How many units of Liraglutide should I draw?

It depends on your vial size, BAC water, and dose. For a 18mg vial with 0mL BAC water, a beginner dose of 600mcg is typically 0 units on a U-100 syringe. Use the calculator above for your exact numbers.

How much BAC water should I add to Liraglutide?

The standard amount is 0mL of bacteriostatic water for a 18mg vial. More water gives a more dilute solution — easier to measure small doses. Less water means fewer injections per vial. Adjust the BAC water slider in the calculator to see how it changes your syringe units.

How long does a Liraglutide vial last?

At a beginner dose of 600mcg daily, a 18mg vial lasts about 30 doses. The calculator shows exact doses per vial for your selected tier.

What syringe should I use for Liraglutide?

Most people use a U-100 insulin syringe (1mL / 100 units). For very small doses, a U-50 or U-30 syringe gives better precision. The calculator adjusts units automatically for whichever syringe you pick.

How does Liraglutide compare to similar peptides?

Liraglutide has 2 head-to-head comparisons available: Semaglutide, Semaglutide. See the full comparison pages for dosing differences, mechanisms, and which one fits your goals.

What is the recommended liraglutide dosage for weight loss?

The Saxenda label starts at 0.6 mg daily subcutaneous for one week, then titrates by 0.6 mg each week until reaching 3.0 mg daily. For diabetes (Victoza), the max dose is 1.8 mg daily. Skipping titration steps significantly increases nausea and vomiting rates.

Not medical advice. Talk to your provider before using any peptide.

Full disclaimer

Peptide Schedule Research TeamReviewed Apr 20267 Citations

Weight LossFDA ApprovedGrade A

GLP-1 AgonistWeight ManagementAppetite Regulation

Liraglutide Dosage Calculator

13 h half-life·Injection

Liraglutide is an FDA-approved GLP-1 receptor agonist with 15+ years of market data and proven cardiovascular protection from the LEADER trial (n=9,340). Less potent than semaglutide for weight loss, but side effects clear in a day thanks to its 13-hour half-life.

Popular5,585High

9 referencesVerified 2026-04-07

Vial Size

BAC Water (mL)

Dosing Level

600mcg · Daily

Custom Dose (mcg) — optional

Syringe Type

0.0 units

100 units (1mL)

Concentration

mcg/mL

Draw Volume

< 0.001

Syringe Units

< 0.1

units

Doses / Vial

doses

Summary: Add 0mL BAC water to your 18mg vial. Draw to < 0.1 units on a U-100 syringe for a 600mcg dose. This vial will last 0 doses.

Schedule This Protocol

600mcg daily — draw 0.00 units on U-100 syringe

Subcutaneous. Typical beginner frequency: daily.At beginner dose (600mcg) with a 18mg/0mL vial: draw to the 0-unit mark on a U-100 syringe.

After reconstituting, store at 2-8°C (36-46°F) before first use; up to 30°C (86°F) after first use (in-use pen can be kept at room temperature (up to 30°c) or refrigerated for 30 days).

View side effects and safety warnings →

Quick-Start: Reconstitution

1Remove the pen from the refrigerator 15 to 30 minutes before injecting. Room-temperature solution reduces injection discomfort.
2Inspect the solution. It should be clear and colorless. Do not use if cloudy or if you see particles.
3Attach a new pen needle (32-gauge is standard for Saxenda). Remove both the outer and inner needle caps.

Full injection guide →

Liraglutide Dosing Protocol

FDA LabelVictoza FDA Prescribing Information (2023) (n=3,731 (SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes))

Level	Dose / Injection	Frequency
Beginner	600mcg	Daily
Moderate	1,800mcg	Daily
Aggressive	3mg	Daily

Note:

Liraglutide comes as a pre-filled pen, so there's no reconstitution math to worry about. Saxenda pens hold 18 mg total and deliver doses from 0.6 mg to 3.0 mg via a dial selector. At the 3 mg maintenance dose, one pen lasts 6 days. For compounded liraglutide from 503A pharmacies, the common concentration is 6 mg/mL. With that concentration in a standard insulin syringe: 10 units equals 0.6 mg, 20 units equals 1.2 mg, 30 units equals 1.8 mg, 40 units equals 2.4 mg, and 50 units equals 3.0 mg. The thing most beginners miss: if you skip more than 3 consecutive days, you need to restart at 0.6 mg and re-titrate. Jumping back to your prior dose after a gap causes disproportionate GI distress. Keep your pens on schedule or plan for the ramp back up. Store unused pens in the fridge (2 to 8 degrees Celsius). Once you start using a pen, it can stay at room temperature (up to 30 degrees Celsius) for 30 days.

Dosing based on Victoza FDA Prescribing Information (2023) — 9 published references.View all sources →

Verify your calculation

Cross-check your Liraglutide reconstitution math with AI

Liraglutide Cost

Brand Price

Brand Saxenda: ~$1,300–$1,800/month retail (5 pre-filled pens). GoodRx coupon: as low as ~$372/month. Novo Nordisk savings card: eligible commercially-insured patients may pay $25/month. Victoza (diabetes): similar pricing range.

Generic / Research

Teva generic liraglutide injection: ~$1,165/month (WAC, launched August 2025, FDA-approved, bioequivalent). Additional generics expected post-February 2026 exclusivity expiry: expect prices to decline.

Compounded

Compounded liraglutide (503A pharmacies): ~$150–$249/month. Liraglutide remains on FDA drug shortage list as of April 2026: 503A compounding is legally permitted while shortage persists. PCAB-accredited providers (e.g., MediVera Compounding Pharmacy, Zappy Health) offer prescription access. Quality varies: always request COA.

Pricing updated 2026-04-09

Prices are estimates and vary by source, location, and prescription status.Full pricing breakdown →

Liraglutide Pharmacokinetics

Pharmacokinetics — Active Dose Over Time

t½ = ~13 hours

After 1 half-life (13h): 50% remainsAfter 2 half-lives (26h): 25% remainsAfter 3 half-lives (39h): 12.5% remains

At a 1.8mg dose: 50% = 900mcg remaining after 13h. Recommended frequency: Daily.

Disclaimer: This curve is a simplified first-order exponential decay model. Actual pharmacokinetics vary based on injection site, individual metabolism, body composition, and other factors. Half-life values are approximate and based on available preclinical and clinical literature. Many research peptides lack formal human pharmacokinetic studies. This is for educational purposes only — not medical advice.