Saxenda

Key Features:

Appetite Suppression: Acts on brain receptors to make you feel fuller with less food.
Craving Reduction: Helps in managing dietary habits by reducing the urge to overeat.

Saxenda is an ideal solution when combined with a lower-calorie diet and exercise routine. Start your journey towards effective weight management today. For more information on administration and considerations, visit our Saxenda instructional video.

 

What is Saxenda?

Saxenda, an injectable weight loss medication, is primarily designed for adults facing obesity or those with a BMI over 30, who struggle with maintaining weight loss. The key to Saxenda’s effectiveness lies in its active component, liraglutide, which operates similarly to the GLP-1 hormone that is naturally produced in the digestive system after eating. This hormone plays a crucial role in signalling fullness and managing hunger, contributing to reduced appetite and lower calorie consumption. As a result, when combined with a diet lower in calories and a consistent exercise regime, Saxenda can be a potent tool for weight loss and long-term weight management.

While Saxenda and Victoza both contain liraglutide, they differ in strength and approved uses. Saxenda is specifically tailored for weight loss, and is not a treatment for diabetes.

Administered through daily subcutaneous (under the skin) injections from a specialised pen, Saxenda offers a viable weight management strategy for eligible individuals. However, it’s worth noting that its manufacturer is considering replacing it with Wegovy in the future, a medication that promises more convenience with weekly injections and potentially greater weight loss results.

 

Summary of Saxenda:

Condition Prescribed For: Weight management in adults with a BMI of 30 or higher, or 27 or higher with weight-related conditions.
Class of Drug: Incretin mimetics ( GLP-1 agonists)
Active Ingredient: Liraglutide.
Available Strengths: 6mg/ml. Administered as a daily injection; the dose is typically increased gradually 0.6mg to the recommended 3 mg per day.
Possible Side Effects: Nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, vomiting, low blood sugar (in patients with type 2 diabetes), headache, decreased appetite, indigestion, fatigue, dizziness, stomach pain, increased lipase levels (for a comprehensive list please refer to the patient information leaflet).

 

How Saxenda works:

Saxenda works by mimicking the action of the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) hormone, naturally produced in the body. GLP-1 is released after eating and plays a key role in signaling fullness and regulating appetite. The active ingredient in Saxenda, liraglutide, acts similarly to GLP-1, leading to reduced hunger and a slower emptying of the stomach. This effect helps individuals feel fuller for longer, consequently reducing their overall calorie intake. When used in conjunction with a low-calorie diet and regular exercise, Saxenda aids in weight loss and long-term weight management by helping to control eating habits.

 

Patient information leaflet:

For more information on this prescription medicine please refer to the Saxenda Patient Information leaflet. 

 

How do I use Saxenda?

Saxenda should be used exactly as prescribed by your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. It’s typically part of a treatment regimen that includes a diet and exercise programme, which should be adhered to throughout the course of treatment.

For adults, the treatment begins with a low dose of 0.6 mg once a day for the first week. This dose is then gradually increased by 0.6 mg each week until the recommended dose of 3.0 mg once a day is reached by the fifth week. This dose should be maintained for the remainder of the treatment period.

Saxenda is administered as a subcutaneous injection, meaning it’s injected under the skin. It can be injected at any time of the day, regardless of meals. However, it’s advisable to inject it around the same time daily for consistency. The preferred injection sites are the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm, and it’s important not to inject into a vein or muscle. It’s also recommended to rotate the injection site with each dose to reduce the risk of lumps under the skin.

Before using the pen for the first time, ensure the solution is clear and not cloudy. Attach a new needle securely and perform a flow check. Select the correct dose, inject into the skin, and count to six before removing the needle. After use, dispose of the needle safely and store the pen in a refrigerator.

People with diabetes should discuss the use of Saxenda with their doctor as it may require adjustments to their diabetes medication. Additionally, Saxenda should not be mixed with other injectable medicines or used in combination with other GLP-1 receptor agonists.

Always refer to the Instructions for Use that comes with Saxenda for detailed information on administration.

 

Safety and Precautions:

When using Saxenda, it’s essential to follow specific safety guidelines and precautions. Firstly, never share your Saxenda pen with others, even if the needle has been changed, as this could lead to serious infections.

Be aware of the potential for serious side effects, such as possible thyroid tumors, including cancer. If you experience symptoms like a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath, consult a healthcare professional immediately. These may be signs of thyroid cancer, and while Saxenda has been linked to thyroid tumors in animal studies, it’s unclear if this extends to humans.

Saxenda should not be used by individuals with a personal or family history of Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma (MTC) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2), or by those with a severe allergy to liraglutide or any of the ingredients in Saxenda.

It’s particularly important to avoid using Saxenda if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. The medication can harm your unborn baby, and it’s not yet known if Saxenda passes into breast milk.

Before starting Saxenda, inform your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, especially if you have severe problems with your stomach, pancreas, kidneys or liver, or have experienced depression or suicidal thoughts. It’s also crucial to mention all medications you’re taking, including over-the-counter medicines and supplements, as Saxenda can interact with them.

Saxenda is not suitable for use in children under 18 or adults over 75. Additionally, people with certain medical conditions, such as severe heart failure, delayed stomach emptying, inflammatory bowel disease, kidney problems, liver problems, or diabetes, should use Saxenda cautiously and under medical supervision.

If you’re taking Saxenda, be aware that it may cause dizziness, especially during the first three months of treatment. This dizziness could affect your concentration and ability to drive or use machinery. If you experience these symptoms, avoid driving or operating machinery until you are sure you can do so safely.

Regular consultation with healthcare professionals and careful adherence to the Instructions for Use that come with Saxenda are essential for safe and effective use.

 

Common Side Effects

Saxenda may cause several side effects, ranging from mild to serious. It’s essential to be aware of these and to consult your healthcare provider if you experience any severe symptoms.

Serious side effects include inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), characterized by severe abdominal pain that doesn’t subside and may radiate to the back, with or without vomiting. If you experience these symptoms, stop using Saxenda and contact your healthcare provider immediately. Another serious concern is gallbladder problems, including gallstones, which may require surgery. Symptoms to watch for include upper abdominal pain, fever, jaundice, and clay-colored stools.

For adults with type 2 diabetes taking medications such as sulfonylureas or insulin, there’s an increased risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). In children aged 12 and above, without type 2 diabetes, there’s also a risk of hypoglycemia. Common signs of low blood sugar include shakiness, sweating, headache, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, confusion, irritability, hunger, a fast heartbeat, and feeling jittery.

Saxenda can also cause an increased heart rate at rest. Your healthcare provider should monitor your heart rate while you’re on Saxenda. If you experience a racing or pounding heart that lasts several minutes, inform your healthcare professional.

Kidney problems, including kidney failure, are another potential side effect, often due to dehydration caused by nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. It’s important to stay hydrated and contact your healthcare provider if these symptoms persist or if you’re unable to drink fluids.

Serious allergic reactions are possible. Stop using Saxenda and seek medical help immediately if you experience swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, fainting or feeling dizzy, a very rapid heartbeat, problems breathing or swallowing, or severe rash or itching.

Additionally, be mindful of any mental changes, particularly sudden shifts in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings, and consult your healthcare provider if you experience new or worsening mental health symptoms, including depression or thoughts of suicide.

Common side effects in adults include nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, injection site reactions, hypoglycemia, headache, fatigue, dizziness, stomach pain, and changes in blood enzyme (lipase) levels. In children, additional common side effects are fever and gastroenteritis.

Always report any side effects to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse, and consult the Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for Saxenda for comprehensive details.
Please read the patient information leaflet (available above) for a complete list of the potential side effects associated with this medicine.

 

When should Saxenda NOT be used?

Saxenda should not be used in certain conditions and situations. It’s important not to use Saxenda if you or any of your family members have ever had Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma (MTC) or if you have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Additionally, avoid using Saxenda if you have experienced serious allergic reactions to liraglutide or any other ingredients in Saxenda. Symptoms of serious allergic reactions are detailed in the section on possible side effects of Saxenda.

Saxenda is not recommended for use during pregnancy or if you are planning to become pregnant, as it may harm your unborn baby. Similarly, it should be used cautiously or avoided if you are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, as it is not known whether Saxenda passes into breast milk.

Before starting Saxenda, inform your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions. This includes if you are taking other medicines known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, have severe stomach problems like delayed emptying of the stomach (gastroparesis) or difficulty digesting food, have current or past issues with your pancreas, kidneys, or liver, or have a history of depression, suicidal thoughts, or other mental health issues.

It is crucial to tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you are taking, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Saxenda can slow stomach emptying, which might impact how other medicines work, especially those that need to pass through the stomach quickly. This includes diabetes medications, particularly insulin and sulfonylurea medicines.

Lastly, do not use Saxenda if you have severe heart failure, severe stomach or gut problems that cause delayed stomach emptying, or inflammatory bowel disease. Your healthcare provider can provide more guidance based on your specific health situation.