Your Patients Need Liraglutide — Here’s How to Help Them Get It

As a provider, you know how frustrating it is when a well-tolerated, effective medication becomes hard to find. Liraglutide — whether prescribed as Victoza for type 2 diabetes or Saxenda for weight management — has been affected by supply constraints that leave patients calling pharmacy after pharmacy, sometimes going days or weeks without their medication.

This guide offers practical, actionable steps your clinical team can take to improve Liraglutide access for your patients. For the broader supply context, see our Liraglutide shortage briefing for providers.

Current Availability

Here’s a snapshot of Liraglutide availability as of early 2026:

• Brand Victoza (Novo Nordisk): On shortage. Manufacturing delays have limited supply. Available intermittently at some locations.
• Brand Saxenda (Novo Nordisk): Generally available at most pharmacies.
• Generic Liraglutide (Meitheal): Available and expanding. First generic GLP-1 RA, launched April 2025.
• Generic Liraglutide (Teva): Available. Offers a patient savings program with copays as low as $20.

Availability varies significantly by region, pharmacy type, and insurer formulary. Real-time checking is essential.

Why Patients Can’t Find Liraglutide

Understanding the barriers your patients face helps frame effective interventions:

Supply-Side Issues

• Novo Nordisk manufacturing delays for brand Victoza
• Generic production still scaling to meet demand
• Complex injectable manufacturing limits speed of generic ramp-up

Demand-Side Pressures

• Continued high demand for GLP-1 class medications
• Patients switching to Liraglutide from pricier alternatives due to generic affordability
• Increased prescribing for weight management indications

System-Level Barriers

• Insurance formulary changes creating pharmacy stocking mismatches
• Prior authorization delays leaving patients without medication during approval
• Chain pharmacies depleting stock faster than independents
• Patients not knowing about generic alternatives

What Providers Can Do: 5 Steps

Step 1: Write Prescriptions for Maximum Flexibility

The simplest intervention is also one of the most effective. When prescribing Liraglutide:

• Write for “Liraglutide injection” rather than specifying Victoza or Saxenda by brand name
• Allow generic substitution on the prescription
• Specify the dose and indication clearly so pharmacies can dispense the correct product
• Consider writing for the specific NDC only when insurance requires it

This approach gives pharmacies the flexibility to fill with whatever manufacturer’s product is currently in stock.

Step 2: Use Real-Time Availability Tools

Medfinder for Providers allows your clinical team to check which pharmacies near your patient currently have Liraglutide in stock. This takes the guesswork out of the process and can be integrated into your prescribing workflow:

• Check availability before sending the prescription
• Direct the e-prescription to a pharmacy that has stock
• Share the tool with patients so they can check availability for future refills

Step 3: Educate Patients on All Available Options

Many patients don’t realize that generic Liraglutide exists, or that they can ask for a different manufacturer’s version. Take a moment to inform patients that:

• Generic Liraglutide is available from Teva and Meitheal and is bioequivalent to brand
• Generic options cost $230–$500/month vs. $1,000–$1,400 for brand
• Manufacturer savings programs can reduce costs to $20–$25/month
• Independent pharmacies may have better stock than chains

Point patients to our guides on finding Liraglutide in stock and saving money on Liraglutide.

Step 4: Have a Backup Plan Ready

For patients who face repeated access barriers, have a therapeutic alternative ready to discuss. The most common alternatives include:

• Semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy): More potent GLP-1 RA, once-weekly dosing
• Dulaglutide (Trulicity): Once-weekly GLP-1 RA, generally stable supply
• Tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound): Dual GIP/GLP-1 agonist, superior weight loss data
• Exenatide (Byetta/Bydureon): Older GLP-1 RA, typically available due to lower demand

For a comprehensive comparison, see alternatives to Liraglutide.

Step 5: Streamline Prior Authorization

Prior authorization delays can leave patients without medication for days or weeks. To minimize disruption:

• Submit PAs proactively before the patient runs out
• Include documentation of medical necessity, BMI, A1c, and previous therapies tried
• Use electronic PA tools when available to speed processing
• Appeal denials promptly — generic Liraglutide is cost-effective and often approved on appeal

Workflow Tips for Clinical Teams

Integrating these strategies into your daily workflow can reduce the burden on your team and improve patient outcomes:

At the Point of Prescribing

1. Check Medfinder for Providers for current pharmacy stock
2. Write the prescription to allow generic substitution
3. Send to a pharmacy with confirmed stock
4. Provide the patient with savings program information

For Refill Management

• Set reminders to check on patients’ refill status, especially during active shortages
• Have MA or nursing staff check availability 1 week before expected refill dates for patients on Liraglutide
• Keep a running list of pharmacies in your area that reliably stock generic Liraglutide

For Patient Education

• Create a patient handout with links to Medfinder, savings programs, and your preferred pharmacy contacts
• Include the Teva savings program (tevaliraglutide.com) and NovoCare (novocare.com) information
• Direct patients to What Is Liraglutide for general medication information

Final Thoughts

The Liraglutide shortage has created real challenges for patients and providers alike. But with proactive prescribing practices, the right tools, and clear patient communication, your team can significantly improve access for the patients who need this medication.

Generic Liraglutide represents an important step forward for both affordability and availability. By writing for generic substitution and using real-time availability tools like Medfinder for Providers, you can help ensure your patients get their medication with less hassle and fewer gaps in therapy.

For the full shortage briefing with timeline and clinical context, see Liraglutide shortage: what providers need to know in 2026. For guidance on helping patients manage costs, see how to help patients save money on Liraglutide.