Saxenda side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Saxenda: hives; fast heartbeats; dizziness; trouble breathing or swallowing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

• racing or pounding heartbeats;
• sudden changes in mood or behavior, suicidal thoughts;
• severe ongoing nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea;
• signs of a thyroid tumor – swelling or a lump in your neck, trouble swallowing, a hoarse voice, feeling short of breath;
• gallbladder problems – fever, upper stomach pain, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes);
• symptoms of pancreatitis – severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea with or without vomiting, fast heart rate;
• severely low blood sugar – extreme weakness, confusion, tremors, sweating, fast heart rate, trouble speaking, nausea, vomiting, rapid breathing, fainting, and seizure (convulsions); or
• kidney problems – little or no urination; painful or difficult urination; swelling in your feet or ankles; feeling tired or short of breath.

Common Saxenda side effects may include:

• nausea (especially when you start using Saxenda), vomiting, stomach pain;
• increased heart rate;
• diarrhea, constipation;
• headache, dizziness; or
• feeling tired.

What other drugs will affect Saxenda?

Saxenda can slow your digestion, and it may take longer for your body to absorb any medicines you take by mouth.

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:

• insulin; or
• oral diabetes medicine – Glucotrol, Metaglip, Amaryl, Avandaryl, Duetact, DiaBeta, Micronase, Glucovance, and others.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with liraglutide, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Does Saxenda interact with foods or drinks?

There are no known interactions between Saxenda and foods or drinks.

It is unknown if drinking alcohol will affect Saxenda. The risk of dizziness may be increased if you drink alcohol while taking Saxenda.

Dosing information

Usual Adult Dose for Weight Loss:

Dose escalation should be followed to reduce the likelihood of gastrointestinal symptoms; dose escalation may be delayed by 1 additional week if necessary:

Week 1: Inject 0.6 mg subcutaneously once a day

Week 2: Inject 1.2 mg subcutaneously once a day

Week 3: Inject 1.8 mg subcutaneously once a day

Week 4: Inject 2.4 mg subcutaneously once a day

Week 5: Inject 3 mg subcutaneously once a day

Maintenance dose: 

• 3 mg subcutaneously once a day-If maintenance dose is not tolerated, discontinuation is recommended; efficacy for chronic weight management has not been established at lower doses.

What happens if I miss a dose?

If you miss your daily dose of Saxenda, use the dose as soon as you remember. Then take your next daily dose as usual on the following day. Do not take an extra dose of Saxenda or increase your dose on the following day to make up for your missed dose.

If you miss your dose of Saxenda for 3 days or more, call your healthcare provider to talk about how to restart your treatment.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.