What is Liraglutide?
Liraglutide the active substance in Saxenda which is a self-injected prefilled pen used once daily that can help adults with a BMI greater than or equal to 30 to lose weight and keep it off.
It helps aid adults with excess weight (BMI ≥28) who also have weight-related medical problems or those with obesity (BMI ≥30) to lose weight and keep the weight off.
Liraglutide (Saxenda) is not for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and should not be used with any other GLP-1 receptor agonist used in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes eg Victoza, Byetta, Bydureon, Lixumia, Trulicity or Ozempic).
If you are diabetic then we will only supply Liraglutide (Saxenda) if your diabetes is controlled by diet alone and you are not on any medication for it.
This is because it will affect your diabetes control and adjustments to your usual medicines may be needed.
How does Liraglutide (Saxenda) work?
Saxenda contains the active ingredient Liraglutide.
GLP-1 is a hormone that is released within the body in response to food intake and acts as a physiological regulator of appetite.
Liraglutide, the active substance in Saxenda, is 97% similar to GLP-1 and works in the brain to decrease appetite and thereby reduce food intake resulting in weight loss.
Liraglutide (Saxenda) should be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in adult patients with an initial body mass index, BMI of 30 (obese) or 27 or greater (overweight) in the presence of at least one other chronic health condition (eg, high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol).
Once your BMI has reached 27 our doctor will no longer be able to prescribe it for you. Hopefully, the healthy habits that you have acquired on your weight loss journey will enable you to get to a BMI where you are no longer overweight (BMI 18.5-24.9).
You should only continue using Liraglutide (Saxenda) if you have lost at least 5% of your initial body weight after 12 weeks on the 3 mg/day dose
How do I use Saxenda?
Please read the patient information leaflet here before using and watch the video.
Liraglutide (Saxenda) is administered once daily.
Inject your dose of Liraglutide (Saxenda) under the skin (subcutaneous injection) in your stomach area (abdomen), upper leg (thigh), or upper arm. It is also recommended that you alternate the site at which the injection is made.
Do not inject into a vein or muscle.
Push the needle all the way into the skin at a 90º angle.
Inject the Saxenda by pushing the button at the top of the pen and leave the syringe in place while you count slowly to 6 to make sure the full dose is delivered.
If the disposable needle found at the tip of one of your Saxenda pens bends out of shape whilst you are trying to use the pen, you should discard the needle and use a new one.
Never share your Saxenda pen or needles with another person. You may give an infection to them, or get an infection from them.
What does the Liraglutide (Saxenda) pen look like?
You can order an individual pen, 2, 3, 4 or 5 pens at once.
You use a gradually increasing dose over the first 5 weeks.
If you are just starting to use Saxenda then a single pen should last 17 days and a pack of 5 pens should last 44 days.
Once you are on the full dose, a pack of 5 pens should last 30 days
How much Liraglutide (Saxenda) do I need?
You should follow a 5-week dose escalation to reach the fully effective 3-mg dose. The 5-week dose-escalation period can reduce the likelihood of gastrointestinal symptoms.
The Saxenda starting dose is 0.6 mg subcutaneously, SC, per day for 1 week.
You should increase the dose by 0.6 mg each week until the full maintenance dose of 3 mg is reached.
By the start of the fifth week you should be on the maximum maintenance dose.
- Week 1 - 0.6 mg SC once daily x 7 days
- Week 2 - 1.2 mg SC once daily x 7 days
- Week 3 - 1.8 mg SC once daily x 7 days
- Week 4 - 2.4 mg SC once daily x 7 days
- Week 5 onwards ı 3.0 mg SC once daily
You should have lost at least 5% of your starting body weight by week 12 if you want to continue with Liraglutide (Saxenda).
When do I take Liraglutide (Saxenda)?
Saxenda can be taken at any time of the day, with or without food and drink, but you must stick to taking it at the same time each day such as at breakfast or bedtime. Choose a time of the day that works best for you.
What if I forget to take a dose of Liraglutide (Saxenda)?
If you forget to take a dose, but remember within 12 hours of when you would usually take it, take the missed dose as soon as you remember.
If more than 12 hours have passed since you would usually take it, skip the dose and continue like normal the next day.
Do not take a double dose or increase the dose the following day to make up for the missed dose.
If you use more Saxenda than you should, talk to your doctor or go to a hospital straight away. Take the medicine pack with you. You may need medical treatment.
The following effects may happen: • feeling sick (nausea) • being sick (vomiting).
Do I store it in a fridge?
Saxenda needs to be stored in a fridge and so it will be delivered in temperature controlled packaging. The packaging has a limited life span and therefore, if you select having it delivered to a pickup shop then you must collect it on the day that it’s delivered there and refrigerate it as soon as possible.
Also, because Saxenda is temperature sensitive, if you order after 4pm on Thursday it will be sent out on Monday for free tracked delivery on Tuesday. You can upgrade to a Saturday delivery for only £4.
Liraglutide (Saxenda) Storage and Expiry
Do not use Saxenda after the expiry date which is stated on the pen label and carton after ‘EXP’. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Before first use: Store in a refrigerator (2°C to 8°C). Do not freeze. Keep away from the freezer compartment.
Once you start using the pen: You can keep the pen for 1 month when stored at a temperature below 30°C or in a refrigerator (2°C to 8°C). When you are not using the pen, keep the pen cap on in order to protect it from light. Do not use this medicine if the solution is not clear and colourless or almost colourless.
What needles do I use?
The Saxenda pens can be used with NovoFine ;32G Tip, one of the thinnest and shortest needles available from Novo Nordisk. NovoFine 32G
Tip needles are single-use, disposable injection needles.
We will supply the Saxenda pen with the needles and a yellow sharps box to dispose of used needles.
When the sharps bin is full, it should be returned to your nearest local Household Waste Recycling Centre where it will be disposed of properly.
Only fill the bin up to where it says "Do not fill above this line". You can find your local council here www.gov.uk/find-local-council
You must not put used needles or other sharps in any of your household waste bins.
Are there any side-effects?
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Serious side-effects
- Some severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) have been reported rarely in patients using Saxenda. You should see your doctor straight away if you get symptoms such as breathing problems, swelling of face and throat and a fast heartbeat.
- Cases of inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) have been reported uncommonly in patients using Saxenda. Pancreatitis is a serious, potentially life-threatening medical condition. Stop taking Saxenda and contact a doctor immediately if you notice any of the following serious side effects:-
- Severe and persistent pain in the abdomen (stomach area) which might reach through to your back, as well as nausea and vomiting, as it could be a sign of an inflamed pancreas (pancreatitis).
Other side effects :-
Very common: may affect more than 1 in 10 people
- Feeling sick (nausea), being sick (vomiting), diarrhoea, constipation – these usually go away after a few days or weeks.
Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 people
- 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 Feeling weak or tired Changed sense of taste Dizziness Difficulty sleeping (insomnia). This usually occurs the first 3 months of treatment Gallstones Injection site reactions (such as bruising, pain, irritation, itching and rash) Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia).
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 increase of pancreatic enzymes, such as lipase and amylase which may lead to pancreatitis Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in 100 people
- Loss of fluids (dehydration). This is more likely to occur at the start of treatment and may be due to being sick (vomiting), feeling sick (nausea) and diarrhoea
- Inflamed gall bladder • Allergic reactions including skin rash • Feeling generally unwell
- Faster pulse Rare: 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 and easily bruising
Any tips for managing nausea?
The most common side effect that you may experience when you first start Saxenda is nausea.
This usually improves as your body adjusts to treatment.
If you do experience nausea, there are some general recommendations that you can follow :-
Eat bland, low-fat foods, like crackers, toast, and rice
Eat foods that contain water, like soups and gelatin
Avoid lying down after you eat
Go outside to get some fresh air
If you experience sickness (vomiting) or diarrhoea it is important to avoid dehydration by drinking plenty of fluids.
Are there any contra-indications?
As there is limited therapeutic experience in patients 75 years of age or over, use in these patients is not recommended
Anyone with liver or kidney disease should not take Saxenda
Hypersensitivity to liraglutide or to any of the excipients listed in the patient information leaflet.
This medicine is not recommended if you have a severe stomach or gut problem which results in delayed stomach emptying (called gastroparesis), or if you have an inflammatory bowel disease.
Liraglutide should be used with caution in patients with thyroid disease.
Upon initiation of liraglutide treatment in patients on warfarin or other coumarin derivatives more frequent monitoring of International Normalised Ratio (INR) is recommended.
Severe heart failure
Disease of the pancreas.
Do not use Saxenda if you are pregnant, think that you might be pregnant or are planning to have a baby. This is because it is not known if Saxenda may affect the baby. Do not breast-feed if you are using Saxenda. This is because it is not known if Saxenda passes into breast milk.
Special warnings and precautions for use
In patients with diabetes mellitus Saxenda must not be used as a substitute for insulin.
Saxenda should not be mixed with other injectables (e.g. insulins).
For successful weight loss help and advice
See the NHS web site
www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-weight/start-the-nhs-weight-loss-plan
Would you like to know the truth about
Discover the latest scientific advancements on obesity and its causes and how the many common myths about weight can be disproved by going here:
www.truthaboutweight.global/gb/en.html
Download the patient information leaflet
Patient Information Leaflet for Saxenda
Can I buy Saxenda without a prescription?
No, Saxenda is a prescription-only medication and requires a simple, discreet consultation.
In order to buy Saxenda weight loss pens from Webmed Pharmacy you will either need to provide your own doctors prescription or complete an online consultation with us to ensure this medication is suitable for you.
If you want to know more about Saxenda and if it could work for you then call our pharmacy team 0161 491 1899. Your conversation will be in confidence and with discretion.
Buy Liraglutide (Saxenda)