Saxenda® (liraglutide) injection 3 mg is an injectable prescription medicine approved for use in adults with obesity or overweight (excess weight) who also have weight-related medical problems, and children aged 12-17 years with a body weight above 132 pounds (60kg) and obesity. It is designed to help them lose weight and keep the weight off. Liraglutide, the active ingredient in Saxenda, is a human glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue.
What is Liraglutide (Saxenda)?
Liraglutide is a medication that promotes weight loss and may also be used to maintain weight loss. It works by decreasing appetite. Changes to diet and exercise are often combined with this medication. It is similar to a hormone that occurs naturally in the body and helps control blood sugar, insulin levels, and digestion.
How Saxenda Works for Weight Loss
Saxenda works for weight loss by regulating your hunger and calorie intake. It also helps your stomach digest food more slowly, which causes feelings of fullness. Additionally, it increases insulin secretion, which helps cells absorb glucose that is used for energy and decreases glucagon secretion in the body. Glucagon is a hormone that tells your liver to release stored glucose when blood sugar is too low.
Saxenda vs. Other Weight Loss Medications
Saxenda vs. Wegovy
Saxenda contains the active ingredient liraglutide, and Wegovy contains semaglutide. Both medications are prescribed for weight loss and management. Wegovy can also help reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular problems. Saxenda is used once daily, and Wegovy is used once weekly, both via subcutaneous injection.
Saxenda vs. Ozempic
Ozempic is used in people with type 2 diabetes to help manage blood sugar levels and to reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular problems. It’s not approved for weight loss and weight management like Saxenda. However, doctors might prescribe Ozempic off-label for weight loss. Ozempic contains semaglutide, and Saxenda contains liraglutide.
Read also: Comprehensive Look at Saxenda and Ozempic
Dosage and Administration
Saxenda comes as a liquid solution inside a prefilled injection pen. The pen contains 18 milligrams of liraglutide in 3 milliliters of solution (18 mg/3 mL). You can set the pen to inject the following doses:
- 0.6 mg
- 1.2 mg
- 1.8 mg
- 2.4 mg
- 3 mg
The recommended starting dose of Saxenda for adults and children ages 12 years and older is 0.6 mg. This dose is typically taken once each day for the first week of treatment. After this, your doctor will gradually increase your dosage over the next few weeks. The usual recommended dosages are:
- Week 1: 0.6 mg once each day
- Week 2: 1.2 mg once each day
- Week 3: 1.8 mg once each day
- Week 4: 2.4 mg once each day
- Weeks 5 and beyond: 3 mg once each day
Try to take your dose at around the same time each day. If you miss a dose, skip the missed dose and inject your next dose as scheduled. Do not take any extra doses to make up for missed doses. If you miss three or more doses in a row, talk with your doctor.
Who Should Not Use Saxenda?
You should not use Saxenda if:
- you or any of your family have ever had MTC (medullary thyroid carcinoma) or if you have MEN 2 (multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2).
- you have had a serious allergic reaction to liraglutide or any of the ingredients in Saxenda®.
- you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
Precautions Before Using Saxenda
Before taking Saxenda, inform your healthcare provider if you:
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- Have or have had problems with your pancreas.
- Have severe problems with your stomach, such as slowed emptying of your stomach (gastroparesis) or problems with digesting food.
- Are scheduled to have surgery or other procedures that use anesthesia or deep sleepiness (deep sedation).
- Have or have had depression or suicidal thoughts, or mental health issues.
- Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Saxenda® passes into your breast milk.
Potential Side Effects of Saxenda
Like most drugs, Saxenda may cause mild or serious side effects.
Common Side Effects
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Upset stomach
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Bloating
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Fever
- Injection site reactions
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
Serious Side Effects
- Possible thyroid tumors, including cancer
- Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
- Increased risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- Increased heart rate
- Dehydration leading to kidney problems
- Severe stomach problems
- Serious allergic reactions
- Gallbladder problems
- Depression or thoughts of suicide
- Food or liquid getting into the lungs during surgery or other procedures
Warnings and Interactions
Boxed Warning: Risk of Thyroid Cancer
Saxenda has a boxed warning about the risk of thyroid cancer. In animal studies, liraglutide was found to cause thyroid tumors. It is not known if Saxenda causes thyroid cancer in humans.
Drug Interactions
Tell your health care provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Saxenda may affect the way some medicines work, and some other medicines may affect the way Saxenda works.
Monitoring and Follow-Up
It is very important that your doctor check your or your child's progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects. Your health care provider should check your heart rate while you take Saxenda®.
Lifestyle Changes
Saxenda is only part of a complete treatment program that may also include diet, exercise, weight control, regular blood sugar testing, and special medical care. It is very important to carefully follow any instructions from your health care team about diet, exercise, and other lifestyle modifications.
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Storing Saxenda
Store unopened Saxenda pens in the refrigerator between 36℉ to 46℉. Do not freeze. After the first injection, Saxenda may be refrigerated or stored at controlled room temperature (59℉ to 86℉) for 30 days. Do not store your pen with the needle attached.
Expected Weight Loss
In clinical studies, a greater number of people who took Saxenda for 56 weeks lost 5 to 10% of their body weight, compared with people who took a placebo. It may take about 8 weeks before you start to see significant weight loss (about 5%) with Saxenda, but in the first 2 to 4 weeks you may lose about 2% to 4% of your weight.
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