Saxenda dosage, forms, and strengths

Saxenda (liraglutide) is a once-daily injection prescribed along with diet and exercise for chronic weight management. Saxenda is very similar to Ozempic. Its active ingredient, liraglutide, helps to regulate appetite and calorie intake. Originally developed to treat diabetes under the name Victoza, it was discovered that liraglutide also caused weight loss, which was a significant side effect. The manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, then tested liraglutide as a weight-loss drug, so it is also now prescribed for weight loss under the name Saxenda. It is administered at a higher dosage than Victoza.

RELATED: Saxenda for weight loss: what you need to know

Saxenda forms and strengths

Saxenda is a once-daily self-administered injection. Each injector pen contains enough liraglutide for six days of injections at the daily maintenance dose. 

• Injection pen: 18 mg/3 mL (6 mg/mL)

Saxenda dosage for adults

Saxenda is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for weight control and weight loss in adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m^2 or greater, the clinical criteria for diagnosing obesity. Saxenda is also approved for use in people with a lower BMI of kg/m^2 or greater if they have other weight-related medical conditions such as high blood pressure (hypertension) or high cholesterol. 

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Saxenda dosage for weight control

The standard Saxenda dosage for weight control is 3 mg per day injected beneath the skin. Working up to that dose safely will take at least four weeks. When first starting Saxenda, adults will self-inject only 0.6 mg daily for one week. Each week, the dose will increase by a little bit: 1.2 mg daily in week 2, 1.8 mg daily in week three, 2.4 mg daily in week four, and 3 mg per day in week five. If, at any point, increasing the dose causes problems, a healthcare provider may continue at the previous dose for an extra week before increasing it. 

The daily 3 mg dose is the maximum and recommended maintenance dose. If an adult can’t take the recommended 3 mg daily dose because of side effects, Saxenda treatment will likely be stopped.

The active ingredient in Saxenda is liraglutide. It belongs to a family of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. This family of drugs includes well-known brand names such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Trulicity. 

GLP-1 drugs were originally developed to treat Type 2 diabetes. They work by helping the body make more insulin if blood sugar is high, slowing down the exit of food from the stomach, and regulating hormones that affect appetite.

Weight loss is a significant side effect of GLP-1 drugs, so dosages and brand names have been developed specifically for weight loss or control in people who have health conditions that are affected by weight. For weight loss, healthcare professionals believe these drugs affect the brain directly, particularly in the areas responsible for appetite.

• Standard Saxenda dosage for weight management: 3 mg subcutaneous injection once daily

Saxenda dosage for children

Saxenda is FDA-approved for weight loss in children 12 and older. To be candidates for treatment, these children must weigh more than 60 kg (132 pounds) and have a BMI of 30 kg/m^2 or higher. 

Children are prescribed the same dosages as adults: 3 mg daily with a starting dose of 0.6 mg daily for one week. Dose escalation proceeds the same way in 0.6 mg increments every week. If a child has difficulty at one of the higher doses, the healthcare provider will stay with that dose for an extra week and increase it later. It may take up to eight weeks to hit the maintenance dose. 

Unlike adults, a healthcare provider may stop at 2.4 mg daily as the long-term maintenance dose for children. If that lower dose causes too many side effects, the healthcare provider will discontinue Saxenda rather than reduce the dose.

• Standard Saxenda dosage for children 12 years of age and older: 3 mg subcutaneous injection once daily

Saxenda dosage restrictions

Saxenda has no dosage modifications for kidney disease, liver impairment, or other medical conditions. However, people with chronic kidney, liver, or digestive conditions will be monitored more closely.

How to take Saxenda

Saxenda is a once-daily subcutaneous injection administered with a self-injector pen.

• Take each dose exactly as instructed. 

• Administer only one injection per day. The dose can be taken at any time during the day.

• Do not use more medicine or more often than your healthcare provider tells you to.

• Only use Saxenda injector pens once a healthcare professional has demonstrated the proper use.

• Do not use Saxenda injector pens if you can’t read the dose indicator.

• Read the Instructions for Use that come with this medicine before using the pen injector.

• It’s also helpful to watch Novo Nordisk’s how-to video that demonstrates each step in the process.

• Before the first use of a pre-filled pen, check the medicine flow. You can find the instructions in the Instructions for Use.

• How to prepare the injection:

  • Wash your hands.

  • Make sure the pen injector is a Saxenda pen injector.

  • Remove the cap.

  • Look through the medicine window to make sure the medicine is clear and colorless. If it’s cloudy, discard the pen.

  • Always use a new needle for each injection.

  • Do not use bent needles.

  • Open a NovoFine or NovoTwist needle. Push the needle onto the pen and twist it to tighten.

  • Pull off the outer and inner needle caps.

• How to select the proper dose:

  • Select the correct dose using the dose selector.

  • The pen scale in the medicine window will show how much medicine is left in the pen. 

  • The dose selector cannot go higher than the medicine remaining in the pen.

  • There may be situations where the pen does not have enough medicine for your dose. Before using the Saxenda pen, ask the prescriber about splitting doses between pens. A healthcare provider will demonstrate how to do this.

  • Use a new pen if you don’t know how to split doses.

• How to inject Saxenda:

  • This medicine is given as a shot under your skin. 

  • You will be shown the body areas where this shot can be given. It is usually given in your stomach, thighs, or upper arms.

  • You may give the shots in the same area (including your stomach), but do not give daily shots right next to each other.

  • Insert the needle into your skin.

  • You should be able to see the dose counter.

  • Press and hold down the dose button.

  • Continue pressing until the dose counter reads “0.”

  • Keep the needle in the skin for six seconds. If you remove it early, you may only get a partial dose.

  • Remove the needle. 

• What to do if the injection doesn’t work:

  • If the dose button is pressed but the dose counter does not go to “0,” the needle may be blocked. You have not received your dose.

  • Change the needle.

  • Select the dose.

  • Inject the medicine.

• What to do after the injection:

  • Always remove the needle carefully after each injection.

  • Dispose of the needle in a sharps container immediately.

  • Replace the pen cap on the Saxenda pen injector.

  • Never wash or soak the pen.

• Store new, unused pen injectors in the refrigerator. Do not freeze.

• Used pens can be stored at room temperature for up to 30 days.

• Keep the pen injector away from heat and light.

• Throw away the pen injector when:

  • It’s empty

  • The expiration date has passed

  • 30 days have passed since you first started using it

Saxenda dosage FAQs

How long does it take Saxenda to work?

Weight loss and weight control are long-term projects. It may be several months before significant weight loss is noticed. Healthcare professionals will regularly monitor body weight during follow-up visits to determine how well the medicine is working. If weight has not decreased by at least 4% in four months, the healthcare provider may discontinue Saxenda treatment.

How long does Saxenda stay in your system?

It takes the body about 13 hours to clear half a dose of Saxenda from the system. That means it should take about two to three days for the body to completely clear that dose.

What happens if I miss a dose of Saxenda?

If a dose of Saxenda is missed, skip that missed dose. Take the next dose as scheduled and return to the normal dosing schedule. Never take extra doses to make up for a missed dose.

How do I stop taking Saxenda?

Saxenda can be stopped at any time without causing withdrawal symptoms. It may be necessary to stop Saxenda for several reasons, including allergic reactions, pregnancy, pancreatitis (swollen pancreas), gallbladder problems, thyroid cancer, increased heart rate, kidney problems, or suicidal thoughts. While other weight-loss GLP-1 receptor agonists are similar to Saxenda, they may not be suitable substitutes for people with any of these problems. Other weight loss prescription drugs include Contrave (bupropion-naltrexone), orlistat, phentermine, and Qsymia (phentermine-topiramate).

What is the maximum dosage for Saxenda?

The recommended daily dose of Saxenda is the maximum dose you should take each day.

Can you overdose on Saxenda?

Do not exceed the daily 3 mg dose of Saxenda. If you do, immediately call a poison helpline or go to an emergency room. Symptoms of a Saxenda overdose include severe nausea, severe vomiting, and severe low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

What happens when you mix Saxenda and alcohol?

People taking Saxenda can drink. However, alcohol may worsen some of the side effects of Saxenda, such as nausea and dizziness. Drinking may also affect Saxenda’s effectiveness in promoting weight loss, particularly in people with liver problems.

Is it safe to take Saxenda during pregnancy?

Women who are pregnant will not be prescribed Saxenda. Weight loss during pregnancy may harm a fetus.

Is it safe to take Saxenda while breastfeeding?

There is no information about the safety of Saxenda in women who are breastfeeding. Healthcare professionals don’t know if the drug is present in breast milk or affects a nursing baby. Women who are breastfeeding should ask the prescriber for medical advice before using Saxenda.

Sources

• Saxenda, Novo Nordisk

• Saxenda liraglutide injection prescribing information, DailyMed (NIH National Library of Medicine)