Saxenda, Victoza (Liraglutide)

If you need help managing your weight due to certain health conditions, your doctor may recommend Saxenda.

Saxenda is a prescription medication that’s used to help with weight loss in:

• adults and some children who have obesity
• adults with overweight who also have a weight-related condition

This drug is meant to be part of a long-term weight management plan that includes a reduced-calorie diet and increased exercise.

Saxenda may not be suitable for certain people with the conditions mentioned above. To learn more about who can use this medication, see the “Is Saxenda used for weight loss and weight management?” section below.

Saxenda basics

Saxenda contains the active drug liraglutide. (An active drug is an ingredient that makes a medication work.) It belongs to a group of drugs called GLP-1 agonists. The medication comes as a liquid inside a prefilled injection pen.

You’ll receive Saxenda by injection under the skin once each day. Your doctor will teach you how to give yourself the injection.

At this time, no generic versions of Saxenda are available.

Read on to learn more about the drug’s uses, cost, side effects, and more.

Find answers to some commonly asked questions about Saxenda.

What can I expect before and after Saxenda treatment? Are reviews available from people who’ve used the drug?

Before you start Saxenda, your doctor will help you develop a long-term weight management plan. This should include a low-calorie diet and increased exercise. You can also work with a dietitian or nutritionist to develop your plan.

Including Saxenda as part of your plan can help you lose weight and keep it off long term. But different people may have different results with Saxenda. The amount of weight you may lose and any side effects you have will depend on your personal situation.

Saxenda’s prescribing information has details about side effects and how much weight people lost with Saxenda in studies. And you can read about other people’s experiences of using Saxenda on the manufacturer’s website. But keep in mind that everyone’s experience with this drug will be different.

To find out more about what you can expect with Saxenda, talk with your doctor.

Are Wegovy, Contrave, Ozempic, Qsymia, and phentermine alternatives of Saxenda?

Yes, most of these drugs are. Wegovy (semaglutide), Contrave (naltrexone and bupropion), Qsymia (phentermine and topiramate), and phentermine (Adipex-P, Lomaira) are all alternatives to Saxenda. These are all weight loss drugs.

The exception is Ozempic (semaglutide), which is not used for weight loss. Instead, it’s used to treat type 2 diabetes.

If you’d like to learn more about alternatives to Saxenda, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Is Saxenda available over the counter? And does it come in a pill form?

No, Saxenda is not available over the counter. You can only get it by prescription from your doctor.

Also, Saxenda does not come as pills or tablets. It is only available as an injection. Forms of Saxenda that you can swallow are not available, as they’re unlikely to work. That’s because if you took the drug by mouth, your digestive system would break it down too quickly for it to be effective.

How does Saxenda work? Is it a type of insulin?

No, Saxenda isn’t a type of insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps manage your blood sugar level. Instead, Saxenda is a type of drug called a GLP-1 agonist.

GLP-1 is another hormone that helps manage blood sugar levels. It also regulates appetite.

Saxenda works by acting in the same way as GLP-1. The way a drug works is called its mechanism of action.

Saxenda causes your stomach to empty more slowly, which helps you feel fuller after eating. Saxenda also helps reduce your appetite.

Saxenda helps you consume fewer calories, which helps you lose weight and keep the weight off.

Does Saxenda treat diabetes?

No, Saxenda does not treat diabetes. It’s only used for weight loss.

Saxenda contains the same active drug as a diabetes medication called Victoza. The active drug in both these medications is liraglutide. However, Victoza is used in a lower dosage for diabetes than Saxenda is for weight loss.

How should I store Saxenda?

When you receive a new Saxenda pen, store it in your refrigerator until you start using it. Make sure the pen doesn’t freeze. Do not use Saxenda if it has been frozen.

When you start using the new pen, you can take it out of the fridge and keep it at room temperature. Or you can continue storing it in your fridge. Either way, the pen is good for 30 days after you start using it. If there’s any medication left in the pen after 30 days, dispose of the pen.

Never store your pen with a needle attached. Be sure to remove the needle and replace the pen cap after taking each dose of Saxenda.

Saxenda is a weight loss injection medication. It’s used to help certain adults and children lose weight and keep weight off long term.

Saxenda can be used in adults who have either:

• obesity, which is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more, or
• overweight (a BMI of 27 or more) and a weight-related condition, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or type 2 diabetes

This drug can also be used in children ages 12 years and older who:

• weigh more than 60 kilograms (which is about 132 pounds), and
• have obesity based on their age, height, and sex (equal to an adult BMI of 30 or more)

Saxenda makes you feel fuller after eating and reduces your appetite. It helps you consume fewer calories, which assists with long-term weight loss.

You’ll use Saxenda as part of a long-term weight management plan. This should include a reduced-calorie diet and increased exercise. Your doctor can help you develop a plan that works for you.

Note that Saxenda shouldn’t be used in the following situations:

• in children with type 2 diabetes
• with other weight loss products, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, as well as herbal products
• with other medications from the same group as Saxenda, GLP-1 agonists

Like most drugs, Saxenda may cause mild or serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects that Saxenda may cause. These lists don’t include all possible side effects of using Saxenda for weight loss.

Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:

• your age
• other health conditions you have
• other medications you take

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Saxenda. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.

Mild side effects

Here’s a short list of some of the mild side effects that Saxenda can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Saxenda’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Saxenda that have been reported include:

• vomiting
• belly pain
• upset stomach
• constipation
• diarrhea
• bloating
• fatigue (low energy)
• dizziness
• fever
• injection side effects, such as itchiness or rash in the area you have your injection
• nausea*
• headache*

* For more information about this side effect, see the “Side effect focus” section below.

Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Saxenda can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from Saxenda, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects of Saxenda that have been reported include:

• acute pancreatitis (sudden inflammation of your pancreas)
• acute (sudden, short-term) gallbladder disease, such as gallstones
• low blood sugar level
• heart rate that’s faster than usual
• kidney problems, such as new or worsening kidney failure
• suicidal thoughts
•  or actions
• boxed warning: risk of thyroid cancer*
• allergic reaction*