Use this liraglutide calculator to convert vial strength, BAC water volume, and target dose into the exact amount to draw. Liraglutide (the compound in Saxenda and Victoza) is dosed once daily; this page covers the math, not dosing decisions.
- Common vial examples
- 10 / 18 mg
- Example dose
- 0.6 mg daily
- Common syringe
- U-100 insulin
- Last reviewed
Storage before and after reconstitution: Lyophilised 2–8°C; reconstituted vial refrigerated and protected from light.
Quick answers: Liraglutide doses in units
With a 18 mg vial mixed with 3 mL of bacteriostatic water (6 mg/mL), on a U-100 insulin syringe:
- How many units is 0.6 mg of liraglutide?
- 10 units (0.1 mL)
- How many units is 1.2 mg of liraglutide?
- 20 units (0.2 mL)
- How many units is 1.8 mg of liraglutide?
- 30 units (0.3 mL)
- How many units is 2.4 mg of liraglutide?
- 40 units (0.4 mL)
- How many units is 3 mg of liraglutide?
- 50 units (0.5 mL)
Educational maths only, not a dose recommendation. Use the calculator above for your own vial, water volume and syringe.
Quick math example
An 18 mg vial mixed with 3 mL gives 6 mg/mL. A 0.6 mg dose is 0.1 mL, which equals 10 units on a U-100 syringe.
Liraglutide reconstitution reference
U-100 units to draw for each common Liraglutide dose, by vial size, reconstituted with 2 mL of bacteriostatic water. Change the water volume in the calculator above to recompute for your own setup.
| Vial | Concentration | 600 mcg | 1.2 mg | 1.8 mg | 2.4 mg | 3 mg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 mg | 5 mg/mL | 12 u(0.12 mL) | 24 u(0.24 mL) | 36 u(0.36 mL) | 48 u(0.48 mL) | 60 u(0.6 mL) |
| 18 mg | 9 mg/mL | 6.7 u(0.07 mL) | 13.3 u(0.13 mL) | 20 u(0.2 mL) | 26.7 u(0.27 mL) | 33.3 u(0.33 mL) |
Swipe the table to see every dose →
Educational reference only — not a dose recommendation. Units assume a U-100 insulin syringe (100 units = 1 mL on U-100). Always confirm against your own vial, diluent, and clinician or pharmacy instructions.
How the liraglutide calculation works
Liraglutide is labelled in milligrams while daily doses are discussed in milligrams. The calculator converts the vial total to mcg, divides by your BAC water volume for concentration, then divides your target dose by that concentration.
Because liraglutide is dosed daily, a single reconstituted vial is used across many days, so storage and the beyond-use date matter.
- 18 mg vial = 18,000 mcg total
- 18,000 mcg / 3 mL = 6,000 mcg per mL
- 600 mcg target = 0.1 mL draw
Liraglutide 18 mg vial with 3 mL example
An 18 mg liraglutide vial mixed with 3 mL gives 6 mg/mL, or 6,000 mcg/mL.
A 0.6 mg (600 mcg) starting dose is 0.1 mL, which equals 10 units on a U-100 syringe. A 3 mg maintenance dose is 0.5 mL, or 50 units.
- 18 mg / 3 mL = 6 mg/mL
- 0.6 mg / 6 mg per mL = 0.1 mL = 10 units
- 3 mg / 6 mg per mL = 0.5 mL = 50 units
Daily dosing and titration
Liraglutide's daily schedule steps up about weekly from a low starting dose. Because you draw every day, choose a water volume that keeps each step on readable unit marks, and re-run the calculator as the dose increases.
- Once-daily dosing (shorter-acting than weekly GLP-1s)
- Steps up about weekly during titration
- Re-check the units each time you step the dose up
Frequently asked questions
Is liraglutide dosed daily?
Is this the same as Saxenda or Victoza?
How much BAC water should I use for a liraglutide vial?
Primary sources
Background references for this calculator. PepSync does not make clinical claims; these citations support the educational context only.