How long does a Saxenda pen last?

How long a Saxenda pen lasts is determined on how much of the medicine is being injected and what stage you are at in the course of treatment.

When you first start using Saxenda, your treatment will start at a low dose of 0.6 mg per day, which will be gradually increased by 0.6 mg over the first five weeks until you reach the recommended dose of 3 mg once a day.

Your doctor will need to monitor you while undergoing treatment with Saxenda. However, the following week-by-week plan is a typical guideline:

Week Number	Dosage	Quantity of Pens
1	0.6 mg	Buy 1 Saxenda Pen
2	1.2 mg	Buy 1 Saxenda Pen
3	1.8 mg	Buy 2 Saxenda Pens
4	2.4 mg	Buy 3 Saxenda Pens
5 onwards	3.0 mg	Buy 4 Saxenda pens

 

Your doctor will assess your treatment on a regular basis and advise you on your dosage accordingly.

If you are unable to tolerate or adjust to the new dosage, your doctor will cease treatment and discuss alternative weight loss treatments with you.

How long should the first Saxenda pen last me?

When you begin your treatment, your first pen should last for 17 days, after which you will need a second pen.

How long does a Saxenda pen last at the maintanence dose?

Once you reach the recommended dose of 3.0 mg in week 5 of your treatment, 1 Saxenda pen should last for 6 days.

How many Saxenda pens do I need per month?

For a 1 month course of Saxenda, you would need 5 Saxenda pens. If you are already taking Saxenda at the recommended 3.0 mg dose, the above table need not concern you - you can simply order the amount of pens you require for a given time frame.

When you buy Saxenda online from Prescription Doctor, we will provide with an adequate amount of needles for the quantity of pens you order.

What is Saxenda?

Saxenda is a self-injectable prescription weight loss medicine which is available in a pre-filled pen. It contains an active substance known as liraglutide, which acts similarly to a natural occurring hormone called Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP-1).

GLP-1 is a hormone which controls and regulates your appetite by binding to receptors in your brain and tells your brain that you are full. It is believed that too little of this hormone present in the blood stream can lead to obesity, as a person may still feel hungry after a meal and thus eat bigger portions or snack between meals.

Saxenda acts on receptors in the brain which control your appetite. This action maintains the feeling of being full long after eating, making you less inclined to snack between meals and generally consume less food overall.

When taken alongside a healthy diet and regular exercise, it can effectively help people lose weight who also have:

• A BMI of 30 or greater (obese) or;
• A BMI between 27 and 30 (overweight)
• Weight-related health problems (such as diabetes, high blood pressure, abnormal levels of fats in the blood or breathing problems during sleep called ‘obstructive sleep apnoea’.)

Where is the best place to inject Saxenda?

Suitable sites for injecting Saxenda include your abdomen, upper arm or upper thigh. Your doctor will be able to instruct you on how to use the pen safely.

While you can use Saxenda at any time of the day, it is recommended to administer it at the same time each day. If you often forget to take your medicine, set a reminder on your phone or smart home device.

Before you use the pen for the first time, your doctor or nurse will show you how to take it appropriately. For further information on how to use Saxenda, consult the patient leaflet supplied with the medication.

Can I use a Saxenda needle more than once?

Using a needle more than once can result in damage to the needle, either by causing a blockage or by damaging the protective coating of the needle.

It is important to use a new needle every time you inject yourself with Saxenda. If you do not have enough needles to administer Saxenda, you can order needles online from us.

This damage can cause injections to be more painful and result in more severe bruising and bleeding. Blockages in the needle, caused by reuse, can make it harder to deliver the right dose of the medicine. With frequent reuse, there is a risk of microscopic fragments of the needle (typically the tip of the needle) breaking off, leaving part of it inside your body.

You should check each needle before administering Saxenda. After putting the needle on the pen, check that it is straight – a bent needle can make administering Saxenda more painful and result in bruising when taking out the needle.

How long does a Saxenda pen last in storage?

Saxenda can be stored in the refrigerator or at room temperature, though it has a limited lifespan of 30 days.

It is important to store your Saxenda pen and paraphernalia, such as unused needles and sharps containers, out of sight and reach from children and pets. Ideal places include a kitchen cabinet away from the stove or sink, on top of a cupboard or on a high shelf.

Always throw the Saxenda Pen away after 30 days of opening it, even if there is still some solution left in the pen.

You should always check the solution in the pen before injecting yourself. If the solution in the pen is cloudy or discoloured, safely discard of the pen and acquire a new one.

What should I do with a broken Saxenda pen?

Saxenda pens are relatively delicate and must be handled with care. If you accidentally drop your pen, inspect the pen for cracks, leaks or other damage.

Do not use your Saxenda pen if you notice any damage to the body of the pen or if you notice solution leaking from the pen.

Do not attempt to dismantle or repair your Saxenda pen. Any attempt to dismantle, repair or refill the pen may result in damage to the pen or personal injury.

Getting the most out of your Saxenda treatment

Remember, Saxenda is not a quick fix for weight loss. It is only effective when it is adopted alongside a healthy lifestyle, with regular exercise and healthy eating habits.

We have a separate article on getting the most from your Saxenda, which provides more tips on treatment with Saxenda.

Dieting

While using Saxenda, you should aim to eat healthy meals with appropriate portion sizes.

Imagine a plate split into quarters.

1 quarter should be made up of protein such as meat, poultry or fish.

Another quarter should consist of carbohydrates.

You should fill the final 2 quarters with non-starchy vegetables such as carrots, peas, broccoli or plain salad.

These measurements can be difficult to visualise when cooking pasta dishes, stews and curries, but it can be applied. Your tomatoes and onions, which you use as the base to sauces, count towards vegetables. Per serving, use 1 cup of pasta or rice. If you cook more than you need, save it for lunch the next day - left over pasta and rice can be mixed with vegetables to make a delicious salad. Stick to lean meats as much as possible to limit the amount of fat in your diet. Remember to include vegetables such as peppers, spinache, kale and carrots in your stews and pot dishes.

Please understand that this is a guideline and that there exists some variations which specify less starch and more protein. Furthermore, this doesn't need to be followed for every meal. For example, breakfast may contain a high amount of carbohydrates and no vegetables. In such cases, opt for wholegrain cereals, oats or simply a piece of fruit rich in fibre and vitamins instead.

You can buy plates marked with the portion sizes either printed on the porcelain or cast into the plate itself, walling off the different sections. These plates are designed to help you control your portions accurately.

During your weight loss journey, it's important to understand portion control. Some people find it beneficial to weigh out their ingredients or count calories to limit the amount they eat each day, though these may not work for you. Speak to a dietition for tips on dieting and controlling what you eat and find a system which works for you.

Exercising

You should aim to up your exercise while using Saxenda.

Start off with small simple exercises and build up. You could start with walking - walk while talking on the phone, walk to the shops, get off the bus a stop earlier and walk the rest of the way.

Once you feel comfortable, you can build up to more vigerous exercises, such as jogging or running.

To make it easier, you can break up your exercise throughout the day to total up to at least 30 minutes of activity. This could be a 10 minute walk in the morning and a 20 minute jog in the afternoon. Find something which works best for you and stick to it.

How much weight can I lose on Saxenda?

After 12 weeks of regularly taking the 3 mg dose (excluding the first 5 weeks to achieve the optimum dosage), 5% loss of total body weight must be noticed before treatment can continue.

If you lose less than 5% of your total body weight, then your doctor will discontinue treatment with Saxenda and discuss other potential weight loss treatments with you.

You should aim to increase your physical activity while undergoing treatment with Saxenda. It’s very easy to overthink the exercise you need to do, which can hinder your progress. Instead of looking at exercise as a separate task, try to incorporate it into your daily life.

Walking more is the easiest way to increase the amount of physical activity and can be very easily worked into your daily life. For example, taking the stairs instead of the lift or escalator, getting off the bus a stop earlier and walking the rest of the way or parking further away from shops and walking across the car park.

Of course, sports and recreational activities such as gardening or dancing can also help you lose weight.

It’s extremely important to take steps to tackle being overweight or obese as it can lead to several serious and potentially life-threatening conditions including:

• Type 2 diabetes
• Coronary heart disease
• Cancer
• Liver and kidney disease
• Stroke

Obesity can also affect your mental well-being and lead to depression and low self-esteem. Therefore, it’s so important that, when using your Saxenda Pen, you bear in mind the commitment you need to make to your diet and exercise plan.

If you are unsure about how to take Saxenda or have any questions about your treatment, ask your doctor for advice.