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Making Saxenda Part Of Your Everyday Life

Pharmacy2U Team | minute read
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Saxenda is an injectable medication that can be prescribed to assist with weight loss in the UK. When used in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet and physical activity, this weight-loss treatment can be highly effective.

Since Saxenda is often a self-administered medication, it is important to understand how to include this step in your daily routine. We’ll take you through our top tips for administering the medication and how it can become a simple part of your everyday life.

How does Saxenda work?

Before we go into how to use the treatment, first it’s useful to look at how the drug itself works. Saxenda’s active ingredient is liraglutide which is known as a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. Saxenda mimics the effects of GLP-1, leading to several weight management benefits:

  • Reduced Appetite: Saxenda slows stomach emptying, promoting feelings of fullness and potentially leading to decreased calorie intake.

  • Increased Satiety: The medication stimulates the release of hormones that signal satiety to the brain, potentially helping you feel satisfied after eating less food.

It's important to remember that Saxenda is not a standalone treatment, it works best when combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise. To learn more about the medication, explore our Saxenda Explained blog for information on side effects, FAQs and more.

How to administer Saxenda

A clinician will first assess your suitability for the treatment through a consultation, such as our online doctor consultation at Pharmacy2U. Your doctor who prescribes you Saxenda will then be on hand to offer you full instructions on how to administer the treatment and can answer any queries you may have. 

Typically, Saxenda is administered once a day through a pre-filled injection pen. You’ll initially start on a low dose of 0.6mg until your body gets used to the drug and then the dose is increased over several weeks until you reach 3mg. 

Your doctor will provide instructions on how to inject the pen in line with manufacturer guidelines, and make sure that you are comfortable with self-administering. Usually, the medication is injected subcutaneously in either your upper arm, front of the thigh, or top of the waist. It is recommended that you change up your injection site per day to reduce the risk of inflammation and cutaneous amyloidosis (lumps under the skin).

Saxenda daily routine tips

Integrating Saxenda into your daily routine requires consistency and planning so that you remember to inject your medication each day. Here are some helpful tips:

Choose a Consistent Injection Time

Select a time of day that fits well into your daily routine, whether it’s first thing in the morning or before bed. Consistency ensures your body receives a steady dose of the medication and also helps you to remember to inject the medication.

Track your injections

Whether you’re prone to forgetting to do things, or you’re simply busy and lose track of time often, using technology to send you reminders or to keep a log could be beneficial. On most smartphones, there should be an option to have a reminder set for the same time every day to prompt you to complete your injection.

Diet and exercise

Whilst you need to remember to take the medication, it’s also just as important to plan your diet and exercise while taking Saxenda. It is recommended that you engage in mindful eating, plan well-balanced calorie-counted meals, and exercise regularly to get the best out of taking Saxenda. Exercise is crucial, but it shouldn't feel like a chore, so find activities you genuinely enjoy, whether it's walking, dancing, swimming, or team sports.

Maintaining long-term success with Saxenda

To maintain your motivation on your weight loss journey, it’s best to set yourself achievable and healthy goals to aim towards. If you set milestones and celebrate your progress along the way, this can help you feel encouraged. Speak to your GP for tailored advice on how to set progression goals. 

Overall, Saxenda can be an effective long-term treatment for weight management, but its true potential can only be realised if you make necessary adjustments to live a healthy lifestyle. Consistency, commitment, and goal planning are great ways to maximise the benefits of Saxenda and reach your weight management goals.