How effective is Saxenda (Liraglutide) for weight loss?
Saxenda (Liraglutide) is an injectable drug that doctors can prescribe for people who are overweight or obese to reduce their weight. A person is considered to be overweight if their body mass index (BMI) is 25 or above. On the other hand, you are considered to be obese if your BMI is 30 and above. BMI is used to measure your body fat based on your weight in kilos divided by your height in meters squared. BMI is a way to calculate whether your weight is healthy or not. A study showed that the drug was effective at reducing weight in obese people with weight-related conditions, such as diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic condition where a person cannot make enough insulin or use it properly. The study involved 3,700 participants across six different continents and showed improved weight loss and controlled blood glucose levels as a result of taking this medicine. The participants ate a reduced calorie diet and increased their physical activity together with Saxenda or a placebo.
The study showed that participants who took this drug lost an average weight of 18.5 lbs over a period of 56 weeks. On the other hand, participants who took a placebo lost only 6 lbs. However, lost pounds as a result of taking Saxenda for weight loss is moderate or mild compared to methods such as gastric bypass. Therefore, you should not take this medication as a quick fix for your weight loss. According to the study, 63 percent of participants who took Liraglutide shots lost over 5 percent of their body weight. Another 33 percent lost over 10 percent of their body weight when they took the medication. In addition to helping people lose weight, the drug also resulted in other health benefits, such as reduced cholesterol and reduced blood glucose, which helped to properly manage diabetes in participants.
How to take this medication for weight loss
Saxenda comes in prefilled pens that are supposed to be taken once every day. You should inject this diabetes medication subcutaneously, in the fat tissue of your stomach, thigh or upper arm. Do not inject this medication into the muscle or a vein. When you start taking it, your doctor will prescribe 0.6 mg. Your dose will likely need to be increased every week until it reaches 3 mg. After that, you should not adjust your dosage unless you are advised otherwise by your doctor. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. In case you missed your dose for more than 3 days, ask your doctor how you can restart your treatment safely. Do not use this medicine if you are allergic to liraglutide or any of its ingredients.
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Disclaimer: Please note that the contents of this community article are strictly for informational purposes and should not be considered as medical advice. This article, and other community articles, are not written or reviewed for medical validity by Canadian Insulin or its staff. All views and opinions expressed by the contributing authors are not endorsed by Canadian Insulin. Always consult a medical professional for medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment.
