5 Ways Saxenda Helps with Weight Loss & How to use it Safely

5 Ways Saxenda Helps with Weight Loss & How to use it Safely

Saxenda might be one of the best weight loss medications that exist on the market right now. 

But just because it might work doesn’t mean it’s necessarily right for your body.

Saxenda works because it alters many hormone systems in your body that tend to interfere with your appetite, metabolism, and even other hormones

In this post, I will walk you through how Saxenda helps with weight loss and who should consider using this new medication.

Let’s jump in: ​

What is Saxenda & Does it Work?

First, let’s start off by establishing that Saxenda does indeed work for weight loss.

The studies are clear on this matter (1):

Many studies have shown that patients using Saxenda lose significant amounts of weight over several weeks (usually around 10% body fat). ​

graph from a clinical study highlighting the changes in body weight % over 56 weeks in patients using liraglutide vs placebo.

That means that using this medication might help you lose up to 20 pounds if you weighed 200 pounds. 

At first, that doesn’t sound very good, but it’s actually quite impressive if you consider that this weight loss is achieved generally without any other therapies added.

And that’s where things get interesting.

If you have an understanding of weight loss and how hormones influence your weight, you can benefit even more from using this medication.

Why?

Because it can safely be combined with other therapies that ALSO increase your weight loss efforts and together this can result in dramatic weight loss. ​

We will talk about those therapies in just a minute but for now, let’s discuss why Saxenda actually works… 

5 Ways Saxenda Helps Boost Weight Loss

​Saxenda is a medication that falls into the GLP-1 agonist class of drugs. 

GLP-1 stands for Glucagon-like peptide 1 and that’s where Saxenda has its primary action.

Saxenda (or Liraglutide which is another name for this medication) sits on this receptor and causes changes to very important hormones involved in regulating body weight: insulin, leptin, and glucagon.

Liraglutide was originally developed to treat type II diabetes because it can help reduce insulin resistance but was soon found to have a dramatic effect on weight. 

Because of this, the makers of Liraglutide (or Victoza as it is called if used to treat type II diabetes) came out with a new name (saxenda) which is now FDA-approved for weight loss.

If you’ve been following my blog you know that I am a big fan of GLP-1 agonists and that I use them effectively for weight loss (to help patients lose 50+ pounds).

You can read about the case studies here and here – which include before and after pictures.

So, naturally, I am a big fan of the GLP-1 agonists, but in order to get the kind of results you see in those case studies, it has to be used CORRECTLY and combined with other therapies. 

Simply taking Saxenda will help you lose some weight by itself, but it won’t get you back to your ideal or normal weight by itself (you will have to add other therapies to get there). 

I will talk about the downside of using Saxenda below, but for now, let’s talk about HOW it works. 

#1. Reduces Leptin Resistance

First, and probably most important, is that GLP-1 agonists help lower leptin resistance

You may not even realize it, but when it comes to weight loss leptin is probably the single most important hormone for determining if you will lose weight and how much weight you will lose. 

Leptin is also responsible (at least in part) for weight gain after rapid weight loss. 

What happens is something like this:

graph which shows the relationship between satiety factors, leptin, ghrelin, CB1, melanocortin, food intake, and their impact on feeding.

You go on a calorie-restricted diet which helps you lose 20 pounds or so within a matter of 30-60 days.

Your body senses this rapid weight loss and makes changes to your hormones to INCREASE your appetite and LOWER your metabolism to compensate.

The hormone responsible for this is Leptin.

Leptin levels then spike which causes your body to regain that weight that you previously lost (2), but in the process, you have damaged your metabolism slightly (not good).

Repeating this process over and over causes worsening leptin resistance and make it so that you are unable to lose weight even if you try excessive dieting or calorie restriction. 

another graph which shows the relationship between food intake, leptin, ghrelin, and their impact on feeding showing a new equilibrium that has been pushed upward to increased feeding.

Leptin is probably one of the more important hormones involved in weight management and it’s also probably the most neglected. 

Until recently we didn’t really have a way to treat leptin resistance even though most Doctors recognized that it was involved in many cases of obesity in the US.

So where does Saxenda fit in?

Studies have shown that Liraglutide (Saxenda or Victoza) does two important things related to Leptin and leptin resistance (3):

  • Reduces existing leptin resistance – meaning it helps to change the biochemistry of the body to ALLOW for weight loss to occur
  • Attenuates (or reduces) the rise in leptin resistance once you start losing weight – meaning it helps you keep off the weight that you are losing
the cellular impact of leptin and the glp-1 receptor are shown with a circle around genetic transcription.

These effects seem to be mediated through receptor changes by the GLP-1 agonist and on the leptin receptor. 

Either way, the result is the same:

This medication helps reduce leptin resistance and can help lower leptin levels.

This changes the biochemistry in your body and helps to naturally reduce your appetite, increase your metabolism and increase fat-burning capacity.

This change alone is probably why GLP-1 agonists are so effective for weight loss, but they have more benefits beyond their effects on leptin. ​

You can find more information in my hormone and weight loss guide to find exactly how I use GLP-1 agonists, how to manage your diet to control leptin levels, and much more here:

  • Bottom line: Saxenda helps reduce leptin levels and helps treat leptin resistance. Leptin is responsible for weight loss resistance. 

#2. Improves Insulin Sensitivity

Saxenda also helps reduce insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance is the root cause of type II diabetes mellitus and insulin is responsible for the majority of the negative consequences associated with that disease.

What you may not realize is that insulin resistance is incredibly common in the US.

It’s estimated that up to 50% of the population has some degree of insulin resistance and, by lab testing, shows signs of diabetes or pre-diabetes.

Insulin is also a very important hormone involved in the weight loss equation.

When insulin levels are high it’s almost impossible for your body to burn fat (4).

Why?

Because insulin blocks the action of an enzyme called hormone-sensitive lipase.

This hormone is responsible for turning on “fat-burning mode” and in the presence of high insulin, this enzyme is always on the “off” setting.

This is obviously a big problem if you are trying to lose weight.

In addition to preventing your body from burning fat as an energy source insulin also has the added problem of promoting fat storage. 

This means that if you consume calories (from any source) these calories will be stored as fat in the presence of high levels of circulating insulin.

This is true even if you are consuming a low-calorie diet.

Insulin doesn’t care how many calories you are consuming, it cares about storing whatever you eat as fat. ​

​So how does Saxenda work?

Saxenda helps sensitize the body to insulin levels and helps to lower blood glucose levels in the process.

Using Victoza (especially when combined with the right diet, exercise, and supplements) can dramatically reduce fasting insulin levels and also fasting blood glucose levels.

​The positive effects of reducing insulin also significantly help to improve other hormones in the body. 

For instance:

Insulin resistance can cause low testosterone (in men) and high testosterone (in women).

When you treat insulin levels these hormone imbalances tend to improve which will naturally result in weight loss and a reduction in symptoms associated with THOSE imbalances.

  • Bottom line: GLP-1 agonists help reduce insulin resistance and lower blood sugar. This activates hormone-sensitive lipase and results in more fat burning over time. 

#3. Acts as a Glucagon Suppressant

Glucagon is another hormone that is important for weight loss, but one that is less understood than insulin or leptin. 

Over the next 5-10 years we will see a lot more research done on this hormone and how it relates to weight loss, but for now, we can talk about what we already know.

Glucagon is basically the exact opposite of insulin – in terms of how it alters blood glucose levels.

Insulin lowers blood sugar levels while glucagon helps increase blood sugar levels.

How does this relate to weight loss?

It turns out that in order to help burn fat in the body, your body must naturally deplete liver glycogen stores and have low enough insulin levels to promote hormone-sensitive lipase to activate.

In states that cause insulin resistance, there is also some degree of hyperglucagonemia – and these states promote consistently high levels of glucose.

High glucagon also seems to interfere with normal glucose control which alters how your body burns energy. ​

a graph showing serum glucose levels taken via continuous glucose monitoring with arrows pointing to the the corresponding effects of liraglutide.

Saxenda and other GLP-1 agonists help reduce glucagon levels (5) while simultaneously reducing insulin resistance. 

Both of these changes promote more normal blood glucose levels and help promote proper liver metabolism of glucose and help adipose tissue burn fat. ​

​This is also why GLP-1 agonists are so helpful for patients with type II diabetes. 

Glucagon is just as important (if not more important) in the regulation of glucose levels in the body.

Our current focus is on insulin and how it manages glucose levels and we generally completely ignore glucagon and its effects.

But if you treat both insulin AND glucagon levels, you can get a much more normal glucose level and finally promote weight loss and fat burn. ​

  • Bottom line: Saxenda helps reduce hyperglucagonemia (lower glucagon levels) which promotes normal glucose metabolism in the body and in the liver. 

#4. Reduces Appetite

​Another benefit of using Saxenda is how it alters your appetite. 

You’ve been conditioned to believe that your weight is the product of how many calories you burn minus the number of calories you consume.

Conventional wisdom would have you believe that reducing your total calories will always result in weight loss, provided you burn more calories than you consume.

Weight loss, in general, happens to be much more complex than this seriously oversimplified and inaccurate equation, but, nonetheless, here we are. 

So here’s the deal with appetite and Saxenda…

One of the side effects of Saxenda is slight nausea, and this is felt to occur due to how GLP-1 agonists alter gastric motility (6).

These medications slow down gastrointestinal motility which means that your gastric contents empty more slowly.

This can result in symptoms such as reflux, and distention of the stomach which manifests as nausea.

Pretty much anything that tells your body that your stomach is full will also promote a reduction in appetite – this is natural and normal. 

But, how does appetite impact weight loss?

get my weight loss supplement bundle and 60 day weight loss program

Well, you do need SOME degree of calorie restriction to result in weight loss (but this should NOT be constant calorie restriction) and this calorie restriction from the loss in appetite is actually welcomed in this case.

The reason this appetite suppression is GOOD is that it’s also accompanied by the attenuation of leptin levels.

What this means is that you can lose weight by reducing your appetite, and instead of your body responding with increased leptin levels, the saxenda actually blocks that rise.

So you get the benefit of both worlds:

Appetite suppression that does NOT result in your weight being regained AND suppression of leptin levels at the same time.

This is why appetite suppression is good in this case. ​

  • Bottom line: Saxenda helps reduce appetite by slowing down gastric motility. This reduction in calories is also coupled with a reduction in leptin levels which results in weight loss over time. 

#5. Increases Metabolism

Saxenda also seems to have an effect on increasing your basal metabolic rate. 

Your metabolism is probably one of the most important aspects involved in weight loss.

Why?

Because your basal metabolic rate, or resting energy expenditure, is responsible for the MAJORITY of calories that you burn.

This metric is also responsible for how likely you are for keeping off any weight that you lose.

If you do any sort of diet that results in metabolic damage (defined as reducing your metabolic rate) then your chances of regaining that weight back are VERY high.

This is famously illustrated in the biggest loser study (7) which showed that contestants of this program suffered severe basal metabolic rate damage. 

These contestants were burning on average 600-700 calories LESS per day than a normal person, which means that almost all of them gained the weight back that they lost.  ​

two graphs from the biggest loser study highlighting the impact that caloric restriction has on resting metabolic rate at 30 weeks and at 6 years.

This is why most calorie-restricted diets fail and why we, as a nation, have such a difficult time with weight loss.

​We put all of our focus on calories instead of on hormones and basal metabolic rate. 

So how does Saxenda work?

Saxenda helps naturally improve your metabolism, probably through its effects on leptin levels.

Leptin feeds back to your hypothalamus and helps set your body’s set point – the number of calories your body burns which in terms alters your appetite.

Your body is constantly trying to match the number of calories you burn to the number of calories that you consume. 

  • Bottom line: Saxenda helps improve your metabolism over time, probably through its effects on leptin levels. 

Saxenda vs Victoza

You might be confused about these two medications, so let’s explain the difference. 

Let me be clear:

Saxenda and Victoza are the exact same medication.

Both medications use the same active ingredient which is Liraglutide.

Liraglutide is the reason that these medications both work.

Where they differ is in dosing and how they are FDA approved, but please note this doesn’t mean that you can’t use Victoza for weight loss. 

Victoza is FDA approved for type II diabetes in the following dosages:

  • 0.6mg per day
  • 1.2mg per day
  • 1.8mg per day

Saxenda is FDA ​approved for weight loss at the following dosages: 

  • 3.0mg per day

You can see the main difference between the two is really just the dose and what they are approved to treat. 

Why have two medications to begin with? Doesn’t it just cause confusion?

Well… you aren’t wrong.

The main reason for having two medications has to do with money.

The makers of Victoza wanted to make more money presumably by increasing their patent on Liraglutide and charging more money for the change in the dose.

This means that it will be very difficult to get either of these medications for probably at least 10+ years. ​

But do they both work the same?

Absolutely, so don’t let that confuse you.

Studies have been done using both medications and they do indeed show similar results. ​

3 graphs of liraglutide vs placebo showing the effects of weight loss over a 56 and 20 week period.

What’s important here is HOW you dose the medication, how often you increase the dose, and when to increase your dose

The benefits listed above are only achieved at a certain minimum dose and this dose is different for each person. 

In my weight loss guide, I talk about how to appropriately use GLP-1 agonists including Victoza and Saxenda. 

I also talk about when you should increase your dose and how to titrate your existing medication to help with your weight loss. 

The worst thing you can do is take the maximum dose and lose 20 pounds quickly, but then stay at a weight loss plateau when you have 30+ more pounds to lose.

How much does Saxenda Cost? ​

One of the biggest drawbacks of using this medication is the cost.

​Saxenda (without a coupon or discount card) costs upwards of about $1,500 per month. 

Even using websites such as goodrx.com which has coupon codes for medications the price only lowers to around $1,100 to $1,200 per month. ​

the cash prices of liraglutide are listed from goodrx which show an average price of over 1,100 USD.

This is obviously an issue because even though Saxenda works this makes the medication unavailable to most people who could actually benefit from it. 

What’s worse is that insurance does not cover the medication generally.

Even though there would be a huge benefit to reducing your weight by 50 pounds versus the risk of maintaining 50 pounds of weight gain over 2-3 decades.

Despite this issue, there are some other options… 

Saxenda Coupon & Savings card

Like many other medications, Saxenda does have a coupon code or savings card that may work for some people. 

The only problem is that it doesn’t work for everyone. 

You can find more information on how to get the savings card for saxenda here. ​

How do you use the coupon?

You must first get a prescription from your Doctor for Saxenda, then you have to apply for the savings card and then have your pharmacy apply the discount to the medication.

The process isn’t difficult but it doesn’t always work.

This leaves a fair amount of patients without the medication or having to pay the high price.

Luckily there are some ways that you can get Victoza covered by insurance if you know a few tricks.

Saxenda Side Effects​

Even though Saxenda works doesn’t mean it comes without any side effects.

While this medication does have many side effects, most of them can be avoided if you use the proper titration schedule.

In addition, the goal of using Saxenda in the way that I recommend results in only using the medication during weight loss phases.

This means that the use of Saxenda is only temporary and doesn’t have to be continued once you lose all of your weight.

Even when used appropriately sometimes patients do experience some side effects, the most common being:

  • Nausea
  • Headache
  • Vomiting
  • Muscle cramps
  • Dizziness

​These side effects tend to go away over time, but saxenda can also cause more serious side effects as well: 

  • Inflammation of the pancreas
  • Gallbladder problems
  • Low blood sugar
  • Increased heart rate
  • Kidney problems
  • Depression
  • Chronic pain
a list of serious side effects from the manufacturer of saxenda including the risk of cancer.

In my personal experience of using Saxenda and Victoza, I have never had a patient endorse any of the more serious side effects listed above, but they have been documented in some patients. 

As always make sure to address any issues with your medication with your doctor.

And just remember that most of the symptoms associated with Saxenda can be mitigated if you use it correctly.

In addition, any risk of serious side effects can generally be mitigated further by the fact that if you use Saxenda correctly you will NOT be on it long-term. ​

​How to use Saxenda Effectively with other Therapies and to Boost Weight Loss Results

​After reading this post it may be tempting to think that Saxenda is the answer to your weight loss problems. 

While it is helpful I don’t want to leave you with the wrong impression.

Saxenda really shouldn’t be used as monotherapy for weight loss.

Meaning that it shouldn’t be used without making other changes to your diet, lifestyle, exercise routine, supplements, and hormones.

Getting the kind of lasting weight loss that you are looking for will require a more comprehensive approach that includes ALL of those things.

Saxenda, or Victoza, can be combined with other therapies that multiply the effects of the medication. 

This results in more weight loss that is sustained. ​

You can get more information about therapies that complement Saxenda or Victoza in my 60-day weight loss guide which is included in my 5 supplement weight loss bundle.

Back to you

​Saxenda is a powerful medication that can seriously help treat weight loss in most patients. 

It does this through its effects on various hormones in the body including leptin, insulin, and glucagon.

These powerful hormones are responsible for your metabolism, how much energy you burn at rest, and how your body stores and burns fat.

Using Saxenda can help bring these hormones back into normal balance and help you lose weight in the process.

In order to get the best possible results (with weight loss), Saxenda should be used as part of a more comprehensive treatment plan instead of being used alone. 

Now it’s your turn:

Have you used Saxenda?

Did it work for you? Why or why not?

Leave your comments below!​

#1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23812094

#2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2967652/

#3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4386791/

#4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3262368/

#5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3705157/

#6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3992824/

#7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27136388

how to use saxenda for long lasting weight loss pinterest image.

picture of westin childs D.O. standing

About Dr. Westin Childs

Hey! I'm Westin Childs D.O. (former Osteopathic Physician). I don't practice medicine anymore and instead specialize in helping people like YOU who have thyroid problems, hormone imbalances, and weight loss resistance. I love to write and share what I've learned over the years. I also happen to formulate the best supplements on the market (well, at least in my opinion!) and I'm proud to say that over 80,000+ people have used them over the last 7 years. You can read more about my own personal health journey and why I am so passionate about what I do.

P.S. Here are 4 ways you can get more help right now:

#1. Get my free thyroid downloads, resources, and PDFs here.

#2. Need better symptom control? Check out my thyroid supplements.

#3. Sign up to receive 20% off your first order.

#4. Follow me on Youtube, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram for up-to-date thyroid tips, tricks, videos, and more.

185 thoughts on “5 Ways Saxenda Helps with Weight Loss & How to use it Safely”

  1. Thank you so very much, once again, for such wonderful information. I look forward to the day i can join your diet classes/community.

    Reply
      • Hi There,

        I’ve been on Saxenda for almost a month. I’ve seen some enormous changes with my body, which included a 20 lbs weight loss. As you mentioned in the article, I have been combining the drug with daily excercise which includes cardio 3-4 times a week, and 5 days of resistance training. I’ve also been eating very clean (low fat and lots of veggies & fruits, and lean proteins). I’m almost done this program, but I’m very concerned about what happens after saxenda. Will the appetite return? Will I gain the weight back? Hope you can help answer these questions

        Reply
        • Hi , I have not been using saxenda for nearly 2 months and my Appetite has come back and I’ve gained 3 kilos , but still have lost a total of 14 kilos , so I’m just going back on it to try and keep it at bay , my heart was massively enlarged before , now it’s mild to moderate , so health wise was so good for me , this time I’m putting in an exercise regime , so I can maintain my weight better when I go off it again

          Reply
          • Hi Nerida,

            Make sure you don’t waste the medication. It doesn’t work as well on your second and third time so you should only use it if you are serious and do all therapies at once to help you lose weight. If you don’t, you could lose your best chance of losing weight and keeping it off.

    • Great article. I am curious to know if there is any benefit to taking smaller doses if a smaller dose adequately suppresses appetite.

      Reply
      • Hi Angela,

        That’s kind of a loaded question but yes, you do want to use the smallest dose possible but the dose-dependent symptom you are looking for is not necessarily appetite suppression.

        Reply
          • I heard from other people to try calling local pharmacies and asking if they will tell you which doctors call in the specific prescription you want.
            I’m trying to locate a doctor that will change my thyroid prescription, and I’m trying Push Health. Not sure if this will work, but it sounds like as long as it isn’t a controlled substance, sites like these can locate physicians for you. I saw a few others mentioned on Reddit as well. It’s so frustrating that it is so hard to find doctors who keep up with research and are open minded.

    • This was so helpful to learn more of the science. I’ve been on Saxenda for 8 weeks. I’ve dropped from large pants to medium and no longer look pregnant. (Belly fat). I’ve lost about 4% of my body weight so far. I was a BMI 30.4. I’m at 28.6 now. However the most amazing result is it’s effect on my sugar addiction. I’ve been severely addicted to Diet Coke for 35 years. As soon as I started Saxenda my cravings lessened. I’ve now been completely soda free for 3 weeks. This is because my body thought Diet Coke was sugar; I was at 100 ounces some days. I drastically eat less and am not hungry, but not nauseous or shakes. I notice the reduction in sugar is reducing inflammation in my body. I also have hashimotos thyroid disease and had a hard time loosing weight (as a peri menopausal woman).

      Reply
  2. Very interesting! But my big question is, can you use it when you have Hashimotos? Or does it react with other Ned’s? Currently on Synthroid, T3, Crestor and zetia. What I wouldn’t give for the 60lbs hashimotos brought on to be gone off my 5’0 frame! Lol

    Reply
    • Hi Amy,
      I have Hashimotos was diagnosed after my hysterectomy. I was on a low dose of Levo but it did nothing. I have gained about 60 in a year 30 of it is when I started nights. Did Saxenda help you? It seems to be messing with my Thyroid I feel it swelling. I have almost completed my first vial. I have gained 5 pounds. So it hasn’t helped me. Any Suggestions?

      Reply
  3. Would Saxenda still work if I don’t have leptin resistance? In October 2016, my fasting leptin levels were 7.6. I am hypothyroid and can’t lose 5-8 lbs that I need to. My endocrinologist suggested Saxenda, but I wanted to do some research first.

    Reply
  4. Hi Dr. Childs,
    I was wondering if you could recommend a good vegetarian adrenal support?
    All best wishes,

    Elizabeth

    Reply
  5. I’ve just had my Integrative Hormone nurse call in Belviq XR. Do you think I would benefit more from the Saxenda?
    My Leptin level was a 26.1 but I read that was actually high?
    I definitely think I’m suffering from hormone imbalance as well as thyroid resistance with my elevated reverse T3 (31.5)

    Thank you for your advice and help!

    Reply
    • Hi Sarah,

      I generally don’t recommend belviq because it just doesn’t target the right pathways for optimal weight loss. Your leptin level is high, but I can’t say for sure if you would do better on a GLP-1 agonist or not based on this information.

      Reply
  6. I’m confused. I thought you were recommending Saxenda in one of your blogs if we had high leptin levels and have been unsuccessful with weight loss.

    Reply
  7. I have been taking saxenda for 3 days and have no appetite at all, which is good. Though I am very nauseous and all my muscles hurt really bad.. any idea how long this will go on for? Will my body get used to it? I am tempted to stop bc I have felt so terrible..

    Reply
    • Hi Beth,

      Symptoms such as those should be directed with the physician who prescribed the medication. At the very least your dose should be reduced.

      Reply
  8. Started Saxenda 2 weeks ago and the results are already amazing, even though I’m not even up to full dosage yet! My appetite was out of control before but now I can actually resist food and make healthy choices. My energy level is up too. I’ve lost over 7 lbs in 2 weeks. So excited!! Thanks for this post explaining how it works!

    Reply
  9. Hi, I have been reading a lot of your posts and different articles about thyroid
    and weight loss . I have hashimoto and would like to lose 35lbs. I just wondered…
    do you not prescribe medications with any of your programs? If not how is a person to get the meds he or she needs to heal and lose weight and just feel overall like a human again? I love the info on your website.
    Thank you for that

    Reply
    • Hi Cathi,

      The best way to get the medications is to have an open minded provider (PCP usually) who is willing to work with you.

      Reply
  10. I’ve been taking Saxenda for 5 months. At first, my appetite was reduced and I was losing weight (about 15 pounds total). About month #3, it reversed…my appetite picked up with sugar cravings and I started gaining back weight. Any suggestions? Stop for a while and re-start? Switch to something else? Doctor has recommended Qsymia as a possibility.

    Reply
      • Hi there I’m on my 4th week of saxenda (2.4 dose) and started to get hormonal acne on my lower face and neck so decided to lower the dose back to 1.8 to see if my skin gets better. What should I do? Get off it?

        Reply
  11. I started Saxenda in February 2017 and through diet and walking 3 days a week I am down 49 pounds. I feel wonderful! This article was very helpful explaining all the reasons this drug is working for me. I have stayed at 2.0mg for my daily dosing. Anything higher than that, I developed symptoms of nausea, etc. My question is that when I overindulge, or eat foods higher in fat content, I tend to have symptoms that mimic dumping syndrome with terrible diarrhea and lots of increased motility of the bowel. Anyone else having side effects like this? Or is there a reason for it? Marcy

    Reply
    • I too am having symptoms of diarrhea and nausea. I need to be by a bathroom at all times. The urgency is every hour and it is a quick flush like effect. Almost like when you throw up but it’s bowel movement. I’m on the lowest dose again per dr orders but it hasn’t stopped it. I was hoping this would give me energy to exercise but it’s the opposite. So weak and just lay around till the next hour. Just don’t know what to do.

      Reply
  12. Dear Dr. Childs, My doctor, who is also a functional medical doctor, is prescribing Saxenda and LDN for me. He’s ordered all the blood work that you recommended (all the various hormone levels, nutrients, etc.) on one of your other pages about Victoza and LDN, should have the results tomorrow. I know in the past, my leptin levels were pretty high (28 and then 15) and Hb1AC was 5.5, with 6 being the highest. Let’s see what tomorrow’s results show. He said other patients of his had success losing with Saxenda. I am hoping I will be successful, too. I have Hashimoto’s, am menopausal, have had leaky gut and adrenal fatigue (now recovered) and am about 50 pounds overweight. I lost about 45 pounds in 2015 with four rounds of HCG injections, but gained everything back last year! I have recently started bioidentical hormone therapy, gone back to the gym (focusing mostly on weight training) and trying to heat more healthfully, though not starving myself, but in two months, I’ve only lost five pounds 🙁 My doctor said I should stop all supplements while taking the Saxenda and LDN. I am wondering, though, if I should really give up the collagen, fish oil, probiotics, B complex, magnesium, zinc, etc. that I take as I feel they are beneficial. I won’t take berberine as that would probably interfere. How does one titrate the dosage of a medication that comes in only one dosage (3 mgs) to mitigate any negative side effects? Thanks for any insights.

    Reply
    • Hi Tina,

      I discuss how to correclty and safely dose saxenda and other GLP-1 agonists for optimal weight loss in my weight loss guide. If you use too much medication too quickly then you risk losing efficacy of the medication long term, so there is a certain way you need to be increasing your dosing to make sure the weight loss continues.

      Reply
      • Thank you! I just picked up my Saxenda and LDN today, and I got my test results. According to the HbA1C, I am insulin resistant at 5.9 🙁 The leptin result wasn’t in yet. My cortisol was 379 (in a range of 119-618) from blood drawn around 8:30 a.m. Not sure if that’s okay or not. I also signed up for your 60-day Metabolism reset guide, and have read your recommendations for dosing, and the dietary guidelines. I am curious about something else. I had a DNA fitness test some months back, and based on the results, it was recommended that I follow a low-fat regimen. I should limit saturated fat to max. 6% of my total calories daily, and monounsaturated fatty acids to 15% of total calories and polyunsaturated fatty acids to 12% of total calories. Also, it stated I should eat 45% carbs (vegetables, fruits legumes, seeds and GF grains) and 22% lean proteins (fish, chicken, turkey). Do you think these DNA tests have any merit or would these recommendations work better for someone whose metabolism isn’t broken? Your guidelines recommend lots of fats. What if one is both insulin and leptin resistant. Which plan should they follow, because the recommended guidelines are a bit different for each one? Thanks again.

        Reply
  13. After a severe injury doing Cross Fit and not being able to properly exvercise for almost 3 years, I gained 50 lbs.No matter what I did that has worked previously during my life, I could not lose the weight and I was very disgusted and felt horrible. I tried several things prescription & OTC,in addition to daily excercise but nothing was working. My family doctor, God bless her, recommended Saxenda. At first I was skeptical, but at that point I was on a low dose BP med & was prediabetic having migraines several times a month and was exhausted most of the time. I work a full time on call 24-7 career, have 2 children (at that time they were 7 & 17), & a husband and I was 49 yrs old. So, I was up for trying anything to get my health back! The first 3-4 weeks I had some nausea, & some constipation but that eased off fairly quickly. Around month 4, I had some upper stomach pains which eased when I backed the dosage down and slowly titerated it back up.I only lost 15 lbs the first 6 mos, BUT I was ONLY taking the Saxenda.I started it July 1, 2015. In January 2016, I felt much better physically and got back into the gym. By May, I’d lost another 35 lbs,for a total of 50 lbs in 10 months.I’d made myself (& my Dr) a promise that by my 50th birthday, I’d have the weight off & I did it!In fact, by my birthday that Aug, I’d lost another 5 lbs.for a total loss of 55 lbs in 13 mos with the help of Saxenda.I absolutely believe it targeted all of the issues that I was experiencing that were hindering my weight loss efforts. I also am dedicated to my gym workouts and running as well, so in tandem, this has been a success for me and I have maintained my weight loss and have felt better than I have in years!! My Dr says I’m her poster child for Saxenda! I’m so thankful for her and for this medication. It helped me get my life back on track for me and my family!!

    Reply
  14. Hello Again, Dr. Childs: I signed up for your 60-day Metabolic reset, but I still have questions that are not addressed in your guidelines or videos. I stated Saxenda and LDN July 24 and have dropped 11 pounds. I am up to 1.8 mg of Saxenda and 2 ml of LDN daily. I don’t feel hungry, but I am stuggling to consume enough calories, and feel I have to force myself to eat. What should I do to increase my caloric intake? I don’t want to eat too little and cause even more damage. Also, I feel very tired since starting these meds and have not felt energetic enough to exercise. Does the tiredness go away at some point? Or should I start taking the Saxenda at night before bed? I would like to add intermittent fasting over the weekends with HCG injections. I can get HCG, however, how many mls of bacteriostatic water should I mix to reconstitute the vial? Additionally, I would like to order some supplements, like the probiotics and adaptagens you offer, but I am in Europe and your site doesn’t ship outside the US. Do you have any substitutes you could recommend? I’ve included my email address if you prefer to reply that way. Your guidance is most appreciated.

    Reply
  15. I started Saxenda April 4, 2017, following dosing instructions, a Mediterranean diet, and moderate exercise. Starting a 218 pounds and now at 190, equals a 28 pound loss. So far so good. A few mild side effects that past quickly. I consider myself fortunate that my work place supports Saxenda use, so my monthly cost is $20. So having been giving this fabulous opportunity, plan to continue with Saxenda and my life style. I swim laps 3-4 times a week and now use the stairs 3 times a week (to the 5th floor). It feels good to have loose clothing, it will feel good to walk my first 5k this fall. It feels good to just have more energy and it feels good to feel better. It will take time to reach my goal weight and that is OK. Each month I set small goals, 3-4 pounds, and walk a little farther. I swear I heard the theme song from Rocky, after climbing the 5 flights of stairs the 1st time. I will post again with more results in a few more months. I wish each you the strength to continue onto the path of better health and good results.

    Reply
  16. Hello,

    I know this works by working on a metabolic level, but can you take this if you are on Synthroid for Hypothyroidism? I was told that this can cause Thyroid Cancer so I was curious.
    Thanks!

    Reply
  17. Hi Dr. Childs,

    Thank you so much for this post! This is the first time I have read anything regarding the impact of Saxenda on hormones and it was very informative. Can anyone tell me what seems to be the best time to inject Saxenda (morning, midday evening)? I have not been taking it very long and I am just curious what seems to be the optimal time 🙂
    Thank you!!!!

    Reply
  18. Hello Dr Childs, I started taking the saxenda following learning about it on your website. I have been taking straight T3 for 3 years which enabled me to loose 3.5 stone having gone from under 8 stone person to 14 stone (with Auto Immune) thyroid, adrenals problem. However, recently weight creeping back on. My bloods showed high reverse T3 very low morning cortisol, leptin, glucose and insulin, v. low test, DHEA basically everything is out. My resting pulse is high 80-90 bpm on the T3 (SR). However, after taking saxenda for 3 days I thought I was going to have a heart attack. My pulse was so fast I was getting in a panic in middle of the night, out of breathe etc. I have also been getting pains in my sternum/rib area for past few years ( like muscle spasms) – but this was before the saxenda so am having an MRI but my doctor says its not my heart. My doctor thinks I have something wrong with my spine/nerves.

    To cut a long story short, I have the saxenda in the fridge, really want to keep taking it but I can’t have my heart race that fast its too worrying.

    I did feel really healthy apart from that for the 3 days. Like I had more energy and less brain fog, body aches.

    I read on the saxenda website saxenda can cause very fast heart rate in mostly women aged between 30 to 45 range but only for first 1 month then it starts to reduce. Women were given certain medications/supplements to stop the affects on the heart short term. Such as beta blockers, valum, muscle relaxants, Vitamin D and they all worked to prevent the high heart rate whilst they weaned on Saxenda.

    I am off to my doctor to ask for beta blockers then hopefully I can start taking saxenda again. I was thinking to try to reduce my dose of T3 aswell. Am on 37.5mg.

    Have any of your patents had the fast heart rate with saxenda. Could it be due to the effects of T3 and saxenda together.

    Just wanted to let you know of my experience and get your thoughts. Thank you

    Reply
    • Hi Laurie,

      Your heart rate is most likely due to your T3 dose, not Saxenda. Thyroid hormone can be dosed based on weight, so as you lose weight your effective dose of T3 may now be too high.

      Reply
  19. I have been on it for 75 days. Starting weight 203 lost ten pounds. Some days I will be 191 then day later back to 193. Am I losing enough to stay on it or am I wasting my money. I know I could do better on my eating. I walk every night also. Thanks

    Reply
  20. I recently started Saxenda and have to admit after reading all the negative side effects I waited 3 weeks. After reading your article I started 4 days ago. I have had no side effects so far and feel really good. Have list 5 lbs already and have a new energy. If you are doing ok on .6 can I stay on that dose or do I need to increase as stated.
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Hi Phil,

      Most of my patients tolerate the medication really well, I just don’t think most physicians know how to use it safely or correctly. I don’t agree that you should increase the dose according to the schedule the pharmacy provides, but that is up to you and your physician as each person is different. I use the medication quite differently than most which is why I have such good success with it.

      Reply
  21. I started using Saxenda in May. I am a 5’9″ woman, age 55 and I weighed 174 pounds. I was not truly overweight, but needed to lose a few pounds and change my eating habits. Dieting was not working. I was exercising. My blood pressure was slightly elevated and I was pre-diabetic. As of October 8th, I have lost 27 pounds and have had no side effects from the medication. I have reached (surpassed) my weight loss goal and do not know if I need to continue the medication. My concern is that if I stop the drug, I will quickly gain the weight back. What happens when you stop Saxenda? Thank you.

    Reply
    • Hi Risa,

      It depends on how you lost the weight on Saxenda. If you let it suppress your appetite and you just reduced the amount of calories you consumed then the weight may come back after you stop using it. If the medication helped you lose weight without changing the amount of food that you consumed then you should be fine.

      Reply
      • Saxenda has suppressed my appetite and I eat much less, and yes, I have dropped weight. So what then should I do to ensure the weight stays off? I don’t want to go through another round of weight regain. That happened after I did HCG injections. I lost 45 pounds and gained it all back plus some. I thought this regimen (provided one does not go back to eating the SAD) ensured the weight would stay off.

        Reply
  22. I’m encouraged to see that Saxenda can be used for the period of weight loss. I’ve seen conflicting information. My concern is that I’ll have a good loss, discontinue the medication and gain all the weight right back! I’m hoping that changes in my eating and exercise habits will become routine and the drug will no longer be needed in the end.

    Reply
    • Hi Vanessa,

      Saxenda can certainly cause sustained weight loss but only if it’s used correctly. The majority of my patients discontinue it without any issues.

      Reply
  23. I have been taking Saxenda for only 1 week and I have lost 11 lbs. I am taking it for problems with sugar and to help me lose weight.

    Reply
  24. I have been on the 0.6 dose for a week and have zero change. I eat 900-1200 calories a day and walk in the evenings. I am 41 5’4 195 pounds and so far this medicine does nothing at all and I only pay $50 since my insurance covers it…I am disappointed

    Reply
  25. I’ve been on Saxenda for a little over two weeks. I’m Hashimoto’s, Lupus, PsA, and Celiac. I am following Keto. I’ve lost about 16 pounds. I’m thrilled. I’ve never been a big eater and have been so upset at my weight gain with the Hashimoto’s and prednisone. I was always about 110-115 pounds. 5’2…I’ve shrunk. I gained about 80 pounds. I get nauseous but take a Zofran and I feel better. I know losing the weight will help me emotionally and physically. Drink water!

    Reply
  26. I’m scared I won’t have the money to buy it. I am on it 2 weeks. I feel like I’m losing I know I am not eating as much… I was already rejected by my insurance I will appeal it. Hope I can get it another way.

    Reply
  27. What if one has been using Saxenda for a few months at the maximum dose (along with LDN) and one has reached a plateau? What should they do? Please don’t say “there’s more info in my weight loss guide,” because I purchased your weight loss guide (and watched the videos) and there isn’t. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Hi Tina,

      The information is actually in the guide! 🙂 Basically you would now need to start “layering” therapies on top of each other. So concurrent use of multiple medications, hormones, etc.

      You might also consider switching GLP-1 agonists which can work for some people as well or re-testing your hormone status to see what has changed during your weight loss. Some individuals may need more personalized recommendations (it just depends on how much weight they have to lose and what medical conditions they have).

      Some videos may have been added since you last looked but this information is in there.

      Reply
      • Is there a specific video that deals with plateauing? because I know you mentioned doing one in another video, but I can’t see it. I am taking Saxenda, LDN and HCG on intermittent fasting days, though the dosage has been lower than you recommended. I an also taking your thyroid-adrenal formula. I have been under a lot of stress the past few months. Maybe that has had an effect. Should I switch to Victoza, maybe? I need to lose about another 38 pounds to be at my goal. Which hormones should I re-test? Thank you!!

        Reply
  28. Can Saxenda affect your heart? I don’t have any known heart issues bit I take 2 bp pills as well as birth control pills & xanax..Just wanna make sure it’s safe to take while I’m on these other medications because I’m sort of afraid but I’m so ready to start the saxenda???

    Reply
  29. Thank you for the comprehensive overview! I have always been confused about leptin and it’s role in weight loss. Should we take supplements? I have been on Saxenda and have hit a plateau; my doctor states that it doesn’t work for everyone but the physiology of the body is the same for all….essentially insulin, leptin and glucagon have the same function in our bodies. I understand we are different and require specific levels. I look forward to any explanation or solutions for the plateau.

    Reply
  30. Thank you for explaining this whole process being a biology major you helped me understand this process. I have done fantastic and lost like 38 pounds!!! I unfortunately in the last 3 months not lost anything else …I still need to loose about 20 more and I noticed in your article maybe I did something wrong with the dosing …I do work out pretty intensely 5-6 days a week so it’s still obviously my eating …good news is I haven’t gained but 5 pounds on and off in this last 3 month ( thru the holidays even!!)..

    so My question is can I take a “drug holiday” like for 2 weeks or so and maybe that might hit the “reset” button and it start to work again like it did when I started ??

    I just really really want to finish this journey in weight loss and this medicine for the first time
    In my life I understood what it meant to feel full…thank you sooo much in advance ..and appreciate your article!!

    Reply
  31. I have used Saxenda for 2 years. It works. I have lost over 40lbs and I have kept it off. I wonder, however, if I can now stop using it without fear that the weight will go back on. Assuming I maintain the healthy habits and exercise regime that I now consistently follow, is there a physiological benefit of the treatment. I worry about long term side effects. I do experience daily hypoglycemic moments in the afternoon which have become annoying.

    Reply
    • Hi Dan,

      It’s probably not a good idea to continue the medication long term, but you would need to weigh the benefits vs the risks in such a case. I would discuss that with the physician who prescribed it.

      Reply
  32. I started this on March 2. I’ve lost 11lbs. I’m amazed. I literally have no side effects other than heartburn. I’m not sure how it will work. My insurance covered half. With a coupon it was $400. I have a 3 month script. I’m curious if it continues to work..
    My only “complaint” is I have zero appetite. I have to force myself to eat and it makes me gag
    I’m a foodie so this is crazy.

    Reply
  33. I have been on Saxenda for 2 weeks, I am type II Diabetic. No weight loss yet but my blood sugars are way down for the first time in 6 years. I am trying a high protein low carb diet. The only side affects so far are a little nausea, mild stomach pain and constipation. After reading all of this very helpful information I am encouraged and hopeful.

    Reply
  34. Wow! Thank you so much for explaining this in a way that I can finally understand. I have pseudotumor cerebri and have lost about 80 pounds. But about 6 months ago the weight loss stopped and I have slowly managed to gain back 10 pounds. I now need to lose about 40 pounds. My doctor prescribed saxenda and I’ve been using it for a little over a week. But, honestly, I just couldn’t understand how it worked. This article helped so much. Even though no one has mentioned this, I have it in my head that this is dangerous for people who do not have diabetes. Reading what you provided has helped put my mind at ease. I look forward to reading more from you. And to see where my new journey takes me.

    Reply
  35. On week 3 have lost 7cms around my tummy. Have not checked weight. My appetite has decreased, I exercise 15 to 20 minutes a day, finding ways to make food fun. Have a few side effects but nothing that stops me. From not having private insurance paying the full price of $387 is also a good motivator.
    If I can’t lose weight this way then, then I truly have no more options.
    I have my fingers crossed.

    Reply
  36. Hello,
    I’m an LPN and I suffer from obesity and those drug rep meals and donuts in the break room just keep putting on the pounds!!! I have my first sample pen from my Doctor and started my first dose. Currently fighting with the insurance company but it’s hopeful cause I’ve tried contrave and belviq xr and have failed with both. I have high hopes and praying my insurance company comes through! I have 200 pounds to lose and I just need that jump start motivation!! But I guess my question is if I’m currently taking Birth control pills should I not take them together? I saw they could interact with Saxenda. But anyways I really enjoyed your blog about Saxenda!! It def helped me understand it more.

    Reply
  37. I started Saxenda about 3 weeks ago. I am up to 1.8 now. No nausea but my body is telling me somethings not right. I am hypo thyroid take hormones and Cymbalta for nerve pain. It seems these drugs are not working as well as they have been. Could the Saxenda be keeping the other drugs from their potency?

    Reply
    • Hi Cindy,

      When talking about medications and side effects the answer is almost always a yes/maybe. The best way to tease out if it’s happening in your body is with the help of a knowledgeable physician

      Hope this helps!

      Reply
  38. I started Saxenda on April 30th, 2018

    It has completely suppressed my appetite to the point that I do not feel like looking at food and I don’t want to eat much.

    Basically, I eat 1 egg a few tablespoons of peanut butter and some cheese daily but that is it.

    I have done water fasting in the past and this medication is just completely taking away my hunger so would it be ok to water fast or maybe do intermittent fasting while using this?

    My plan was to continue with Keto (low carbs high fat) which I have done on and off over the years and managed to lose and keep 45 lbs off.

    Would you consider this ok?

    I want to do intermittent fasting combined with low carb.

    Thanks

    Reply
    • Hi Maud,

      This type of plan will most likely lead to metabolic damage and weight gain long-term, I would recommend against this type of dieting (calorie restriction).

      Reply
  39. I have been on Saxenda for over a year and have lost 110 pounds. My doctor told me today that I need to get off of it now. I’m scared to death. I don’t want to gain the weight back. I am disabled and am not able to exercise. I have figured out in the last 3 months how to maintain with the Saxenda, I don’t want to give it up.

    Reply
    • Hi Stacie,

      As long as the weight didn’t come off as the result of calorie restriction, and you follow a slow titration off of the medication, then you should be good to go.

      Reply
  40. I know you recommend various types of intermittent fasting. I was wondering what you thought of the One Meal A Day (23:1) type of fasting, where one fasts 23 hours and then eats one big meal that includes all the macros. I hear more and more about it. Is that something that you would recommend for your patients or anyone taking Saxenda. Thanks.

    Reply
  41. Hi, do you know how Saxenda works along with birth control? I have heard birth control increases your appetite I’m currently on the full 3 units of Saxenda but started Birth control so I’m wondering how these two will go along each other.

    Reply
    • Hi Mary,

      You would need to consult with your physician to be sure because there are so many different types of birth control. In addition, it depends on what you are using it for.

      Reply
    • Hi Donna,

      It could be due to dosing, not using other therapies or simply that it’s the wrong medication for you.

      Reply
    • Hi Carolyn,

      If you use Saxenda appropriately then you shouldn’t regain your weight back. I discuss how to use it correctly in this article.

      Reply
  42. I just started Saxenda 2 days ago but am having terrible nausea and vomiting with it on the lowest dose of .6 per day. Will this go away with a few more days of use or should I tell my Dr. and try something else? I am already losing weight which is great but feel horrible and am unable to work from nausea and vomiting so not sure risk/reward is there at this point unless the side effects will subside. Did anyone have this when they first started? Does it fade as your body gets used to the drug?

    Reply
    • Hi Jaime,

      From my perspective, vomiting is an unacceptable side effect of Saxenda/Victoza. A little bit of nausea is okay and to be expected, but once you start vomiting I think it’s potentially dangerous. In the case of mild nausea, though, in most cases, this side effect will subside over time.

      Reply
    • I had that for about a week
      It goes away as your body adjusts to the drug
      Changed my diet to a healthier one
      I thought the same at first
      With those symptoms at first I was somewhat concerned till I talked to my doctor
      In your case if it persists and doesn’t go away you should consult your doctor
      Good luck

      Reply
      • I was taking Saxenda for two months. Lost about 18 pounds. I had nausea any time I tried to go higher than .9.
        Recently, my doctor just took me off of it because I had pancreatitis more than a few times. Twice I ended up in the ER. I was vomiting at least 4-5 times for each episode, mostly fluid/stomach acid/bile. I had severe stomach pain and diarrhea. For me, it just wasn’t worth the side effects…

        Reply
  43. I have been on saxenda for a month and lost 17 lbs. I have thyroid problems and tried all kinds of diets and nothing worked. Saxenda works for me. Very pleased with how working.

    Reply
  44. This was the most comprehensive assessment I have read about Saxenda and was very helpful. I have lost 26kilos and despite the low grade nasuea I remain enthusiastic about the medication. I went off of it after losing the weight and noted that the weight began to creep back. After regaining 6kilos (3 months) I resumed the medication and immediately saw the weight creep off. In 2 months I have shed the regained weight and am on a further downward trend. Is Saxenda safe to continue taking for years? Nothwithstanding the cost, it seems it would be as good for maintenance as initial reduction. I can’t seem to get a clear or comfortable answer from Novo Nordisk.

    Reply
    • Hi Dan,

      No one really knows if Saxenda is safe to take indefinitely but I tend to think it’s probably not a good idea. I suspect that the longer you take this medication the more likely you are to experience negative side effects. With that in mind, it’s important to realize that, in many cases, the benefit of weight loss may outweigh the potential negative consequences. We know that obesity is associated with an increased risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s etc.

      Reply
  45. I have been on it for 3 months and seen really no change in my body, I do have a loss of appetite (my quantities have diminished). I would love to see some change, especially because of my hipper tension. I am at a 3 now. What can I change to see a change in myself?

    Reply
    • Hi Lorena,

      You’ll probably need to adjust your diet and make sure you are exercising as well. It also doesn’t work for everyone so it is possible that it just isn’t the right medication for you.

      Reply
  46. This is great information – thank you! This has been the only med that’s worked for me after 3 different ones. I’m curious though what happens (biochemically speaking) when you stop taking Saxenda. Any thoughts you can share?
    I’ve been using Saxenda for 5 weeks and am down 15 pounds. The nausea went away after 5 days. I was told to increase the dosage each week and now I’m up to 3mg daily.

    Reply
    • Hi Beth,

      I have developed my own way of using it, which I describe in this post, and when used in the way I recommend the entire goal is to be able to stop the medication and keep the weight off. But that only works if you can reverse the resistant syndromes that potentiate weight gain (leptin and insulin resistance) while you use it. So, if you just use it as a weight loss tool by itself and don’t address these issues, there’s a high chance you’ll regain the weight you lose once you stop taking it.

      Reply
  47. Dr. Childs,
    First of all, thank you for all you do for us!
    I have Hashimoto’s and I’m on Naturethroid, Liothyronine, and LDN, and I’ve been AIP since 2015. After a very stressful year and a half, I gained (very quickly) 50 lbs. The gaining has finally stopped, I started Keto on top of AIP (its doing nothing), I’m not terribly hungry, but I’m not losing.
    (As background, I do also have high SHBG, low-ish cortisol (improving), and I think strong estrogen/progesterone levels for a 50 year old.)
    I tested my fasting insulin (3.2) and leptin (68.6). So seems I don’t have an insulin resistance problem but I do have a leptin resistance problem. Is that even possible? And would Saxenda be good for me to try given the insulin vs. leptin levels? I’m getting desperate. I think I could convince my doctor to prescribe it.

    Reply
  48. Hi Dr Childs,

    I found it very difficult to find a Dr in Australia that will actually measure Leptin. However, I persevered and did find one. My Leptin is 160 (Aust range is 5 to 11) which I know is ridiculously high. I have about 30kg to lose. I have paid for your program, and I am very good at sticking to such regimes, so I don’t think it will be too difficult. I took your info to my Dr and am now on Saxenda. I realise everyone is different, but how long could I expect to see results with such high Leptin levels? I have tried so many things which have never worked and it gets really discouraging.

    My thyroid is OK, my P4/E2 Ration is 33.3 (saliva testing) and my cortisol isn’t too bad.

    I want to have realistic expectations so I don’t feel disappointed.

    Reply
    • Hi Sarah,

      Most people, even with severe leptin resistance, should see weight loss by the 4-8 week mark. Weight loss may be slower with leptin resistance that high, but you should still see some movement by that time.

      Reply
      • Hi Dr. Childs,

        Have you had any patients experience developing gastroparesis because of Saxenda? It has been like a miracle for me but has always seemed to make me constipated. Recently my acid reflux is getting worse and my stomach gets a hard/full feeling in between my ribs. I don’t know if this is just a sign the reflux is bad or bigger problems. Any advice appreciated. Also any advice for maintaining weight loss after Saxenda? Is there a “maintenance dose”?

        Reply
  49. I’ve been using this for over a month at first I had an bad reaction to my injection site on my stomach. So, I now object in my thigh & it’s much better. I’m using my dosage as instructed and I’ve lost 30lbs. Now I did make a lifestyle change eating low calories a day and a strict workout routine. My question is how do I stop the feeling of nausea. It doesn’t seem to get any better!!! Not only that, I’m always tired and fatigue too. I’m an athletic person and exercising and healthy eating gives me energy just not with this med. I struggle to find energy daily and I fight the horrible pain in my stomach daily. Any suggestions?

    Reply
    • Hi Crystal,

      I would be careful with your calorie restriction. If you lose weight due to that method then it will come back once you stop taking the medication. In regards to nausea, that is usually dose dependent. If you adjust your dose it should subside.

      Reply
  50. Hi ,
    I had a sleeve gastrostomy done in 2013 and lost 32 kg in 1year but slowly regaining the weight since 2016 and I gained 15kg . My doctor started me on Saxenda 2 weeks ago and I am taking 3mg dose now . During the 1st week , I lost 1.5kg but now I am gaining back the 1.5kg already . May I know if this should be happening ? I am not eating much at all since post op. I am concerned with my Low metabolism rate of 1100kcal and the body compensation strategy . I have tried all slimming product including duromine and Saxenda is my last hope ! Any advice ?

    Reply
  51. I started Saxenda January 1, 2018 for a weight loss pilot program through my insurance. I started at 247 size 22 and am now 203, size 16. I’m 47 and have been a yo-yo dieter my entire life and saxenda has been a game changer. The benefit of losing the weight is having more energy and stamina to exercise and enjoy it. Some nausea I’m the beginning, specifically if I ate too much. It allows me to feel full after eating little. I do notice that I have to watch my blood sugar because it will dip low. I’m going to be on it another year and I have convinced my husband and son to try it. So thankful for it!

    Reply
  52. I am 58 and weighed in at 188 before I started Saxenda. March 28 I began taking Saxenda and have lost 45 lbs! I combined Saxenda with exercise and it worked beautifully. I was rarely hungry but continued to eat small healthy meals.

    I am still taking Saxenda but have recently noticed I am starting to crave sweets and I feel hungrier than I used to. Is this typical?

    If I continue to exercise, can I stop taking the medicine without gaining the weight back?

    Thanks for all the great information!

    Reply
    • Hi Paula,

      It depends on how you lost the weight. If you lost it through calorie restriction (from appetite suppression) then the weight may come back once you stop taking the medication.

      Reply
  53. I have been on weight loss regime for almost a year with very slow progress, my endocrinologist suggested Saxenda approx 3 months ago, since I was already on weight loss routine, I haven’t lost any tremendous amount of water loss during the early weeks while starting with therapy as most of the patients lose 20pounds etc in a couple of weeks. Fat loss doesn’t occur overnight ,it’s a slow and gradual process specifically while muscle building works in play at the same time(if we are combining with weights, resistance training n cardio etc besides diet methods ie keto or high protein or low carb routines etc), it’s difficult to see much of a change on the scale However inches loss can help you see the difference besides your improved energy levels.
    In these couple of months, I have successfully seen few inches coming down and still going strong. Although appetite is back and I don’t feel full for a longer duration as it was being experienced in the starting months however it does help me control my cravings and specifically no longer looking for sugar /carbs cravings like before. Much happier with the help this medication certainly provides, worth every penny and effort put in place. Hope this shall help me achieve my targeted fat loss in the long run.

    Reply
  54. Hi, Childs!
    I have a PCOS and menstrual cycles not regular it doesn’t come sometime 3months and a lot of thick hair on my face and fatty liver and also a high level of androgens. I always feel a craving to eat. So which one is good for me Victoza or Saxenda? I used before metformin but it’s didn’t help me and I did everything to lose weight but it could help me. I really need your advice.
    Thanks

    Reply
  55. I have been using saxenda for about a month. I have lost 10 pounds. I have tried moving to the 3.0 dose but the nausea and heartburn have been just awful. Even at 1.8 the heartburn is barley tolerable

    Reply
  56. I have been on Saxenda for the past month and have lost 5 kilos but have now stalled losing weight. I currently take 1.2mg per day and am on the Ketogenic diet. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I am not obese but am overweight and am a Type 2 Diabetic on insulin.

    Reply
  57. I have been using Saxenda for 2 years. I have lost 28 kilos and have stopped the yo-yo effect of many different diet regimes. My blood sugar levels have reached a sustained level so low that my doctor is going de-classify me as a diabetic. I don’t have any side effect symptoms and I find that I can eat anything I want but the quantities have dropped dramatically over the years. I also have less of a taste for alcohol and rarely drink my favorites, scotch and wine without a sense of feeling denied. This change in lifestyle has been amazing.

    Reply
  58. I have been reading your information. I have been on saxenda for 7 weeks. I have only lost 4 pounds. I follow the diet and can see that I am
    Losing inches. Should I stop taking this medicine? Not sure if weight will come off over time. Thanks in advance.

    Reply
    • Hi Laura,

      There is a special way that I use Saxenda which is different from the typical recommended use. There are also many other therapies which I layer on top of Saxenda use for better results. I don’t believe I have discussed this information on my blog before but I will add it to future blog posts.

      Reply
    • Hi Amanda,

      I don’t believe they are listed in the article but I will plan to make a blog post about that topic in the future.

      Reply
  59. I have found a doctor willing to prescribe Saxenda. He had not heard of it before but did some research after I sent him a link to your blog. Thank God he is very open-minded, although he had never heard of leptin resistance. He believes Saxenda could help me since, for some reason, I seem unable to control my appetite. He will now order a leptin test and, if I do indeed suffer from leptin resistance, we will try Saxenda. I have been diagnosed with insulin resistance and previously used Berberine successfully, but it no longer seems to help the way it used to.
    My doctor even said leptin resistance could be the missing piece of the puzzle.
    You have mentioned that leptin resistance can be very difficult to reverse naturally, which is why my doctor and I decided to try a prescription drug right away rather than waste money on supplements.
    I have read that you consider Saxenda and similar drugs a temporary solution. Does that mean that leptin resistance is a reversible condition that will not come back once you go off Saxenda?

    Reply
  60. Dr. Childs,

    I discussed Saxenda with my doctor after I read your articles about insulin and leptin resistance and realized how they can mess a person’s metabolism up. I have previously been diagnosed with insulin resistance, but leptin was never tested. However, I suspect I have leptin resistance as a ravenous appetite is one of my main problems, causing me to overeat fast carbs. Apparently, only a specialized lab can perform this test where I live (Europe).
    My doctor was very interested in your articles and was willing to prescribe Saxenda for me on a trial basis, but then he suddenly changed his mind and told me I cannot use Saxenda as I have Hashimoto’s disease and Saxenda should not be used in people with thyroid disorders.
    This came as a complete surprise to me, as I know you prescribe Saxenda to patients with thyroid disease. I know thyroid cancer is one of the possible side effects of Saxenda, but I have never heard that people with Hashimoto’s disease have an increased risk of developing thyroid cancer?
    I am not asking you to comment on my individual case, but would be interested in a general comment in this context. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Hi Anna,

      The only contraindications to using Saxenda are a history of medullary thyroid cancer, a history of MEN, hypersensitivity to the medication itself or if you are pregnant.

      Reply
    • Hi Sarah,

      Nah, I would say the change in gut bacteria is related to its effects on intestinal motility and just noise related to that change. If anything it would most likely cause a negative change in gut bacteria overall but that would be overcompensated by its profoundly positive effects on leptin/insulin.

      Reply
  61. HI. First of all, thank you for the great informatin in this post. My name is Michelle and I started with Saxenda only 5 days ago. Five days ago, I was at 217 lbs and today I am at 207 pounds. I have not made any additional changes with food or exercise yet. I had the Gastric Sleeve at 231 lbs in 2017 and within 5 months, I was at 175. That was when I reached a plateu, got discouraged then started making bad choices and consistently gained from that point on. My doctor gave me a sample of the Saxenda for the first week and prescribed Victoza moving forward which I will start on as soon as my Saxenda runs out. I felt great at 175. My highest weight was 154 prior to the sleeve. I am hoping that I continue this journey and eventially reach my goal weight of 145. I had my thyroid removed in 2016, was diagnosed with diabetes at 7.0 A1C in 2014. I have stayed below 5.7 A1C since my sleeve so that is one positive. As I continue this new journey, I understand that I need to make additional changes with my food intake and exercise. I just hope I have the discipline to do so. So far, my side effects are very light nauseau, little diarehea, and headaches for the first 2 days. They seem to get less each day. Will see what happens!!!

    Reply
  62. I have always been active and 115 lbs. I am now just as active and eating less and at 165 and climbing but post menapausal .
    I was just about to start Saxsenda when I had a lumpectomy and had to start on Anti estrogen pill . Should I continue to take saxsenda and where can I get tested for lepton resistance and insulin resistance to see if that is my problem??

    Reply
    • Hi Patricia,

      Your current doctor can order the serum leptin test, it doesn’t require any special testing or anything like that.

      Reply
  63. Hi my name is Angela
    I took Victoza for 2 years. My body responded very well, I lost 17lbs. I noticed i haven’t lost anymore weight. So i went off Victoza for 4 weeks in took another weight lost medication. I gained 2lbs! So i have decided to go back to Victoza. Since it had only been 4 weeks since i stopped taking Victoza I started back at 1.2 mg instead of .06. Is that ok? And will i have the same reaction i had when I first started taking Victoza this time?

    Reply
    • Hi there. I’m starting my third week of Saxenda and I definitely feel the difference. I had been on a medically supervised weight loss program and lost a significant amount but started to regain slowly. My doctor frankly said this was expected with my body type and family history so he prescribed Saxenda. My question is this: he gave me the impression that I was supposed to take this forever as opposed to your suggestion. So if one were to stop the treatment would one maintain the Leptin levels and the increased metabolism or would they revert to pre Saxenda levels?
      Bob

      Reply
  64. I have been using Saxenda for a year and a half and I haven’t lost an ounce. It did seem to help lower my blood sugar when I started taking it. I have no side affects from Saxenda. Should I continue to take it if I’m not losing weight? I also take Novolog, Toujeo and Invokana.

    Reply
    • Hi Lynne,

      I wouldn’t recommend using it if it isn’t working as it may be associated with long-term side effects.

      Reply
  65. Is there a specific time of day you recommend taking Saxenda/Victoza? with food/without food? with supplements/away from supplements? Specific injection site you recommend?

    Reply
  66. Thank you so much for this wonderful information! I started Saxenda 10 days ago on a journey to lose 50 pounds. So far I have lost 6 and I feel fine–my appetite is diminished and I able to make better food choices instead of being ravenous and eating just anything. I am still at the .6 dose and would like to stay at that for as long as possible–I have many concerns about long range impacts of this medication but, for now, I am equally concerned about the impact excessive weight is having on my body. You have allayed my concerns greatly as I now fully understand how Saxenda works & my goal to use it for a relatively short period seems less frightening.

    Reply
    • Hi Chiara,

      It’s only useful in cases of metabolic damage from over restricting your eating. You could be overweight and still benefit, in some cases but I would proceed with caution.

      Reply
  67. Hello,

    I’ve been taking Saxenda since October 2019 and I’ve lost 17 kg.
    On 5 occasions, I woke up with stomach, burps that smell like rotten eggs, nausea and diarrhea. Is there a way to relieve or prevent those symptoms?

    Thank you

    Reply
  68. I missed a day of Victoza is that going to cause a setback? I just wanted to inquire about the process if a day is missed. Thanks

    Reply
  69. Hi Dr. Childs, I am on week 1 of Saxenda. This articles mentions some supplements that can help increase the weight loss. You talk about additional therapies to boost the Saxenda effects. I have ben browsing the blog but have not found which supplements you recommend while on saxenda. THANK YOU

    Reply
  70. Gastric Bypass and Malabsorption – I started taking Victoza to help with weight loss. However, what I have found is that my malabsorption issue is better. I had the old fashioned gastric bypass in 1999, no gall bladder or ileum (due to bowel obstruction) The food I do eat doesn’t appear to pass through as quickly. I take 3x’s the normal adult dose of Iron (Anemic), B12 and D3 which causes other issues. For the first time in 20 years I fell within the range of acceptable iron levels (still at the lowest end but within range that I reduced my iron in half) and my B12 was normal and the only thing that has changed is me taking this drug. Could this be an option for the millions of other gastric bypass patients who suffer from malabsorption?

    Reply
  71. I started Saxenda March 24. It was working fairly well, then I started using My Fitness Pal app and I’m losing slow and steady with a 29lb total weight loss to date. But it’s not just about the scale….it’s great to be fitting back into clothes I kept and having to buy clothes in smaller sizes and seeing the difference in the mirror.
    I’ve had no significant side effects and have been checking my sugars with my bf’s extra monitor and I’ve gone from and average of over 7.5-8 down to 4.8-6.2 depending on meals. I can’t wait for my next blood work and see the difference in numbers!
    I couldn’t be happier with my results and so thankful for the push it’s given me to continue to succeed. It is harder at an age where hormones are messing with you, but this has given me the edge I needed to kick start my weight loss journey!
    I have 70 more to go to be at target weight, but if I keep going the way I am I can be there by mid February! I know I can do it.

    Reply
  72. I have been on sax since February. I’ve lost about 27 lbs. my doctor put me on phentermine half pill for a week or two. I’ve lost 3 more lbs. my problem is I have what seems like chronic constipation. I take Mirilax almost every morning. Will I ever go back to being regular? This seems to have happened when I started the full dose. Is it safe for me to be so constipated with the need of a supplement to go? Thank you

    Reply
  73. I’ve been on Saxanda 5 months and had the quick 20 pound loss but have had no other loss. I did titrate up one week at a time as per my doc instructions.
    How can I get the weight loss started back ?

    Reply
  74. I currently use sexends but it is too expensive and insurance does not cover it. Can I use victoza instead and increase the dose? Will it give the same results?
    My insurance covers victoza. Same drug different name, makes no sense why they cover one but not the other.

    Reply
  75. I am so glad i found this post. Thank you so much doctor Childs.
    I will be starting my first dosage this week, and the reviews i have read about the nausea and vomiting really scared me.
    I have gained 65 pounds thanks to under-active, pcos and Hashimoto. I have tried everything but did not see any real results so I feel like this is my only chance to getting my body and health back.
    Thank you again for the information in this article as it has made me feel a lot more comfortable and knowledgable at taking this drug.

    Reply
  76. Just checking in. Started saxenda 2 months ago, High leptin levels, pre diabetes and hashimoto. I’ve lost 30 lbs so far and still only on 1.8 . Had my bloods checked pre diabetes reversed, thyroid bloods now normal First time in 20 years. I took your advice from your video on metabolism Dr Childs , please all watch before starting saxenda, I take zinc, selenium, magnesium , multivitamin and practice 18:6 lifestyle note I say lifestyle not diet. I’ve cut sugar out and eat more healthier including fermented foods, soon to start on inulin as I believe my gut and digestive problems are what triggered a lot of y hormonal imbalances.
    I also have spinal stenosis and neuropathic pain however my pain is now minimum . I only had 42lbs to lose but it was a big enough number to cause me excruciating pain, already had spinal surgery and was awaiting nerve ablation ( now holding ) and possible fusions . Again I think this is due to my thyroid, incidentally I got diagnosed at 19, same year I got diagnosed with spinal stenosis , I also had pcos so lots of hormone imbalances causing me years of digestive , mood, ibs, pain . I don’t think its coincidence that within 2 months of taking the supplements and saxenda it all changes! I feel like my body has undergone a factory reset lol! I feel amazing! I am so happy to have seen your video, thank you for giving me my life back.

    Reply
  77. Hi can you use saxsenda and a diet pill to gather, can you use it with qysumia? I have lupus and no matter what I can’t get the weight off.

    Reply
    • Hi Heather,

      It’s certainly possible to stack them together but I would recommend using them with physician supervision so you don’t use too much or negatively impact how much weight you will lose by increasing your dose too quickly.

      Reply
  78. Can you tell me the difference between Qsymia, Contrave and Saxenda? Is Saxenda more effective? What are the side effects of the others. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Hi Rhonda,

      I have blog posts on each of those 🙂 You’ll want to check out those blog posts as they explain in detail the differences and side effects associated with each one.

      Reply
  79. Is Saxenda more effective when taken at the beginning of a weight loss journey, or as something to break through a plateau? I’ve lost some weight, albeit not as fast as I was expecting considering how much I have to lose. I just can’t afford to take it all the way to my long term goals, so I was curious when the best time to start would be.

    Reply
    • Hi Dallas,

      I prefer to use it in the beginning and then use other therapies to break through plateaus as they arise.

      Reply
  80. I don’t have a thyroid due to 2 bouts of thyroid cancer (papillary). Can I take Saxenda or Byetta? I’ve heard many type2 meds cannot be taken after thryoid cancer. Thanks.

    Reply
  81. In one of the comments you said it does not work as well the second time. So if I lost 25 lbs 2 years ago and have gained most of it back Saxenda won’t work again for me? Thank you

    Reply
    • Hi Michele,

      It still may work, it just may not be as effective as the previous time. That’s why I don’t recommend using it unless you are 100% serious about doing it and that you do it the right way the first time. This isn’t a medication that you want to stay on long-term or mess around with. You want to use it, lose weight, and keep it off.

      Reply
  82. Hi Dr. Childs, Thank you for all that you share and provide.
    I purchased your hormone mastery guide, but had to put it on the back burner for a bit. I have also been on a fertility journey over the last year+ and although I have been pregnant, I have now had 2 losses. I have just found out that at 35 years old, 5’2″ I am 150 lbs. This is frightening to me, and I am worried for my health. I have been gaining weight over the last few years and even more so in the last year. I do not overeat nor do I have a big appetite. My Leptin level in March was 46.85 and prior to that it was 31.63 in October. My fasting insulin in March was 6.6. I am on compounded T4 and T3, and have been on NDT in the past for my subclinical hypothyroidism. When I first went on NDT in 2015 I lost weight, gained energy, had the ability to workout, and felt like me again. After a hiatus due to a doctors error from late 2017-to trying to treat my thyroid naturally with a new doctor in 2018, I went back on NDT in April 2019… I never had the shift in weight and energy I did once before. Even with diet and working out. Now I have less energy to workout, its hard to workout without getting short of breath – even on a walk! I have only been gaining weight. I need to shed this weight, and create a healthy body to conceive and hold a pregnancy. I am longing for my vitality. I already have consistent bloating… will Saxenda/Victoza cause even more harm to my digestion/gut health? I don’t even know if I can get it, but I see that I need some more serious intervention than diet/exercise/supplements before heading to obesity. Thank you so much for your help!

    Reply
    • Hi Missy,

      It is possible that Victoza/Saxenda may cause some gut issues if you use them but the benefits of weight loss may be better than the minor gut-related side effects you may or may not experience. I would think about it in terms of the pros vs the cons and weigh out which is more important for your overall health.

      Reply
  83. I started Saxenda 6 weeks ago and have lost 10lbs. However when I increased the dose to 2.4 my appetite increased along with heartburn so I have been keeping it at 1.8. Will my weight loss continue or should I push thru the symptoms until I reach the 3.0 dose? Will those symptoms dissipate?

    Reply
    • Hi Merry,

      It’s best to keep your dose of saxenda as low as possible and only increase it as necessary, otherwise, you risk losing the benefit it provides in the long term.

      Reply
  84. Started Saxenda Feb 2020. Great results so far. Had to figure out my dosage for a while. Slowly increased up to 3.0, but had stomach issues at 3.0 (nausea, diarrhea) moved back down to 2.4. 50 lbs so far. Maybe should have lost more since it’s been well over a year, but I’m still proud of the results. My doctor is also proud and excited with my results. Will reach the 2 year mark Feb 2022 and will end then, so will hope to lose much more by then!

    Reply
  85. I’m currently on this medication (week 2 so 1.2mg) with minimal side effects for the first 2-3 days but so far I am more than pleased. I don’t normally comment on sites but my face dropped when I saw the prices in the USA. I live in Spain where I can purchase this product from a pharmacist with needles for €290 ($330ish)…
    Why is there such a huge difference….
    I can show the product and receipt as proof…

    Reply
    • Hi David,

      That’s not uncommon at all. Pharmaceutical companies will charge as much as they can get to make up for R&D costs. It’s the same reason that amoxicillin is more expensive in the US versus traveling down to purchase it in Mexico. It’s all about making money.

      Reply
  86. Hello,
    I know you said you can’t take Saxenda and Victoza together, but can you take one after finishing a round of the other?
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Hi Heidi,

      You wouldn’t want to take them together because they are the same medication. If you want to swap to one after you finish the other you could do that, though, if you really wanted to for some reason.

      Reply
  87. After reading this and other articles about Saxenda on your website, I found a doctor willing to prescribe it. More generally, I think it´s hard to find doctors who understand how the body works, especially if you have hypothyroidism which can make weight loss much more difficult even on thyroid hormone replacement. It´s also not easy to find doctors who know anything about leptin resistance.
    I had insulin resistance (my doctor did not realize it, but with insulin levels of 18 when they should be <5 I knew I had to do something decisive about it). At the time, the insulin barely managed to keep my blood sugar levels in range. My doctor would not test leptin levels, but I knew from your articles that I most certainly had leptin resistance as well. That is why I asked for Saxenda rather than Metformin.
    Fast forward eight months. I have been on 3 mg of Saxenda for the past five months and the benefits have been nothing short of miraculous…60 lbs lost and everyone tells me how good I look. My fasting blood glucose levels have dropped to low in range. Saxenda has drastically decreased my appetite and all sweet cravings are gone. So far so good.
    But my insulin levels have skyrocketed during the same time, from 18 to 50 (ref 2.4-24.9). My doctor now wants me to stop Saxenda as he feels it´s not working…however, I have read that Saxenda works by increasing insulin secretion in response to high blood sugar. And, if Saxenda did not work, I don´t think I would have lost all that weight…however, I wanted to know if you Dr. Childs (or anyone else here) know just how much Saxenda increases insulin levels on average…??? I realize we are all different, but it would be interesting to know if anyone else has experienced something similar? I would hate to go off Saxenda now that I am seeing such great results. But I have not been able to find any detailed info about how much it can be expected to raise insulin levels, and I need to prepare for my next doctor´s appointment in three months (the doctor agreed to let me stay on Saxenda until then but if my insulin levels don´t drop, he will not renew my prescription). I have been combining Saxenda with berberine, gymnema sylvestre, chromium, Ceylon cinnamon an ALA.

    Reply
  88. Heyyyy I’ve recently started using suxenda and I’m really hoping to see some good results I’ve lost 4 kgs over a period of 1 month and I’m feeling really good will definitely share other results as well and love this article of yours it was really helping and with all the pros and cons mentioned. Happy Weight loss to everyone.

    Reply
  89. This is such a helpful article. I share it with everyone who has questions about saxenda.

    I started saxenda in February 2022 at 202 lbs bmi 35 and as of January 2023 I am 129lbs bmi 22.2. I have worked very hard to change my eating habits and generally choose unprocessed foods, focusing on protein and green leafy veg. I don’t eat low carb as such, but I avoid processed carbs. I also started brisk walking back in November for minimum 30 minutes a day, raising my heart rate to around 130-140 bpm as I am surrounded by hills. That’s improved my cardio fitness to 34 which I’m thrilled with. Im 49 and menopausal and couldn’t lose any weight over the last few years. Saxenda and big lifestyle changes have made it possible for me to be fit and healthy.

    I had to stop saxenda last week as I had a hernia operation this week but if I find I am putting on weight, I plan to restart saxenda and try to find a maintenance dose as im pretty happy with my weight right now.

    I am so grateful for your explanation as to how saxenda works, thank you for your work in this field.

    Reply
    • Hi Victoria,

      Glad to hear you found the article helpful! Thanks for sharing your story as well and I’m glad you found a way to manage your weight.

      Reply
      • Hello Dr. Childs,

        Thank you for sharing all this very helpful and informative information. I am very interested in using Saxenda however I have a question. I am (reactive) hypoglycemic since birth and get low blood sugar if I’m not careful. I hate getting low bs and over eat to avoid it. This has caused me to become overweight over about 20 years. I am 59 yr old, 5’ 4” and 184lb which is the most I have ever weighed. My question is, in my case, will Saxenda give me low blood sugar?

        Carol

        Reply
        • Hi Carol,

          It’s possible but the only way to know for sure is to try it. It usually isn’t an issue but it’s impossible to predict how any individual will react to any given medication.

          Reply
  90. Hello,
    I just recently taking on Saxenda and am 54 in premenpause, haven’t had a cycle in 6 to 8 months. Now I am experiencing spotting and bleeding, which I read some articles stating this can happen to women 50-59 taking saxenda. I am not sure if it is causing an imbalance in hormones, Any thoughts? I was going to ask my MD, however I am the first patient he has prescribed this to.

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Crystal Cancel reply

0
Your Cart
Your cart is emptyReturn to Shop
Calculate Shipping