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What is Saxenda for Weight Loss?

Saxenda is a long-term weight management medication based on glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). Saxenda is a once-weekly injection pen that can help promote weight loss in patients with a high BMI. The drug can be used in conjunction with a reduced caloric intake and more physical activity to treat overweight or obese adults with one or more weight-related conditions. Saxenda is one of the fastest and most reliable methods of losing weight quickly and safely.

Saxenda is not recommended for:

  • Those who are pregnant.
  • Those with a personal or familiar background of pancreatitis.
  • Those with a severe allergy to any of Liraglutide’s (Saxenda) ingredients.
  • Those with a personal or familial background of medullary thyroid cancers and multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MENS2).

The Benefits of Saxenda

Saxenda is a once-weekly injection pen that can help promote weight loss in patients with a high BMI greater than 27, hypertension, or dyslipidemia. Saxenda may be prescribed to you by our Weight Loss Coach providers if you are eligible. Saxenda is one of the fastest and most reliable methods of losing weight quickly and safely.

How Effective is Saxenda for Weight Loss?

Saxenda has been shown to help people lose an average of 10% of their initial weight when used as part of a weight loss plan that includes diet and lifestyle changes. These results render Saxenda an effective tool in helping you stick to your healthy eating plan and lose weight.

Generic Name & Class of Saxenda

The active ingredient, liraglutide, is a strong selective GLP-1 receptor agonist that has decreased hunger and cravings while promoting feelings of fullness and satiety. Saxenda can help those struggling with their weight to reach their goals, and it may be a good option for those unable to take oral medications or do not want daily injections.

How Does Saxenda Work for Weight Loss?

Saxenda is a prescription medication that contains the synthetic peptide liraglutide. Liraglutide is similar to GLP-1, a hormone that occurs naturally in the body. Saxenda is an appetite suppressant and slows stomach emptying to help you feel full after eating.

GLP-1 helps regulate your appetite and food intake by binding to brain receptors, decreasing the desire to eat. When you take Saxenda, it causes the pancreas to produce insulin, which helps to lower blood sugar levels. Since human bodies cannot store GLP-1s for very long, taking Saxenda can help you lose weight even when your body is already producing it.

How is Saxenda Administered?

Saxenda is a once weekly injection administered with a small, pen-like device. Injecting Saxenda is virtually painless and can be done from the comfort of your home, with no presence of a healthcare professional required. 

You must inject Saxenda at the same time each day, so make sure to set a reminder on your phone or calendar. Store Saxenda between 36°F and 46°F when not in use. Your doctor will show you how to inject Saxenda into the fatty tissue of your abdomen or upper thigh. Make sure to follow their instructions closely to ensure proper administration.

What is the Dosage for Saxenda?

If you are a patient new to Saxenda, your Weight Loss Coach healthcare professional will use a step-up approach, start you at the lowest dose, and gradually increase it until you reach the full dose. This is to minimise the potential for side effects. Saxenda comes in five different dose strengths, so you must start by taking the lowest dose (0.6 mg a day) and work your way up gradually. The maximum dose of Saxenda is 3 mg per day.

Possible Side Effects of Saxenda:

Saxenda, like other medications, has the potential for side effects. Most people who take Saxenda do not experience any side effects, but some may experience nausea, indigestion, or other gastrointestinal symptoms. These symptoms usually go away as the body adjusts to the dosage of Saxenda.

Other possible side effects may include:

  • Fatigue
  • Headaches
  • Dizziness
  • Abdominal pain
  • Inflammation of the pancreas
  • Gallstones
  • Allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)
  • Depression

Alternative Medications

The GLP-1 category includes multiple weight-loss drugs. Among the other medications that contain GLP-1 are: