SAXENDA® (Liraglutide)

FDA-Approved for Weight Loss

Saxenda® is a once daily subcutaneous pen injection designed to help adults with obesity or who are overweight (with weight-related medical problems) lose weight and keep the weight off. It was FDA approved for weight loss in December, 2014. Manufactured by Novo Nordisk, the same company that makes Wegovy® (semaglutide) and Ozempic® (semaglutide). The active ingredient in Saxenda® (liraglutide) is the same active ingredient used in Victoza® (liraglutide), which is used for type 2 diabetes treatment. When combined with diet and exercise, Saxenda® aids in effective weight loss and longer-term weight management.

Saxenda® (liraglutide), like other GLP1 medications, works by mimicking the natural incretin hormones that your body produces. Incretin hormones are released whenever food is consumed and help promote the feeling of fullness by delaying gastric emptying and activating the satiety centers of the brain. They also improve insulin production in the pancreas and suppress glucagon production, both of which help normalize blood sugar. All the above happens in a glucose-dependent manner, which means incretin hormones (or GLP-1 receptor agonist meds like Saxenda®) are not likely to cause hypoglycemia.

Some studies indicate that individuals with overweight or obesity might have lower levels of incretin hormones, particularly if they have experienced frequent weight changes due to on-and-off dieting. GLP-1 receptor agonist medications make up for some of the loss in incretin hormones, thus making it easier to reach your weight loss goals. Lastly, GLP-1 medications can improve blood sugar levels in people living with insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, or diabetes.

At Worthy Weight Loss, we can prescribe Saxenda® or another GLP1 medication that is most suitable for you, based on your unique medical conditions and health insurance coverage.

When you embark on your weight loss treatment journey with Worthy Weight Loss, we will assess your need for medication by evaluating your medical history, physical exam and blood work results. Following this assessment, we will design a personalized treatment plan which includes prescribing the appropriate GLP1 medication.

Should our medical team determine that Saxenda® is the ideal GLP1 medication for your needs, we will provide you with comprehensive instructions regarding dosage, administration of Saxenda®, optimal timing for its use, and how it integrates with the rest of your treatment plan, including a tailored nutrition and exercise regimen.

You should meet all the following criteria to qualify to use Saxenda® (liraglutide):

1. BMI of 30 or more.
2. BMI of 27 or greater with a related health problem such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, prediabetes, sleep apnea, fatty liver or other comorbid conditions.
3. Age 12 or older.
4. No personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2.
5. No history of pancreatitis.

Injected once-a-day, average weight loss on Saxenda® is in the 9%-10% range.

However, our data at Worthy Weight Loss has shown that some patients lose up to 15% of their initial weight on Saxenda® when combined with a proper diet and exercise plan.