| Diabetes Mellitus, Non-Insulin-Dependent
Victoza vs Welchol
Side-by-side clinical, coverage, and cost comparison for diabetes mellitus, non-insulin-dependent.Deep comparison between: Victoza vs Welchol with Prescriber.AI
AI compares prescribing info and payer-specific access barriers across 1,200+ formularies. Here's a preview of what prescribers are already asking.Safety signalsWelchol has a higher rate of injection site reactions vs Victoza based on FDA-approved prescribing information
Coverage gaps3 major payers require step therapy for Welchol but not Victoza, including UnitedHealthcare
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Category
Victoza
Welchol
At A Glance
SC injection
Daily
GLP-1 receptor agonist
Oral
Daily
Bile acid sequestrant
Indications
- Diabetes Mellitus, Non-Insulin-Dependent
- Cardiovascular Diseases
- Familial hyperlipidemia
- Familial hypercholesterolemia - heterozygous
- Diabetes Mellitus, Non-Insulin-Dependent
Dosing
Diabetes Mellitus, Non-Insulin-Dependent, Cardiovascular Diseases (Adults) Start at 0.6 mg SC once daily for one week, then increase to 1.2 mg once daily; if additional glycemic control is required, increase to 1.8 mg once daily (maximum) after at least one week at 1.2 mg.
Diabetes Mellitus, Non-Insulin-Dependent (Pediatric >= 10 years) Start at 0.6 mg SC once daily; increase in 0.6 mg increments after at least one week on the current dose; maximum recommended dose is 1.8 mg once daily.
Familial hyperlipidemia, Familial hypercholesterolemia - heterozygous 3.75 grams daily; 6 tablets once daily or 3 tablets twice daily with a meal and liquid, or one packet oral suspension once daily with a meal.
Diabetes Mellitus, Non-Insulin-Dependent 3.75 grams daily; 6 tablets once daily or 3 tablets twice daily with a meal and liquid, or one packet oral suspension once daily with a meal.
Contraindications
- Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC)
- Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
- Serious hypersensitivity reaction to liraglutide or any excipient in VICTOZA
- Serum TG concentrations >500 mg/dL
- History of hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis
- History of bowel obstruction
Adverse Reactions
Most common (>=5%) Nausea, diarrhea, headache, nasopharyngitis, vomiting, decreased appetite, dyspepsia, upper respiratory tract infection, constipation, back pain
Serious Risk of thyroid C-cell tumors, acute pancreatitis, hypoglycemia, acute kidney injury due to volume depletion, severe gastrointestinal adverse reactions, hypersensitivity reactions, acute gallbladder disease, pulmonary aspiration during general anesthesia or deep sedation
Postmarketing Acute pancreatitis, hemorrhagic and necrotizing pancreatitis, ileus, intestinal obstruction, severe constipation, dehydration, elevations of liver enzymes, hyperbilirubinemia, cholestasis, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, hepatitis, angioedema, anaphylactic reactions, pruritus, medullary thyroid carcinoma, dysgeusia, dizziness, dysesthesia, pulmonary aspiration, acute renal failure, increased serum creatinine, cutaneous amyloidosis, alopecia
Most common (>=2%) Constipation, dyspepsia, nausea, asthenia, pharyngitis, myalgia (primary hyperlipidemia); constipation, dyspepsia, nausea, hypertension, back pain (type 2 diabetes)
Serious Hypertriglyceridemia, pancreatitis, gastrointestinal obstruction, vitamin K and fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies
Postmarketing Bowel obstruction, dysphagia, esophageal obstruction, fecal impaction, pancreatitis, hypertriglyceridemia, increased transaminases
Pharmacology
GLP-1 receptor agonist; liraglutide is an acylated human GLP-1 analog (97% amino acid sequence homology to endogenous human GLP-1(7-37)) that stimulates glucose-dependent insulin secretion, suppresses glucagon secretion, and delays gastric emptying.
Colesevelam hydrochloride is a non-absorbed bile acid sequestrant that binds bile acids in the intestine, depletes the bile acid pool, upregulates hepatic cholesterol 7-alpha-hydroxylase, increases LDL receptor expression, and thereby lowers serum LDL-C; the mechanism by which it improves glycemic control in type 2 diabetes is unknown.
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Most Common Insurance
Anthem BCBS
Victoza
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (10/12) · Step Therapy (10/12) · Qty limit (9/12)
Welchol
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (10/12) · Step Therapy (0/12) · Qty limit (9/12)
UnitedHealthcare
Victoza
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (5/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (5/8)
Welchol
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (0/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
Humana
Victoza
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (3/3) · Step Therapy (3/3) · Qty limit (3/3)
Welchol
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (1/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · Qty limit (2/3)
Coverage data sourced from MMIT. Updated monthly.
Savings
No savings programs available for Victoza.
No savings programs available for Welchol.
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VictozaView full Victoza profile
WelcholView full Welchol profile
Clinical data sourced from FDA-approved labeling. Coverage data via MMIT. Updated monthly.