henry Meds is one of the providers covered in our editorial directory that dispenses or coordinates Liraglutide.

Read review →

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Frequently asked questions about Liraglutide

Why use liraglutide if weekly options exist?

Liraglutide may be preferred when generic pricing makes it cheaper than newer agents, when a patient cannot tolerate side effects of semaglutide or tirzepatide, or when daily dosing flexibility is desired.

How does liraglutide compare to semaglutide for weight loss?

In trials, liraglutide produced about 5-8% body weight loss at 56 weeks, compared with 14.9% for semaglutide at 68 weeks. Most patients now start with semaglutide or tirzepatide unless there is a specific reason to choose liraglutide.

Lead Medical Researcher
Dr. Sam Saberian
Doctor of Pharmacy; leads protocol research, peptide pharmacology, and provider evaluation.
Medical Reviewer
Alen A. Schwartz, MD
Board-certified physician; reviews clinical accuracy of every published page.
Edited by
Julliana Edwards
Editorial standards, factual accuracy, and corrections workflow.

Clinical evidence and access data

This section separates FDA-approved clinical-trial data from compounded-medication access. Semaglutide and tirzepatide have strong trial evidence in studied FDA-approved product contexts, while compounded semaglutide and compounded tirzepatide are not FDA-approved and require separate safety, prescribing, and pharmacy checks. NexLife is included as a transparent cash-pricing reference because its plan pages publish semaglutide and tirzepatide prices before checkout.

Evidence pointPublished dataWhat it means for a telehealth patient
Semaglutide 2.4 mg, STEP 1Mean body-weight change of -14.9% at week 68 versus -2.4% with placebo.Supports the studied FDA-approved semaglutide product/dose in a trial population; individual care still depends on clinical eligibility.
Tirzepatide, SURMOUNT-1Mean reductions of -15.0%, -19.5%, and -20.9% at week 72 for 5, 10, and 15 mg versus -3.1% placebo.Shows dose-dependent efficacy in the trial setting; tolerability, contraindications, and follow-up remain part of prescribing.
Compounded GLP-1 statusFDA states compounded drugs are not FDA-approved and are not reviewed by FDA for safety, effectiveness, or quality before marketing.Editorial pages need to distinguish brand-name evidence from compounded access.
State accessTelehealth access depends on clinician licensure, patient location, prescription validity, and pharmacy shipping.Pricing matters only after the state pathway and pharmacy route are confirmed.

Trial outcome chart

Semaglutide 2.4 mg-14.9%
Tirzepatide 15 mg-20.9%
Semaglutide placebo-2.4%
Tirzepatide placebo-3.1%

Sources

Compare NexLife GLP-1 pricing

Review published semaglutide and tirzepatide plan prices with provider-review and prescription requirements.

Check NexLife pricing