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. People with diabetes If you have diabetes, do not use Saxenda® as a replacement for insulin.
The UK is reviewing diabetes medicine and weight-loss treatments Ozempic and Saxenda after some patients reported suicidal or self-harming thoughts. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said it was reviewing safety data on a class of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists.
The concern with Saxenda is pancreatic cancer. Saxenda lawsuits were filed some years ago alleging the diet drug causes pancreatic cancer. This page was updated in January 2023.
Liraglutide 6mg/mL (Saxenda) is licensed as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for weight management in adult patients with an initial Body Mass Index (BMI) of ≥30kg/m² (obese), or ≥27kg/m² to <30kg/m² (overweight) in the presence of at least one weight-related comorbidity such as ...
NICE, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, advises against your NHS GP prescribing Saxenda®. It recommends that the NHS only prescribe the treatment through a 'specialist multidisciplinary tier 3 weight management service'.
If a patient has not lost ≥4% of baseline body weight by week 16, discontinue Saxenda®, as it is unlikely the patient will achieve and sustain clinically meaningful weight loss with continued treatment.
But what effects does Saxenda have on the heart? In clinical trials, Saxenda was found to result in a small drop in systolic blood pressure (the top number) of approximately 2.8 millimeters of mercury. However, treatment with Saxenda was also shown to be associated with an increase in heart rate of 3 beats per minute.
Reduced body weight and improved metabolic control were found with once-daily subcutaneous Saxenda as an add-on to diet and exercise, according to recent study findings published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
Serious side effects of Saxenda®
If you experience breathing difficulties or swelling of the face and throat call 999 or visit A&E immediately. Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) is also a rare but serious side effect. Pancreatitis is a serious, potentially life threatening medical condition.
Key points: Ozempic® is more effective than Saxenda® at supporting weight loss and blood sugar reductions. Ozempic® seems to lead to fewer side effects and is better tolerated than Saxenda®. However, individuals will vary in their response to medications, so choose the right one for you.
You may lose about 2%—4% of your body weight. However, during clinical trials, people taking Saxenda saw a significant weight loss of at least 5% after eight weeks of treatment. After one year of using Saxenda, 85% of people lost an average of 21 pounds or 9.2% of their weight.
PhenQ is an over-the-counter weight loss supplement that is a cheaper and safer alternative to the prescription drug Saxenda. PhenQ contains natural ingredients like capsicum, piperine, caffeine, and niacinamide, that work together to boost metabolism, suppress appetite, block fat production, and improve mood.
Facial swelling: As with any drug, serious allergic reactions, like swelling of the face, lips, throat, or tongue can occur with Saxenda. Other symptoms of anaphylaxis include problems breathing or swallowing, a severe rash or itching, feeling faint or dizzy, and a very rapid heartbeat.
Another reason you may be gaining weight on Saxenda is you need more physical activity. Using medication alone is not enough, and getting enough exercise is essential to achieve weight loss results. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests 150 minutes of physical activity each week.
Foods to avoid while on Saxenda® to reduce side effects
Take these tips from the Calibrate medical team for a spin: Avoid fried, greasy, or fatty foods and foods high in sugar: These tend to be the toughest for your body to digest and the most likely to cause nausea while taking a GLP-1 medication.
In the first month, patients typically lose anywhere from 4 to 11 pounds on average while using Saxenda as directed. Most of the initial lost weight occurs in the first 3 to 6 months, after which the rate of loss slows down. But body weight reduction can still continue for those adhering to the program.
The most commonly reported adverse events for this drug when used for weight management have included nausea, hypoglycemia, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, headache, decreased appetite, dyspepsia, fatigue, dizziness, abdominal pain, and increased lipase.
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.
Flatulence (intestinal gas) Injection site reactions. Insomnia. Anxiety.
Official answer. It takes time to lose weight with Saxenda. In adults, it may take about 8 weeks before you start to see a significant weight loss (at least 5%) with Saxenda. In the first 2 to 4 weeks you may lose about 2% to 4% of your weight.
Saxenda is recommended for treating obesity alongside a reduced calorie diet and physical activity – it is not to be used alone as a weight loss tool. "None of these injections or medications can completely cure obesity," says Raj.
Exercise—In addition to diet, increased physical activity is needed for Saxenda to be effective in helping people lose weight and keep it off. It's essential to maintain regular levels of activity to sustain weight loss.