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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Saxenda (liraglutide) for chronic weight management in adults and children 12 and older. This weight loss medication can help you with losing weight when combined with a healthy lifestyle, including a low-calorie diet and exercise program. Please continue reading to find out the average weight loss on Saxenda. We will also give you tips on getting the maximum benefit from this medication for weight management. 

Does Saxenda cause significant weight loss?

Clinical trials have shown that people can lose a clinically significant amount of weight on Saxenda compared to patients taking a placebo (inactive drug). One study sponsored by Novo Nordisk, Saxenda’s maker, found that after 56 weeks, the average weight loss on Saxenda was as follows:

• 62.3 % of patients who took Saxenda lost 5% or more of their initial weight (approximately 12 lbs).

• 33.9 % of patients who took Saxenda lost 10% or more of their initial body weight (approximately 23 lbs).

• About 6% of patients lost 20% or more of their starting body weight (approximately 47 lbs).

This is the average weight loss with Saxenda compared to the placebo group, as reported in a clinical trial. You may lose more or less weight with Saxenda. Your response to this weight loss drug will depend on many factors, including eating a healthy diet and getting regular physical activity. 

If you have not lost weight (at least 4% of your starting weight) after 16 weeks of starting Saxenda, talk to your healthcare provider about other options. 

How much weight can you lose on Saxenda in one month?

You may not notice significant weight loss on Saxenda in the first month after starting treatment. However, over the course of one year, you may lose 1-2 lbs every month. If your initial body weight is 230 lbs, your total weight loss may be to the tune of -9% or 20 lbs after a year of taking Saxenda regularly every day.

Note: Saxenda is a once-daily subcutaneous (under the skin) injection. Your doctor will start you on a low dose and slowly increase you to the maintenance dose over a period of 4 weeks. Therefore, you may not see much change in your weight for the first few weeks. Once you are on the maintenance dose of Saxenda, which is effective for weight loss, you should start to notice some weight loss. 

For most people, this occurs after 4-8 weeks. Clinical trials have shown that people who use Saxenda alongside a healthy lifestyle can lose, on average, 5% of their body weight in 8 weeks, 7% in 16 weeks, 8% in 24-36 weeks, and 9% in 56 weeks. Check out: what is the best injection for weight loss?

How long does it take to lose 20 lbs on Saxenda?

If you weigh 230 lbs at the time of starting treatment, it may take you close to a year or more to lose approximately 9% of your starting weight (20 lbs) on Saxenda. 

Results from clinical trials showed that 85% of participants treated with Saxenda lost an average of 9.2% of their initial weight, which is 9.5 kilograms (kg) or 21 lbs. Keep in mind that all participants had to maintain reduced-calorie diets in addition to regular exercise. People can react differently to the same medications, so your results may differ.   

Can you keep off the weight you lose on Saxenda?

A clinical study tracked people who took Saxenda for 3 years and found:

• 56% of patients achieved significant weight loss after one year of treatment.

• Approximately half of the patients maintained weight loss after 3 years of taking Saxenda with a reduced-calorie meal plan and increased physical activity.

Note: You may regain weight loss if you stop taking Saxenda, especially if lifestyle interventions with diets and exercises are not maintained.

Can you lose weight on Saxenda without dieting?

Saxenda works best with lifestyle changes. You may not lose much weight or any weight on Saxenda, even after weeks of treatment, if you don’t follow a healthy diet plan. 

Studies have shown that people achieved significant weight loss on Saxenda when they combined this weight loss medication with lifestyle factors such as a reduced-calorie diet and a regular exercise routine. 

If you want long-term success in your weight loss plan, you should look at Saxenda as a tool to help you lose weight rather than a magic pill that will miraculously get rid of excess weight. 

How to optimize weight loss on Saxenda?

You can get the best weight loss results on Saxenda by:

• Using Saxenda correctly as prescribed daily without missing doses.

• Eating a low-calorie diet.

• Getting regular exercise to burn calories and increase your metabolic rate.

• Keeping track of food intake in a journal.

• Eating slowly. 

• Eating smaller, more frequent meals.

• Practicing portion control.

• Staying well hydrated.

What is Saxenda?

Saxenda is a once-daily injectable prescription medication that is FDA-approved for chronic weight management. It can help you reach your weight loss goals and maintain a healthy weight when used in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

Saxenda is approved for use by adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or higher or a BMI of 27 kg/m2 or higher and one or more weight-related conditions such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar, or high cholesterol. 

Saxenda is also approved to be used in children 12 and older who have a bodyweight above 60 kg (132 lbs), with the initial BMI corresponding to a BMI 30 kg/m² or higher for adults by international cut-offs.

Note: The active ingredient in Saxenda, liraglutide, is an effective treatment for type 2 diabetes. It is available under the brand name Victoza for this indication.

What are the potential side effects of Saxenda?

Common side effects of using Saxenda include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, constipation, headache, and injection site reactions.

How many Saxenda pens do I need per month?

The number of Saxenda pens you’ll need per month depends on your dose. Saxenda injection comes in a 3-mL pre-filled, multi-dose injection pen that can deliver 5 different doses: 0.6 mg, 1.2 mg, 1.8 mg, 2.4 mg, and 3 mg. Saxenda is available in pack sizes of 1, 3, or 5 pens. 

Saxenda injection pen comes in a concentration of 6 mg/mL (milliliters); therefore, one 3-mL pre-filled Saxenda pen contains 18 mg of the active drug. One pack contains 5 

This medication is taken by subcutaneous (under the skin) injection daily, and the dose is gradually increased as follows:

• 0.6 mg daily during week 1

• 1.2 mg daily during week 2

• 1.8 mg daily during week 3

• 2.4 mg daily during week 4

• 3 mg daily week 5 onwards

During the dose escalation (first 4 weeks of Saxenda treatment), you will need 2 full  Saxenda pens and 1 mL (6 mg) from the third pen.

Once you are on the maintenance dose of 3 mg Saxenda per day, you'll inject 0.5 mL of solution daily. One Saxenda pen will last you 6 days, so you will need 5 Saxenda pens per 30 days. 

You should discard any unused medication in a Saxenda pen after 30 days.