Saxenda

For patients suffering from obesity, the prescription medication Saxenda can help support a more efficient and sustainable weight loss when used in combination with dieting and exercise. It is applied with a pre-filled injection pen once a day and reduces appetite and calorie intake.

The medicine is recommended for patients who exceed a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or 27 in cases of existing weight-related comorbid conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes or dyslipidemia.

Saxenda also improves glycemic control. After using the standard dose of 3 mg per day for 12 weeks, the patient should have lost at least 5% of the initial body weight for treatment to be continued.

The active ingredient of Saxenda is liraglutide, which is medically known as an acylated human glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. It imitates naturally produced GLP-1 and binds and activates GLP-1 receptors which are located in various locations in the brain. GLP-1 is directly involved in the regulation of appetite and therefore calorie intake.

As an advantage compared to the GLP-1 naturally produced by the body, liraglutide is more stable against metabolic degradation which delays absorption of the agent and allows for an application only once daily.

An additional positive side effect of liraglutide is that it can improve the control of blood glucose levels by influencing insulin and glucagon secretion. However, the medication is not suitable for the sole treatment of diabetes.

Liraglutide is offered in a solution and applied with an injection pen which contains multiple doses of the medication. First time use of the medication is recommended with a dose of 0.6 mg which is then increased each week in increments of 0.6 mg each. The subsequent doses of 0.6 mg, 1.2 mg, 1.8 mg, 2.4 mg and the maximum dose of 3 mg can all be delivered with the same pen. The subcutaneous administration can be done on the arm, thigh or abdomen.

The patient can choose the individual application time and location, although it is recommended to take Saxenda around the same time each day. After every application the single-use needle has to be disposed of securely and the pen stored without a needle attached. The Saxenda delivery includes enough needles for the usable doses of the pen and a safe needle disposal box.

For Saxenda to be used safely and efficiently the medication has to be stored at temperatures between 2°C and 8°C in the refrigerator. It should never be frozen, however, so storage near or in the freezer compartment is not recommended. Once a Saxenda pen has first been applied, it can be used for up to a month.

For protection from light and to avoid deterioration of the solution the pen cap has to be placed back after each use. The solution should be clear and colourless or almost colourless to still be used. Should Saxenda have been frozen at any point it should also no longer be used.

Prescription medication can always cause unwanted side effects and Saxenda is no exception. Mainly at the beginning of the treatment side effects such as nausea are common as the body adapts to the new medicine. This usually abates throughout the continued treatment without necessity for dosage adjustments. Other common side effects include diarrhoea and constipation, headaches and vomiting. Saxenda can also cause:

• reduced blood sugar (hypoglycaemia)
• stomach pain
• dizziness
• tiredness
• decreased appetite
• changing levels of lipase in the blood

Furthermore there is a risk for local adverse reactions due to the application by injection, for example rash, erythema and pruritus.

The treatment with Saxenda also increases the risk for certain serious side effects including dehydration, increased heart rate, pancreatitis, thyroid disease and acute gallbladder disease. Should Saxenda cause any serious or long-lasting side effects, please stop taking the medication and see your doctor as soon as possible.

It should be noted that Saxenda is not suitable for patients with a history of depression or suicidal ideation as the treatment might heighten the risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviour. Patients should be monitored closely for unusual moods and behavioural changes.

Medication alone is not enough to sustainably reduce and keep off excess body weight, therefore the treatment with Saxenda should only be an addition to a healthy lifestyle with good eating habits and regular physical exercise. There is no advantage gained by combining Saxenda with other weight loss medications, but it carries a higher risk of dangerous side effects.

Saxenda should not be used if there is a known hypersensitivity to liraglutide or any of the product components. A history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2) are known contraindications for Saxenda.

The medication is also not recommended for patients with congestive heart failure, inflammatory bowel disease, mild to moderate hepatic impairment and severe renal or hepatic impairment. Patients with obesity issues that were primarily caused by eating disorders, endocrinological problems or as a side effect of medications are also not advised to use Saxenda.

Further contraindications are:

• patient younger than 18 or older than 75
• pregnancy, breastfeeding
• BMI lower than 30 or below 27 when suffering from weight-related diseases

Saxenda helps control the blood glucose levels, but is not suitable as a stand-alone treatment for type-2 diabetes. The medication should not be used together with other GLP-1 receptor agonists or insulin.

The service of euroClinix allows you to comfortably buy Saxenda online without a need to wait at the doctor's office. You need to fill out an online consultation which is then checked by one of our registered doctors who will issue a valid prescription if there are no health concerns. The medication is then shipped via free express delivery.

Saxenda is a prescription-only medication, which makes it illegal to buy and sell without a valid prescription from a doctor. This also applies to online pharmacies. Since Saxenda can cause potentially dangerous side effects, a doctor has to check that the medication might not cause any health issues.

All our doctors are registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) while our in-house pharmacy is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPC). We certified by the Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) as well as the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

During the order process, your data is protected by SSL encryption. Should there be any issue regarding your online consilation, the customer service team will contact you to clear up the doctor's questions.