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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
As you (or your teen) consider speaking with your respective health care providers about Saxenda®, some questions may arise. You may be able to find answers to many of them below.
About Saxenda®
What is Saxenda®?
Saxenda® 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.
- Saxenda® and Victoza® have the same active ingredient, liraglutide, and should not be used together or with other GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines
- It is not known if Saxenda® is safe and effective when taken with other prescription, over-the-counter medicines, or herbal weight-loss products
- It is not known if Saxenda® is safe and effective in children under 12 years of age
- It is not known if Saxenda® is safe and effective in children aged 12 to 17 years with type 2 diabetes
How does Saxenda® 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
What is my BMI?
Body mass index (BMI) is assessed differently for adults and teens. Find out your BMI, or your teen’s BMI, here.
How long do people stay on Saxenda®?
Chronic diseases like obesity usually require long-term treatment. Be sure to schedule a visit with your respective health care provider 4 months after beginning treatment with Saxenda® for a progress review and to renew the prescription.
Using the Saxenda® Pen
Does a health care provider need to do the injections?
Saxenda® is a once-daily, self-injectable medicine that comes in a prefilled pen. Your (or your teen's) health care provider will demonstrate how to inject Saxenda®. If you (or your teen) have questions or do not understand the instructions, ask your respective health care providers or pharmacists for guidance. See the full Patient Instructions for Use that come with the Medication Guide for detailed information about the right way to use the Saxenda® pen.
Where on the body is Saxenda® injected?
Saxenda® 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 (or your teen's) health care provider. It is not to be injected into a vein or muscle.
What is the dosing schedule?
The starting dosage is 0.6 mg per day for 1 week and should increase each week until the 3 mg dose is reached, as prescribed. Teens may be instructed by their health care provider to reduce their dose to 2.4 mg daily if the maximum dose is not tolerated.
The dosing schedule is designed to help minimize gastrointestinal side effects. If Saxenda® is started with a sample pen, a prescription will be needed in order to complete the dose escalation.
What time should Saxenda® be dosed?
Saxenda® can be taken at any time, independent of meals. It's best to be taken at the same time every day, at a time that's convenient and easy to remember.
How are needles handled and disposed of?
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, to reduce the risk of needlesticks. 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.
How long does the pen last?
Once the 3 mg dose is started, each pen will last 6 days.
How is Saxenda® stored?
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.
What kind of needles should be used?
The Saxenda® pen should be used with Novo Nordisk disposable needles. Needles are sold separately and may require a prescription in some states. Novo Nordisk cannot guarantee that needles from other manufacturers will fit the pen because Novo Nordisk has only studied Novo Nordisk needles with the pen.
Side Effects
Will I (or my teen) experience nausea?
Nausea is the most common side effect when first starting Saxenda®, but decreases over time in most people as their body gets used to the medicine. If you (or your teen) experience nausea, your respective health care providers may suggest some of the following:
- Eat bland, low-fat foods, like crackers, toast, and rice
- Eat foods that contain water, like soups and gelatin
- Don't lie down after you eat
- Go outside to get some fresh air
The dosing schedule is designed to reduce the likelihood of gastrointestinal symptoms. Tell your (or your teen's) health care provider about any side effect that is bothersome or that does not go away. Learn more about Saxenda®, including possible side effects, in the Medication Guide.
Cost and Coverage
How much will Saxenda® cost?
Our Co-pay Calculator can help you see how much your Saxenda® will cost. Calculate your co-pay.
Learn about another weight-management medicine with a savings offer for those who qualify. Learn more.
Information and Support
Do diet and physical activity levels have to change when taking Saxenda®?
You (or your teen) will work with your respective health care providers to follow a reduced-calorie diet and increase physical activity levels while taking Saxenda® for weight management.
Can Saxenda® be taken with other weight-loss products?
Saxenda® has not been evaluated in combination with other prescription weight-loss medicines or weight-loss supplements. Saxenda® has the potential to change how other medicines are absorbed. Use caution when taking Saxenda® with oral medicines. Be sure to tell your (or your teen's) health care provider about all current medicines, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
What support is available?
The Saxenda® Hotline offers free on-demand phone support for adults and caregivers of teen patients. You can get answers to questions about taking Saxenda®, the Saxenda® pen, and more. Just call 1-844-845-6913 Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM ET.
What is Saxenda®?
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.
- Saxenda® and Victoza® have the same active ingredient, liraglutide, and should not be used together or with other GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines
- It is not known if Saxenda® is safe and effective when taken with other prescription, over-the-counter medicines, or herbal weight-loss products
- It is not known if Saxenda® is safe and effective in children under 12 years of age
- It is not known if Saxenda® is safe and effective in children aged 12 to 17 years with type 2 diabetes
Important Safety Information
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.
What is the most important information I should know about Saxenda®?
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).
Who should not use Saxenda®?
Do not use Saxenda® if:
- you or any of your family have ever had MTC or if you have MEN 2
- you have had a serious allergic reaction to liraglutide or any of the ingredients in Saxenda®. See symptoms of serious allergic reactions in "What are the possible side effects of Saxenda®?"
- you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Saxenda® may harm your unborn baby
Before taking Saxenda®, tell your health care provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- are taking certain medicines called GLP-1 receptor agonists
- have severe problems with your stomach, such as slowed emptying of your stomach (gastroparesis) or problems with digesting food
- have or have had problems with your pancreas, kidneys or liver
- have or have had depression or suicidal thoughts, or mental health issues
- are scheduled to have surgery or other procedures that use anesthesia or deep sleepiness (deep sedation)
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Saxenda® passes into your breast milk. You and your health care provider should decide if you will use Saxenda® or breastfeed
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.
How should I use Saxenda®?
- Read the Instructions for Use that comes with Saxenda®
- Inject your dose of Saxenda® under the skin (subcutaneously) in your stomach area (abdomen), upper leg (thigh), or upper arm, as instructed by your health care provider. Do not inject into a vein or muscle
- Change (rotate) your injection site within the area you choose with each injection to reduce your risk of getting lumps under the skin (cutaneous amyloidosis). Do not use the same site for each injection
What are the possible side effects of Saxenda®?
Saxenda® may cause serious side effects, including:
- inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). Stop using Saxenda® and call your healthcare provider right away if you have severe pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that will not go away, with or without vomiting. You may feel the pain from your stomach area (abdomen) to your back
- gallbladder problems. Saxenda® may cause gallbladder problems, including gallstones. Some gallbladder problems need surgery. Call your health care provider if you have any of the following symptoms: pain in your upper stomach (abdomen), fever, yellowing of your skin or eyes (jaundice), or clay-colored stools
- increased risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) in adults with type 2 diabetes who also take medicines to treat type 2 diabetes such as sulfonylureas or insulin
- risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) in children who are 12 years of age and older without type 2 diabetes
- Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar may include: shakiness, sweating, headache, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, confusion, irritability, hunger, fast heartbeat, and feeling jittery. You should check your blood sugar before you start taking Saxenda® and while you take Saxenda®
- increased heart rate. Saxenda® can increase your heart rate while you are at rest. Your health care provider should check your heart rate while you take Saxenda®. Tell your health care professional if you feel your heart racing or pounding in your chest and it lasts for several minutes
- kidney problems (kidney failure). Saxenda® may cause nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea leading to loss of fluids (dehydration). Dehydration may cause kidney failure, which can lead to the need for dialysis. This can happen in people who have never had kidney problems before. Drinking plenty of fluids may reduce your chance of dehydration. Call your health care provider right away if you have nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea that does not go away, or if you cannot drink liquids by mouth
- serious allergic reactions. Stop using Saxenda® and get medical help right away if you have any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction including swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, fainting or feeling dizzy, very rapid heartbeat, problems breathing or swallowing, or severe rash or itching
- depression or thoughts of suicide. You should pay attention to any mental changes, especially sudden changes, in your mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. Call your health care provider right away if you have any mental changes that are new, worse, or worry you
- food or liquid getting into the lungs during surgery or other procedures that use anesthesia or deep sleepiness (deep sedation). Saxenda® may increase the chance of food getting into your lungs during surgery or other procedures. Tell all your healthcare providers that you are taking Saxenda® before you are scheduled to have surgery or other procedures
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.
What is Saxenda®?
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.
- Saxenda® and Victoza® have the same active ingredient, liraglutide, and should not be used together or with other GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines
- It is not known if Saxenda® is safe and effective when taken with other prescription, over-the-counter medicines, or herbal weight-loss products
- It is not known if Saxenda® is safe and effective in children under 12 years of age
- It is not known if Saxenda® is safe and effective in children aged 12 to 17 years with type 2 diabetes
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.
What is Saxenda®?
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.
- Saxenda® and Victoza® have the same active ingredient, liraglutide, and should not be used together or with other GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines
- It is not known if Saxenda® is safe and effective when taken with other prescription, over-the-counter medicines, or herbal weight-loss products
- It is not known if Saxenda® is safe and effective in children under 12 years of age
- It is not known if Saxenda® is safe and effective in children aged 12 to 17 years with type 2 diabetes
Important Safety Information
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.
What is the most important information I should know about Saxenda®?
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).
Who should not use Saxenda®?
Do not use Saxenda® if:
- you or any of your family have ever had MTC or if you have MEN 2
- you have had a serious allergic reaction to liraglutide or any of the ingredients in Saxenda®. See symptoms of serious allergic reactions in "What are the possible side effects of Saxenda®?"
- you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Saxenda® may harm your unborn baby
Before taking Saxenda®, tell your health care provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- are taking certain medicines called GLP-1 receptor agonists
- have severe problems with your stomach, such as slowed emptying of your stomach (gastroparesis) or problems with digesting food
- have or have had problems with your pancreas, kidneys or liver
- have or have had depression or suicidal thoughts, or mental health issues
- are scheduled to have surgery or other procedures that use anesthesia or deep sleepiness (deep sedation)
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Saxenda® passes into your breast milk. You and your health care provider should decide if you will use Saxenda® or breastfeed
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.
How should I use Saxenda®?
- Read the Instructions for Use that comes with Saxenda®
- Inject your dose of Saxenda® under the skin (subcutaneously) in your stomach area (abdomen), upper leg (thigh), or upper arm, as instructed by your health care provider. Do not inject into a vein or muscle
- Change (rotate) your injection site within the area you choose with each injection to reduce your risk of getting lumps under the skin (cutaneous amyloidosis). Do not use the same site for each injection
What are the possible side effects of Saxenda®?
Saxenda® may cause serious side effects, including:
- inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). Stop using Saxenda® and call your healthcare provider right away if you have severe pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that will not go away, with or without vomiting. You may feel the pain from your stomach area (abdomen) to your back
- gallbladder problems. Saxenda® may cause gallbladder problems, including gallstones. Some gallbladder problems need surgery. Call your health care provider if you have any of the following symptoms: pain in your upper stomach (abdomen), fever, yellowing of your skin or eyes (jaundice), or clay-colored stools
- increased risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) in adults with type 2 diabetes who also take medicines to treat type 2 diabetes such as sulfonylureas or insulin
- risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) in children who are 12 years of age and older without type 2 diabetes
- Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar may include: shakiness, sweating, headache, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, confusion, irritability, hunger, fast heartbeat, and feeling jittery. You should check your blood sugar before you start taking Saxenda® and while you take Saxenda®
- increased heart rate. Saxenda® can increase your heart rate while you are at rest. Your health care provider should check your heart rate while you take Saxenda®. Tell your health care professional if you feel your heart racing or pounding in your chest and it lasts for several minutes
- kidney problems (kidney failure). Saxenda® may cause nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea leading to loss of fluids (dehydration). Dehydration may cause kidney failure, which can lead to the need for dialysis. This can happen in people who have never had kidney problems before. Drinking plenty of fluids may reduce your chance of dehydration. Call your health care provider right away if you have nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea that does not go away, or if you cannot drink liquids by mouth
- serious allergic reactions. Stop using Saxenda® and get medical help right away if you have any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction including swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, fainting or feeling dizzy, very rapid heartbeat, problems breathing or swallowing, or severe rash or itching
- depression or thoughts of suicide. You should pay attention to any mental changes, especially sudden changes, in your mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. Call your health care provider right away if you have any mental changes that are new, worse, or worry you
- food or liquid getting into the lungs during surgery or other procedures that use anesthesia or deep sleepiness (deep sedation). Saxenda® may increase the chance of food getting into your lungs during surgery or other procedures. Tell all your healthcare providers that you are taking Saxenda® before you are scheduled to have surgery or other procedures
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.
What is Saxenda®?
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.
- Saxenda® and Victoza® have the same active ingredient, liraglutide, and should not be used together or with other GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines
- It is not known if Saxenda® is safe and effective when taken with other prescription, over-the-counter medicines, or herbal weight-loss products
- It is not known if Saxenda® is safe and effective in children under 12 years of age
- It is not known if Saxenda® is safe and effective in children aged 12 to 17 years with type 2 diabetes
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.
