Saxenda UK, A New Weight Management Solution
Obesity is a
growing problem in the UK.
A quarter of UK adults are obese and this
proportion has risen due to the restrictions of lockdown.
Before the current
pandemic, our increasingly sedentary lifestyles and readily available cheap
unhealthy food, were resulting in us, as a nation, gaining weight. (1)
Previously, due
to us being recommended to work from home, it has left us with ready access to
the biscuit jar and unhealthy snacks, that has resulted in an exacerbated
obesity problem.
It has been reported that, there is an increased risk in persons with obesity developing the
Covid-19 disease. The obese tend to require hospitalisation and are more likely to be admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), to have invasive mechanical ventilation, suffering an increase in mortality. (6)
You can read our previous blog for more information about how Covid-19
affects those with obesity.
Most of us
know that on a basic level, the key to losing weight is simply eating less and
moving more, so on a daily basis, calories taken in, amount to less than
calories you burn.
Many factors can stand in the way of this change in
lifestyle, including time constraints and lack of motivation. In addition,
several medical conditions such as Type II diabetes mellitus, pre-diabetes,
polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and hypothyroidism, as well as certain
medications, can make weight loss harder to achieve. That is why medical
intervention may sometimes be needed. (1)
Until
relatively recently, there was only one medication – orlistat
– licensed to treat obesity in this country. Orlistat stops around a third of
the fat in your diet being absorbed, helping to prevent weight gain.
However,
unpleasant side effects related to this mode of action include oily, loose
stools, flatulence, urgency to pass stools more frequently than is normal for
you, and an oily rectal discharge. (1)
What is Saxenda and how does it work?
The best tool to be used in the battle against obesity is Saxenda, a brand of the medication liraglutide.
Liraglutide was originally developed as an anti-diabetic drug and is licensed
for this purpose under the name Victoza, at a different strength to Saxenda.
Saxenda is available as a pre-filled pen for subcutaneous (under the skin)
injection containing 18mg of liraglutide in 3ml of solution. (2)
Liraglutide is
a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, meaning it acts at the
receptor for GLP-1, an appetite-regulating substance naturally produced in the
body. The way in which liraglutide interacts with the receptor is currently
unclear. (2)
Saxenda is
different from weight management products that you may have taken in the past.
Saxenda makes you feel full and less hungry, which can help you eat
less and reduce your body weight. It can help you to not only lose
weight but keep it off as well.
We realise
that losing weight is a complex issue and is not as simple as “eating less and
moving more”. If only it were that simple!
That is why we
have developed a holistic medicated solution to weight loss that will be
available very soon.
We will offer
5 pillars of support to get you to your target weight and maintain it.
- We will have a
fitness coach and a wellness coach.
- Our fitness
coach has designed a series of simple easy exercises to do to boost your metabolism
and our wellness coach will be hosting Saturday morning sessions where she will
discuss all aspects of weight loss and be interested to hear how you are
progressing and any topics you would like her to cover.
- We’ll have
advice on how to achieve restful sleep and the recommended daily water
consumption.
- There will be
a Wellness App to help you when you feel stressed or anxious and this will be
particularly helpful if, at moments like these, you are tempted to comfort eat.
With all the support
that we will provide we aim to help to get you to your goal weight and stay
there.
WATCH THIS SPACE!
Use the Saxenda pen at home or on the go
You can inject your dose in your stomach area (abdomen), upper leg (thigh), or upper arm.
However, we would recommend the stomach area as you're less likely to feel
it and you have a bigger area to vary where you inject.
Who can use Saxenda?
Saxenda is
licensed to treat obesity in people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30kg/m2 or
higher, or those with a BMI of 27kg/m2 to 30kg/m2 who have one or more of a
number of weight-linked health conditions including Type II diabetes mellitus,
hyperlipidaemia (raised fat or cholesterol levels in the blood), high blood
pressure and obstructive sleep apnoea.
It should be used in combination with a
reduced-calorie diet and regular exercise. (2)
Children and
young people under the age of 18 should not use Saxenda, as it is not yet known
how the drug affects this age group. Furthermore, Saxenda should not be used by
pregnant or breastfeeding women due to unknown effects on the foetus or baby.
(3)
What is the dose for Saxenda?
When starting Saxenda, the initial dose is 0.6mg daily, injected into the abdomen, front of
the thigh or upper arm, but not into a vein or muscle. The dose is
increased on a weekly basis by a further 0.6mg until the daily dose is 3mg, the
maximum recommended daily dose.
The reason for this gradual increase in dose is
that gastrointestinal side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and
constipation are minimised.
These side-effects are very common, especially at
the beginning of treatment, so lower doses at the start of treatment improve
tolerability and make it more likely that the patient will continue treatment.
If Saxenda is still intolerable two weeks after stepping up to the next dose,
treatment should be stopped. (2)
How long before Saxenda starts to work?
Patients using
Saxenda can expect to have lost at least 5% of their starting weight once they
have been on 3mg daily for twelve weeks, given they have also been consuming
fewer calories and increasing exercise.
If this hasn’t been achieved, treatment
with Saxenda should no longer be continued. (2)
What results have been seen with Saxenda?
Medical
studies with more than 3,000 people taking Saxenda were conducted to
understand the benefits and risks of Saxenda. The results from the study showed
significant weight loss.
Along with a
low-calorie meal plan and increased physical activity, some people lost nearly
2.5 times more weight with Saxenda versus placebo (17.3 lb vs 7
lb). Study participants had an average starting weight of 234 lb and an
average BMI of 38. (3)
In a different
1-year study, most people who stayed on Saxenda kept the weight off. (3)
Can I use Saxenda alongside other medication?
p>If you take atype of medication for diabetes known as a sulfonylurea (such as gliclazide or
glimepiride), the dose may need to be adjusted while you use Saxenda to reduce
the risk of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar). (4)
If you use
Victoza for diabetes you should not use Saxenda at the same time. This is
because they both contain liraglutide, so using them together will lead to
overdose.
Patients
taking warfarin or other anticoagulants may need to have more frequent tests to
monitor how long it takes their blood to clot. (4)
If you are on
medication for diabetes then we will not be able to supply you with Saxenda as
you need to be monitored by your healthcare provider. If your diabetes is managed
by diet alone then we can supply it to you.
Where can I find Saxenda?
Saxenda is not usually prescribed by your GP and is only offered on the NHS through specialist
multidisciplinary weight management (tier 3) services. Access to these
services in variable throughout the UK and most people have to resort to buying
it privately. (5)
It is
available to purchase from Webmed Pharmacy following a simple online
assessment by our Doctors - click here to see your options to buy Saxenda and
find out if it is suitable for you.
What is Ozempic?
There have been recent posts in the media about some people who have lost a lot of weight
using an unlicensed product for weight loss called Ozempic. (7)
The most
important difference between Ozempic and Saxenda, is that Saxenda is
licenced for use as a weight loss medication in the UK and Ozempic is
not. Also, there is very little data available for the use of Ozempic in
weight management.
Furthermore,
it's unethical to routinely offer Ozempic in a weight management
service but some websites and clinics will supply it
routinely as they are only interested in making money and not concerned
about your safety. You can read more
about it here.
Buy Saxenda Online View Saxenda Questions
References
1.
NHS. Obesity – Overview [cited 1st March 2021]. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/obesity/
2.
NICE. Obese, overweight with risk factors: liraglutide (Saxenda) – Product
overview [cited 1st March 2021]. Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta664
3.
Novo Nordisk. Saxenda [cited March 2021] https://www.saxenda.com/learn-about-saxenda/what-results-have-been-seen-with-saxenda.html
4.
emc. Saxenda 6 mg/mL solution for injection in pre-filled pen [cited 1st March
2021]. Available at: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/2313/pil
5.
NICE. Obese, overweight with risk factors: liraglutide (Saxenda) – Estimated
impact for the NHS [cited 1st March 2021]
Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta664
6.
World Obesity Organisation. [cited March 2021] https://www.worldobesity.org/resources/policy-dossiers/obesity-covid-19
7.
BBC NEWS. [cited March 2021] Obesity: Appetite drug could
mark 'new era' in tackling condition. Available at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-56011979
Author
Margaret Hudson
Superintendent
pharmacist Margaret Hudson BSc(Hons) MRPharmS
Originally posted 27th December 2019, Saxenda: the newest recruit into the
battle against obesity.
Updated:
1st March 2021
Updated 25th
January 2022