Saxenda is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medication for chronic weight management in adult patients with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related condition (such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes mellitus, or high cholesterol), for use in addition to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
Read more to understand how Saxenda works for certain individuals to maximize weight loss.
Saxenda is a GLP-1 medication which is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of obesity in adults who have a body mass index (BMI) of over 27, with comorbidities such as hypertension or dyslipidemia, or individuals who have obesity (BMI of over 30). It is a potent selective GLP-1 receptor agonist that has been shown to reduce the hunger and increase the feeling of fullness in subjects with high BMI. Saxenda is one of the weight loss medications that may be prescribed by an Alfie healthcare provider for weight loss or a weight-related medical condition. It is produced by Novo Nordisk.
Saxenda should not be taken by individuals with a personal or family history of MTC or in patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2), in patients with a prior serious hypersensitivity reaction to liraglutide or to any of the ingredients in Saxenda, or in patients with a history of pancreatitis.
The active ingredient in Saxenda is liraglutide. Liraglutide is a synthetic peptide that acts like a naturally occurring hormone in the body called GLP-1. Liraglutide works by slowing the stomach from emptying and acting as an appetite suppressant, which helps you feel full after eating. It also slows down the rate at which sugar is absorbed into the bloodstream, which helps keep blood sugar levels under control.
GLP-1 is a natural hormone in your body that acts on your brain to regulate your appetite and food intake. By acting like GLP-1, Saxenda lowers your appetite and how much food you eat to help you lose weight.
GLP-1s lead the pancreas to produce insulin after meals to bring down blood sugar. They also bind to receptors in the brain to suppress appetite. These receptors release chemicals that help diminish the desire to eat, reducing your hunger. GLP-1s are natural chemicals, but don't last long within the human body. That's why taking GLP-1s can help reduce your weight even though your body already produces its own.
Saxenda is one of the fastest, most reliable methods to help you lose weight quickly and safely, and has been shown in clinical trials to help individuals lose an average of 10% of their initial body weight, when combined with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, compared to participants who took a placebo.
Saxenda may be an expensive medication, with an out-of-pocket cost above $1,000. Alfie works with the vast majority of commercial and employer insurance plans in order to get coverage for your doctor-prescribed medication.
Saxenda is not covered by Medicare or Medicaid.
Coupons for Saxenda are available through Novo Nordisk's website.
Saxenda is injected once daily under the skin via a simple pen injector syringe, but don't worry, you won't be able to see the needle. Saxenda can be injected from the comfort of your own home without a healthcare provider or clinician present, and are simple to use. Shots of Saxenda are injected into the fatty tissue just beneath the skin's surface and should be injected once weekly at the same time each day. You should store Saxenda in a refrigerator between 36°F to 46°F or at room temperature for shorter amounts of time.
If your doctor prescribes Saxenda, he or she will walk you through the process of injecting it into your abdomen or upper thigh. Someone else can inject the medicine into your upper arm if you are unable to do it yourself.
If you are prescribed Saxenda, you can visit their webpage here for instructions on how to administer the medication, or visit the quick start guide here.
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GLP-1 injectable medications are offered via a step-up approach, meaning your Alfie healthcare professionals (either an MD or NP) will prescribe a higher dose as your progress through the program until you are at the full dose. This helps minimize the risk of any side effects of taking the medication.
Saxenda comes in 5 different dose strengths. You start Saxenda at a dose of 0.6 mg once a day and increase the dose every week until you reach the full dose of 3 mg. It’ s important to follow the dosing schedule as recommended by your health care provider.
Side effects of Saxenda are extremely rare and over 95% of individuals who take these medications do not experience side effects. In those that do, nausea or indigestion is often the most common and typically resolves within the first month of being on the medication.
Other common side effects of Saxenda mediations include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, headache, fatigue, dyspepsia, dizziness, abdominal distention, eructation, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in patients with type 2 diabetes, flatulence, gastroenteritis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Taking GLP-1 medications may also put you at serious risk of hypoglycemia or acute kidney injury if you are taking another similar medication at the same time.
The GLP-1 class of drugs isn't recommended if you have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2). They're also not recommended if you've had pancreatitis. If you have any concerns about your family history and ability to take a GLP-1 receptor agonist medication, talk to your primary care provider.
Saxenda is one of multiple weight-loss drugs which fit into the GLP-1 category. Other GLP-1 medications include:
At Alfie Health, we're more than a weight loss clinic. We're partners in your health journey, providing personalized care and constant support.
