Saxenda
Saxenda is one of the earlier GLP-1 medications, approved in 2014 for chronic weight management. Unlike the once-weekly semaglutide and tirzepatide drugs, Saxenda is injected once daily because liraglutide has a much shorter half-life — around 13 hours. Average weight loss in trials was around 5-8% at one year, less than newer weekly drugs but still meaningful for many patients.
Educational reference only — your prescriber sets your actual schedule.
How Saxenda works
Liraglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. It enhances meal-time insulin release, suppresses glucagon, slows gastric emptying, and reduces appetite. Daily injections mean steadier-but-smaller peaks compared to weekly drugs, which some patients prefer for tolerability.
Dose schedule
Saxenda starts at 0.6 mg daily for the first week, then increases by 0.6 mg each week, reaching the maintenance dose of 3.0 mg by week 5. Reference ladder only — your prescriber sets your actual schedule.
Common side effects
Nausea is the most common; diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, headache, fatigue, dizziness, and injection-site reactions are also reported. Daily titration steps mean side effects come in a slower stair-step rather than the weekly jumps of semaglutide-based drugs.
Storage and handling
Refrigerated until first use. Once in use, store at room temperature (up to 86°F / 30°C) or refrigerated, and discard 30 days after first use.
Last reviewed: 2026-05-24
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