Saxenda (liraglutide 3 mg): uses, side effects and cost

Key takeaways

• Saxenda (liraglutide 3 mg) is a once-daily injection FDA approved for chronic weight management in adults and in teens 12+ who weigh over 60 kg and have obesity.^[1]
• In the largest trial, adults lost 7.4% of their weight on average at 56 weeks vs 3.0% on placebo; the label says to stop if less than 4% is lost by week 16.^[1]
• Nausea (39.3% vs 13.8%), diarrhea, constipation and vomiting are the most common side effects; there is a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors seen in rodents.^[1]
• In a head-to-head trial, weekly semaglutide led to more weight loss than daily liraglutide (15.8% vs 6.4%).^[6]
• The list price was $1,349.02 per 5 pens on 2026-10-06; Novo Nordisk is discontinuing the brand (last shipments late January 2027), and generics are approved.^[7]

In short: Saxenda is Novo Nordisk’s brand of liraglutide 3 mg, a once-daily GLP-1 injection. It is FDA approved, together with a reduced-calorie diet and more physical activity, to reduce excess body weight and keep it off long term in adults with obesity, adults with overweight and at least one weight-related condition, and children 12 and older who weigh more than 60 kg and have obesity. Approved generic versions now exist, and Novo Nordisk has announced it is discontinuing the Saxenda brand, with last shipments to wholesalers in late January 2027 (checked on DailyMed, Drugs@FDA and NovoCare on 2026-10-06).

Saxenda was the first GLP-1 medicine approved for weight management, in December 2014, and for years it was the main option before weekly injections arrived. This page explains what its prescribing information says: who it is for, how the daily routine works in general, what the trials found in adults and teens, its side effects and warnings, what it costs, and how it compares with weekly options. It is general education to help you prepare for a conversation with a licensed clinician. Please research carefully, talk with your doctor and get a full evaluation before starting, stopping or switching.

What Saxenda is

The active ingredient is liraglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist. Our liraglutide page explains the mechanism and the difference between brands: in short, liraglutide acts like the gut hormone GLP-1, slows stomach emptying and acts on appetite centers in the brain, and the label says it lowers weight through eating fewer calories, not by burning more. The same molecule is sold as Victoza at lower doses for type 2 diabetes; Victoza is not approved for weight, and the Saxenda label states that doses below 3 mg a day have not been established for weight reduction. Saxenda belongs to the GLP-1 medication class with Wegovy and others.

FDA status and who it is labeled for

Drugs@FDA shows the original approval on December 23, 2014, and a “new patient population” approval on December 4, 2020, which extended use to teens. The current label covers:

• adults with obesity,
• adults with overweight and at least one weight-related condition, and
• children aged 12 and older with obesity and a body weight above 60 kg (about 132 lb).

It is always used with a reduced-calorie diet and more physical activity. The label says it should not be combined with other liraglutide products or other GLP-1 medicines, and that its safety and effectiveness in children with type 2 diabetes have not been established. Clinicians usually define obesity and overweight with BMI (for teens, BMI percentiles by age and sex); the NIH describes weight-management medicines as generally considered for adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with a weight-related condition. Our BMI calculator shows your number, but only a clinician can say whether Saxenda fits you.

How it is taken, in general

Saxenda is injected under the skin of the abdomen, thigh or upper arm once a day, at any time, with or without meals, using a prefilled multi-dose pen. Before the first dose, the label says patients should be trained in the injection technique. The dose starts low and rises weekly so the stomach can adjust; the label describes this general timeline:

For teens, the step-up may take up to eight weeks, the dose can be stepped back if a higher one is not tolerated, and the check-point is a reduction in BMI of at least 1% after 12 weeks on the maintenance dose. Injection sites should be rotated within the same area. Your prescriber decides the dose and the pace; never change them on your own.

Storing and handling the pen

The label gives practical rules that matter for a daily injection. Before first use, pens are kept in the refrigerator at 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C), away from the cooling element, and must never be frozen; a pen that has been frozen should not be used. Once a pen is in use, it can be kept for 30 days either at room temperature (59°F to 86°F) or in the refrigerator, with the cap on and away from heat and sunlight. A new needle is attached for each injection and removed afterward, which the label says reduces contamination, infection and leakage and keeps doses accurate. Saxenda pens come in packs of 3 or 5, and a pen must never be shared with another person, even with a new needle, because of the risk of passing on infections. Your pharmacist can show you how to dispose of used needles safely.

A daily injection is a bigger routine than a weekly one, and some people find it harder to keep up; in the STEP 8 trial described below, more people stopped daily liraglutide early than weekly semaglutide. If you are considering Saxenda or a generic, think honestly about whether a daily habit fits your life, and tell your clinician if injections are a barrier.

What the trials showed in adults

The label describes three 56-week trials, all with counseling for a diet about 500 calories a day below needs and at least 150 minutes of activity a week. Study 1 enrolled 3,731 adults without diabetes (average starting weight 106 kg, BMI 38); Study 2 enrolled 635 adults with type 2 diabetes; Study 3 enrolled 422 adults who had first lost at least 5% of their weight on a low-calorie diet, to test whether Saxenda helped them keep it off.

At 56 weeks	Study 1 (no diabetes)	Study 2 (type 2 diabetes)	Study 3 (after 5% diet loss)
Average weight change, Saxenda	-7.4%	-5.4%	-4.9% (further loss)
Average weight change, placebo	-3.0%	-1.7%	+0.3%
Lost more than 10%, Saxenda vs placebo	33.9% vs 15.4%	22.4% vs 5.5%	25.4% vs 6.9%

• Placebo
• Saxenda

Study 1, no diabetes34.4%62.3%

Study 2, type 2 diabetes16.4%49%

Study 3, after a 5% diet loss21.7%44.2%

Adults who lost at least 5% of body weight in 56 weeks

Item	Placebo	Saxenda
Study 1, no diabetes	34.4%	62.3%
Study 2, type 2 diabetes	16.4%	49%
Study 3, after a 5% diet loss	21.7%	44.2%

All groups received diet and activity counseling. In Study 3, the 5% is measured from the start of treatment, after the diet run-in.

Source: Saxenda prescribing information, Table 4 (DailyMed) (checked on October 6, 2026)

Other measures also improved modestly in Study 1: waist size fell by 8.2 cm versus 4.0 cm, systolic blood pressure by 4.3 versus 1.5 mm Hg, and triglycerides by 13% versus 4.1%, while resting heart rate rose by about 2.6 beats per minute. In people with type 2 diabetes (Study 2), HbA1c fell by 1.3 points versus 0.4. A subset with prediabetes was followed for 160 weeks; in the published three-year results, 2% of the Saxenda group versus 6% of the placebo group were diagnosed with diabetes. About a quarter of participants stopped the drug early in the 56-week trials (27% on Saxenda, 35% on placebo), which is typical of weight-loss studies.

What the trial showed in teens

In a 56-week trial of 251 adolescents aged 12 to 17 with obesity (NCT02918279), after a 12-week lifestyle run-in, BMI fell by 4.29% on Saxenda and rose by 0.35% on placebo, and body weight changed by -2.65% versus +2.37%. Because teens are still growing, results are reported mainly as BMI.

• Placebo
• Saxenda

BMI down at least 5%18.7%43.3%

BMI down at least 10%8.1%26.1%

Teens 12 to 17: share with a meaningful BMI drop at 56 weeks

Item	Placebo	Saxenda
BMI down at least 5%	18.7%	43.3%
BMI down at least 10%	8.1%	26.1%

251 adolescents with obesity after a 12-week lifestyle run-in. 10.4% of teens on Saxenda stopped because of side effects, vs none on placebo.

Source: Saxenda prescribing information, Table 8 (DailyMed) (checked on October 6, 2026)

Families considering treatment for a teen should involve a pediatric specialist; our page on medical weight loss explains what a supervised program usually includes.

Side effects

In the adult trials, 9.8% of people on Saxenda stopped because of side effects, compared with 4.3% on placebo, most often because of nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, usually in the first months. About 68% reported some digestive symptom versus 39% on placebo; most were mild or moderate, and nausea became less common over time.

• Placebo
• Saxenda

Nausea13.8%39.3%

Diarrhea9.9%20.9%

Constipation8.5%19.4%

Vomiting3.9%15.7%

Injection-site reaction10.5%13.9%

Headache12.6%13.6%

Low blood sugar (type 2 diabetes)6.6%12.6%

Dyspepsia2.7%9.6%

Fatigue4.6%7.5%

Dizziness5%6.9%

Most common side effects in adults

Item	Placebo	Saxenda
Nausea	13.8%	39.3%
Diarrhea	9.9%	20.9%
Constipation	8.5%	19.4%
Vomiting	3.9%	15.7%
Injection-site reaction	10.5%	13.9%
Headache	12.6%	13.6%
Low blood sugar (type 2 diabetes)	6.6%	12.6%
Dyspepsia	2.7%	9.6%
Fatigue	4.6%	7.5%
Dizziness	5%	6.9%

3,384 adults on Saxenda and 1,941 on placebo in five trials. Low blood sugar was measured in the trial of people with type 2 diabetes.

Source: Saxenda prescribing information, Table 2 (DailyMed) (checked on October 6, 2026)

In teens, the most common side effects were nausea (42.4% vs 14.3%), vomiting (34.4% vs 4.0%), diarrhea (22.4% vs 14.3%) and low blood sugar with symptoms (15.2% vs 4.0%; teens in the trial did not have diabetes but were given glucose meters). Other adult side effects listed include abdominal pain, raised lipase, reflux, bloating, burping, gas, insomnia, dry mouth and anxiety. See GLP-1 side effects for how they are usually managed.

Boxed warning and serious risks

• Acute pancreatitis was confirmed in 0.3% of adults on Saxenda versus 0.1% on placebo; severe persistent stomach pain needs urgent care.
• Gallbladder disease: gallstones in 2.2% versus 0.8%, and gallbladder inflammation in 0.8% versus 0.4%; most affected people needed gallbladder surgery.
• Faster heart rate: resting heart rate rose by 2 to 3 beats per minute on average; 34% versus 19% had rises of more than 10 beats per minute at two visits. The label says to stop if a sustained increase occurs.
• Low blood sugar with insulin or sulfonylureas, and in teens.
• Kidney injury from dehydration, and severe digestive reactions (4.8% vs 1.4%); not recommended with severe gastroparesis.
• Serious allergic reactions, and breathing in stomach contents during anesthesia or deep sedation; tell any surgical team you take it.

The label also reports, without being able to say whether Saxenda caused them, slightly more breast cancer (0.7% vs 0.2% of women), papillary thyroid cancer (0.2% vs 0%) and benign colon polyps (0.6% vs 0.4%) in the trials, as well as more cases of low blood pressure. In January 2026 the FDA asked for the suicidal behavior and ideation warning to be removed from Saxenda, Wegovy and Zepbound after a review of 91 trials found no increased risk; any mood change should still be reported to your clinician.

Interactions, pregnancy and breastfeeding

Saxenda slows stomach emptying and could affect how other pills are absorbed, although trials did not show clinically relevant changes with the medicines tested. With insulin or a sulfonylurea, the doses of those medicines may need to be lowered. The label says weight loss offers no benefit during pregnancy and may cause fetal harm, so Saxenda should be stopped when a pregnancy is recognized. There are no data on breast milk in humans; liraglutide was found in rat milk. Discuss pregnancy plans and breastfeeding with your clinician.

Cost, insurance and the discontinuation

Checked on 2026-10-06: Novo Nordisk’s list price (wholesale acquisition cost) for a 5-pen pack of Saxenda, about a month at the 3 mg dose, is $1,349.02. The Saxenda savings offer closed to new enrollees on June 30, 2023, and NovoCare now points patients to another Novo Nordisk weight-management medicine that has a savings offer. Approved generic liraglutide 3 mg products cost pharmacies much less, according to Medicaid’s NADAC benchmark (the average price pharmacies pay, not your price):

Saxenda list price (WAC)$1,349.02

Saxenda, what pharmacies pay (NADAC)$1,306.89

Generic liraglutide, what pharmacies pay (NADAC)$738.72

Price benchmarks for about one month of liraglutide 3 mg (5 pens)

Item	Value
Saxenda list price (WAC)	$1,349.02
Saxenda, what pharmacies pay (NADAC)	$1,306.89
Generic liraglutide, what pharmacies pay (NADAC)	$738.72

NADAC per mL multiplied by 15 mL (five 3 mL pens). Acquisition costs are not retail prices; ask your pharmacy for its cash price.

Source: Novo Nordisk pricing (WAC) and CMS NADAC 2026 (rates effective 2026-09-23), InstaTuck calculation (checked on October 6, 2026)

Novo Nordisk says it is discontinuing Saxenda because alternative medicines have become available and use has declined, and that the decision “is not the result of any safety or quality-related concerns.” It advises patients to consult their health care provider about alternatives. Medicare is prohibited by law from covering drugs used only for weight loss, and the temporary Medicare GLP-1 Bridge (July 2026 to December 2027) covers Wegovy, Zepbound and Foundayo but not liraglutide. Commercial coverage varies; see GLP-1 insurance coverage and compare prices with the GLP-1 cost comparison tool.

Saxenda vs weekly options

The only head-to-head trial with a weekly medicine, STEP 8 (JAMA, 2022), compared daily liraglutide 3 mg with weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg (Wegovy) for 68 weeks in 338 adults. Average weight loss was 6.4% with liraglutide and 15.8% with semaglutide, and 27.6% versus 13.5% stopped treatment early. Digestive side effects were similar (82.7% vs 84.1%). Read the full comparison in Wegovy vs Saxenda.

Options to discuss with your clinician include generic liraglutide, Wegovy and Zepbound (weekly injections), the Wegovy pill and Foundayo (daily pills), and non-GLP-1 pills such as Qsymia and Contrave. The medications hub lists all of them with their FDA status. If you switch or stop, our guide to stopping a GLP-1 explains what trials show about regain and what helps, and the protein calculator gives a daily protein range to discuss with your care team.

FDA status and approved uses

Indication	Labeled population	For weight	Approved	Source
Reduce excess body weight and maintain weight reduction long term, with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity	Adults with obesity, or adults with overweight in the presence of at least one weight-related comorbid condition	Yes	December 23, 2014	Source
Reduce excess body weight and maintain weight reduction long term	Pediatric patients aged 12 years and older with body weight greater than 60 kg and obesity	Yes	December 4, 2020	Source

From the FDA label. Who a medicine is labeled for is not the same as whether it fits you; only a clinician can decide that.

How it is taken (in general)

Once-daily subcutaneous injection in the abdomen, thigh or upper arm, any time of day, without regard to meals. Starts at the lowest dose for one week and increases weekly to the 3 mg maintenance dose (teens: up to 8 weeks). Adults: stop if less than 4% weight loss at 16 weeks. Restart the escalation if more than 3 days are missed. Rotate sites. Follow your prescriber; never change the dose on your own.

This is what the label describes in general, never a personal dose or schedule. Follow your prescriber.

What studies showed

Trial	Population	Duration	Outcome as reported
SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes (label Study 1) NCT01272219	3,731 adults with obesity or overweight with comorbidity, no diabetes	56 weeks	Label: weight -7.4% vs -3.0% with placebo; 62.3% vs 34.4% lost 5% or more; 33.9% vs 15.4% lost more than 10%.[1]
Label Study 2 (type 2 diabetes)	635 adults with type 2 diabetes and overweight or obesity	56 weeks	Weight -5.4% vs -1.7%; HbA1c -1.3 vs -0.4.[1]
Label Study 3 (maintenance after diet)	422 adults who lost 5% or more on a low-calorie diet run-in	56 weeks	Further weight change -4.9% vs +0.3% with placebo.[1]
Pediatric trial (label Study 4) NCT02918279	251 adolescents 12 to 17 with obesity	56 weeks	BMI -4.29% vs +0.35%; 43.3% vs 18.7% reduced BMI by 5% or more.[1]
STEP 8 NCT04074161	338 adults with overweight or obesity, no diabetes	68 weeks	Weight -6.4% with liraglutide 3 mg vs -15.8% with semaglutide 2.4 mg.[6]

Average results from trials; individual results vary. Results from different trials cannot be compared directly.

Side effects

Common side effect	How often (label)
Nausea	39.3% vs 13.8% placebo (adults)
Diarrhea	20.9% vs 9.9% placebo
Constipation	19.4% vs 8.5% placebo
Vomiting	15.7% vs 3.9% placebo
Injection-site reaction	13.9% vs 10.5% placebo
Headache	13.6% vs 12.6% placebo
Hypoglycemia (adults with type 2 diabetes)	12.6% vs 6.6% placebo
Dyspepsia	9.6% vs 2.7% placebo

Serious risks

• Thyroid C-cell tumors (boxed warning, seen in rodents)
• Acute pancreatitis
• Acute gallbladder disease
• Hypoglycemia (with insulin secretagogues or insulin; also seen in pediatric patients)
• Heart rate increase
• Acute kidney injury due to volume depletion
• Severe gastrointestinal adverse reactions; not recommended in severe gastroparesis
• Serious hypersensitivity reactions
• Pulmonary aspiration during general anesthesia or deep sedation

Warnings and who should not use it

Boxed warning

Risk of thyroid C-cell tumors: liraglutide causes dose- and duration-dependent thyroid C-cell tumors at clinically relevant exposures in rats and mice. It is unknown whether Saxenda causes thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), in humans. Saxenda is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC or with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Counsel patients on the risk and symptoms of thyroid tumors.

Who should not use it (per the label)

• Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
• Serious hypersensitivity reaction to liraglutide or any excipient in Saxenda

Interactions, pregnancy and breastfeeding

Drug or class	What the label says
Oral medications	Delayed gastric emptying may affect absorption; monitor for consequences.
Insulin or insulin secretagogues (such as sulfonylureas)	Higher risk of hypoglycemia; consider lowering those doses.
Other liraglutide products or GLP-1 receptor agonists	Coadministration not recommended.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

May cause fetal harm; weight loss offers no benefit to a pregnant patient. Discontinue when pregnancy is recognized. No human data on milk; liraglutide was present in rat milk. Weigh breastfeeding benefits with the prescriber.

Cost, insurance and savings

Price	Amount	Basis	Checked on
List price	1,349.02 USD	WAC per 5-pen package (5 x 3 mL), about 30 days at 3 mg	October 6, 2026
Other	1,306.89 USD	NADAC pharmacy acquisition cost, Saxenda 15 mL (rate effective 2026-09-23)	October 6, 2026
Other	738.72 USD	NADAC pharmacy acquisition cost, generic liraglutide 5-pen pack, 15 mL (rate effective 2026-09-23)	October 6, 2026

Prices change often and depend on pharmacy, plan and location. Insurance can change what you pay. Every price shows the date we checked it.

Savings programs

• Saxenda Savings Offer (closed to new enrollees): Discontinued for new enrollees as of 2023-06-30 (checked October 6, 2026)

Stopping and keeping results

Trials show that weight often returns after these medicines are stopped. Plan any change with your prescriber. Stopping a GLP-1: what trials show and how people keep results

Questions to ask your doctor or pharmacist

• With the Saxenda brand ending in early 2027, should I move to a generic liraglutide or another medicine, and when?
• How are we measuring whether it is working at 16 weeks, and what is plan B if it is not?
• Do I have any history, such as thyroid cancer, MEN 2, pancreatitis, gallstones or a fast heart rate, that changes the risks for me?
• How should my other medicines, especially diabetes medicines, be adjusted?
• What will each option cost under my plan, including generics?

Frequently asked questions

Is Saxenda being discontinued?

Yes. Novo Nordisk has announced it will discontinue Saxenda, with last shipments to wholesalers in late January 2027. It says the decision is not related to safety or quality, and advises patients to talk with their health care provider about alternatives.

Is there a generic Saxenda?

Yes. The FDA approved the first generic liraglutide referencing Saxenda on August 27, 2025 (Teva), and Drugs@FDA lists other approved makers. Generic liraglutide 3 mg has the same weight-management indication.

How much weight do people lose on Saxenda?

In the label's largest trial, adults lost 7.4% of their starting weight on average at 56 weeks vs 3.0% on placebo, and 62.3% lost at least 5%. Results vary widely between people.

How long does Saxenda take to work?

The dose is stepped up over about four weeks. The label says adults who have not lost at least 4% of their starting weight after 16 weeks should stop, because they are unlikely to benefit.

Is Saxenda the same as Victoza?

Both contain liraglutide, but Victoza is approved for type 2 diabetes at up to 1.8 mg a day, while Saxenda is approved for weight management at 3 mg a day. They are not interchangeable.

Is Saxenda better than Wegovy?

They are different medicines. In the STEP 8 head-to-head trial, weekly semaglutide (Wegovy's ingredient) led to 15.8% weight loss vs 6.4% with daily liraglutide. Which fits a person depends on health history, preferences and coverage, a decision for you and your clinician.

Can teenagers use Saxenda?

The label includes children 12 and older with obesity who weigh more than 60 kg. In the teen trial, BMI fell 4.29% vs a 0.35% rise with placebo. A pediatric specialist should be involved.

What are the most common side effects of Saxenda?

Nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, injection-site reactions, headache, low blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, and indigestion. About 9.8% of adults stopped because of side effects vs 4.3% on placebo.

Does insurance cover Saxenda?

Coverage depends on the plan. Medicare is prohibited by law from covering drugs used only for weight loss, and the 2026-2027 Medicare GLP-1 Bridge does not include liraglutide. The Saxenda savings card closed to new enrollees in 2023.

Official sources

• Prescribing information (FDA label)
• FDA approval letter or page
• Manufacturer information

References

1. SAXENDA (liraglutide) injection: prescribing information. Novo Nordisk, via DailyMed, 2026. (accessed October 6, 2026) Drug label
2. Drugs@FDA: Saxenda, NDA 206321 (original approval 2014-12-23). U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (accessed October 7, 2026) Government page
3. Drugs@FDA: liraglutide (Teva), ANDA 214568. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (accessed October 6, 2026) Government page
4. Pi-Sunyer X, Astrup A, Fujioka K, et al.. A Randomized, Controlled Trial of 3.0 mg of Liraglutide in Weight Management (SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes). New England Journal of Medicine, 2015. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1411892 · PMID 26132939 · NCT01272219 (accessed October 6, 2026) Randomized trial
5. le Roux CW, Astrup A, Fujioka K, et al.. 3 years of liraglutide versus placebo for type 2 diabetes risk reduction and weight management in individuals with prediabetes. The Lancet, 2017. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(17)30069-7 · PMID 28237263 (accessed October 6, 2026) Randomized trial
6. Rubino DM, Greenway FL, Khalid U, et al.. Effect of Weekly Subcutaneous Semaglutide vs Daily Liraglutide on Body Weight (STEP 8). JAMA, 2022. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.23619 · PMID 35015037 · NCT04074161 (accessed October 6, 2026) Randomized trial
7. Saxenda: cost information and discontinuation notice. Novo Nordisk (NovoCare). (accessed October 6, 2026) Other
8. Saxenda pricing (wholesale acquisition cost). Novo Nordisk. (accessed October 6, 2026) Other
9. NADAC (National Average Drug Acquisition Cost) 2026. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (data.medicaid.gov). (accessed October 6, 2026) Government page
10. FDA requests removal of suicidal behavior and ideation warning from GLP-1 receptor agonist medications. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2026. (accessed October 6, 2026) Government page
11. Medicare GLP-1 Bridge: information for providers. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (accessed October 7, 2026) Government page
12. A New Use for Wegovy Opens the Door to Medicare Coverage for Millions of People with Obesity. KFF, 2024. (accessed October 6, 2026) Other
13. Prescription Medications to Treat Overweight & Obesity. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIH). (accessed October 7, 2026) Government page

Facts checked on October 6, 2026

Educational information, not medical advice. Talk with a qualified healthcare professional about your own situation. In an emergency call 911.