Facing a significant weight loss goal can be daunting, especially if you have had difficulty losing weight in the past.
 
If you are following a healthy diet and taking part and taking part in exercise without seeing results, it can be discouraging and frustrating.
 
Weight loss medications, such as Saxenda injections, can help you to lose weight if you have a high BMI and are struggling to lose weight through a healthy diet and exercise alone.
 
A slimming injection may sound scary, but it may help to provide a solution for weightloss.
 
You will need to speak to a doctor to discover if Saxenda is suitable for you and your needs, but in this guide, we will explain how the medication works and how to use it.
 
 

How Saxenda works

 
Saxenda utilises one of your body's natural responses in order to help you lose weight.
 
Our body produces a hormone called glucagon-like-peptide (GLP-1) which helps you to regulate feelings of hunger.
 
GLP-1 is released from the intestine after a meal and let's you know that you are full.
 
Saxenda works like this hormone to help regulate your appetite which can help you to consume fewer calories and lose weight.
 
It acts on the receptors in the brain which controls your appetite and causes you to feel less hungry.
 
This could help you to eat less and reduce your body weight, if you are struggling with dieting.
 
The active ingredient is liraglutide and is presented as an injectable medicine, that is only available on prescription.
 
Saxenda should be used in conjunction with a healthy, reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
 
 

Who can use Saxenda?

 
You cannot obtain this medicine without a prescription, so you will need to discuss your weight and lifestyle with your doctor to ensure if this medicine is suitable for you.
 
This medicine can only be used by adults with excess weight (a BMI that is over 27) and who also have weight-related medical problems or are obese (a BMI that is over 30).
 
In animal studies, medicines, such as Saxenda have been known to cause thyroid tumours and thyroid cancer, however, it is not known if Saxenda can cause Thyroid tumours or a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MRC) in people.
 
This medicine is not suitable if you or any of your family have ever had MTC or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Syndrome type 2 or if you are:

• Allergic to liraglutide or any of the ingredients in this medicine
• Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant

 
If you are struggling to lose weight, it is so important to have a consultation with your doctor to look at all of the options available to you.
 
 

How much weight could Saxenda help you lose?

 

 
Saxenda was clinically tested and in a study of 3731 patients 85% of people lost weight using this medication.
 
In a clinical study of people taking Saxenda for 3 years, 56% achieved significant weight loss in year 1.
 
Around half of these patients maintained their weight loss at 3 years when using Saxenda with a reduced-calorie meal plan and increased physical activity, compared with people not taking Saxenda.
 
 

How do you use Saxenda

 
When prescribed this medicine, your doctor will recommend a diet and exercise programme and it is important to stick to this programme when you are using Saxenda.
 
You should only continue using Saxenda if you have lost at least 5% of your initial body weight after 12 weeks on the 3mg per day dose - consult your doctor before you continue.
 
When you first start your treatment, you will begin with a low dose which will be gradually increased over the first 5 weeks of treatment.
 
The increase in Saxenda will be determined by your doctor.
 
Saxenda is given as an injection and is administrated either at the front of your waist (abdomen), the front of your thighs or your upper arm.
 
The needle and medicine are presented in a pre-filled pen that is to be used once daily.
 
It can be taken any time of day that is convenient for you, with or without food and your healthcare professional will be able to advise you on the best place to inject the medicine.
 
 

Using the pen

 
It is important to look through the pen window first to ensure that it is clear - if it is cloudy do NOT use the pen.
 
Take a new needle and tear off the protective paper tab and push the needle straight onto the pen before turning it until it is on tight.
 
Pull off the outer needle cap, but do NOT throw it away.
 
Pull off the inner needle cap and throw it away.
 
You may notice a drop of Saxenda at the needle tip, this is normal, but you must still check the Saxenda flow.
 
ALWAYS use a new needle for each injection.
 
Check the Saxenda flow with each new pen by turning the dose selector until the dose counter shows the flow check symbol.
 
Hold the pen with the needle pointing up - press and hold in the dose button until the dose counter shows 0.
 
Do NOT use the pen if a drop does not appear when checking the flow.
 
Select your dose by turning the dose seletor until the dose counter shows your dose, which will be instructed by your doctor.
 
Insert the needle into your skin, as your doctor has shown you and ensure you can see the dose counter - do NOT cover it with your fingers as this could stop the injection.
 
Press and hold down the dose button until the dose counter shows 0.
 
Keep the needle in your skin after the dose counter has returned to 0 and count slowly to 6.
 
Remove the needle from your skin and if the blood appears at the injection site, press lightly - do NOT rub the area.
 
 

Where can you buy Saxenda?

 

 
You can only receive Saxenda on prescription, so if you think that weight loss injections may help you in your weight loss journey, schedule an appointment with your doctor.
 
Your doctor will ask you questions about your health and your family's medical history to discover if Saxenda is suitable for you.
 
If you're not sure if this medicine is suitable for you, you can fill in our simple online questionnaire or speak to one of your doctors to find out more about Saxenda.
 
We ship your medication directly to you, discreetly and in plain packaging.
 
If you're having difficulty losing weight, speak to one of our doctors today about weight loss medication.