Saxenda

Saxenda is a daily weight loss injection that our pharmacists can prescribe after a face to face consultation in Leith. It suits adults who have struggled to lose weight with diet and exercise alone, and it works best as part of a wider plan.

How Saxenda helps with weight loss

The active ingredient, liraglutide, copies a natural gut hormone called GLP-1. It acts on the parts of the brain that control appetite, so you feel hungry less often. It also slows down how fast your stomach empties, which helps you feel full after smaller meals.

Who can use it

• Adults with a BMI of 30 or more
• Adults with a BMI of 27 or more who also have a weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes
• Anyone suitable after a health check with our pharmacist

Using your pen

You inject once a day, at roughly the same time, into your tummy, thigh or upper arm. Meals do not affect the timing. Each pen holds 18mg of liraglutide, so how long it lasts depends on your dose. Needles are not included, but NovoFine or NovoTwist needles up to 8mm long fit the pen.

Building up the dose

You start on 0.6mg a day and go up by 0.6mg each week until you reach 3.0mg. This slow increase helps your stomach adjust. If a step feels too much, you can stay on your current dose for an extra week. If you forget a dose, take it within 12 hours of your usual time.

Saxenda prices

Checking your progress

We review how you are getting on at each supply. If you have not lost at least 5% of your starting weight after 6 months, we may stop treatment. You will not pay anything until the pharmacist has confirmed it is right for you. For more on the medicine, read the NHS guide to liraglutide, or see our weight management options.