How much does liraglutide build up with daily dosing?

At steady state on a daily schedule, the model's level is about 1.39 times what one dose gives, and it swings about 1.74:1 between the peak and the trough before the next dose. Longer gaps between doses mean less build-up and a bigger swing.

Is this chart my actual liraglutide level?

No. It is a modeled estimate from a published half-life, using the same one-compartment model as the Dose Track app. Real levels vary with body weight, injection site, kidney and liver function and other factors, and only a lab test measures them. It is not medical advice.

Liraglutide Half-Life: Peak and Steady State Chart

Q: When does liraglutide peak after a dose?

Blood levels peak about 10 hours after an injection under the skin, according to Saxenda (liraglutide) label. Individual timing varies with the injection site, the amount and the person.

Q: How long does liraglutide take to reach steady state?

About 2.7 days of regular dosing at the same amount and interval, which is 5 half-lives. With a half-life of about 13 hours, levels reach about 50% of steady state after 13 hours and about 90% after 43.2 hours. Changing the dose or interval starts a new climb toward a new steady state.

Q: How long does liraglutide stay in your system after the last dose?

Roughly 5 half-lives, about 2.7 days, until about 97% has cleared in the model. Half is gone about 13 hours after levels start falling. Real clearance varies from person to person, and a drug can still have effects after levels are low.

Short answer: Liraglutide has a half-life of about 13 hours (Saxenda (liraglutide) label) and reaches steady state after about 2.7 days of regular dosing. Levels peak about 10 hours after an injection under the skin. On a daily schedule the model builds up to about 1.4× a single dose, with a peak-to-trough swing of about 1.74:1.

What do liraglutide levels look like with daily dosing?

The Saxenda label maintenance dose is 3 mg once daily, reached by stepping up weekly from 0.6 mg. The chart holds 3 mg daily from the first dose. Source: Saxenda (liraglutide) label. Bioavailability 55% as in the app. Dashed line: 5 half-lives. Change the amount or schedule in the calculator.

When does liraglutide peak after a dose?

Levels peak about 10 hours after an injection under the skin.

How long does liraglutide take to reach steady state?

With regular dosing at a fixed amount and interval, levels climb toward steady state by the same fraction every half-life, whatever the dose. At a half-life of about 13 hours:

Time from the first dose to each share of steady state, liraglutide (half-life 13 hours).
Share of steady state	Half-lives	Time
50%	1	13 hours
75%	2	26 hours
90%	3.3	43.2 hours
97% (Dose Track's steady-state rule)	5	2.7 days

How much do liraglutide levels swing between doses?

The longer the gap between doses compared with the half-life, the bigger the swing from peak to trough and the less the levels build up. These ratios do not depend on the amount.

Steady-state peak:trough and build-up by dosing interval, liraglutide, in Dose Track's model.
Interval	Peak : trough	Build-up vs one dose
Daily	1.74 : 1	1.39×
Every other day	5.4 : 1	1.08×
Twice weekly	35.5 : 1	1.01×
Weekly	over 1,000 : 1	1×
Every 2 weeks	over 1,000 : 1	1×

Build-up is the accumulation ratio 1 / (1 − e^−k·τ), with k = ln 2 / half-life and τ the interval.

How long does liraglutide stay in your system?

After the last dose, about half is gone every 13 hours. After 5 half-lives, about 2.7 days, roughly 97% has cleared in the model.

Where do these numbers come from?

The FDA Saxenda label gives a half-life of about 13 hours and a peak at 11 hours after an injection. The app uses 10 hours for time to peak, close to the label figure.

Saxenda (liraglutide) prescribing information, sections 3 and 12.3. DailyMed.

The curve uses the half-life, time to peak, route and bioavailability built into the Dose Track app for liraglutide, and the same one-compartment model with first-order absorption. These are modeled estimates from published half-lives, drawn with the same one-compartment model as the Dose Track app. Real levels vary from person to person, and only a lab test measures them. This is not medical advice and not a dosing recommendation; dosing decisions belong with you and your prescriber.

Vial sizes and syringe math are in the Liraglutide guide.

When does liraglutide peak and reach steady state?