Saxenda (liraglutide): how to use it, side effects and what to eat

How Saxenda works

Liraglutide activates the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor, known as GLP-1. Its effect on appetite can help you feel full sooner and feel less hungry [1]. Find out more about the active ingredient in the liraglutide information page.

A reduced appetite may change how much and when you eat. It is therefore helpful to check that your meals still include foods providing protein, fibre and variety. Your plan is tailored to your tolerance, schedule and clinical circumstances.

Saxenda and Ozempic belong to the GLP-1 receptor agonist family. Saxenda contains liraglutide and is injected daily [1]. Ozempic contains semaglutide and is injected weekly [2]. They have different indications and dosing schedules; injection frequency alone does not determine which is right for you.

For an overview of these and other medicines and their indications, see the GLP-1 medicines guide. Our role is to help you eat enough and maintain helpful habits during treatment.

Who Saxenda is authorised for

In adults, it is indicated for weight management alongside an eating plan and physical activity. The product information distinguishes obesity from overweight with at least one weight-related condition [1].

Having type 2 diabetes does not rule out this indication: it may be one of the associated conditions [1]. Saxenda is indicated for weight management and does not replace insulin or other diabetes treatment [1].

The European product information also covers use in children aged 6 to under 12 years with obesity and a weight of at least 45 kg, and in adolescents from age 12 with obesity and a weight above 60 kg [1]. These decisions require specialist paediatric assessment. This page focuses on adult dosing.

In adults, if you have not lost at least 5% of your initial weight after 12 weeks on the 3.0 mg dose, the product information says treatment should be stopped [1]. Your doctor makes that decision; you should not adjust anything yourself.

Daily dosing and how the dose is increased

Saxenda is injected under the skin once a day. It can be given at any time, regardless of meals. The product information advises using it at roughly the same time each day once you have chosen a time [1].

The dose is increased at intervals of at least one week to improve digestive tolerability. If you do not tolerate a stage, speak to the person prescribing your medicine. The product information does not recommend exceeding 3.0 mg a day [1].

If you miss a dose and it is less than 12 hours since your usual time, inject it as soon as you remember. If it is less than 12 hours until your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue as usual [1]. Do not take a double dose to make up for it.

Inject into the abdomen, thigh or upper arm, rotating the injection site [1]. Ask for a demonstration if this is your first pen. Do not estimate doses by counting clicks or share the device. Follow the package instructions and the individual plan given to you by your medical team.

It is reasonable to ask, “Is a daily injection worth it?” A daily schedule may fit your routine better or worse. Discuss your preferences, tolerance, indication, medical history and follow-up options with your doctor. We can help you organise meals around the agreed schedule.

If you start Saxenda while taking warfarin or other coumarin derivatives, the product information recommends more frequent INR monitoring [1]. Severe diarrhoea may affect the absorption of other oral medicines [1]. A loss of effectiveness of oral contraceptives is not expected [1]. Always discuss this with your prescriber.

Saxenda price and funding in Spain

The reference retail price is €283. This is an indicative price: we have not been able to verify it by national code using a public official source. It may vary by pack and over time, so check with your pharmacy before starting.

The pack marketed in Spain contains 3 pens of 3 ml (6 mg/ml, 54 mg in total). At the 3.0 mg daily maintenance dose, this pack lasts around 2–3 weeks (about 18 days), not a month. The pack of 5 pens is authorised but is not marketed in Spain. Saxenda is not funded by Spain’s National Health System [3]. A medicine’s authorisation and public funding are separate decisions. A prescription therefore does not mean that the National Health System will pay for it.

Long-term treatment means planning for the cost, follow-up appointments and what you will do if you need to stop. You inject a lower dose during the first few weeks, so the pack lasts longer [1].

See GLP-1 prices and funding, including the review date for each presentation.

Side effects: which are common and what may help

Digestive symptoms are the most common reactions. The product information classifies nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation as “very common”: they affect at least one in ten people treated [1]. They tend to occur in the first few weeks and settle over days or weeks [1].

Food suggestions can help you organise your day, but they do not replace assessment of a severe reaction. Keep a brief record of the symptom, how much fluid you can manage and when the dose was last increased. This will help you explain it clearly to your prescriber.

The product information also lists headache as very common, injection-site reactions as common and dehydration as uncommon [1]. If a symptom persists, it is worth reviewing the treatment as a whole. See practical advice for nausea with GLP-1 medicines and constipation with GLP-1 medicines.

What to eat while taking Saxenda

When your appetite is lower, a small meal may mean you miss out on another. The eating plan aims to help you meet your needs without forcing yourself to eat large portions. GLP-1 nutrition consensus guidance highlights food quality, digestive symptoms and preserving muscle [4].

In appointments, we sometimes see breakfasts reduced to just coffee and meals skipped because of a lack of appetite. If this happens to you, we review how food is spread across the day. It may be easier to have toast with egg, natural yoghurt and fruit, or a small portion of pulses with vegetables, than to try to make up for everything at dinner.

Protein can come from fish, eggs, pulses, dairy foods or soya drink. We tailor amounts to your medical history, activity and tolerance; there is no single figure for everyone. If solid food does not appeal, we look for something you can tolerate rather than leaving that meal out.

If you feel nauseous, it may help to notice portion size and how rich the food is. Vegetable soup with egg or a small plate of rice and fish may feel easier than a large meal. If constipation is the main issue, we review fluids, fruit, pulses and how quickly fibre is increased.

Eating less because you are less hungry should not mean failing to meet your body’s needs.

Movement also helps preserve muscle mass. Strength work adapted to your abilities complements your eating plan [4] [5]. The sample GLP-1 meal plan and guide to protein and muscle offer examples to help you plan. In our GLP-1 nutrition support programme, we tailor this guidance to your meals.

What we see in appointments

The question we hear most often is how to eat when you have very little appetite. People are also unsure whether mild nausea is to be expected or whether they should call their doctor. A short list of tolerated foods and symptoms can help your prescribing team tailor the plan.

If loss of appetite is making your relationship with food distressing, tell someone. Nutrition support can be coordinated with mental health care when needed. The aim is to keep your plan adequate, flexible and workable in everyday life.

What may happen when you stop Saxenda

When liraglutide is stopped, your appetite may increase again and some weight may return. In a trial with one year of follow-up without treatment, people who had received liraglutide alone regained around 6 kg more than those who had followed supervised exercise [6]. The study supports building habits and physical activity into treatment; everyone’s experience is different.

Your stopping plan should be discussed with your doctor before changing your medication. In nutrition appointments, we review meal timings, meals you can sustain, strength and support with any difficulties. Weight regain is not a moral failing: biological processes and personal circumstances also play a part.

If this is your main concern, read what we know about weight regain after GLP-1 treatment and how to prepare to stop treatment with sustainable habits. This general guidance should be tailored to the medicine you take.

When it is not recommended or needs special assessment

The formal contraindication in the Spanish product information is an allergy to liraglutide or any of the medicine’s ingredients [1]. Other circumstances may mean it should be avoided, used with extra caution or decided upon with a specialist; they are not all formal contraindications.

• Pregnancy, trying to become pregnant and breastfeeding: the product information says not to use it [1].
• Severe kidney impairment, severe liver impairment or age 75 years or over: use is not recommended in the product information [1].
• Diabetic gastroparesis or inflammatory bowel disease: use is not recommended in the product information because experience is limited [1].
• Diabetes treated with insulin or sulphonylureas: discuss the risk of hypoglycaemia with your doctor [1] [7].
• A current or previous eating disorder: speak to your doctor and mental health team before starting.

Tell your doctor before starting or continuing treatment if you have had pancreatitis or gallbladder disease, or if you are due to have a procedure involving anaesthesia [1]. Your doctor, who knows your circumstances, should assess this.

Saxenda outside Spain

Availability, indications and coverage depend on the country and may change. This page describes Spanish authorisation and funding, so its price and status in Spain’s National Health System do not apply elsewhere.

In Mexico, Argentina or Colombia, check the registration with the relevant medicines agency (COFEPRIS, ANMAT or INVIMA) and the cover provided by your insurer or health system. Your doctor and pharmacist can tell you whether it is available and under what conditions.

If you live outside Spain and already have a local prescription, we can support you with nutrition online. Your own medical team remains responsible for prescribing and monitoring the medicine.