Saxenda (Liraglutide)
Saxenda (liraglutide) is an FDA & MHRA-approved daily weight loss injection. It mimics the natural GLP-1 hormone to regulate appetite, increase feelings of fullness, and support sustainable weight reduction when combined with lifestyle support.
Saxenda Titration Tiers
New to Saxenda? All new patients begin on 0.6mg daily for Week 1.
Recommended for all new Saxenda patients (Week 1)
Saxenda pens are purchased at cost price directly from the pharmacy, facilitated by Smiths Medical Group.
What is Saxenda?
Saxenda is a prescription daily injection formulated for weight loss and long-term weight management.
Active Ingredient
Saxenda contains liraglutide, which acts on appetite receptors in the brain to reduce hunger and increase satiety.
How It Works
It helps you feel full with smaller meals, delays stomach emptying, and reduces food cravings throughout the day.
Administration
Saxenda is taken as a simple once-daily subcutaneous injection at any time of day.
Suitability
Saxenda is suitable for adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30) or overweight adults (BMI ≥ 27) with weight-related health conditions.
Effectiveness
Clinical trials demonstrate average weight loss of 8%–10% body weight over 56 weeks when paired with lifestyle guidance.
Side Effects & Safety
Common side effects include mild nausea, indigestion, or constipation during initial weekly dose escalation.
Saxenda Dosing Schedule
Saxenda is taken once daily. The dose is increased weekly by 0.6mg until the target maintenance dose of 3.0mg daily is reached.
Week 1
Start with a daily dose of 0.6mg to allow your body to adapt smoothly to liraglutide.
Week 2
Increase daily dose to 1.2mg, strengthening appetite suppression.
Week 3
Increase daily dose to 1.8mg as hunger levels continue to diminish.
Week 4
Escalate daily dose to 2.4mg in preparation for full maintenance level.
Week 5+
Reach the maximum licensed 3.0mg daily maintenance dose for ongoing weight loss.
Clinical Guidance on Titration:
Increasing the dose by 0.6mg weekly reduces the risk of gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea. If a new dose is not tolerated after a week, Matt Smith (ANP) may advise delaying the next increase for an extra week until symptoms settle.
How to Use Your Saxenda Pen
Self-administering Saxenda is quick and simple. Here are the step-by-step instructions for daily use.
Check Your Pen
Check solution is clear and colourless. Attach a new NovoFine needle.
Select Daily Dose
Turn dose selector until the dose counter shows your prescribed dose (e.g. 0.6mg).
Inject Subcutaneously
Insert needle into abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. Press button and hold for 6 seconds.
Safely Dispose
Remove needle and discard in your yellow sharps bin immediately.
Targeted Blood Panels for Optimised Weight Management
At Smiths Medical Group, we provide an enhanced level of clinical diligence. By incorporating comprehensive blood analysis before and during your weight loss journey, we ensure your treatment is precisely tailored, safe, and protective of your long-term metabolic health.
Weight Loss Commencement Profile
Conducted prior to starting weight management therapy to establish your baseline organ function, screen for underlying metabolic or hormonal factors, and ensure prescribing suitability.
What It Evaluates:
- Liver & Kidney Function: Confirms healthy organ clearance for weight loss medications.
- Full Glycaemic Assessment (HbA1c & Fasting Blood Sugar): Screens for undiagnosed insulin resistance or pre-diabetes.
- Comprehensive Lipid Profile: Evaluates cholesterol markers to track cardiovascular improvements over time.
- Thyroid Function (TSH & Free T4): Rules out underlying thyroid dysfunction that can suppress metabolic rate.
Weight Loss Monitoring Profile
Recommended periodically during active weight loss to track metabolic response, verify nutritional balance, and adjust your treatment parameters with objective clinical data.
Key Monitoring Clinical Benefits:
- Nutritional & Micronutrient Status: Checks key micronutrient and vitamin levels as dietary intake reduces.
- Metabolic Trend Tracking: Measures progress in blood glucose, triglycerides, and liver enzymes during weight reduction.
- Dose Optimisation: Informs decisions on dosage titration to ensure efficacy while minimising unwanted side effects.
- Physician & ANP Oversight: Provides clear objective markers for review by Matthew Smith (ANP) and Dr Iqbal (Medical Director).
Why Blood Monitoring Provides a Superior Standard of Care
Standard online weight loss services often issue prescriptions based solely on online questionnaires without objective health data. At Smiths Medical Group, offering dedicated Commencement and Monitoring Blood Profiles elevates your care to a premium clinical standard.
Identifies pre-existing organ or metabolic conditions before starting active medication.
Provides clear, objective biomarker metrics demonstrating internal health improvements alongside scale weight.
Conducted with expert review from Advanced Nurse Practitioner Matthew Smith and Medical Director Dr Iqbal.
Saxenda (Liraglutide) FAQs
Answered by Matthew Smith, Advanced Nurse Practitioner.
Start Your Saxenda Treatment Plan
Book your initial £50 consultation with Matthew Smith, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, to establish eligibility and baseline health markers.
Smiths Medical Group Ltd