What’s the Best Dose of Saxenda for Weight Loss Management?

How Saxenda weight loss pens aid weight loss

Here we talk through appetite suppressant Saxenda and how long you can expect to wait before you see weight loss results.

Using Saxenda weight loss pens as part of a weight loss management plan that includes a calorie-controlled diet and exercise can help in the long term if you struggle to keep weight off. 

It works in the same way as the hormone glucagon-like-peptide (GLP-1) to regulate your appetite. This way you’ll feel fuller for longer and be able to resist snacking between meals or overeating - a contributing factor to obesity.[1] 

Saxenda dose – getting it right

Taking Saxenda can help you lose weight and keep it off, but this does require long-term commitment.

You begin by increasing the Saxenda dose by 0.6mg over the first four weeks so that from week five you’ll take the full 3mg dose (but no more). The pens are all pre-filled too, making it easier to use the correct dose.

For example:

Week 1: 0.6mg once daily for 7 days

Week 2: 1.2mg once daily for 7 days

Week 3: 1.8mg once daily for 7 days

Week 4: 2.4mg once daily for 7 days

Week 5 onwards: 3.0mg once daily

It’s important to follow this escalated Saxenda dosage to minimise any side effects and allow your body to adjust. The most common side effect is nausea affecting more than 1 out of 10 people, however, this should go away after a few days or weeks.[2]

Once you reach the full 3mg dose, you should keep going with this until your treatment ends.

Then, by week 16 you should have lost at least 5% of your total body weight – if you have, you can continue taking it. If not, it’s advised you discontinue as it may not be the right solution for you.[3]

Frustrated by slow progress?

Many people who take Saxenda give up before 16 weeks as they don’t see fast results, but it’s important to be aware that it takes time and your full commitment.[4]

Obesity is a complicated condition with over 100 different contributing factors of which many are out of your control.[5] It may be a frustrating and slow journey to embark on, but by keeping up your diet, exercise and Saxenda treatment you’ll see long-term benefits.

Why you should keep going (and when to stop)

Obesity can reduce your life expectancy by between 3 and 10 years, depending on the severity.[6] It can also cause serious complications like type 2 diabetes, asthma and high blood pressure.

But, by losing even a small amount of weight (for example 3%) you can significantly reduce the risk of these complications.[7]

Taking Saxenda for the full 16-week duration (or more) will increase your chances of losing weight and keeping it off…

In a study of people taking Saxenda, 3/5 achieved weight loss of 5% or more and 1/3 achieved more than 10% weight loss.[8]

However, it’s worth noting that you should stop treatment if you can’t stand the side effects as you increase the dose.

1. https://www.saxenda.com/about-saxenda/how-it-works.html
2. pil.2313.pdf (medicines.org.uk)
3. Saxenda® (liraglutide) dosing information | Novo Nordisk
4. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/obesity/
5. https://www.obesityuk.org.uk/what-is-obesity
6. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/obesity/
7. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/obesity/
8. https://www.saxenda.com/about-saxenda/benefits-of-saxenda.html

Author: Gemma Boak

Medically reviewed by: Superintendent pharmacist Margaret Hudson BSc(Hons)MRPharmS 30/05/21