Liraglutide protocol

Saxenda weight-loss titration

Week 1

12u

0.6 mg · Daily

Daily dosing, not weekly. Same time each day.

Week 2

24u

1.2 mg · Daily

Week 3

36u

1.8 mg · Daily

Victoza (diabetes) max is 1.8 mg.

Week 4

48u

2.4 mg · Daily

Week 5+

60u

3.0 mg · Daily

Saxenda weight-loss maintenance.

Phase	How often	Dose	Units	Notes
Week 1	Daily	0.6 mg	12u	Daily dosing, not weekly. Same time each day.
Week 2	Daily	1.2 mg	24u
Week 3	Daily	1.8 mg	36u	Victoza (diabetes) max is 1.8 mg.
Week 4	Daily	2.4 mg	48u
Week 5+	Daily	3.0 mg	60u	Saxenda weight-loss maintenance.

Phases are 1 week each. Units at 5 mg/mL.

Cycle & timing

Cycle: Weekly 0.6 mg steps to the 3.0 mg maintenance; continuous daily use for the indication.

Timing: Once daily, same time, independent of meals.

Where: SubQ, abdomen/thigh/upper arm. Rotate daily.

What to expect

Appetite suppression and glucose lowering within weeks; weight loss over months (moderate, generally less than weekly semaglutide).

How much to buy

For 12-wk @ 3 mg/day, daily dosing is vial-heavy:

9

× 30mg vials

26

× 10mg vials

Men & women

Men: In men, excess fat lowers testosterone; GLP-1 raises testosterone, SHBG and gonadotropins as weight drops, improves sperm and erectile function, and preserves fertility (unlike TRT).

Women: Women lose more than men at the same dose but report more GI (start lower). In PCOS they improve cycles, lower free testosterone and raise ovulation; a real unplanned-pregnancy risk. Stop before conceiving.

Dilution calculator

Set to the guide's typical mix for Liraglutide. Change anything to see where to draw.

Vial size

BAC water added

Dose you want

Draw to

60u

Volume

0.60 mL

Strength

5 mg/mL

Doses per vial

3

Assumes a U-100 insulin syringe (100 units = 1 mL). Double-check against the compound's page before you draw.

Recommended mixes

Vial	Water	Strength
5 mg	1 mL	5 mg/mL
10 mg	2 mL	5 mg/mL
30 mg	6 mL	5 mg/mL

5 mg: 1 unit = 0.05 mg

Storage

PowderFreeze-dried: -4°F.
MixedReconstituted: 36–46°F, up to 30 days. (Commercial pens are pre-filled, refrigerated.)

Don't use if: Personal/family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN2 (boxed warning) · Prior pancreatitis · Pregnancy and lactation · Type 1 diabetes / diabetic ketoacidosis

Stop if you notice

Severe persistent abdominal pain (pancreatitis)
Persistent vomiting / dehydration
Signs of gallbladder disease
Pregnancy

Side effects

Nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, headache, reduced appetite. GI effects dose-dependent, usually early.

Drug interactions

Insulin / sulfonylureas: reduce dose to avoid hypoglycemia; Delayed gastric emptying alters oral drug absorption; Other GLP-1 agents: do not combine

Labs

Fasting glucose / HbA1c (baseline + periodic); Renal function with significant GI losses; Lipase if pancreatitis suspected; Out of range? Rising glucose/HbA1c = creeping toward diabetes (recheck, tighten diet); falling eGFR = kidney strain, usually dehydration (hydrate, hold).

What these labs mean →

Warnings

Thyroid C-cell tumors in rodents (boxed warning); Gallbladder disease with rapid weight loss; Hypoglycemia when combined with insulin/sulfonylureas; Acute kidney injury from dehydration; Heart-rate increase

Patient education

This one is daily, missing days blunts results, unlike weekly GLP-1s; Same class precautions as semaglutide; Hydrate and maintain protein intake; Stop and seek care for severe abdominal pain or persistent vomiting

These apply on top of the universal safety rules.

Pairs well with

Lipo-C / L-Carnitine

metabolic support

LC120 L-Carnitine

Avoid with

Personal/family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN2

Prior pancreatitis

Pregnancy

Other GLP-1s

do not combine with other GLP-1 / incretin agents

Can Liraglutide + LC120 share a syringe?

Keep in separate syringes. GLP-1s run on their own weekly (or daily) schedule. Give them their own pin.

What it does

FDA-approved as Victoza (diabetes, up to 1.8 mg) and Saxenda (weight, up to 3.0 mg).

Liraglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist with a ~13-hour half-life, requiring once-daily dosing. It enhances glucose-dependent insulin secretion, slows gastric emptying, and reduces appetite.

Note

Daily dosing means high vial use vs weekly GLP-1s, budget accordingly.

Pairs well with

Lipo-C / L-Carnitine (metabolic support). Do not combine with other GLP-1 / incretin agents.

References

rxlist dailymed researchdosing peptidedosages GLP-1 sex differences Jensterle 2020

From the guide, page 59.