new "saxenda"

Saxenda is a self-injected prefilled pen used once daily. It contains the active substance Liraglutide and helps aid adults with excess weight (BMI ≥27) who also have weight-related medical problems or those with  obesity (BMI ≥30)  to lose weight and keep the weight off.

Saxenda should be used with a reduced-calorie meal plan and increased physical activity.

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 you may take Saxenda, but you must discuss it with your GP or diabetes specialist nurse before you start using it. This is because it will affect your diabetes control and adjustments to your usual medicines may be needed.

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.

Saxenda(Liraglutide) is 97% similar to GLP-1 and works in the brain to decrease appetite and thereby reduce food intake resulting in weight loss.

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).

You should only continue using Saxenda if you have lost at least 5% of your initial body weight after 12 weeks on the 3 mg/day dose.

You can order an individual pen or 5 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.

Please read the patient information leaflet here before using and watch the video

• Saxenda is administered once daily.

• Inject your dose of 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.

• Pinch the skin and push the needle all the way into the skin at a 90º angle.

• Let go of the pinched skin. Inject the Saxenda 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.

You should follow a 4-week dose escalation to reach the fully effective 3-mg dose. The 4-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 ı 0.6 mg SC once daily x 7 days

Week 2 ı 1.2 mg SC once daily x 7 days

Week 3 ı 1.8 mg SC once daily x 7 days

Week 4 ı 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 4% of your starting body weight by week 16 if you want to continue with 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.

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).

The Saxenda pen 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 pen with the needles and a yellow sharps box to dispose of used needles. When full, the sharps box can be taken to your local pharmacy for disposal.

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 £2.

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

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 :-

1. Eat bland, low-fat foods, like crackers, toast, and rice

2. Eat foods that contain water, like soups and gelatin

3. Avoid lying down after you eat

4. 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.

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).

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.

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Patient Information Leaflet for Saxenda