Saxenda

Saxenda is a new weight loss treatment in the UK which can be prescribed if you:

• have a BMI between 27 kg/m² and 30 kg/m² and a health condition which can affect your weight, such as high blood pressure
• have a BMI of over 30 kg/m²

Saxenda is an injectable pen which contains the active ingredient liraglutide. It can help you to lose weight and should be used alongside a weight loss treatment plan.

Saxenda contains the medication liraglutide, which works in your body like the natural hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). Usually, GLP-1 is released from your intestine after you have eaten a meal, which tells your brain you are full.

When Saxenda is injected, it can also tell the receptors in your brain that you are full, which can help you to control your appetite as you feel less hungry. Saxenda works to decrease your appetite over time, so you can eat less and lose weight.

Your doctor will talk you through your treatment plan, as your dose will increase as your body gets used to the treatment, until you reach the maintenance dose of 3mg a day. You should only keep taking Saxenda if you have lost at least 5% of your body weight after being on the maintenance dose for 12 weeks.

Stay on the diet and exercise plan that your doctor recommends during treatment, as this will give you the best results. Your doctor will assess your treatment regularly, to make sure you are losing weight and Saxenda is working as it should. When you have achieved your weight loss goals, your doctor will stop the treatment.

Saxenda is prescribed once daily and can be injected at any time of the day. It is best to use it at the same time each day. Saxenda can be taken with or without food and drink as it is being injected, rather than taken by mouth. The best injection sites are the front of your stomach or front of your thighs. You can also inject it in your upper arm. For instructions on how to use Saxenda, follow the patient information leaflet included with your Saxenda pens. You can also read our Saxenda Patient Information page here.

Saxenda, like other medications, can have some side effects. That is why your treatment plan will be adjusted slowly, so your body can get used to the treatment. This also helps to reduce the risk of side effects.

Very common side effects include:

• nausea or vomiting (feeling or being sick)
• headache
• constipation or diarrhoea

Common side effects include:

• dizziness
• problems with your stomach or intestines, such as indigestion, heartburn, bloating, and wind (flatulence)
• a change in your sense of taste
• difficulty sleeping
• feeling tired or weak
• skin reactions at the injection site
• gallstones
• low blood sugar
• an increase in enzymes, which would show up in a blood test

Uncommon side effects include:

• inflamed gallbladder
• dehydration, which is more likely if you have vomiting and diarrhoea
• allergic reactions
• increased pulse
• feeling generally unwell

These side effects usually go away within a few days or weeks but speak to your doctor if they are bothering you too much or do not go away. For serious side effects such as a severe allergic reaction, call 999 or go to A&E.

For more information on side effects and to view rare side effects, read the Saxenda patient information leaflet included with your treatment.

You should not use Saxenda if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in the medication, especially liraglutide. A doctor will review your order to make sure that Saxenda is the right treatment for you if you have other health conditions.

Speak to your doctor if you take any other medications, especially if you take:

• any prescription treatment for diabetes, as they may cause your blood sugar to drop too low (hypoglycemia)
• anticoagulants, which reduce your risk of blood clots

There is no food or drink you need to avoid but you should stick to a balanced diet and limit your alcohol intake as this could make some side effects worse. Saxenda is not suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding mothers. If you think you are pregnant, stop taking Saxenda and speak to your doctor.

If Saxenda is not the right treatment for you, there are other options available through our online service, such as:

• Orlistat, a generic weight loss tablet that changes how your body digests fat
• Mysimba, a weight loss pill containing the active ingredients naltrexone hydrochloride and bupropion hydrochloride, which works to reduce your appetite by sending signals to your brain
• Xenical, which is a branded version of orlistat and works the same way

For more information about our weight loss treatments or to discuss your treatment options, you can also book a telephone consultation through our website.