If you know anything about weight loss treatment, chances are that you’ve heard of the popular injections Mounjaro and Wegovy. But before either of those hit the market, there was Saxenda, which launched in the UK in 2017.
Like other weight loss medicines, Saxenda is meant to supplement healthy changes to diet and regular exercise—and it might not work as well if you use it on its own.
It’s similar to Mounjaro and Wegovy in other ways, too, but it is a separate medication. And if you’re wanting to move forward with your weight loss journey, you might be wondering whether it can help you.
We’ve got you. Here’s the lowdown on Saxenda—from what sort of results you might expect to its side effects, to how it stacks up against other weight management medicines.
How does Saxenda work?
First things first: what is Saxenda? And how does it work?
Saxenda is a weight loss injection that works by making you feel full, so you eat less. It does that by acting like a hormone called GLP-1, which is naturally released when you eat.
Here’s how it happens: Saxenda can slow down the rate at which your stomach empties, which makes you feel fuller for longer. It can also tell the brain directly that you’re full and prompt the pancreas to produce insulin when you eat, which also signals to the brain that you’ve had enough.
Plus, Saxenda can tell your liver to make less glucose. This helps keep your blood sugar levels under control, which can support weight loss as any excess sugar (i.e. that your body doesn’t use as fuel) can be stored as fat.
FYI: the active ingredient in Saxenda is liraglutide.
How to use Saxenda
It’s a pretty straightforward process. Saxenda comes in a self-injector pen, which sounds much more daunting than it is, trust us! It basically looks like a pen with a tiny, thin needle at the top. Most people using pens like this say it hurts only a little or not at all.
You’ll need to inject yourself with Saxenda (the best places are in the front of your stomach, thighs, or your upper arm) once per day, at around the same time. It doesn’t matter which time you pick, but we’d suggest going for something that’s easy to remember. You can take Saxenda with or without food and drink. Check in with your provider (including us!) for advice if you’re not sure.
Heads up: before you use the injector pen, there are a few simple steps you’ll need to follow to prepare it for use. These will be in the patient information leaflet that came with your medication, as well as Voy’s treatment plan. And remember: we’re here to help, so do get in touch if you have any questions.
This feels like a good time to remind you that Saxenda is supposed to be used alongside a healthy lifestyle, rather than on its own. Forming diet and exercise habits that last will set you up for success and help you get the most out of the medicine.
Saxenda isn’t a shortcut to reaching your goals: for best results, you should take it for at least a year. We know that sounds like a long time, but working towards your health goals is a marathon, not a sprint. And we know that you can do it.
Saxenda dosage guide
Saxenda comes in five strengths: 0.6mg, 1.2mg, 1.8mg, 2.4mg and 3.0mg. You’ll start on the lowest dose when you first take it. This helps your body get used to the medicine, so it can handle stronger doses later.
If you’re tolerating the medicine okay, your dose will increase gradually each week until you reach 3.0mg. This is the recommended maintenance dose: i.e. the strength of the medicine where it has the effect it’s supposed to without causing difficult side effects. And it’s the dose you usually stay on while you’re taking the medicine. The maintenance dose can sometimes vary according to individual response, as we need to weigh up the effects against the side effects.
How long does a Saxenda pen last?
The injector pens themselves are pretty compact, which means there’s a limit to how much medicine can fit inside them. So, you’ll find that your Saxenda pen runs out sooner when you’re on higher doses.
One pen contains 18mg of Saxenda. That means that when you start taking it (i.e. during the first few weeks, when your dose is gradually dialled up), your first pen should last around 17 days providing there are no issues following the dose titration schedule.
When you reach the 3mg dose ,one pen can be used for 6 days. That means you would need to use five pens per month.
Understanding Saxenda side effects: what to expect
Like any medicine, Saxenda can have side effects. These can affect over one in ten people taking it. Though mostly, symptoms are manageable and clear up on their own.
To reduce the chances of digestive side effects, there are certain foods to avoid on Saxenda such as fatty or acidic meals.
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, and headache are the most common symptoms. Up to one in ten people might also feel tired, have an altered sense of taste, dizziness, indigestion or stomach discomfort, and more.
It’s uncommon, but sometimes side effects can be more serious. If you have severe pain in your stomach (it might also extend to your back), plus nausea and vomiting, it could be a sign your pancreas is inflamed.
And in rare cases, Saxenda could bring on an allergic reaction—here, you might have breathing problems or a swollen face or throat.
If either of those last two scenarios applies to you, see your doctor immediately.
Side effects support at Voy
"If you're using Voy and you experience any side effects, rest assured that our expert clinicians are just a message or phone call away. They can adjust your dose, prescribe medication to ease your symptoms, or simply offer reassurance.
Everyone responds differently to weight loss treatment and we'll help you find what feels right for you."
How long does Saxenda take to work?
It will have an effect as soon as you take it. But because you’ll start on the lowest dose and gradually move on to higher strengths, you might not see results right away. And that’s totally fine!
We know that you’re keen to reach your health goals, but remember that this first bit is part of the journey, too. Try to be patient and trust the process—you’ll get there exactly when you’re meant to.
But what sort of weight loss might you expect down the line? Well, because everyone’s different, we can’t say for sure how Saxenda will affect you personally. Though scientific studies can give us a sense of what the average experience on Saxenda looks like.
Research tells us that most people will lose at least 5% of their initial weight after taking Saxenda for over a year. Per one clinical trial, 63.2% of people lost at least 5% of their starting weight after 56 weeks on Saxenda, while 33.1% lost at least 10% of their initial weight and 14.4% lost at least 15%.
In another study, where people had to lose at least 5% body weight by following a low-calorie diet before starting on Saxenda, just over half (50.5%) of participants lost at least 5% body weight after 56 weeks. And 26.1% lost at least 10% of their starting weight.
In both these studies, people took Saxenda to supplement healthy lifestyle changes.
How much does Saxenda cost?
That depends on your provider. It’s possible to get Saxenda on the NHS via specialist weight-loss services, but you have to be referred to these—and there may be a long wait list.
Your other option is to get a private prescription (including from us!). At Voy, your weight loss programme includes one-to-one support from our team of expert coaches and an app to keep you on track.
Which weight loss option is right for you?
This is something you should discuss with your provider. But here’s a quick overview to give you an idea of how different weight loss injections compare.
Saxenda vs Wegovy
Like Saxenda, Wegovy works by acting like GLP-1, though it uses a different active ingredient: semaglutide. Wegovy’s side effects are also fairly comparable to Saxenda’s.
The main difference between them is that a Wegovy injection is done weekly rather than daily. And in scientific research, Wegovy has been found to be more effective for weight loss than Saxenda.
Saxenda vs Mounjaro
What about Mounjaro? Again, Mounjaro’s side effects are pretty similar to those you could get on Saxenda. It’s another weight loss pen that’s taken weekly, not daily.
Mounjaro also works by acting like GLP-1—but it behaves like a second hormone, GIP, as well. That’s why it’s so potent: it brings on the effects of two hormones rather than one. And research shows that Mounjaro drives more weight loss than Wegovy.
Your weight loss journey
Now that you know the basics on Saxenda, your next question might be: should I try it?
Saxenda weight loss injections might be a good option for people who have tried to lose weight another way but didn’t see the results they hoped for. Though they aren’t the only injection that’s available: people taking Wegovy have reported losing around 15% of their starting weight, while those on Mounjaro might lose up to 25%.
Both those figures come from studies where people took either medicine for at least a year, alongside a healthy diet and regular exercise. To reiterate: weight loss medicines are not a quick fix. But when you use them as part of a dedicated, long-term weight loss plan, they can drive serious results.
You can get weight loss medications through our weight loss programme, plus support and guidance from our team of coaches. They’ll work with you to create a personalised plan of action—and will be on hand to answer any of your questions.
Find out if the programme is a fit for you by filling out this short form.
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