Saxenda prescription online for weight loss

Saxenda is a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonist medication which was approved by FDA for weight loss treatment. Saxenda is an injectable weight loss medication you take every day.

But, is Saxenda for weight loss or a Saxenda prescription online right for you? Find out in as little as 24 hours when you see an online weight loss specialist on Klarity Health.*

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Providers on Klarity Health are independent practitioners with clinical autonomy; a diagnosis, treatment, or prescription is not guaranteed.

Saxenda injection pens surrounded by measuring tapes symbolize their role in precision dosing for weight loss treatment.

Providers on Klarity Health are independent practitioners with clinical autonomy; a diagnosis, treatment, or prescription is not guaranteed.

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Medically reviewed by Dr. Paul Hetrick

What is Saxenda for weight loss?

Saxenda was originally approved to treat type 2 diabetes and sold as Victoza (liraglutide). People taking Victoza lost weight. And in 2014, Novo Nordisk, who makes Victoza, got U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for Saxenda for weight loss.

Like Wegovy and Ozempic (semaglutide), Saxenda is a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonist medication. They have different active ingredients though.

In clinical trials, people taking Saxenda (liraglutide) lost between 5 and 10% of their starting body weight in 56 weeks. If you start at 200 pounds, that’s a weight loss of between 10 and 20 pounds.

How does Saxenda for weight loss work?

As a GLP-1 medication, Saxenda mimics the hormone GLP-1 in the body. GLP-1 stimulates insulin production to lower blood sugar levels after you eat. GLP-1 also makes you feel full and slows down how quickly food leaves your stomach.

With food in your stomach longer and GLP-1 telling you you’re full, you don’t want to eat as much and may not want to eat as often. And when you eat less, you can lose weight.

Where natural GLP-1 only lasts in your body for minutes, GLP-1 agonists, like Saxenda, break down slowly and curb your appetite all day.

In clinical trials, people lost between 5 and 10% of their starting body weight when taking Saxenda for 56 weeks.

Learn more about Saxenda for weight loss.

A woman displays her weight loss success with Saxenda, holding up oversized jeans

Who can take Saxenda for weight loss?

Saxenda is FDA-approved for weight loss and weight management when used with a reduced calorie diet and increased exercise for:

— Adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater (BMI is an indicator of weight status based on a person’s height and weight)
— Adults with a BMI of 27 or greater and one or more weight-related conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes
— Adolescents older than 12 with a BMI in the 95th percentile for age and sex

A woman discusses Saxenda for weight loss during an online consultation

How to get a Saxenda prescription online

Taking Saxenda or another weight loss medication requires a prescription. You can get a prescription from a trained, licensed healthcare provider, like a medical doctor (MD), physician assistant (PA), or nurse practitioner (NP).

And you can find a board-certified, licensed provider to talk to about a medical weight loss program that may include a medication, like Saxenda, right here on Klarity Health.

If you and your provider decide that Saxenda for weight loss is right for you, your provider can send your prescription to you or any online or local pharmacy.

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How to use Saxenda and Saxenda dosages

Saxenda is an injection that you take every day. It comes as an 18 milligram/3 milliliter pen you use to inject yourself in your belly, thigh, or upper arm.

Doses include 0.6, 1.2, 1.8, 2.4, and 3.0 milligrams. The pen lets you set your dose. Your provider will have you start with the 0.6-milligram dose and increase to the next higher dose each week until you reach your maximum maintenance dose — usually 3 milligrams.

If you don’t tolerate a dose well, your provider may have you increase more slowly or stay at a lower dose.

If you want or need to stop taking Saxenda, talk to your weight loss provider first. They’ll help you know what to expect and how to manage any side effects. They may want to wean you off slowly to help minimize weight gain or possible indigestion.

A woman plans her day while managing her weight loss journey with Saxenda

A woman considers the side effects of Saxenda

Saxenda side effects and warnings

Some of the most common side effects when taking Saxenda are nausea, diarrhea, and headache. They’re most common when you first start taking it and when you increase your dose each week.

Other common side effects can include constipation, indigestion, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar, especially if you have type 2 diabetes), fatigue, dizziness, upper abdominal pain, or a reaction at the injection site. Like nausea, these usually only last a few days or weeks and go away once your body gets used to taking Saxenda.

More serious side effects can happen, but are less common. They can include gallbladder issues or gallstones, an increased heart rate, pancreatitis, kidney failure, and suicidal thoughts or behaviors, among others.

Be sure to talk to your provider and/or pharmacist about all potential side effects and any you experience whether listed here or not.

What does Saxenda cost?

Saxenda isn’t cheap. And there’s no generic — less costly — version available. The average price, which is the price the pharmacy charges you without insurance, is $1,430 for a pack of 5 pens, according to drugs.com and with its discount. Once you reach the 3 milligram maintenance dose, one pack of pens will last 30 days. Before that, it’ll last up to 6 weeks.

If you have insurance that covers Saxenda, you won’t need to pay the full price. You’ll pay your drug co-pay. Your insurance company may want prior authorization (PA) before covering the cost though. Your provider can help you with the prior authorization process and alternatives if your PA is denied.

Unlike Wegovy and Zepbound that have savings programs, the Saxenda program was discontinued. So the only other way to save is to take advantage of prescription or drug discount cards from GoodRx, drugs.com, SingleCareRx, WellRx, and others. The best price through GoodRX in Los Angeles, was $1,313 at the time of publication.

How does Saxenda for weight loss compare to other medications?

Saxenda doesn’t deliver the same weight loss results that Zepbound (a GLP-1/ glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide [GIP] dual agonist medication) or Wegovy (a GLP-1 medication), but it does deliver. And some people may prefer a daily med or not tolerate Wegovy or Zepbound.

Saxenda results in about the same amount of weight loss as Qsymia (phentermine-topiramate) and Contrave (bupropion-naltrexone) — 5 to 10% in 56 weeks. It results in potentially a bit more than Xenical (Orlistat), which lets you lose at least 5% in a year. And it offers more weight loss than Adipex-P (phentermine), a short-term weight loss solution, that can result in 3% weight loss in 3 months.

So, how do you decide which medication is right for you? Talk to a provider who can assess your health and your needs and recommend a weight loss medication if one is right for you.

Learn more about Saxenda vs Wegovy and Saxenda vs Mounjaro (aka Zepbound) for weight loss.

A woman contemplates the effectiveness of Saxenda compared to other weight loss medications

	Saxenda	Zepbound	Mounjaro	Wegovy	Ozempic	Phentermine
% body weight loss	Up to 10%	Up to 20.9%	Up to 13.9%	Up to 14.9%	Up to 10%	At least 3%

With Klarity Health, you’re in good company

Read through stories from real patients who received treatment from healthcare providers on Klarity Health.

How it works

Choose the right provider for you
Providers on Klarity Health are licensed, board-certified, and offer a personalized approach to your unique weight-loss needs. See detailed profiles for each provider and find an approach that’s best for you. (Costs for treatment options may vary.)
Have your initial patient visit
Your journey to losing weight starts with an initial consultation Your provider will go over your goals and medical history to recommend a program that’s right for you and may or may not include prescription medication.
Work with your provider on your progress
Your initial consultation is just the beginning. You and your provider will follow up to make sure you’re doing okay and that you’re reaching your goals. You stay on track with easy medication refills and ongoing support from your provider.
Get constant support from Klarity Health
If you have questions or need assistance, the Klarity Health Patient Support team is here to help. Along with your provider, they’re committed to making sure you have the best care and support throughout your weight loss journey.

FAQs about Saxenda

How much weight can you lose on Saxenda in a month?: Some reports show that people can lose between 2 and 4% of their body weight in the first 2 to 4 weeks of starting Saxenda. Significant weight loss of 5% of body weight tends to kick at about 2 months, which would be 10 pounds if you start at 100 pounds.

On Novo Nordisk’s Saxenda website, it says that adults will know if Saxenda is working for them if they lose 4% of their body weight by their 4-month follow-up appointment.

The amount and timing of weight loss will vary for anyone on any medication though. It’s reasonable, and safe, to expect to lose 1 to 2 pounds a week if you take Saxenda as prescribed, which includes following a reduced-calorie diet and increasing your physical activity.
Are there cons to Saxenda for weight loss?: Like any medication, Saxenda can have side effects. For some people in clinical trials, side effects were bad enough to cause them to stop taking Saxenda. For most participants, side effects decreased or went away as they continued taking Saxenda.

A con for some people may be that Saxenda is taken as a shot and not available in pill form.

Another potential con is its price, which is a hefty $1,430 a month and may or may not be covered by insurance.
Is Ozempic better than Saxenda for weight loss?: People tend to lose about the same amount of weight on Ozempic and Saxenda. Ozempic is approved to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes along with diet and exercise modifications. It’s not approved for weight loss, but can result in weight loss — up to 10% in 40 weeks, which is roughly comparable to up to 10% in 56 weeks on Saxenda.

Wegovy is the same medication as Ozempic, semaglutide. It’s FDA-approved for weight loss. It’s also used at higher doses than Ozempic most of the time. People on Wegovy tend to lose an average of 14.9% body weight in 68 weeks on Wegovy.
Which is more effective, Saxenda or phentermine?: In clinical trials people lost more weight on Saxenda — 5 to 10% of their body weight in 56 weeks. Phentermine (sold as brand-name Adipex-P and Lomaira), is a short-term weight loss medication only FDA-approved for up to 3 months of use. In those 3 months, clinical trials have found that people usually lose at least 3% of their body weight.

Phentermine can be used off-label (for something it’s not FDA-approved for) for more than 3 months. One study that looked at health records of people who took it for 12 or more months showed a potential loss of 7.4% of body weight. That’s not Saxenda’s full 10% potential, but if you tolerate phentermine better or prefer a pill, it may be an option for you.
Should I get Saxenda from a compounding pharmacy?: If you and your provider agree that getting compounded liraglutide instead of brand-name Saxenda is right for you, you can get it at a compounding pharmacy. If you do, use a licensed, reputable compounding pharmacy, which is the best option. Know though that compounded medications aren’t the same as FDA-approved medications and may contain different ingredients. Always talk to your provider about using a compounded medication.
Does insurance cover Saxenda?: Many insurance plans cover Saxenda, but not all. On saxenda.com, you can find a tool to check your coverage. You can also contact your insurance company or check your plan’s preferred drug list (PDL).

Know too, that your insurance company may want a prior authorization (PA). A PA is used to show that a medication or procedure is medically necessary for you. For the process, your provider submits paperwork and your insurance company or a third-party reviewer decides whether you need Saxenda based on your provider’s submission, your health, and other factors. If your insurance company doesn’t approve your PA, they won’t cover Saxenda for you. A single denial isn’t the end though, you can appeal a prior authorization denial.

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Sources: Clinical Trials Arena, Contrave for the Treatment of Obesity, Oct. 2014, https://www.clinicaltrialsarena.com/projects/contraveforthetreatm/?cf-view

Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome, and Obesity, Clinical utility of phentermine/topiramate (Qsymia) combination for the treatment of obesity, Jin Hee Shin and Kishore M. Gadde, Apr. 2013, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3626409/

DailyMed, Label: Saxenda- liraglutide injection solution, https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=3946d389-0926-4f77-a708-0acb8153b143

eClinical Medicine (The Lancet), Pharmacotherapy of obesity: an update on the available medications and drugs under investigation, Marlene Chakhtoura et al., Mar. 2023, https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(23)00059-7/fulltext

JAMA Network, Continued Treatment with Tirzepatide for Maintenance of Weight Reduction in Adults with Obesity: The SURMOUNT-4 Randomized Clinical Trial, Louis J. Aronne, MD, et.al., Dec. 2023, https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2812936

National Library of Medicine, PubMed, Safety and Effectiveness of Longer-Term Phentermine Use: Clinical Outcomes from an Electronic Health Record Cohort, Kristina H. Lewis et al, Apr. 2019, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30900410/

The New England Journal of Medicine, A Randomized, Controlled Trial of 3.0 mg of Liraglutide in Weight Management, Xavier Pi-Sunyer, MD, et al., Jul. 2015, https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa1411892

The New England Journal of Medicine, Once-weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity, John P.H. Wilding, DM, et al., Feb. 2021, https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183
How we review this article: This article went through rigorous fact-checking by a team of medical reviewers. Reviewers are trained medical professionals who ensure each article contains the most up-to-date information, and that medical details have been correctly interpreted by the author. Learn more about the editorial and medical review process and standards for the HelloKlarity site.

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The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional with any questions or concerns you have regarding your health. Providers on Klarity Health are independent practitioners with clinical autonomy. Nothing in this article is intended to diagnose or treat any condition, including guaranteeing prescription medication of any kind or dosage. Not all providers on Klarity Health prescribe all medications, particularly medications that are controlled substances.

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