Liraglutide (Saxenda)

• Saxenda (liraglutide) is an injectable medicine used together with a lower-calorie diet and more physical activity for long-term weight management in adults with obesity, or with excess weight plus a weight-related health problem, and in some teens 12 years and older with obesity.
• It is not the same product as the liraglutide used for diabetes (Victoza) — do not use one in place of the other.

• Inject under the skin of your stomach, thigh, or upper arm once a day, at any time, with or without food.
• Your dose is increased slowly over several weeks, starting at 0.6 mg, up to the full dose of 3 mg once daily — follow your prescriber's schedule exactly and do not skip the slow increase.
• Rotate where you inject each day to avoid skin problems.

If you miss a dose

• If you miss a dose by less than 12 hours, take it as soon as you remember. If more than 12 hours have passed, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time. Do not take 2 doses to make up for a missed one.

• Do not use this medicine if you are pregnant. Stop it at least 2 months before you plan to become pregnant.
• Breastfeeding is not recommended while using this medicine, since there is not enough information on whether it passes into breast milk.

• Tell your prescriber if you or a family member has ever had medullary thyroid cancer, or a condition called multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2) — this medicine must not be used in that situation.
• Tell your prescriber if you have gallbladder disease, kidney problems, a history of depression, or are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.

Important warnings

• Get medical help right away for severe stomach pain that does not go away, especially if it spreads to your back, with or without vomiting — this can be a sign of pancreatitis.
• Get medical help right away for pain in the upper right side of your stomach, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or fever with stomach pain — these can be signs of a gallbladder problem.
• Tell your prescriber right away about any new or worsening mood changes, or thoughts of self-harm.

• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, reduced appetite, headache, and mild injection-site reactions. These are most common when starting or increasing your dose and usually ease with time.

When to get emergency help

• Severe or worsening stomach pain, especially with vomiting or pain spreading to your back.
• Signs of a severe allergic reaction: swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat; difficulty breathing; widespread rash or hives.

When to contact a healthcare professional

• If you are not tolerating the nausea or other stomach side effects even after slowing down the dose increases.
• If you have not noticed any weight loss after several months of treatment at your full dose.

• This medicine can slow how quickly your stomach empties, which may change how well other oral medicines work, including birth control pills — discuss all your other medicines with the Care365 care team.
• If you also take insulin or a sulfonylurea diabetes medicine, your risk of low blood sugar may increase; your other diabetes medicine doses may need to be adjusted.

• Store new pens in the refrigerator. Do not freeze.
• Once you start using a pen, keep it at room temperature or in the refrigerator, and throw it away after 1 month even if some medicine is left.
• Dispose of used pens and needles in a sharps container, not the household trash.