Saxenda® Weight-Loss Pen (Box of 3s)

What is Saxenda® (Liraglutide) used for​​​?

Saxenda® contains the active ingredient Liraglutide, which is available in the market as 2 different brands:

1. Saxenda®: indicated for weight management
2. Victoza: indicated for treatment of type-2 diabetes

Saxenda® (Liraglutide) works by reducing your feeling of wanting to eat food, hence helping you to lose weight. It also lowers body weight through the loss of visceral and subcutaneous fat mass.

How does Saxenda® (Liraglutide) work​​​?

Saxenda® addresses one of the body's natural responses to weight loss.

• The body naturally produces an appetite hormone known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that helps to regulate hunger
• Saxenda® works like GLP-1 by regulating appetite, which can lead to eating fewer calories and losing weight

How much weight can I lose with Saxenda® (Liraglutide)?

Saxenda® was clinically tested and proven in a study of 3,731 adult patients in which 85% of people taking Saxenda® lost some weight. In this study:

• 3 out of 5 people using Saxenda® achieved significant weight loss of 5% or more (an average of 12 pounds)
• 1 out of 3 people using Saxenda® achieved significant weight loss of more than 10% (an average of 23 pounds)
• 6% of people using Saxenda® achieved weight loss of 20% or more (an average of 47 pounds)

Saxenda® (Liraglutide) is meant to be used as part of a long-term weight management plan. Sustained weight loss has been demonstrated with continued use of Saxenda® (Liraglutide).

Dosage and How to Use​

• Saxenda® (Liraglutide) comes in the form of an injectable pen. Make sure that your Saxenda® (Liraglutide) injection appears clear and colourless/almost colourless before use. Do not use it if it has been frozen accidentally. Ensure the needles are suitable for use with the injection. 
• It is important that you inject the dose the doctor has recommended for you. Taking more than the recommended dose will increase the side effects you experience and may not increase the effect on weight loss. Read the product information leaflet on how to inject this medication.
• Saxenda® (Liraglutide) is injected under the skin (this is called a subcutaneous injection) in the stomach area (abdomen), upper leg (thigh), or upper arm as instructed by your health care provider. It is not to be injected into a vein or muscle.

Click on the link below for a refresher on how to use the Saxenda® pen:

https://www.saxenda.com/about-saxenda/how-to-use-the-pen.html

What to do if I missed a dose?

If you forget a dose, use the injection as soon as you remember. However, if it is more than 12 hours since you should have injected this medication, skip the missed dose. Then inject the next dose as usual the following day. Do not inject an extra dose or increase the dose on the following day to make up for the missed dose.

What are the possible side effects of Saxenda® (Liraglutide)?​

The most common side effects are nausea and diarrhoea. Some patients may also experience a decrease in appetite, stomach pain, vomiting, or constipation. These side effects often get better in a few days or weeks, hence you are advised to continue taking the medicine. However, please speak to your doctor or pharmacist if the side effects continue or are very serious. You may also experience some mild bruising, pain, irritation, itching and rash at the injection site.

Another common side effect is low blood sugar, especially if Saxenda® (Liraglutide) is used together with other diabetes medicines like sulfonylureas (e.g. Glipizide, Gliclazide). Symptoms of low blood sugar are weakness, dizziness, hunger, sweating, trembling, blurred vision, unsteady walk or fast heartbeat. Inform your doctor if the side effects above become severe and bother you.

You should stop taking your medicine and check with your doctor immediately if you have these symptoms:

• Very bad pain in the stomach, abdomen or back area 
• Nausea or vomiting that does not go away
• Fever

What precautions should I take?

Inform your doctor if:

• you are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication.
• you are pregnant, planning to get pregnant
• you are breastfeeding
• you have a heart condition, kidney or liver problem
• you have stomach or intestinal problems, gastroparesis (a condition where there is delayed stomach emptying) or inflammatory bowel disease
• you have thyroid problem

This drug may cause dizziness, if affected, do not drive or operate machinery.

What other medications and foods should I avoid when taking Saxenda® (Liraglutide)?

It is recommended to limit your intake of alcohol while using Saxenda®.

Handling and storage

• Keep all new, unopened injections in a refrigerator between 2-8°C. Do not freeze. 
• Once you have started using the injection, you can choose to continue storing them in the fridge, or at room temperature (below 30 degrees Celsius). Keep the cap on the injection to protect the medicine from light. Keep this medication out of reach of children. Throw away the injection 4 weeks after opening.
• After the injection is complete, carefully remove the needle from the pen. The needle cap should not be put back on the needle, and the needle should immediately be placed in a sharps container (hard plastic or metal container), to reduce the risk of needle stick injuries. The pen cap should be put back on after each use to protect Saxenda® from light. Needles are not to be discarded in household trash or recycling bins.

The above information answers some common questions about this medicine. It does not contain all the available information. It also does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

References

https://www.healthhub.sg/a-z/medications/208/Liraglutide

https://www.saxenda.com/