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All medications from licensed pharmacies
GPhC reg. no. 1120610
All medications from licensed pharmacies
GPhC reg. no. 1120610
Saxenda is a weight loss medicine.
Saxenda contains the active ingredient liraglutide. The medicine can be used by people who are obese (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher) or by those who are overweight (BMI of 27 kg/m2 or higher) and also have one or more conditions related to being overweight, e.g. high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes.
Saxenda works by regulating your appetite. It lets you know that you are full so you consume fewer calories. It also delays the time it takes for the stomach to empty, which makes you feel full for longer.
Saxenda is self-administered as a daily injection into the abdomen, thigh or upper arm. We provide full instructions on the injection technique. The time of dosing and meals do not have to be considered. The dose is started at 0.6 mg and increased weekly to the recommended 3 mg dose. If a dose is missed, then omit it, and continue as normal at the next scheduled dose. However, if you forget the injection for more than 3 days, then you must start again at 0.6 mg daily and increase the dose as before. This minimises the risk of stomach upsets. Saxenda is used as part of a weight management programme that includes increased exercise and a reduced-calorie diet. Until Saxenda is formally approved, any Liraglutide prescribed by us off-label will be used as directed at the lower dose of 0.6 mg, then 1.2 mg and we may recommend that you increase it to 1.8 mg. Any length of time that the medication is set to last is worked out at the 1.2 mg dose. If you are using it at a higher dose then it will last for a shorter period of time.
Saxeda may result in significant weight loss in those receiving treatment. A clinical study of patients who were obese or overweight with other weight-related problems that lasted for about a year showed that, along with more physical activity and fewer calories, 63% of patients receiving Saxeda 3 mg lost at least 5% of their body weight and 34% lost more than 10%. This amounted to 28% and 19% more patients, respectively, when compared with those on placebo (i.e. a dummy injection).
Saxenda is for adults aged 18 years or older. It should not be taken for the treatment of type 2 diabetes or by people taking certain diabetic medicines, such as insulin and other GLP-1 receptor agonists. Neither should Saxenda be used by people who have an allergy to any of the ingredients, by women who are pregnant or breast feeding, nor if an individual (or family member) has or has had medullary thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2. The effects of Saxenda on people with cardiovascular or pancreatic problems are not known.
The most common side effects of Saxenda include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, indigestion, abdominal pain, decreased appetite, fatigue, headache, dizziness, low blood glucose levels, and increased lipase levels (produced by the body to break down fats in food enabling their absorption in the gut). Most people only get a slight feeling of nausea when they commence treatment.
Saxenda may also cause more serious reactions. You are advised to contact your doctor immediately if you have or suspect you may have any of the following: an allergic reaction, thyroid tumours , inflammation of the pancreas, gallbladder problems, increased heart rate, poor kidney function, or suicidal thoughts.
Because it delays the time taken for the stomach to empty, Saxenda may affect the absorption of other oral medicines. Its effect when given with other weight loss products is unknown.
