Victoza 6mg/ml 2 Benefyl

6mg/ml liraglutide solution for injection in a ready-to-use pen

What is liraglutide and what are its uses:

• Liraglutide is a weight loss medication. It is similar to a natural hormone called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) that is released from the intestines after a meal. Liraglutide works by acting on the receptors in the brain that control your appetite, making you feel full and less hungry. This may help you eat less and reduce your body weight.

• Liraglutide is used for weight loss in addition to diet and exercise in adults ages 18 and older

• BMI 30 kg/m2 or more (obesity) or

• BMI 27 kg/m2 and less than 30 kg/m2 (overweight) and weight-related health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, abnormal levels of fats in the blood or breathing

• Sleep problems called “sleep apnea”).

Do not take liraglutide:

• If you are allergic to liraglutide or to any of the other ingredients of this medicine.


Warnings and precautions:

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking liraglutide if:

• They have severe heart failure

• You are 75 years of age or older

• You have kidney disease or are on dialysis

• They have liver problems

• You have a severe stomach or intestine problem that delays stomach emptying (called gastroparesis), or if you suffer from inflammatory bowel disease.

• If you have diabetes, do not use liraglutide as an insulin substitute

• You have or have had pancreatic disease

• You suffer from severe pain in the upper abdomen, usually worse on the right side under the ribs

• They have thyroid disease, including thyroid nodules and goiter

• You have palpitations (feel aware of your heartbeat) or if you have a feeling of a racing heart at rest during treatment with liraglutide.

Possible side effects of liraglutide:

Like all medicines, liraglutide can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.

Some severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) have been reported in rare cases in patients using liraglutide. You should see your doctor right away if you develop symptoms such as breathing problems, swelling of the face and throat, and rapid heartbeat.

Cases of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) have been reported uncommonly in patients using liraglutide

Stop taking this medication and call your doctor right away if you notice any of the following serious side effects:

• Severe and persistent pain in the abdomen (stomach area) that may radiate to your back, in addition to nausea and vomiting, which can be a sign of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).



Very common side effects:

• Feeling sick (nausea), being sick (vomiting), diarrhea, constipation – these symptoms usually go away after a few days or weeks.

Other medicines and liraglutide:

In particular, tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if:

• You are taking medicines for diabetes called sulfonylureas (such as glimepiride or glibenclamide) or if you are taking insulin - you may get low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) when using these medicines with liraglutide. Your doctor may adjust the dose of your diabetes medication to prevent you from getting low blood sugar. If you adjust your insulin dose, your doctor may recommend monitoring your blood sugar more frequently.

• You are taking warfarin or other oral medicines that reduce blood clotting (anticoagulants). More frequent blood tests may be required to determine the blood's ability to clot.

How to take liraglutide:

Your treatment will start at a low dose which will gradually increase over the first five weeks of treatment.

When you first start using liraglutide, the starting dose is 0.6 mg once a day, for at least 1 day.

week.

Your doctor will ask you to gradually increase your dose by 0.6 mg each week until you reach the recommended dose of 3.0 mg once a day.

Once you reach the recommended dose of 3.0 mg in the fifth week of treatment, continue using this dose until the treatment period ends. Do not increase your dose further.

Your doctor will evaluate your treatment on a regular basis.

How to store liraglutide:

• Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

• Do not use liraglutide after the expiry date stated on the pen label and carton after “EXP”. The expiry date refers to the last day of the same month.

• Before first use: Store in the refrigerator (from 2 to 8 degrees Celsius). Do not freeze. Keep away from freezer compartment.

• Once you start using the pen: You can keep the pen for 1 month when stored below 30°C or in the refrigerator (2°C to 8°C). Do not freeze. Keep away from freezer compartment.

• When not using the pen, keep the pen cap on to protect it from light.

• Do not use this medicine if the solution is opaque and colorless or almost colorless.

• Do not dispose of medicines in wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.