Saxenda prescription online for weight loss

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.