Saxenda (POM on HOLD)

What is Saxenda?

Saxenda is a self-injected weight loss treatment that suppresses your appetite and keeps you fuller for longer. It’s designed for individuals with a body mass index (BMI) between 27 and 30 with another ‘co-morbidity’ or weight-related medical problems, or for people with a BMI of over 30.

Saxenda injections are administered manually every day, with results typically showing within the first 12 weeks. However, the drug is most effective when combined with lifestyle changes such as adopting a healthy, balanced diet and exercising regularly.

You can learn more about healthy lifestyle changes in our Safe Weight Loss Guide.

How do Saxenda injections work?

Each injection pen contains the active ingredient liraglutide. This mimics a hormone that your body produces called glucagon-like-peptide (GLP-1), which helps to naturally regulate your appetite and suppress feelings of hunger, causing you to eat less and therefore helping you to lose weight. It also reduces gastric emptying, meaning food stays in your stomach for longer and helps you to feel fuller for longer.

How quickly does Saxenda help you lose weight?

Most users will lose weight within the first 12 weeks of administering a 3.0mg dose of Saxenda daily. At the 12-week mark, your doctor will assess your progress to determine whether you can continue using the treatment. In some cases, those who haven’t lost at least 5% of their initial body weight or reached a particular threshold may be advised that they cannot continue using Saxenda.

How much weight will I lose with Saxenda?

Most people who use Saxenda will see a significant weight loss of at least 5%. A 2020 study indicated that over a 12-week period, the majority of participants lost 5-10% of their body weight while using Saxenda. Over a 56-week timeframe, the average weight loss was between 12 and 23 pounds (5.5 - 10.5kg).

How to inject Saxenda?

To use Saxenda treatment, you will need to self-administer daily injections. The initial dosing is gradually increased over the course of four weeks — a process known as titration — to ensure your body can tolerate the treatment and minimise any potential side effects.

The dosing schedule for Saxenda is as follows:

• Week 1: 0.6mg injected daily
• Week 2: 1.2mg injected daily
• Week 3: 1.8mg injected daily
• Week 4: 2.4mg injected daily
• Week 5: 3.0mg injected daily

As long as you can tolerate the 3.0mg dose, it will be maintained throughout the duration of your treatment. This is referred to as the maintenance phase.

After 12 weeks of receiving the 3.0mg dose, you will need to schedule a follow-up appointment with your clinician. Continued treatment will depend on achieving a certain amount of weight loss.

Where is Saxenda injected?

The method of administration for Saxenda involves subcutaneous injection, meaning it is injected under the skin. It is recommended to inject the medication into the front of the waist (abdomen), front of the thighs, or upper arm. It is important to avoid injecting into a vein or muscle.

Saxenda ingredients

The main ingredient in Saxenda is the active substance liraglutide. One pre-filled pen contains 18 mg liraglutide. The other ingredients are disodium phosphate dihydrate, propylene glycol, phenol, hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide (for pH adjustment) and water for injections.

Alternative weight loss treatments

If you’re looking for an alternative to Saxenda weight loss treatment, then weight loss capsules may be a good alternative. Alternatively, the safest way to lose weight is by switching to a reduced calorie diet and exercising more regularly.

Orlistat and Xenical

Orlistat and Xenical are drugs that stop fat from being absorbed into your body — these two treatments are chemically the same, but Xenical is the branded version of the treatment, with Orlistat being the active ingredient in both.

Nearly a third of the fat that you eat is blocked by Orlistat, and any undigested fat is passed through your stools instead of being absorbed into your body. The treatment can help you lose up to 5% of your body weight within the first 3 months of treatment.

Here you can learn about some of the possible side effects of Orlistat.

Alli capsules

Alli Slimming Capsules are ideal for those who have a body mass index of 28 or over and need a helping hand to boost their weight loss efforts. The capsules also contain the active ingredient Orlistat, and are designed to be taken alongside a calorie-controlled diet.

Alli pills can help to boost weight loss by up to 50% a week, allowing you to achieve your desired results faster.

Healthy diet and exercise

Although weight loss medications and surgical methods can be helpful if you’re trying to lose a large amount of weight, there are many non-medical methods that can be effective at aiding weight loss, too. Of course, the most important factors in losing weight successfully and safely are a healthy, balanced diet and regular exercise.

Reassessing your diet, exercising portion control, and upping your physical activity levels will make a big difference in your weight loss journey, as well as your overall wellbeing. It may take some time to create healthy new habits, but it’s important to persevere. If you’re unsure where to start, speak to your GP for professional advice.

Saxenda side effects

Like all medications, there is a risk of side effects when taking Saxenda. In rare cases, some patients have reported severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) or pancreatitis. Always seek immediate medical attention if you experience symptoms such as difficulty breathing, swelling of the face and throat, severe or persistent abdominal pain, or vomiting.

Other possible side effects include:

• Feeling sick (nausea), being sick (vomiting), diarrhoea, constipation, and headaches. These usually go away after a few days or weeks
• Inflammation in the lining of the stomach (gastritis), stomach discomfort, upper stomach pain, heartburn, feeling bloated, wind (flatulence), belching, and dry mouth
• Feeling weak or tired
• An altered sense of taste
• Dizziness
• Difficulty sleeping (insomnia). This usually occurs during the first 3 months of treatment
• Gallstones
• Injection site reactions (such as bruising, pain, irritation, itching and rash)
• Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia)

Less common side effects (affecting up to 1 in 100 people) include:

• Loss of fluids (dehydration). This is more likely to occur at the start of treatment and may be due to being sick (vomiting) or experiencing diarrhoea
• Delay in the emptying of the stomach
• Inflamed gallbladder
• Allergic reactions, including skin rash
• Feeling generally unwell
• Increased pulse
• Reduced kidney function
• Acute kidney failure. Signs may include a reduction in urine volume, a metallic taste in the mouth, and becoming bruised easily

If you experience any side effects while using Saxenda, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed here.

Saxenda warnings

While Saxenda is generally an effective weight loss treatment, it’s not suitable for everyone. Always discuss your medical history with your doctor before using Saxenda, and consider the following warnings:

• Saxenda is not recommended if you are 75 years or older
• If you have kidney disease or are on dialysis, always consult your doctor before using Saxenda. There is little information about this medicine in patients with liver problems
• This medicine is not recommended if you have a severe stomach or gut problem which results in delayed stomach emptying (called gastroparesis), or if you have an inflammatory bowel disease
• If you have diabetes, do not use Saxenda as a replacement for insulin
• If you have high blood pressure, consult your doctor before using Saxenda
• Stop taking Saxenda and contact a doctor immediately if you experience severe pain in your upper abdomen, usually worst on the right side under the ribs. The pain may be felt through your back or right shoulder
• If you have thyroid disease, including thyroid nodules and enlargement of the thyroid gland, consult your doctor
• Talk to your doctor if you have palpitations (you feel aware of your heartbeat) or if you have feelings of a racing heartbeat while at rest during Saxenda treatment

Saxenda during pregnancy and breastfeeding

You should not use Saxenda if you are pregnant, think that you might be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby, as the effects of the medication on an unborn baby are unknown. Similarly, you should not use Saxenda if you are breastfeeding (or conversely, you should not breastfeed if you are using Saxenda). It is not yet known if Saxenda passes into breast milk, so the impact on a breastfed baby is not clear.