Losing weight is difficult for anyone, but it can be nearly impossible for someone with a high BMI. Sometimes it does not matter how well you adhere to a diet or cut calories; nothing works and the weight refuses to leave.
Prescription weight loss medications can be used under a doctor’s supervision to help your weight loss efforts count for more. Saxenda® injections could be that little extra something that will make the difference.
With all the different weight loss injections hitting the market recently, it can be confusing to determine which may be right for you. We felt it might be helpful to highlight what real patients are saying about Saxenda and their experience with the weight loss injections.
An Overview Of Saxenda®
Liraglutide is a prescription drug that has been marketed under the name Victoza for over a decade and has historically been used to treat type 2 diabetes. Liraglutide has also been approved by the FDA to treat obesity and is marketed under the name Saxenda. Victoza and Saxenda are exactly the same medication, and only the dose differs depending on the intended use.
Liraglutide is called a GLP-1 receptor agonist drug, which means it works with our body’s GLP-1 receptors in the pancreas and prompts it to release insulin. The natural insulin produced by our body helps to control the sugar levels (glucose) in our bloodstream. Glucose levels that are chronically too high or low result in serious health issues.
How Does Saxenda® Help You Lose Weight?
Saxenda slows the rate at which the stomach digests and empties food, allowing you to feel fuller for longer.It helps regulate the release of insulin from the pancreas and inhibits the release of glucagon. Glucagon raises blood sugar levels in the bloodstream (the opposite of insulin).
Patients are also assisted by the appetite suppression characteristics of Saxenda, which, when combined with a healthy diet and an adequate amount of physical activity, can help them lose weight.
How Do You Use Saxenda®?
Saxenda comes pre-packaged in a special injector pen, and patients administer daily subcutaneous injections (under the skin). Each pen holds several doses, and patients choose their appropriate dose by rotating an indicator on the pen. A fresh needle must be used each day, and the used needles must be properly discarded.
There is a specific dosing schedule used for Saxenda that begins at a low dose and gradually increases until the highest dose of 3 mg is attained. Patients stay on each dose level for about 4 weeks before progressing to the next higher level.
The dose is gradually increased to help mitigate the common side effects of nausea and vomiting that are associated with this type of medication.
The following Saxenda patient reviews were obtained from internet forums that are dedicated to sharing experiences, both good and bad, with Saxenda.
We’ve included a variety of Saxenda reviews so you can draw your own conclusions and see if this is a good fit for you. The content is genuine, however, some of these Saxenda injection reviews have been corrected for spelling and grammar.
Also, note that we have put some commentary after some of these Saxenda injection reviews as a response to what the patient communicated.
Saxenda Patient Reviews
45-54 years old | Female
“Saxenda® has worked well for me. My starting weight was 503 lbs. I will be weighing in next month, but I can already tell that my lymphedema legs have significantly reduced. I can already walk and stand better after only 10 days of the injections and a limited 1200-calorie diet. This has been easier than I expected, and I have not experienced hunger pains, nausea, vomiting, gas, burping, constipation, diarrhea, or bloating. I am being careful not to overeat. One thing I have experienced is that I am frequently running to the restroom, so I believe I am releasing excess water, and I am feeling wonderful. I will give an update on my weigh-in next month because I’m anxious to see what other improvements will happen with my body. It’s been amazing!”
55-64 years old | Female
“I haven’t been able to get past the 0.6 dose for 7 weeks due to headaches, sinus congestion, and heartburn. I was injecting at night and switched to mornings, and I am down 7 pounds. My sleep has improved, and I have cut down my nighttime eating by about 80%. I spend at least 6 hours a week exercising but feel more fatigued than usual. I have been adding 1 ounce of coconut water to two cups of water to help reduce the feelings of nausea, and it helps with hydration. I have been eating four smaller, balanced meals and sweets occasionally when my blood sugar feels low. I am trying to make sure I do not lose lean body mass or bone density by losing weight too fast, and I want it to be permanent. I will repeat the blood work in 6 weeks. Slow and steady wins the race.”
*This patient mentioned in her review of Saxenda that she had to adjust the time of day that she was administering her injections to alleviate some of her challenges.
Saxenda should be taken at the same time every day for the best results. There is no preferred time that it should be taken, so each patient needs to determine what works best for them. She also mentioned that she is experiencing fatigue, which is a commonly known side effect of this type of prescription drug. Normally, this goes away for most patients as they lose weight and begin to eat a healthier diet.
If you are taking Saxenda and are experiencing extreme fatigue, speak to your doctor. It’s possible that your dose needs to be adjusted, or maybe you need a different prescription to help you lose weight.
35-44 years old | Female
“I am on my second week of Saxenda injections, and so far I’ve taken a total of ten doses. My current dose is 1.2 mg per day. I experienced vomiting on the second night because I ate too much, but I have had no other side effects so far. I have lost about 11 pounds in only 10 days and have very little appetite, especially at night. Child-sized portions seem to be more than enough to make me feel full. Do not overeat, or you will vomit. It is easy to give yourself the injection, and it is painless because the needle is very small.”
35-44 years old | Male
“In my life, I do not ever remember feeling full unless it is Thanksgiving Day or I have eaten an entire pizza. I started at 274 pounds and I am six feet, 2 inches. I have been using Saxenda for about three weeks, and I am down to 260. So far, I have had no side effects, and now I can say I know what it is like to feel full. If you eat too much, it does not feel good, so don’t do it. Also, I am not having cravings for all the bad foods anymore. It is nice to not feel hungry all the time after feeling hungry my whole life.”
45-54 years old | Female
“After three weeks on Saxenda, I have lost 13 pounds. Regardless of what the scale says, I am amazed at how my desire for food has changed. I no longer have cravings for sweets, and I have not been even thinking about eating. I did not know how much I thought about eating before, but since I have been taking Saxenda, the difference has been night and day. I felt nauseated on the second day, but besides that and some minor constipation, I have not had any side effects. I was anxious about having to give myself shots, but it is super easy and painless to do.”
55-64 years old | Female
“In the first 2 weeks, I have lost 11 pounds. I am surprised but I do not feel hungry anymore, and I am concentrating on choosing healthy foods. At first, I felt nauseous and also had headaches but those went away. Now I sometimes get a belly ache in the evenings. I always drink a lot of water.”
*Many of the patient reviews mention that Saxenda suppresses their appetite and lessens cravings. One of the biggest challenges for weight loss patients is the “food chatter” they hear in their heads. The signals the stomach is sending to the brain cause us to feel continually hungry so we snack or eat when physically we do not really need to. Having the appetite suppressed can significantly impact an individual’s ability to lose weight.
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55-64 years old | Male
“I have been using Saxenda for about ten weeks, and during the first eight, I lost about 3 pounds per week. I began to notice that I was not feeling hungry anymore, and I figured out that I was eating in front of the TV out of habit, not because I was hungry. Over the past few weeks and long weekends, there have been celebrations at birthday parties, and I’ve gained five pounds. I chose to eat and drink excessively, so that is my fault. Saxenda works, but you have to make changes in portions and your food choices. If you have struggled with weight loss and you really want to lose weight, I would recommend trying this prescription. I used Weight Watchers in conjunction with the Saxenda to assist me in making healthy food choices. Now I’m tracking my food choices with Weight Watchers and the saxenda is helping curb my appetite. I’m down 38 lbs, which is 10% of my body weight, and I can already feel a difference. I am planning to start exercising, so that will help me lose even more.”
*This patient realized that he had a bad habit that he needed to break, which is often the case for most weight loss patients. Making lifestyle changes that are permanent will promote long-term weight loss. In addition, he is combining a supervised weight loss program with Saxenda to assist him in making healthier dietary and weight loss decisions.
35-44 years old | Female
“I have always struggled with losing weight. I started with Victoza, which did not help me lose much weight, and my doctor recommended Saxenda. I began taking Saxenda about 5 months ago, and I am already down 36 lbs. I will be honest and say that I don’t exercise except for chasing after my toddler. I am very pleased with my progress on Saxenda. When I started taking it, I weighed 283 pounds, and I am currently down to 246 pounds. I believe if I were to exercise, I would lose a lot more. The Saxenda has not made me feel yucky at all, and I have had no side effects. The best thing for me is that I have not felt hungry. The Saxenda shots have also been very easy to take. Although you have to use a needle, it is very small and does not hurt.”
*This review is both confusing and interesting because Victoza and Saxenda are the same prescription drug Liraglutide the only difference is the dose. She also admits that she would be losing more weight if she exercised.
45-54 years old | Female
“I have been using Saxenda for about four months and have only lost about 8 pounds. It is not worth it. I have continuous side effects of diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, tiredness, bruising in the places I administer the injections, and dehydration. Whenever my symptoms slightly improve, I try to do another dose, and a few hours after I take the injection, I regret it.”
*Saxenda may not be the best choice for every patient. If experiencing underwhelming results or chronic side effects, speak to your doctor. A change in medication may be in order.
55-64 years old | Female
“I used Saxenda for six months and lost just a little weight at first. I lost only about 5 pounds in three months and then gradually crept back up to my starting weight. It was not difficult or painful for me to use; however, it did not work for me. I never experienced any side effects, not even nausea. I think one of the ways this works is by making you feel awful (nausea, constipation). Since I had no side effects, I did not lose any weight.”
35-44 years old | Male
“I have been on Saxenda for about six months and have lost around 32 pounds. I am overweight but not obese, so my weight loss is not as dramatic as some other reviewers have reported, but I am happy with my overall results. I have recently noticed that my weight loss is slowing down. I experienced side effects for the first two months that were pretty awful. Gas, nausea, and throwing up were unpleasant, but they were a good reminder to watch my portions and the types of food I was eating. Thank goodness, I hardly ever get those bad side effects anymore. Despite these side effects, I think it is worth it for weight loss.”
45-54 years old | Female
“I tried Saxenda for a week. It did stop my appetite for sweets, but it made me very bloated, and I felt ill. After rereading the drug information about Saxenda, I did notice that it specifically says it is not to be used for weight loss or as an appetite suppressant. It is supposed to be used for diabetes. I wasted my money on 5 weeks of injections, but it is my fault for not reading and thoroughly researching this drug.”
*Of all the Saxenda weight loss stories we have shared in this post, this one may be the most eye-opening for a few reasons:
- Saxenda is approved by the FDA for weight loss, but Victoza is not. Both of these name brands contain the same prescription drug, Liraglutide, and the ONLY difference between the two is that Victoza is administered in lower doses to treat type 2 diabetes.
- Prescription weight-loss medications are meant to be used under the supervision of a qualified doctor. This means a doctor who is trained in the treatment of obesity. Unfortunately, there are many patients who are obtaining prescriptions for weight loss injections online from a doctor’s office but there is NO ONE supervising them. They are just out there taking these medications with little to no guidance.
This patient needs to consult with a qualified doctor to address her bloating and determine if she has an allergy to the medication or needs to give it more time and increase her fluid intake. It is clear that this patient is misguided and a prescription drug in the hands of someone who does not fully understand how to properly use it is dangerous.
Saxenda is meant to be used under the supervision of a medical professional who specializes in obesity management and is experienced in treating obesity-related complications.
If you would like to learn more about Saxenda or other prescription weight loss medications, contact the professionals at the IBI Healthcare Institute today. The team of medical professionals at IBI Healthcare understands the complexities of obesity and is qualified to treat and support your weight loss.
Call or set up an appointment online today and get your weight loss journey started right away.
