I have been on Victoza for over a year. It worked wonderfully, bringing my A1c down to 5.8 and I lost 15 pounds. In the last few months however, it seemed to stop being effective and my A1c climbed back up and I quit losing weight.
Has anyone else had this experience? Has anyone learned why it might have stopped working?
Thanks!
R
1. Have you had a change in diet or exercise? (more carbs & sugar than usual)
2. Any possible hormonal changes?
3. Have you been sick?
I ask because these issues can alter your HBA1C results. I'd recommend speaking to your doctor and figuring out what went wrong and finding a plan that works best for you. Be clear about what might have changed because it can alter his/her decision on changing oral meds, increasing dose or using insulin.
Bernstein is actually quite positive about Victoza, but he says that in his clinical practice he has found that it loses effectiveness after about six months. I've never hear an explanation of why it stops working, perhaps your body just adapts to the medication. Victoza and Byetta worked for me, but only for 2-4 weeks after which it stopped working. It was wonderfully effective while it worked tho.
Bernstein's solution is to rotate Victoza with Byetta switching every six months. Perhaps you work with your doctor to give that a try?
I have been on Victoza since October 2011 and I notice a reduction in effectiveness. My doctor had told me when I started that this would happen, as it does with all these meds. My sugar is still low, but I do get 130-150 in the morning when on Victoza, I would have 110.
I was reading the other comments below and it sounds like your Victoza has lost its potency! You should talk to your doctor about changing medications or rotating them (i.e with Byetta) like bsc below says. You should get it done asap, if you are feeling like that with high levels you need something more effective soon before you cause any further damage.
Please keep us up to date on your solution!
im just started 4 weeks ago and my sugar are staying around 5.mark so far but have be so sick with it
My Victoza also seems to have stopped working. Now Victoza seems to do nothing at all so I’ll stop it.
I had the same experience with Byetta.
This is interesting about switching between the two every six months.
R --
Not an answer to your question, just a comment. I was on Victoza for a short time, only one of the side effects is pancreatitis -- I got it. All I can say is that I'm very cautious these days about starting any kind of med that is too new. sometimes I think that pharma companies are in a big hurry to get their product on the market, and we suffer for it. Be careful.