Saxenda® (liraglutide) injection 3 mg is an injectable prescription medicine used for adults with excess weight (BMI ≥27) who also have weight-related medical problems or obesity (BMI ≥30), and children aged 12-17 years with a body weight above 132 pounds (60 kg) and obesity to help them lose weight and keep the weight off. Saxenda® should be used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. Click here for full Indications and Usage.
Home / About Saxenda® / How to Use the Pen
If you have questions about using the Saxenda® pen, the good news is that there are several ways to learn how to use it.
Consult with your (or your teen's) health care provider or pharmacist for instructions on how to use the pen.
Do not share the pen or needles with anyone else. You may give an infection to them or receive an infection from them.
Always use a new needle for each injection. This will prevent contamination, infection, leakage, and blocked needles leading to the wrong dose.
Need a refresher on how to use the Saxenda® pen? This video may help. It features instructions on:
The parts of the Saxenda® pen are shown below. Please read the Instructions for Use that came with your pen for complete information.
A. Pen cap: Always replace it to protect the medicine from light
B. Dose counter: View and center your appropriate dose before use
C. Dose pointer: Arrow lines up with your selected dose
D. Dose selector: Turn it to select your dose
E. Dose button: Press and hold it to inject your dose
Parts of your single-use needle
Parts of your single-use needle
Store new, unused Saxenda® pens in the refrigerator between 36°F and 46°F (2°C to 8°C). After first use, store in a refrigerator or at room temperature between 59°F and 86°F (15°C to 30°C). Pens in use should be thrown away after 30 days even if they still have Saxenda® left in them. Don’t freeze Saxenda®. Saxenda® that has been frozen must not be used.
See the Saxenda® dosing schedule from the starting dose (0.6 mg) to the full dose (3.0 mg), usually reached at week 5. Your health care provider (or your teen's health care provider) will create a dose escalation schedule based on how well Saxenda® is tolerated. Potential side effects and other concerns should be discussed with your respective health care providers.
See the Saxenda® dosing schedule from the starting dose (0.6 mg) to the full dose (3.0 mg), usually reached at week 5. Your health care provider (or your teen's health care provider) will create a dose escalation schedule based on how well Saxenda® is tolerated. Potential side effects and other concerns should be discussed with your respective health care providers.
Saxenda® is a once-daily, self-injectable medicine that comes in a prefilled pen. It should be taken at any time that is convenient, with or without food. Saxenda® should be injected under the skin (this is called subcutaneous injection) in the stomach area (abdomen), upper leg (thigh), or upper arm as instructed by your (or your teen's) health care provider. Do not inject into a vein or muscle. Please see Saxenda® Instructions for Use for more information.
Learn how to use the Saxenda® pen below. These are not the full instructions. Please read the Instructions for Use that came with the pen for complete instructions.
SaxendaCare® is no longer available, but we still have information and resources designed to help with Saxenda® therapy.
Saxenda® (liraglutide) injection 3 mg is an injectable prescription medicine used for adults with excess weight (BMI ≥27) who also have weight-related medical problems or obesity (BMI ≥30), and children aged 12-17 years with a body weight above 132 pounds (60 kg) and obesity to help them lose weight and keep the weight off. Saxenda® should be used with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity.
Do not share your Saxenda® pen with others even if the needle has been changed. You may give other people a serious infection or get a serious infection from them.
Serious side effects may happen in people who take Saxenda®, including:
Possible thyroid tumors, including cancer. Tell your health care professional if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. These may be symptoms of thyroid cancer. In studies with rats and mice, Saxenda® and medicines that work like Saxenda® caused thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer. It is not known if Saxenda® will cause thyroid tumors or a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in people.
Do not use Saxenda® if you or any of your family have ever had MTC, or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
Do not use Saxenda® if:
Before taking Saxenda®, tell your health care provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
Tell your health care provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Saxenda® slows stomach emptying and can affect medicines that need to pass through the stomach quickly. Saxenda® may affect the way some medicines work and some other medicines may affect the way Saxenda® works. Tell your health care provider if you take diabetes medicines, especially insulin and sulfonylurea medicines.
Saxenda® may cause serious side effects, including:
The most common side effects of Saxenda® in adults include nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, injection site reaction, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), headache, tiredness (fatigue), dizziness, stomach pain, and change in enzyme (lipase) levels in your blood. Additional common side effects in children are fever and gastroenteritis.
Saxenda® (liraglutide) injection 3 mg is an injectable prescription medicine used for adults with excess weight (BMI ≥27) who also have weight-related medical problems or obesity (BMI ≥30), and children aged 12-17 years with a body weight above 132 pounds (60 kg) and obesity to help them lose weight and keep the weight off. Saxenda® should be used with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity.
Please click here for Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for Saxenda®.
Saxenda® is a prescription medication.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Saxenda® (liraglutide) injection 3 mg is an injectable prescription medicine used for adults with excess weight (BMI ≥27) who also have weight-related medical problems or obesity (BMI ≥30), and children aged 12-17 years with a body weight above 132 pounds (60 kg) and obesity to help them lose weight and keep the weight off. Saxenda® should be used with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity.
Do not share your Saxenda® pen with others even if the needle has been changed. You may give other people a serious infection or get a serious infection from them.
Serious side effects may happen in people who take Saxenda®, including:
Possible thyroid tumors, including cancer. Tell your health care professional if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. These may be symptoms of thyroid cancer. In studies with rats and mice, Saxenda® and medicines that work like Saxenda® caused thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer. It is not known if Saxenda® will cause thyroid tumors or a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in people.
Do not use Saxenda® if you or any of your family have ever had MTC, or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
Do not use Saxenda® if:
Before taking Saxenda®, tell your health care provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
Tell your health care provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Saxenda® slows stomach emptying and can affect medicines that need to pass through the stomach quickly. Saxenda® may affect the way some medicines work and some other medicines may affect the way Saxenda® works. Tell your health care provider if you take diabetes medicines, especially insulin and sulfonylurea medicines.
Saxenda® may cause serious side effects, including:
The most common side effects of Saxenda® in adults include nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, injection site reaction, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), headache, tiredness (fatigue), dizziness, stomach pain, and change in enzyme (lipase) levels in your blood. Additional common side effects in children are fever and gastroenteritis.
Saxenda® (liraglutide) injection 3 mg is an injectable prescription medicine used for adults with excess weight (BMI ≥27) who also have weight-related medical problems or obesity (BMI ≥30), and children aged 12-17 years with a body weight above 132 pounds (60 kg) and obesity to help them lose weight and keep the weight off. Saxenda® should be used with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity.
Please click here for Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for Saxenda®.
Saxenda® is a prescription medication.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.