£

Saxenda

 
Maximum Quantity Allowed:
6mg/ml
Maintenance - 5 pens (1 month supply)
Starting dose - 3 pens (1 month supply)

Used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, Saxenda helps you feel fuller and reduce hunger, supporting significant and sustained weight loss. Available in convenient pre-filled pens, delivered discreetly to your door following an online consultation and prescription.

Product supplied may be from a different manufacturer

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Description

Embark on an effective weight management path with Saxenda, a highly regarded prescription medicine containing the active ingredient Liraglutide. This innovative treatment works by mimicking a natural hormone, Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1), which plays a crucial role in appetite regulation. By acting on your brain's appetite centres, Saxenda helps to:

  • Reduce Hunger & Cravings: Feel less hungry throughout the day, leading to reduced calorie intake.
  • Increase Fullness: Experience a greater sense of satiety after meals, helping you eat less.
  • Support Sustained Weight Loss: Clinical trials have shown that patients using Saxenda, alongside diet and exercise, can achieve significant weight loss, with many losing 5% or more of their initial body weight within 12 weeks.

Saxenda is supplied as a pre-filled injection pen for simple, once-daily self-administration under the skin. 

Your journey with Saxenda includes a gradual dose escalation to help your body adjust and minimise potential side effects, typically reaching a maintenance dose of 3.0mg daily over several weeks. Treatment is assessed regularly to ensure it remains suitable for your weight loss goals. Choose Saxenda for a medically supported approach to achieving and maintaining a healthier weight.

Warnings

THYROID TUMOURS: Saxenda has a boxed warning regarding the risk of thyroid C-cell tumours, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). Do not use Saxenda if you or any of your family have ever had MTC, or if you have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).

PANCREATITIS: Stop using Saxenda and seek immediate medical attention if you experience severe, persistent stomach pain (with or without vomiting), as this could be a sign of pancreatitis.

GALLBLADDER PROBLEMS: Saxenda can cause gallbladder issues, including gallstones. Symptoms include pain in the upper abdomen, fever, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), or clay-coloured stools. Seek medical advice if these occur.

LOW BLOOD SUGAR (HYPOGLYCAEMIA): If you have type 2 diabetes and are taking other medicines for it (like insulin or sulfonylureas), there's an increased risk of low blood sugar. Your doctor may adjust your other medications.

INCREASED HEART RATE: Saxenda can increase your resting heart rate. Inform your doctor if you notice your heart racing or pounding persistently.

KIDNEY PROBLEMS: Dehydration due to severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea can lead to kidney problems. Stay hydrated.

SERIOUS ALLERGIC REACTIONS: Seek immediate medical attention if you experience symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, difficulty breathing, rash, or itching.

MENTAL HEALTH: Report any new or worsening depression, suicidal thoughts, or unusual mood/behaviour changes to your doctor immediately.

PREGNANCY & BREASTFEEDING: Do not use Saxenda if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. Use effective contraception while on treatment.

DO NOT SHARE PENS: Never share your Saxenda pen with others, even if the needle is changed, as this poses a serious risk of infection transmission.

Directions

Saxenda is a once-daily injection. Always follow your prescriber's specific instructions.

  1. Preparation: Always use a new needle for each injection. Ensure your pen is at room temperature before use if it was stored in the fridge.
  2. Dose Check: Before your first injection with a new pen, perform a "flow check" to ensure the medicine flows correctly.
  3. Inject: Inject the dose under the skin in your abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. Rotate injection sites within these areas. Do not inject into a vein or muscle.
  4. Disposal: Dispose of the used needle immediately in a sharps bin.
  5. Dose Escalation: You will start on a low dose (0.6mg) and gradually increase it over several weeks (typically by 0.6mg each week) until you reach the maintenance dose (usually 3.0mg daily) or the maximum tolerated dose. This slow increase helps your body adjust and minimises side effects.
  6. Missed Dose: If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible within 12 hours of your usual time. If more than 12 hours have passed, skip the missed dose and continue with your next scheduled dose. Do not take an extra dose to make up for a missed one.

Ingredients

Active ingredient: Liraglutide (6 mg/mL).

Other ingredients: Disodium phosphate dihydrate, Propylene glycol, Phenol, Hydrochloric acid and Sodium hydroxide (for pH adjustment), Water for injections.

Side Effects

When using Saxenda, most side effects are generally mild and improve over time as your body adjusts, especially when starting treatment.

Common Side Effects:

  • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation
  • Headache

Less Common, More Serious Side Effects (seek medical attention if experienced):

  • Pancreatitis (severe stomach pain)
  • Gallbladder problems
  • Increased heart rate
  • Kidney problems
  • Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia, especially in diabetics)
  • Serious allergic reactions (e.g., swelling of face/throat, difficulty breathing)

Very Rare but Serious Risk:

  • Thyroid tumours

Always refer to the Patient Information Leaflet for a complete list of side effects. If you experience any severe or persistent side effects, or signs of an allergic reaction, seek immediate medical help and speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

FAQs

What is Saxenda used for?

Saxenda is a prescription medicine used for weight management in adults with obesity (BMI ≥30) or those who are overweight (BMI ≥27) with at least one weight-related condition, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol. It is always used in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. It can also be prescribed for adolescents aged 12 and above with obesity (BMI corresponding to ≥30 kg/m² for adults by international cut-off points) and a body weight above 60 kg.

How does Saxenda work?

Saxenda contains Liraglutide, which is similar to a natural hormone called GLP-1. It works by acting on the brain's appetite centres, helping you to feel fuller and less hungry, thereby reducing your calorie intake and supporting weight loss.

How do I administer Saxenda?

Saxenda is a pre-filled pen for self-injection under the skin (subcutaneous injection) once daily. Common injection sites include the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. Full instructions are provided with the pen, and you will be advised on proper administration.

How long does a Saxenda pen last?

The duration a pen lasts depends on the dose you are on. During the initial dose escalation period, pens will last longer. Once you reach the maintenance dose of 3.0mg per day, one pen typically lasts 6 days.

How much weight can I expect to lose with Saxenda?

Individual results vary. Clinical studies show that many patients achieve a weight loss of 5% or more of their initial body weight within 12 weeks of treatment at the maximum dose, when combined with diet and exercise. Your doctor will assess your progress after 12 weeks to determine if continuing treatment is appropriate.

How should I store Saxenda?

Unused Saxenda pens should be stored in a refrigerator (2°C to 8°C). Once a pen is in use, it can be kept for one month either at room temperature (2°C to 30°C) or in a refrigerator (2°C to 8°C). Do not freeze Saxenda

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