Saxenda Guide

How Saxenda Works

Liraglutide is an acylated, 97%-homologous analog of native human GLP-1, modified with a fatty-acid side chain that lets it bind albumin and resist DPP-4 degradation — extending its half-life from minutes to about 13 hours. Activating GLP-1 receptors in hypothalamic appetite centers reduces hunger and increases satiety, while peripheral effects slow gastric emptying and dampen meal-time glucose excursions. Paired with increased physical activity and a diet reduced in calories, the net result is that patients eat less and keep weight off.^[2]

Dosing Schedule

Saxenda uses a gradual dose escalation to minimize side effects. Always follow your prescriber's guidance and the current FDA label^[1].

Side Effects

Clinical Trial Results

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The pivotal trial was SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes (N=3,731 adults, none diabetic; Pi-Sunyer et al. NEJM 2015, PMID 26132939). At 56 weeks Saxenda 3.0 mg had produced mean body-weight loss of 8.0% against 2.6% on placebo, and 63.2% of treated patients were past the 5% bar against 27.1% on placebo. A second trial, SCALE Sleep Apnea (Blackman et al. 2016, PMID 27005405), showed significantly greater reductions in apnea-hypopnea index alongside weight loss in adults with moderate-to-severe OSA. The SCALE Teens trial (Kelly et al. NEJM 2020, PMID 32233338) supported the December 2020 adolescent (ages 12+) indication, showing reductions in BMI standard deviation score versus placebo over 56 weeks.^[2]

Where to Get Saxenda

Sellers in our register that will dispense liraglutide, or a compounded version of it, after an online consultation — shipped to your door.

What each seller in the register charges to start on a compounded GLP-1, cheapest at the top. Compounded liraglutide from licensed 503A and 503B pharmacies is legal under federal compounding law^[3], and the rules have historically loosened further for any molecule sitting on the FDA Drug Shortage List^[4]. An FSA or HSA will generally cover either kind of prescription, compounded or branded, under IRS Publication 502^[5]. What you actually pay moves with your dose and with whatever promotion happens to be running.

Saxenda Head-to-Head Comparisons

Short verdict pages setting Saxenda against the other GLP-1 options, working from the trial results, the dose ladders on each label, and what the manufacturers charge today.

See all drug-vs-drug verdicts.

Pivotal Saxenda Trial Walkthroughs

The trials that produced the Saxenda label, taken endpoint by endpoint, with the figures read off the source.

Saxenda Reference Cards

One-screen references for the dose schedule, what to do about a missed dose, and the side effects that warrant a call. Every figure checked against the DailyMed label.

Related Research on Saxenda

Longer pieces written here, built on the trial papers themselves, checked against the FDA label, and argued rather than summarized.

Frequently Asked Questions