This article describes Saxenda’s dosage and strengths and gives details on how to use it. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for Saxenda. If you want to know more about Saxenda, see this overview article. It covers details about the drug’s uses and side effects, ways to save on cost, and more.
Saxenda is a brand-name medication that comes as a solution for injection. It isn’t available in a generic version. This article describes the dosages of Saxenda.
Boxed warning: Risk of thyroid tumors and thyroid cancer
Saxenda has a boxed warning for the risk of thyroid tumors and thyroid cancer. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
See the end of this article for more information about this warning.
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Form and strength of Saxenda
Saxenda comes as follows:
- Form: solution in a prefilled pen, which you’ll use by injecting a dose subcutaneously (under the skin)
- Strength: 6 milligrams (mg) per milliliter (mL)
- Doses: 0.6 mg, 1.2 mg, 1.8 mg, 2.4 mg, 3 mg
Dosage of Saxenda
This article describes the recommended dosages for Saxenda. The drugmaker provides these dosages.
If your doctor prescribes this medication, you should follow the dosage they prescribe. Your doctor will determine the dosage that best meets your needs. Do not change your dosage of Saxenda without your doctor’s recommendation.
Usual recommended dosages of Saxenda in adults
Saxenda is approved along with lifestyle changes for weight management in adults with:
- obesity
- overweight and at least one weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes
Usually, doctors start by prescribing a low dosage of Saxenda. Then, they’ll adjust it over time until the correct dosage is reached.
The usual recommended dosages of Saxenda in adults are:
- Starting dosage: 0.6 mg once per day for 1 week
- Week 2: 1.2 mg once per day
- Week 3: 1.8 mg once per day
- Week 4: 2.4 mg once per day
- Week 5 and onward (maintenance dosage): 3 mg once per day
Your doctor can adjust the dosage schedule above if needed. If you don’t tolerate a dose increase, your doctor may tell you to delay the next higher dose by about 1 week.
The recommended dosage of Saxenda for adults is 3 mg once per day. Typically, you take lower doses at first to help ease you into this recommended dosage. Your doctor will likely stop Saxenda if you can’t tolerate the 3 mg daily dose.
Dosages of Saxenda in children
Saxenda is approved along with lifestyle changes for weight management in children ages 12 years and older who have obesity and weigh more than 60 kilograms (kg). One kg is about 2.2 pounds (lb).
The usual recommended dosages of Saxenda in children are the same as those in adults:
- Starting dosage: 0.6 mg once per day for 1 week
- Week 2: 1.2 mg once per day
- Week 3: 1.8 mg once per day
- Week 4: 2.4 mg once per day
- Week 5 and onward (maintenance dosage): 3 mg once per day
Your child’s doctor can adjust the schedule above if the child does not tolerate the dose increase well. Dose increases for children may take up to 8 weeks.
The recommended dosage of Saxenda for children is 3 mg once per day. Children who don’t tolerate 3 mg once per day may take a lower maintenance dose of 2.4 mg once per day. Your child’s doctor will likely stop Saxenda if they can’t tolerate the 2.4 mg daily dose.
Missed dose of Saxenda
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist right away if you realize you forgot to take a dose of Saxenda. They’ll likely advise you to skip the missed dose and take your next dose as scheduled. Do not increase your dose to make up for the missed dose, and do not take an extra dose.
If you miss a dose of Saxenda for 3 or more days, talk with your doctor. You’ll likely need to restart treatment at a lower dose before you can return to your regular dose.
For tips on how to plan your doses of Saxenda and avoid missing a dose, read this article. You could also try:
- downloading a reminder app on your phone
- setting an alarm
- putting a note where you’ll see it, such as on your calendar, bathroom mirror, or bedside table
Frequently asked questions
Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about Saxenda and its dosage.
Can certain foods affect my dosage of Saxenda?
No, your dosage of Saxenda should not be affected by whether you eat certain foods. You can take Saxenda with or without food.
Saxenda is meant to be used along with lifestyle changes, including a reduced-calorie diet and increased exercise, for weight management.
That said, there are some things to consider about food with Saxenda. For example, tell your doctor if you have trouble digesting food or have other stomach problems. Saxenda can slow how quickly your stomach empties food.
Also, nausea is a commonly reported side effect of Saxenda. If you have nausea while taking Saxenda, consider limiting foods that could worsen nausea, such as greasy, fatty, or spicy foods. You can see our article for more details about the side effects of Saxenda.
These factors should not affect your dosage of Saxenda. If you have questions about your dosage of Saxenda, talk with your pharmacist or doctor.
How many doses are in a Saxenda pen?
Each Saxenda prefilled pen comes with 3 milliliters (mL) of solution for injection. You dial the pen to the dose you need to deliver. The pen can give doses of 0.6 milligrams (mg), 1.2 mg, 1.8 mg, 2.4 mg, or 3 mg.
Each pen contains a total of 18 mg of liraglutide, the active ingredient in Saxenda. (An active ingredient is what makes a medication work.) Because each pen contains 3 mL of solution for injection, the strength of Saxenda is 18 mg/3 mL. This equals 6 mg/mL.
The number of doses your Saxenda pen can deliver depends on the dose you dial. For example, if your doctor prescribes a dose of 3 mg once per day, each pen can deliver six doses of 3 mg each (which adds up to the 18 mg of drug each pen contains).
You can tell how much Saxenda is left in your pen by looking at the pen scale. This shows you how much drug remains in the pen. You can also use the dose counter to dial up the dose. If the dose counter stops before 3 mg, there is not enough drug left in the pen to administer a 3 mg dose. For more detailed instructions, see the Saxenda Instructions for use.
When you first start Saxenda, you will be using a lower dosage. So each pen can deliver more doses because you are using a smaller amount of drug each time.
Because dosages of Saxenda can vary, two package sizes are available. One package comes with three pens, and the other package comes with five pens. If you take 3 mg once per day, a package of five pens (which contains a total of 90 mg of Saxenda) will last 30 days. Once you have started using an individual pen, you should throw it away after 30 days.
Talk with your pharmacist or doctor if you have other questions about how many doses a Saxenda pen contains.
Can I stay on my dose of Saxenda 0.6 mg?
No, it’s not recommended to stay on a dose of Saxenda 0.6 mg once per day for either adults or children.
The starting dosage of Saxenda in children ages 12 years and older and adults is 0.6 mg, taken once per day for 1 week. The dose is then slowly increased over time to lessen the chance of stomach side effects, such as nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting.
However, the recommended maintenance dosage of Saxenda for adults is 3 mg once per day. You take lower doses at the start of treatment to ease you into this recommended dosage and help you better tolerate the drug. Your doctor will likely stop Saxenda if you can’t tolerate the 3 mg daily dose. Lower doses have not been shown to be effective for weight management in adults.
The recommended dosage of Saxenda for children is 3 mg once per day. Children who do not tolerate 3 mg once per day may take a lower maintenance dose of 2.4 mg once per day. Your child’s doctor will likely stop Saxenda if they can’t tolerate the 2.4 mg daily dose.
If you have questions about your dosage of Saxenda, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Am I able to use more than Saxenda 3 mg daily?
No, it’s not recommended to use more than Saxenda 3 mg daily.
The usual recommended maintenance dosage of Saxenda for adults or children is 3 mg once per day. In studies of Saxenda, the drug was increased to a dose of 3 mg once per day.
Taking more than the recommended dosage of 3 mg once per day may increase the risk of harmful effects, including overdose. This could lead to side effects such as severe nausea, severe vomiting, and severely low blood sugar.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about what dosage of Saxenda is right for you.
Is Saxenda used long term?
Yes, doctors typically prescribe Saxenda as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine it’s safe and effective for your condition, you’ll likely take it long term.
If you have questions about how long you should take Saxenda, talk with your doctor.
How Saxenda is used
You’ll inject Saxenda subcutaneously (under the skin) once per day. You can inject it into the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. Your doctor or pharmacist will show you how to inject Saxenda before you use it for the first time.
You can take Saxenda with or without food. You can inject it at any time of day. Your doctor may advise that you take this medication around the same time each day. This helps keep a consistent amount of the drug in your body and can help the drug work more effectively.
You should rotate where you inject Saxenda each time. This can help reduce the risk of side effects in the area where you inject the medication. For more detailed instructions about how to use Saxenda, see the Saxenda instructions for use.
Be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re having difficulty taking your medication. They can offer recommendations about how to use it.
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