Before you start taking Saxenda, your clinician will help you to create a meal plan that’s designed to help you lose weight while taking Saxenda. This, alongside exercise, will make it more likely that you’ll get what you need from the treatment. With just a little planning, this can make the whole treatment that much easier and more successful.

You can use Saxenda at any time of the day, but it’s important to use it at the same time each day. For this reason, you should choose a time that will be easiest to remember, such as with breakfast in the morning. It can be taken with or without food or drink.

Saxenda uses an injection pen to administer the medication. First you’ll need to remove the outer cap and the inner cap that covers the needle then check that the medication is flowing correctly. Turning the dose selector will adjust the dosage to the strength you need (more on that next). You should inject Saxenda into the thigh, upper arm or abdomen and then remove the needle, which is replaced for the next dose.

You can select the dosage of the injection by twisting the top of the pen. The dose counter will clearly show the dose on the side of the pen.

On week one you take 0.6mg every day, week two 1.2 mg, week three 1.8mg, week four 2.4mg and finally, from week five onwards, 3mg. Do not increase the dosage above 3mg. Your clinician can then monitor its use for the remainder of the treatment to see if it’s effective.

It’s important to take Saxenda as instructed, but don't worry if you miss a dose, simply take it once you’ve remembered if within 12 hours of the injection that’s due. After 12 hours, skip the dose and carry on taking it as normal.

Don’t take double the dose of Saxenda to make up for a missed dose as it will provide no benefits and risks serious side effects.

If you take too much Saxenda, seek immediate medical attention. Take the medication with you so the hospital can treat you quickly if needed. If you notice any of the following, report this immediately: nausea, vomiting and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).

Early signs of hypoglycemia include: fatigue, sweating, hunger, palpitations, shaking and mood swings.

The most common side effects of Saxenda occur in more than one in 10 of patients. It should be noted that these can be mild and usually subside as the body gets used to the medication over the first few days.

The most common side effects for Saxenda include: nausea, constipation, diarrhoea and vomiting.

Serious side effects with Saxenda are rare, but due to the health risks involved, it’s important to know what they are and what to look out for in case they do present.

If you notice any of the following, seek immediate medical attention: allergic reactions (problems breathing, severe rashes and swelling of the mouth, lips, throat and face) and pancreatitis (pain in the abdomen and severe vomiting).

The most common side effect from discontinuing use of Saxenda is weight gain. This is why it’s important to maintain the habits you’ve built up during treatment. Losing weight on Saxenda is habit forming, meaning the good work you’ve put in over the course of the 12+ weeks can lead to positive results in the long term.

Orlistat and Saxenda are two different weight loss medications that work in different ways. As mentioned earlier, Saxenda works by releasing chemicals that fool the body into feeling full more quickly. Orlistat, instead, stops the body absorbing fat by around 33%, with the substance passing through your stool. This does not necessarily mean you’ll lose weight.

Studies seem to show that Saxenda is the more effective of the two for losing weight, but it will depend on a variety of factors, not to mention your own personal needs and ability to tolerate each medication.^[3]

Not so much an alternative, but more of a necessity, lifestyle changes are key to losing weight and keeping it off. Dietary changes can help greatly, with a calorie controlled, fresh and healthy diet a must. Exercise is also vital, and it doesn’t even need to mean joining a gym. In fact, just a few hours walking (three to five hours a week) can have a great impact on your general health.

For more advice, the NHS has several weight loss programs and support groups they can refer you to.

Surgery is only ever considered in extreme circumstances. If you are severely obese (over 40 BMI or between 35 and 40 BMI with related health conditions), you may be eligible for it.

There are different types of surgery available: bariatric surgery, which includes a gastric band (a band placed around the stomach itself so you’re full more quickly); a gastric bypass (where the top of the stomach is joined to the small intestine that leads to you consuming less calories); and a sleeve gastrectomy (where part of the stomach is removed so you can’t digest as much food).

Each of these surgeries have advantages and disadvantages but, due to the seriousness of the surgery, they’re only ever considered as a last resort.