Saxenda Review: Effectiveness, Safety, Cost

Many people struggle to maintain a healthy weight through diet and exercise alone. And surgical interventions, such as bariatric surgery, may seem too extreme.

Fortunately, Saxenda is a non-stimulant prescription medication for weight loss that is approved by the FDA.

It’s designed to help adults and adolescents who are overweight or obese and haven’t had much luck with other weight loss attempts.

Here’s what you should know before deciding if Saxenda fits into your goals of a healthier future.

What Is Saxenda?

Product by the pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, Saxenda is an FDA-approved injectable prescription for obesity treatment. (1)

Saxenda is the brand name for 3 milligrams of liraglutide. Liraglutide was initially used to make a medication called Victoza to control blood sugar in people with diabetes.

Victoza is a lower dose of liraglutide than Saxenda, between 0.5 to 2 mg.

The higher dose of liraglutide was later developed for weight loss and trade-named Saxenda. (2)

How Saxenda Works

Saxenda supports weight loss in a few different ways.

First, it alters the body’s insulin and glucagon levels, two hormones that regulate blood sugar. Saxenda stimulates insulin and blocks glucagon. Both of these actions drive blood sugar down to reduce hunger and food cravings. (2)

In addition to lowering blood sugar, Saxenda slows gastric emptying. That means it keeps food in your stomach longer, so you feel full for longer after eating. (2)

By promoting satiety, Saxenda reduces the urge to snack between meals or eat too often.

The manufacturers of Saxenda say you should notice at least a 4% reduction in your body weight within four months of starting the injections.

How Effective Is Saxenda? A Look at the Studies

According to Novo Nordisk, Saxenda helps you feel less hungry while taking it so that you can lose weight and experience related health benefits.

Here are some of the studies that have examined Saxenda’s impact on body weight.

Researchers did a 56-week double-blind trial on 3731 adults.

Participants either had a body mass index (BMI) over 30  or a BMI over 27 plus high blood pressure or high cholesterol. People with diabetes at the time of recruitment were not included in the trial. (3)

During treatment, subjects given Saxenda reduced their BMIs and showed additional health improvements compared to the placebo group. (3)

People on Saxenda were also less likely to develop prediabetes and diabetes during the trial duration. (3)

In another randomized controlled trial of 201 adolescents with obesity (ages 12 to 18), Saxenda injections significantly lowered BMI scores compared to placebo. (4)

Initial studies following adults on Saxenda found that weight loss and associated health benefits were maintained during two years of treatment. (1)

Further research evaluated Saxenda’s effects after three years.

A study on over 2200 adults found that 26% of people on Saxenda maintained at least 5% body weight loss at the three-year mark compared to just 10% of people in the placebo group. (5)

However, in the adolescent trial, subjects were followed for another 26 weeks after the treatment period ended. Those in the Saxenda group regained weight faster than those on placebo. (4)

Saxenda Safety

Some participants in Saxenda trials have had adverse side effects, but they’re usually described as minimal and temporary.

Adults on Saxenda have reported vomiting and other digestive issues typically within the first four to eight weeks of starting treatment. (3)

Gallbladder problems, including gallstones, are also more common on Saxenda. However, this may be the result of rapid weight loss. (3)

In the adolescent trial, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea were reported. (4)

The 13 participants in the trial who dropped out early were all from the Saxenda group.

Also, three participants attempted suicide, but they were from both groups, so it’s not clear if Saxenda was a contributing factor. (4)

The safety information sheet on Saxenda notes a potentially higher risk of thyroid tumors with treatment. However, this effect was observed in rodent, not human studies.

Nonetheless, people with a family history of certain types of thyroid cancer shouldn’t take Saxenda.

People with pancreatic, kidney, or liver problems may not be able to take Saxenda. Your physician or healthcare professional can help assess your individual risk.

Saxenda can be dangerous for people who are pregnant or planning to get pregnant because it may harm the fetus.

In addition, there’s not enough research to say whether Saxenda is safe to use while nursing, so you should discuss this with your clinician.

It’s important to let your doctor know if you take any medications or supplements before starting Saxenda. Saxenda can affect how your body absorbs medication, especially with diabetes.

For example, people on insulin or sulfonylureas for diabetes may need to reduce their dosage by 50% or more. (2)

Your clinician can monitor you and help ensure your safety.

Dosage and How to Take

Saxenda’s active ingredient is 3 milligrams of liraglutide. It comes in a Saxenda pen that allows you to inject the medication at home.

You’ll gradually work up to the 3-milligram dose over five weeks. This progression gives your body time to adjust. Most people starting Saxenda follow this schedule:

• Week 1: 6 mg
• Week 2: 2 mg
• Week 3: 8 mg
• Week 4: 4 mg
• Week 5: 3 mg

The injectable pen has a window with metered doses so that you can adjust the amount. You can inject Saxenda on your abdomen, thigh, or upper arm.

It’s important to watch out for veins or muscles when injecting Saxenda since it’s meant to go just beneath the skin’s surface. It’s a good idea to vary the location of your injections.

Many people are nervous about injecting themselves with medication, but your clinician should demonstrate and let you practice using the pen until you feel comfortable doing it yourself.

There’s also an instructional video on the website, and directions come with the medication.

Contact your primary care doctor with questions or call a SaxendaCare Coach during business hours at 1-844-363-4448.

Saxenda injections are meant to be taken every day. If you accidentally miss a dose, just continue with your usual dosage the next day, don’t double up.

However, if it’s been more than three days since your last injection, you should ask your doctor for advice on restarting the medication.

Getting Started with Saxenda and Its Cost

A prescription is required for Saxenda, so you’ll need to meet with your physician first. If you’re a good candidate, you can pick up the medication at the pharmacy once your prescription is ready.

Your physician may also provide a free sample of Saxenda, but that only lasts for 17 days. To stay on schedule, it’s important to plan on getting your next dose from the pharmacy in time for day 18.

The cost of Saxenda varies based on your health insurance plan. Without any assistance, the price may be over $1000 per month. (6)

There’s no time limit for taking Saxenda. If it works for you, you may need to remain on it to continue losing weight or avoid weight regain.

Saxenda’s website lists several savings plans to help pay for treatment. Call your insurance carrier to discuss your plans and find out what to expect for out-of-pocket costs.

How Saxenda Compares to Alternatives

Saxenda is a pricey prescription weight loss medication that requires a daily injection. You can also find options that you take as a daily pill or a weekly shot.

In addition, many current weight loss prescriptions aren’t covered by insurance and don’t have generic alternatives available, making them too expensive for most people to use for an extended time.

Saxenda is more expensive than other options on the market with a similar lack of long-term safety and efficacy data.

Quick Comparison Table

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Line

Saxenda is an effective option to support weight loss and has the potential to lower the risk of diabetes and other health problems.

However, it’s not a guarantee that the benefits will continue once you come off the medication. So you may need to stay on Saxenda long-term or have another plan in place to maintain your results.

As with many prescriptions, the cost of Saxenda can be extremely high without help from your insurance company or another savings program. There aren’t any generic alternatives available, and finding an insurance plan that will cover it can be difficult.

Additionally, although most of the side effects seem manageable, there isn’t any safety information about what happens if you take Saxenda for many years.

Between the lack of long-term safety data and the high cost of treatment, you may want to also explore other options before choosing Saxenda for your weight loss journey.

Not everyone is a good candidate for Saxenda, so you’ll need to consider and discuss with your physician the potential risks and benefits to see if it’s right for you.