Saxenda Injection
This page has been reviewed by
Dr. Nicolette Lammers.
Saxenda is an injectable medication containing the active ingredient liraglutide. It is used, in addition to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, for weight management in people with obesity or overweight who have at least one weight-related comorbidity. The active ingredient belongs to the class of GLP-1 receptor agonists, influences appetite and satiety, and is injected under the skin once daily using a pre-filled pen.
On this page, you will learn how Saxenda works, who it may be suitable for, how treatment works, and what is important to know about side effects, costs, reimbursement, and stopping treatment. If you are interested in medically supervised treatment, you can get advice at our locations or online via video consultation.
Who is Saxenda suitable for?
Saxenda is intended for adults for whom treatment with liraglutide is medically appropriate. This includes adults with obesity as well as adults who are overweight if at least one weight-related comorbidity is present, for example high blood pressure, lipid disorders, prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, or sleep apnea. Whether Saxenda may be appropriate does not depend on BMI alone. What also matters are pre-existing conditions, current medication, previous weight management history, and whether medication support is medically appropriate and safe in the individual case.What is Saxenda approved for?
Saxenda is approved for weight management and is used in addition to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. This page focuses on its use in adults. Treatment should only be continued if sufficient benefit is achieved during therapy and the medical assessment continues to support its use.How does the Saxenda injection work?
Saxenda contains the active ingredient liraglutide. It belongs to the class of GLP-1 receptor agonists and mimics the effect of a natural gut hormone that is involved, among other things, in the regulation of appetite and satiety. As a result, feelings of hunger may decrease, feelings of fullness may last longer, and calorie intake may be reduced. In addition, liraglutide slows gastric emptying. This is one of the reasons why meals keep many patients feeling full for longer. You can also read more about the medical classification of this class of active ingredients in our article GLP-1 agonists: approval and off-label use.Dosage and use
Saxenda is injected under the skin once daily. Treatment usually begins with a low starting dose, which is gradually increased to improve tolerability. Which dose is appropriate, how quickly it is increased, and whether treatment should be continued is always determined by a doctor. The injection is given in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. It can be administered regardless of meals, but should ideally be used at about the same time each day. To avoid skin irritation, injection sites should be rotated regularly.Where can I buy Saxenda?
Saxenda is prescription-only and is available in Germany from pharmacies only with a doctor’s prescription. Before purchasing it, there should always be a medical assessment of whether the medication is appropriate and whether treatment with liraglutide is suitable in the individual case. You can find an overview of current costs and programmes on our page Prices for medical weight loss.Your Journey to Sustainable Weight Loss Starts Here.
Who developed Saxenda?
Manufacturer
Saxenda is developed and marketed by Novo Nordisk. The active ingredient liraglutide belongs to the established class of GLP-1 receptor agonists and is used in weight management in addition to diet and physical activity.
Availability in Germany
Saxenda is available in Germany by prescription. It is used once daily with a pre-filled pen. Whether treatment should be started or continued must always be decided by a doctor. If you would like to learn more in advance about current developments in metabolic medicine, you can find further background information in our article GLP-1 and dual agonists in current research.
What are the possible side effects?
The most common side effects of Saxenda mainly include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain. These symptoms occur especially at the beginning of treatment or during dose escalation and improve over time in many patients. One reason for this is that liraglutide affects appetite, satiety, and gastric emptying.
Depending on the individual situation, other symptoms may also occur, such as belching, bloating, reflux symptoms, headaches, or reactions at the injection site. You can find a more detailed overview on our page about Saxenda side effects.
When should medical advice be sought?
Severe or persistent abdominal pain, significant fluid loss due to vomiting or diarrhea, signs of an allergic reaction, or symptoms that worsen rapidly should be medically assessed promptly. This applies especially if pre-existing conditions are present or if other medications are being taken at the same time.
What is important regarding safety, interactions, and contraindications?
Before starting treatment, existing medical conditions and all current medications should be discussed with a doctor. Saxenda can delay gastric emptying and may therefore affect the absorption of other medications. This can be particularly relevant at the beginning of treatment and during dose escalation.
Special caution is required, among other things, in certain gastrointestinal conditions, in people with a history of pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, or before planned procedures involving general anaesthesia or deep sedation. Even though Saxenda is not intended for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, metabolic disorders and concurrent medication should always be taken into account in the medical assessment.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Saxenda is not recommended during pregnancy. If a pregnancy is planned or occurs, treatment should be discussed with a doctor and discontinued if necessary. Use during breastfeeding should also only take place after an individual medical assessment.
If you would like to read the full information on use, warnings, and contraindications, you can find more details in the Saxenda package leaflet.
Saxenda treatment in Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt, or online.
How does Saxenda differ from other medications?
Saxenda vs. Wegovy
Both medications are used for weight management, but they differ in their active ingredient and how they are used. Saxenda contains liraglutide and is injected once daily. Wegovy contains semaglutide and is used once weekly. If you are interested in a once-weekly treatment with semaglutide, you can find more information on our page about Wegovy.
Saxenda vs. Mounjaro
Mounjaro contains tirzepatide and works not only through GLP-1, but additionally through the GIP receptor. Saxenda works exclusively as a GLP-1 receptor agonist. The way they are used also differs: Saxenda is injected daily, while Mounjaro is injected once weekly. You can find more information on our page about Mounjaro.
Saxenda vs. Ozempic
Ozempic and Saxenda both belong to the group of GLP-1-based medications, but they are intended for different main uses. Ozempic is primarily used for type 2 diabetes, while Saxenda is aimed at weight management. You can find more information on our page about Ozempic.
Is Saxenda covered by health insurance?
In Germany, statutory health insurance providers generally do not cover the cost of Saxenda. The reason is that medications used for weight loss, appetite suppression, or the regulation of body weight are generally excluded from coverage by law. You can read more about what this means in practice and the possible differences between statutory and private insurance on our page about weight loss injections and health insurance.
How can I stop taking Saxenda?
Saxenda should not be stopped or changed without medical advice. Whether treatment should be ended, paused, or adjusted depends, among other things, on tolerability, treatment goals, and the course of treatment so far. Especially in the case of longer-term use, a medically supervised decision is advisable.
It is also important that treatment is reviewed regularly. If sufficient benefit is not achieved at the maintenance dose, it may be medically appropriate to stop treatment and reassess the next steps.
How much weight can you lose with Saxenda?
How much weight loss occurs varies from person to person. It depends, among other things, on starting weight, duration of treatment, dosage, and accompanying lifestyle measures. What matters is medical follow-up and whether the treatment shows sufficient benefit in the individual case.
What does GLP-1 stand for?
GLP-1 stands for glucagon-like peptide-1. It is a natural gut hormone that is involved, among other things, in the regulation of appetite, satiety, and blood sugar. Liraglutide, the active ingredient in Saxenda, belongs to the group of GLP-1 receptor agonists. These medications mimic the effect of this hormone and can therefore influence feelings of fullness.
Who is allowed to prescribe Saxenda?
Saxenda is prescription-only and may only be prescribed by a doctor. Before it is prescribed, it should always be assessed whether the treatment is medically appropriate and whether any contraindications or limitations are present.
How quickly does Saxenda or liraglutide work?
This varies from person to person. Some patients notice changes in hunger and satiety early on, while other effects only become noticeable during dose escalation. What matters is not only an early effect, but whether the treatment remains medically appropriate and effective over time.
How long does a Saxenda pen last?
A Saxenda pen contains 18 mg of liraglutide. How long one pen lasts therefore depends on the currently prescribed daily dose. At a maintenance dose of 3.0 mg per day, one pen lasts for 6 days. During the dose escalation phase, a pen may last correspondingly longer.
How long can Saxenda be used?
There is no fixed treatment duration that applies to everyone. How long Saxenda is used depends on tolerability, effectiveness, treatment goals, and medical assessment. The treatment should be reviewed regularly.
Is Saxenda covered by health insurance?
In Germany, statutory health insurance providers generally do not cover the cost of Saxenda. With private insurance, reimbursement depends on the tariff and the medical justification.
Can Saxenda be used during pregnancy?
Saxenda is not recommended during pregnancy. If a pregnancy is planned or occurs, treatment should be discussed with a doctor and will usually need to be stopped. Use during breastfeeding should also only take place after an individual medical assessment.
What is the difference between Saxenda and Wegovy?
Both medications are used for weight management, but they contain different active ingredients. Saxenda contains liraglutide and is injected once daily. Wegovy contains semaglutide and is used once weekly. Which treatment is the better fit depends on the individual medical situation and a doctor’s assessment.
What is the difference between Saxenda and Mounjaro?
Saxenda contains liraglutide and belongs to the GLP-1 receptor agonists. Mounjaro contains tirzepatide and also works through the GIP receptor. In addition, the frequency of use differs: Saxenda is injected daily, while Mounjaro is injected once weekly. Which option is suitable should be assessed by a doctor.
Sources
- European Medicines Agency (EMA). Saxenda: EPAR Product Information (PDF). View document .
- European Medicines Agency (EMA). Saxenda: EPAR Overview. View page .
- European Medicines Agency (EMA). Saxenda: EPAR Summary for the Public (PDF). View document .
- European Medicines Agency (EMA). Saxenda: EPAR Public Assessment Report (PDF). View document .
- Pi-Sunyer X, Astrup A, Fujioka K, et al. A Randomized, Controlled Trial of 3.0 mg of Liraglutide in Weight Management. New England Journal of Medicine. 2015. View study .