Saxenda Guide
Saxenda is the brand-name formulation of liraglutide 3.0 mg, the first GLP-1 receptor agonist FDA-approved for chronic weight management in adults (December 23, 2014) and later for adolescents aged 12 and older (December 4, 2020). It is a once-daily subcutaneous injection delivered through a multi-dose pre-filled pen and is manufactured by Novo Nordisk. Saxenda has since been overtaken in efficacy by once-weekly successors Wegovy (semaglutide 2.4 mg, 2021) and Zepbound (tirzepatide, 2023) — the head-to-head STEP-8 trial showed semaglutide 2.4 mg produced 15.8% mean weight loss versus 6.4% with liraglutide 3.0 mg over 68 weeks. It still retains distinct clinical niches: it is the only GLP-1 with an FDA pediatric weight-management indication, and its short 13-hour half-life makes it preferred for patients planning pregnancy who need a rapid washout.
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At a Glance
| Generic Name | Liraglutide |
| Brand Names | Saxenda |
| FDA Status | FDA-approved for chronic weight management in adults with obesity (BMI ≥30) or overweight (BMI ≥27) with at least one weight-related comorbidity (December 23, 2014); pediatric indication for patients aged 12 years and older with body weight greater than 60 kg and obesity added December 4, 2020[1] |
| Approval Date | December 23, 2014[1] |
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. The net result is reduced caloric intake and sustained weight loss when paired with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.[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
Common (≥5%): nausea, hypoglycemia (in patients with type 2 diabetes), diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, headache, decreased appetite, dyspepsia, fatigue, dizziness, abdominal pain, injection-site reactions. About 9.8% of adult trial patients discontinued for adverse reactions, most commonly nausea (2.9%), vomiting (1.7%), and diarrhea (1.4%). Serious (rare): acute pancreatitis, gallbladder disease (cholelithiasis, cholecystitis), acute kidney injury from volume depletion, hypoglycemia (especially when combined with insulin or sulfonylureas), increased heart rate, suicidal ideation, and serious hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis and angioedema. Boxed warning: liraglutide causes dose-dependent and treatment-duration-dependent thyroid C-cell tumors in rodents; relevance to humans is unknown. Contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).[1][2]
Nothing above is the full list. Your prescriber can give you the complete safety picture, and every adverse reaction on record sits in the current FDA prescribing information[1].
Clinical Trial Results
In the pivotal SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes trial (Pi-Sunyer et al. NEJM 2015, PMID 26132939; N=3,731 adults without diabetes), Saxenda 3.0 mg produced 8.0% mean body weight loss at 56 weeks versus 2.6% with placebo, and 63.2% of treated patients lost at least 5% of body weight versus 27.1% with placebo. The SCALE Sleep Apnea trial (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.
Trimi Health
Best for: knowing which pharmacy fills the vial — it names VialsRx
Editorial score · methodology
Editorial score · methodology
Editorial score · methodology
Editorial score · methodology
Editorial score · methodology
Editorial score · methodology
Cost Comparison
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources & methodology — as of August 2026
- 1.FDA — Wegovy (semaglutide) Approval History via Drugs@FDA— U.S. Food & Drug Administration.
- 2.STEP 1 Trial — Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity (Wilding JPH et al.)— New England Journal of Medicine.PMID: 33567185.
- 3.FDA — Compounding and the 503A Pharmacy Framework— U.S. Food & Drug Administration.
- 4.FDA — Drug Shortages Database (current shortage listings)— U.S. Food & Drug Administration.
- 5.IRS Publication 502 — Medical and Dental Expenses (HSA/FSA eligibility)— Internal Revenue Service.