Saxenda Weight Loss.

Saxenda is a once-daily injection that you administer to yourself to aid weight loss. It contains the active ingredient Liraglutide, which is very similar to a naturally occurring hormone in your body called GLP-1. It works by making you feel less hungry, slowing down the emptying of your stomach and making you feel ‘fuller’ for longer.

Saxenda (liraglutide 6mg/ml) is a self-injectable weight loss treatment. It contains the active ingredient liraglutide which is very similar to a naturally occurring hormone in your body called GLP-1.

After a meal GLP-1 is naturally released from your intestines to help regulate your blood sugar levels and reduce the amount of glucagon in your body. Glucagon is a naturally occurring hormone which works by inhibiting the action of insulin. As a result, it makes you feel less hungry, slows down the emptying of your stomach and makes you feel ‘fuller’ for longer.

Saxenda can only be used as a weight-loss treatment if you have previously tried and failed to lose weight through diet and exercise alone.

You can expect to lose a minimum of 5% of your initial body weight after completing 12 weeks of treatment at 3.0mg liraglutide daily. If you have not lost 5% of your initial body weight after 12 weeks at 3.0mg, then treatment should be discontinued at this stage.

Saxenda has been studied extensively in multiple clinical trials to establish its clinical benefits (4 x phase 3 trials – SCALE Obesity & Pre-Diabetes, SCALE Diabetes, SCALE Sleep Apnoea and SCALE Maintenance).4

These trials included a total of 5,358 participants and the trials ran between 56 weeks and 160 weeks. Superior weight loss was achieved with Saxenda (liraglutide) compared to diet and exercise alone in obese and overweight patients in all groups studied. More than twice as many people achieved 5% and 10% body weight loss compared to diet and exercise alone.

These trials included a total of 5,358 participants and the trials ran between 56 weeks and 160 weeks. Superior weight loss was achieved with Saxenda (liraglutide) compared to diet and exercise alone in obese and overweight patients in all groups studied. More than twice as many people achieved 5% and 10% body weight loss compared to diet and exercise alone.

Saxenda comes in a 3ml pre-filled injection pen. The pen contains a clear and colourless or almost colourless solution. All pens are supplied with the right quantity of needles you require for injecting.You will need to store your Saxenda pre-filled pen in a refrigerator (2°C to 8°C) before your first use. Once you start using the pen, you can keep it for 1 month either at room temperature (2 to 30°C) or in a refrigerator (2°C to 8°C). Do not freeze.

When you take Saxenda you need to gradually increase your dose in 0.6mg intervals, until you reach what is called the maintenance dose at 3mg daily. This is the dose at which you will continue to take Saxenda. You increase your dose as follows:

Week 1 – 0.6mg as a once-daily injection
Week 2 – 1.2mg as a once-daily injection
Week 3 – 1.8mg as a once-daily injection
Week 4 – 2.4mg as a once-daily injection
Week 5 onwards – maintenance dose of 3.0mg as a once-daily injection
Increasing the dose slowly over time should minimise any unwanted side effects, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. As you increase your dose, if you find that you cannot tolerate your side effects, you should stay on the same dose for 2 continuous weeks. If after 2 weeks your side effects are still not tolerable, you should consider stopping treatment.

The maximum recommended daily dosage of liraglutide is 3.0mg. Try to take it at the same time each day, picking a time that works for you, with or without food or drink.

You must continue with your new diet and exercise regime while you are taking Saxenda.

Always use Saxenda exactly how your prescriber has told you. Check with your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you are unsure.

When you first start Saxenda, a single pen will last 17 days and the first full pack of five pens will last six weeks. Once you have achieved the maintenance dose, a pack of five pens will last 30 days.

• are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning to become pregnant
• have any known allergies to any of the ingredients in Saxenda
• are under 18 years old or over 75 years old
• have diabetes and are taking other medicines that contain GLP-1 (such as exenatide or lixisenatide) or have issues with hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar)
• have severe heart failure
• have liver or severe kidney disease or are on dialysis
• have severe stomach or gut problems such as gastroparesis (delayed stomach emptying) or inflammatory bowel disease

As with all medication, Saxenda can be associated with unwanted side effects. Although usually mild, some can be more severe, which may result in your treatment being stopped. You should always read the patient information leaflet fully before you begin treatment.

When you first start your treatment, you may experience some stomach upset, such as vomiting or diarrhoea, and may also lose some bodily fluids. Therefore, it is important to drink plenty of fluids to keep yourself hydrated. Most mild side effects will settle once your body gets used to the new medication. However, if any side effect persists, stop the treatment and talk to a doctor.

Sometimes side effects of Saxenda can be very serious, such as severe allergic reactions. If you get any symptoms, such as problems breathing, swelling of your face or throat, or a fast heartbeat, you must get medical help immediately.

Rarely there have been cases reported of inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). Pancreatitis is a serious, potentially life-threatening, medical condition. If you experience any of the following side effects stop taking Saxenda immediately and get medical help: severe and persistent pain in the abdomen (stomach area) which might reach through to your back with nausea or vomiting.

Side effects can include, but are not limited to:

Very common side effects (may affect more than 1 user in 10 users)

Nausea vomiting (settles after your body adjusts to treatment)
Diarrhoea or constipation (settles after your body adjusts to treatment)
Common side effects (may affect up to 1 to 10 users)

Low blood sugar. The warning signs of low blood sugar may come on suddenly and can include: cold sweat, cool pale skin, headache, fast heartbeat, feeling sick, feeling very hungry, changes in vision, feeling sleepy, feeling weak, being nervous, being anxious, confusion, difficulty concentrating and shaking (tremor). Your doctor will tell you how to treat low blood sugar and what to do if you notice these warning signs
Problems affecting the stomach and intestines, such as indigestion (dyspepsia), inflammation in the lining of the stomach (gastritis), stomach discomfort, upper stomach pain, heartburn, feeling bloated, wind (flatulence), belching and dry mouth
Difficulty sleeping (insomnia). This usually occurs in the first 3 months of treatment
Local reactions around the injection site, such as bruising, pain, irritation, itching and rash
Feeling weak or tired
Changed sense of taste
Dizziness
Gallstones
Increase of pancreatic enzymes, such as lipase amylase
Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)

Dehydration – more likely to occur at the start of treatment and may be due to being sick, having diarrhoea or nausea making you drink & eat less
Thyroid reactions such as goitres or nodules
Pancreatitis
Allergic reactions such as skin rash
Generally feeling unwell
Faster pulse rate
Delay in the emptying of the stomach
Inflamed gall bladder
Rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)

Reduced kidney function
Acute kidney failure. Signs may include reduction in urine volume, metallic taste in mouth & easily bruising