How does Saxenda® work?
Saxenda is a prescription medication available in a single-dose injectable pen.
Saxenda is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist drug. GLP-1 is a naturally occurring chemical in your body that helps regulate hunger. Saxenda mimics GLP-1, increasing feelings of fullness and decreasing hunger, which can lead to eating less and losing weight over time. Saxenda works most effectively when coupled with a healthy diet and exercise.
Who is eligible?
Saxenda is prescribed to assist with weight loss in people whose body mass index (BMI) is considered overweight or obese and who have at least one weight-related medical condition (such as high blood pressure or cholesterol or type 2 diabetes).
It’s also prescribed to children ages 12-17 who have obesity and a body weight greater than 132 pounds.
While it can be an effective way to lose weight, Saxenda is not a safe or effective weight-loss drug for everyone. Pregnant people should not take Saxenda, and neither should individuals with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2).
Your healthcare provider can help you decide if Saxenda is a good choice for you.
Is Saxenda FDA-approved?
Saxenda has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since 2014 for chronic weight management in overweight and obese adults. In December 2020, the FDA approved Saxenda for chronic weight management in overweight or obese patients aged 12 and older.
Is Saxenda effective?
Clinical studies suggest Saxenda is an effective way to lose weight and keep it off in overweight or obese people aged 12 years and older. In one study of people taking Saxenda for three years, 56% of participants experienced significant weight loss in one year, and approximately half maintained that loss for three years.
Weight loss may begin within a few weeks of starting Saxenda. This drug is most effective when paired with a reduced-calorie eating plan and exercise. For best results, follow your prescriber’s instructions when you take Saxenda.
What to avoid with Saxenda
Always follow your medical provider and pharmacist’s instructions when taking Saxenda.
There are no specific foods to avoid; rather, your medical provider will encourage a low-calorie, nutritious diet for best weight-loss results.
Do not take Saxenda if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant in the next few months. The active ingredient, liraglutide, may be harmful to fetuses. If you’re breastfeeding, tell your doctor; it’s not known whether Saxenda passes through breastmilk.
People allergic to any ingredients in Saxenda and those with a history of thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2) should also avoid this medication.
Don’t take Saxenda with insulin or any other type of weight-loss drug, whether prescription or over-the-counter supplements.
Side effects
Like any drug, Saxenda may cause unwanted side effects. Most commonly, people taking Saxenda experience mild side effects such as:
- Indigestion
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Bloating
- Gas
- Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
- Decreased appetite
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Fatigue
- Changes in taste
- Anxiety
- Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
- Injection site reaction
- Urinary tract infections
Speak to your prescriber or another medical provider if your side effects are bothersome or worsening.
Rarely, Saxenda may result in more serious side effects. If you have signs of an allergic reaction when taking Saxenda, seek emergency medical care immediately. Other signs of a serious reaction include:
- Vision problems
- Pounding heartbeat
- Confusion
- Severe headache
- Slurred speech
- Loss of coordination
- Rigid muscles
- High fever
- Tremors
- Feeling as though you might pass out
These side effects may indicate a serious medical problem. If you have any of the above side effects while taking Saxenda, call 911 or go to the emergency department immediately.
Dosages
Saxenda is prescribed as a single-dose injectable pen. Typically, patients start with a dosage of 0.6 milligrams (mg) daily for one week. Starting at a lower dose can help minimize digestive side effects.
Over time, the dosage increases to 1.2 mg at week two, 1.8 mg at week three, and 2.4 mg at week four. By five weeks and onward, most people take a maintenance dose of 3 mg daily.
Your prescribing medical provider can help you determine a dosage schedule for you, including how long to take Saxenda. It’s best to take Saxenda at the same time every day, with or without food.
Interactions
Because it delays gastric emptying, Saxenda may affect the absorption of other medications or cause adverse reactions. Tell your prescriber if you take any other drugs or over-the-counter medicines, including supplements. In particular, inform them if you take any other medication for diabetes (especially insulin or sulfonylureas, such as glyburide).
Don’t take Saxenda with any other drugs containing liraglutide, exenatide, or dulaglutide.
How much does Saxenda cost?
The list price—or the cost of a drug without any discounts—of Saxenda is $1,349.02 for a 30-day supply. While most patients won’t pay the full list price, if you don’t have health insurance or if you’re ineligible for the Saxenda Savings Card, you may have to pay the full list price along with any additional fees.
The specific cost of Saxenda for you will depend on a number of factors, including your local pharmacy and whether you have health insurance. In general, drugs are less expensive when you use health insurance. Generic drugs are usually cheaper options whether or not you have insurance, but there’s currently no generic version of Saxenda available.
If you’re concerned about cost, Saxenda offers a savings card for eligible patients, which you can use with or without health insurance. According to the manufacturer’s website, eligible patients with health insurance can pay as little as $25 per 30-day supply. Even without health insurance, you may be eligible to save up to $200 per prescription.
Your local pharmacy may also offer discounts on Saxenda, or you can price shop online or at nearby pharmacies that may charge less than your local pharmacy.
For specific questions about cost or whether your health insurance covers Saxenda, reach out to your K Health provider. Your doctor will work with you and your insurance provider to try to make your plan as affordable and sustainable as possible.
How to take Saxenda
Saxenda is a self-administered injection medication. It should be injected under your skin (subcutaneously) in your abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. You can take the medication at any time, regardless of whether or not you’ve eaten.
Below is a summary of the injection steps, but you should consult the full Prescribing Information for complete instructions before use:
- Look through the pen window to make sure the solution is clear and colorless.
- Attach a new needle to the pen.
- Check the Saxenda flow before your first injection with a new pen.
- Select your dose.
- Inject the dose by holding down the dose button until the dose counter shows 0. Once the dose counter shows 0, count slowly to 6 and then remove the needle.
- Remove the needle from the pen, discard the needle, and put the pen cap back on.
Be sure to change the needle with each injection and rotate the injection site within the same region.
Can I get Saxenda online?
Yes, you can purchase Saxenda online after you have received a prescription from your healthcare provider.
To receive a prescription, you will have to schedule an appointment with a doctor. You can schedule an appointment in person or online through a platform like K Health. Your doctor may ask about your weight and medical history, and they may also request a blood test to check your cholesterol, fasting blood sugar, and A1C levels.
Once you have your Saxenda prescription, you can purchase the medication from a pharmacy online and it will get delivered right to your door.
