Liraglutide Doses: Finding The Right Dose For Your Weight Loss Journey

If you’ve been prescribed Compounded* Liraglutide with B12 as part of your weight loss journey, your healthcare provider will have taken you through how much to take in each dose and how to inject it. But a new medication can be complicated to get used to and, like all medications, Compounded* Liraglutide with B12 works best when used correctly, consistently, and safely. 

When you learn how to administer your injections with confidence, Compounded* Liraglutide with B12 can be a powerful tool in helping you reduce your body weight. 

This blog post will walk you through important safety information when it comes to dose adjustments and injections, so you can feel confident and in control every step of the way. If you ever need support, our team is here to guide you.

What is liraglutide?

Liraglutide is an injectable prescription medicine that supports weight loss in adults who are overweight or living with obesity. It's known as a GLP-1 receptor agonist and works by mimicking a natural hormone that helps regulate appetite, reduce hunger, and improve feelings of fullness after eating.

When paired with a healthy lifestyle and regular physical activity, liraglutide can help people lose and manage their body weight over time. It’s taken as a daily injection, and your dosage will be carefully monitored and adjusted by your healthcare provider to meet your needs, depending on how your body responds.

In this guide, we’ll cover:

• How your Levity healthcare professional prescribes Compounded* Liraglutide with B12 and how dose adjustments are made over time
• Step-by-step instructions and important safety information for self-injecting
• How to make sure you’re using the correct dose
• Common side effects to watch out for

Where is the best place to inject Compounded* Liraglutide with B12?

The best places to self-inject are areas of skin with a layer of fat underneath. This allows for better absorption of the medication and reduces the potential risks of injecting into muscle, veins or vessels. It's a good idea to switch between injection sites to avoid any injection site reactions.

These areas are [1]:

• The abdomen (avoiding the two-inch area around the navel)
• The fronts of the thighs
• The outer area of the upper arms, though this can be hard to reach by yourself.

How will I know if I've injected my dose correctly?

Here's a quick checklist to help you feel confident that you're injecting your dose of Compounded* Liraglutide with B12 correctly.

• Double-check that you've loaded the syringe with the correct dose as marked on your prescription
• Pinch the skin and insert the needle at a 90° angle to the skin
• Inject the full dose slowly and steadily
• Check the area where you injected the dose for any injection site reactions. A small bump or small drop of blood at the point where the needle was inserted is normal, and usually goes away within a few hours. Press gently with a clean tissue or alcohol swab if needed.

If you notice any of the following reactions, get in touch with your healthcare professional immediately.

• A burning or sharp pain during injection (this may indicate you've hit a blood vessel or muscle)
• Medication leaking out of the injection site
• Injection site reactions like bruising, swelling or redness that worsen after the injection
• Shortness of breath — call 911 if this occurs
• The medication isn't having its intended effects, such as reduced appetite.

What's the best time of day to inject?

There is no specific time of day that's best to inject Compounded* Liraglutide with B12, but it is best to inject the medicine at the same time each day [2]. Pick a time of day when you'll have a quiet, uninterrupted few minutes to carry out the injection. Digestive side effects like diarrhoea and constipation tend to be the most noticeable in the hours after taking the injection, so many people prefer to inject liraglutide in the evening and sleep through the peak of these potential side effects. 

What are the common side effects of liraglutide injections?

As with any prescription medication, there can be some side effects to using Compounded* Liraglutide with B12, especially in the early weeks when your body is adjusting to the new medication. Your healthcare provider will work with you closely to adjust your dose gradually over time and reduce the potential risk of side effects.

Any initial side effects usually improve with time, and taking the injection at the same time each day, staying hydrated, and eating smaller, lighter meals to keep your blood sugar levels up can help.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition or you have any concerns during treatment, get in touch with your healthcare professional.

The most common side effects are [2, 3, 4]:

• Gastrointestinal side effects, like nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, indigestion or heartburn
• Decreased appetite and/or thirst—make sure you drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and eat nutritious, balanced meals.
• Headache
• Fatigue

How to get the best results with Compounded* Liraglutide with B12

Clinical studies show that liraglutide is most effective when combined with healthy lifestyle changes. While the medication helps to regulate appetite and increase feelings of fullness, your diet, movement and overall health play a vital role in achieving a healthy body weight.

Here's what the science says about how to get the best results with liraglutide:

• Eat a balanced, nutritious, calorie-controlled diet. [2] This should include high-fiber foods (like vegetables, legumes and whole grains), lean proteins (like chicken, tofu, fish and eggs), healthy fats (found in olive oil, avocado and nuts), and complex carbohydrates (like brown/wholemeal bread and pasta) to regulate blood sugar levels.
• Incorporate movement into your routine. Physical activity not only supports weight loss but also improves insulin sensitivity, mood, and cardiovascular health. [5] Aim for at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity activity that increases your heart rate, like brisk walking or cycling. Include strength training twice a week to support lean muscle mass.
• Stay hydrated. Because liraglutide decreases the appetite, it can also reduce thirst.  Dehydration can increase the potential risk of common side effects like nausea or constipation. Aim to drink at least 1.5 litres of water per day, and even more during hot weather or when exercising. [4]

Dosing: what to expect

When you first begin treatment, your health care provider will start you on a low dose of the injectable prescription medication, based on your unique needs and body weight. This will be gradually increased over time to help your body adjust and minimizes the potential risk of unpleasant side effects like nausea or vomiting.

Here’s a typical schedule of Compounded* Liraglutide with B12 dose adjustments:

• Week 1: 0.6 mg (0.2 ml) 20 units
• Week 2: 1.2 mg (0.4 ml) 40 units 
• Week 3: 1.8 mg (0.6 ml) 60 units 
• Week 4: 2.4 mg (0.8 ml) 80 units 
• Week 5 and beyond: 3.0 mg (1.0 ml) 100 units 

Your dose adjustments from week five may vary depending on your unique needs, and Levity will guide you through the entire journey to ensure your dose is working effectively at every step. 

How to inject Compounded* Liraglutide with B12 at home

Liraglutide is taken as a once-daily injection, typically using a syringe and vial system. If you’re new to self-injection, it can feel daunting, but you’re not alone. Once you understand how to use the medication correctly, it will become second nature. 

Step 1: Prepare for Your Injection

Gather everything you need:

• Your orange-capped syringe
• An alcohol swab
• Your liraglutide medication vial
• A sharps container for used needles

Wash your hands thoroughly and sit in a comfortable, well-lit area.

Step 2: Retrieve and Check Your Medication

Liraglutide should be stored in the refrigerator at 35.6–46.4°F. Take the vial out of the fridge, remove the cap and clean the rubber stopper with an alcohol swab.

Step 3: Draw the Correct Dose

• Double-check your prescription to confirm your dose.
• Pull the syringe plunger back to your prescribed dose to draw in air.
• Insert the needle into the vial and slowly inject air into the vial. This helps the medication flow more easily when you draw it out.
• Turn the vial upside down so the needle is submerged.
• Slowly pull back the plunger to a position slightly more than the required dose, then gently push it forward to the exact dose to remove air bubbles.
• Remove the needle carefully.

Step 4: Inject the Medication

Liraglutide should be injected immediately after drawing it up.

• Choose your injection site: either the outer thigh, upper arm, or abdomen (avoid the area directly around the belly button).
• Clean the area with an alcohol swab.
• Pinch the skin and insert the needle at a 90° angle.
• Unpinch the skin and slowly inject the medication.
• Withdraw the needle gently once the full dose has been administered.

Step 5: Clean Up

• Dispose of the needle and syringe in your sharps container.
• Discard used alcohol swabs and packaging in the bin.
• Wipe down the injection area and place your vial back in the fridge with the cap secured.

How to check your dose

For safety reasons, it’s important to always check your dose of injectable prescription medication. 

First, check which type of syringe you have:

• A 30-unit syringe: marked in intervals of 5 units, up to 30
• A 100-unit syringe: marked in intervals of 10 units, up to 100

Make sure you don’t confuse the 50-unit mark on a 100-unit syringe with the 5-unit mark on a 30-unit syringe.

If you're unsure:

• Refer to the medication label and your dosing guide.
• Ask your pharmacist or health care provider to explain or demonstrate.
• Double-check the prescribed dose—if in doubt, pause and confirm before injecting.

As an injectable prescription medicine, getting your Compounded* Liraglutide with B12 dose right and using it safely is an important part of your medicated weight loss journey. Underdosing may reduce the effectiveness of your treatment, while overdosing could increase the risk of side effects like nausea, vomiting, dizziness, or low blood sugar.

Correctly administering your injection also helps:

• Reduce the risk of injection site reactions
• Avoid wasting medication
• Ensure your treatment remains effective over time

If you’re ever unsure about how to prepare or inject your medication, don’t hesitate to reach out to your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Feeling confident with the injection process is a key step toward staying consistent and seeing the results you want.

If you’re considering trying medicated weight loss to support your weight management journey, visit our website to find out which treatment may be best suited to you.

*Compounded drugs are permitted to be prescribed under federal law but are not FDA-approved and do not undergo FDA review for safety, effectiveness, or quality.

References

1. O’Neil PM, Birkenfeld AL, McGowan B, Mosenzon O, Pedersen SD, Wharton S, et al. Efficacy and safety of semaglutide compared with liraglutide and placebo for weight loss in patients with obesity: a randomised, double-blind, placebo and active controlled, dose-ranging, phase 2 trial. The Lancet. 2018 Aug;392(10148):637–49.
2. Secher A, Jelsing J, Baquero AF, Hecksher-Sørensen J, Cowley MA, Dalbøge LS, et al. The arcuate nucleus mediates GLP-1 receptor agonist liraglutide-dependent weight loss. The Journal of Clinical Investigation [Internet]. 2014 Oct 1;124(10):4473–88. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4215190/
3. ‌Fletcher AL, Lowen TE, Sakkal S, Reiseger JJ, Hammett MV, Seach N, et al. Ablation and Regeneration of Tolerance-Inducing Medullary Thymic Epithelial Cells after Cyclosporine, Cyclophosphamide, and Dexamethasone Treatment. The Journal of Immunology. 2009 Jun 29;183(2):823–31.
4. ‌João Carlos Locatelli, Juliene Gonçalves Costa, Haynes A, Naylor LH, P. Gerry Fegan, Yeap BB, et al. Incretin-Based Weight Loss Pharmacotherapy: Can Resistance Exercise Optimize Changes in Body Composition? Diabetes Care. 2024 Apr 30;
5. ‌Ladenheim E. Liraglutide and obesity: a review of the data so far. Drug Design, Development and Therapy [Internet]. 2015 Mar;9:1867. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4386791