Saxenda® Weight Loss Pen Effectiveness

Saxenda Pen

Credits: Saxenda

Weight loss is something that people try to commit to, setting body goals for themselves. Commonly, they kickstart their weight loss journey through traditional methods such as diet and exercise. While its effectiveness still proves to this day, traditional solutions to weight loss take time before it yields results. It is more of a sufficient way to maintain weight loss rather than beginning it.

With that in mind, many people start to look at alternative solutions for weight loss. There are supplements and weight loss programs available out there that one can look into. More modern solutions such as weight loss balloons have also become more popular. Another weight loss solution that has popped up recently is the Saxenda® Pen.

Before diving into new solutions for shedding off weight, it is essential to research them. Look for its effectiveness and benefits, but also some of the possible complications and risks. Here is everything you need to know about the Saxenda® Weight Loss Pen.

What is Saxenda® Pen?

Saxenda® (liraglutide) is a prescription injectable medication used for adults struggling with excess weight or those with a BMI of more than 27. Along with a low-calorie meal plan and increased physical activity, it can assist a person’s weight loss. Liraglutide is similar to a natural hormone in the body called GLP-1, which works by controlling your appetite.

Saxenda® specifically helps obese people who have weight-related medical problems. Keeping the weight off reduces the risk of various health complications including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, and heart diseases.

The medication can also be used as a treatment for children aged 12 to 17 years old, whose body weight is about 60 kg.

Credits: Made In China

How does Saxenda® work?

Saxenda® works like most weight loss solutions in the market. It aims to increase the feeling of fullness while decreasing your level of hunger throughout the day. Saxenda® mimics a natural hormone called glucagon-like-peptide (GLP-1), which is known as an appetite-regulating hormone. As a result, it regulates your hunger, leading to consuming fewer calories and losing weight.

Saxenda®’s effectiveness does not only rely on the product itself. It should be used along with a diet and exercise regimen. In other words, it doesn’t automatically make you shed off weight, but it only assists the process.

Saxenda® is a self-injectable medicine that comes in a prefilled pen. The Saxenda® Pen’s effectiveness is made possible through subcutaneous injection. Here, the daily dose is injected under the skin in your abdomen area, thighs, or upper arms, depending on the instruction of your healthcare provider. Do not inject it into a muscle or vein.

It is taken only once a day. To get the most benefit from it, it is recommended for the medication to be administered regularly. However, in the beginning, the doctor may start you with a low dose to decrease the risk of abdominal side effects. The dose will then gradually increase. It is important to follow the doctor’s instructions carefully.

Moreover, Saxenda® Pen is for individual use only. Like other injectable products, the pen or needles should not be shared with anyone else. Also, always use a new needle for each injection to prevent contamination, infection, leakage, and blocked needles leading to the wrong dose.

Credits: kassiesaxendaweightloss

How effective is the Saxenda® Pen?

Saxenda® Pen was clinically tested in a study involving 3,731 patients. It proved that 85% of people taking Saxenda® lost a significant amount of weight. 3 out of 5 people lost around 5% of their weight, which is an average of 12 lb, while 1 out of 2 achieved more than 10% or an average of 23 lb. Moreover, 6% of people taking Saxenda® achieved 20% of weight loss or an average of 47 lb.

In terms of keeping the weight off, Saxenda® may also help. In a clinical study expanding three years, 56% of people taking the medication achieved significant weight loss at year one. Also, approximately half of these patients maintained the weight loss after three years, with the assistance of a reduced-calorie meal plan and increased physical activity.

What are the side effects of Saxenda® Pen?

Much like other medical products, regardless of the Saxenda® Pen’s effectiveness, it also comes with possible risks and complications. Some of the most common side effects of Saxenda® in adults include:

  • Nausea
  • Diarrhoea
  • Constipation
  • Vomiting
  • Injection site reaction
  • Headache
  • Increased heart rate
  • Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
  • Upset stomach (dyspepsia)
  • Tiredness (fatigue)
  • Dizziness
  • Stomach pain
  • Change in enzyme (lipase) levels in your blood

Moreover, be careful with administering the medication. It includes the storage and hygiene of the medicine and needles, as well as the correct dosage every day. Otherwise, the wrong use may also lead to more serious complications including:

  • Thyroid tumours
  • Cancer
  • Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
  • Gallbladder problems
  • Kidney failure
  • Serious allergic reactions

Saxenda® may not be effective for everyone. The medications are not recommended to use if you have the following conditions:

  • If you have MTC, a neuroendocrine tumour of the thyroid gland
  • If you have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome Type 2 (MEN 2), a condition of the endocrine system
  • If you are allergic to liraglutide or any of the ingredients in Saxenda®
  • If you are pregnant

Again, weight loss is different for everyone. One solution may work for one but it might not be effective for others. If you want to opt for weight loss with Saxenda®, it is available in Asian countries like Singapore and Malaysia. However, make sure to consult with your healthcare professional to know if it is the right weight loss solution for you.