Saxenda Dosages: Your GoodRx Guide
Key takeaways:
Saxenda (liraglutide) is a once-daily injection that’s FDA approved for chronic weight management in adults and children 12 years and older.
The starting Saxenda dosage is 0.6 mg injected beneath the skin once a day. Usually, your prescriber will increase your dose by 0.6 mg once a week until you reach the target dosage of 3 mg per day. This is also the maximum Saxenda dosage.
If adolescents ages 12 to 17 can’t tolerate the 3 mg Saxenda dosage, their prescriber may decrease it to 2.4 mg once a day. But this lower dose isn’t usually effective for adults, so it’s not recommended for adults to use less than 3 mg per day.
There are ways to save on Saxenda. GoodRx can help make your prescription more affordable.
Access savings on related medications
Table of contents
It’s common to follow what’s called a “dose titration” period when you first start a medication. This is when your dosage is slowly raised until you reach a target dose. That target dose is usually what you continue using long term.
Dose titration is sometimes recommended to help lower the risk of side effects. This is the case for Saxenda (liraglutide). Saxenda is one of several glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists on the market. It’s FDA approved for chronic weight management in adults and children 12 years and older who meet certain body mass index (BMI) requirements. Starting with a low dose of Saxenda and slowly raising it helps to limit side effects while your body adjusts to it.
In this guide, we’ll review the standard Saxenda dosage schedule recommended by the manufacturer. But the dosages your prescriber recommends for you may vary depending on how your body adjusts to the medication.
What’s the typical Saxenda dosage for adults?
The recommended starting Saxenda dosage for chronic weight management is 0.6 mg injected once a day. This is slowly increased over 5 weeks to the target dosage of 3 mg once a day. This is also the maximum Saxenda dosage.
Saxenda is available as a prefilled, multi-dose pen. This means you’ll continue using the same pen multiple times (but with a fresh pen needle for each use). You can inject your dose under the skin of your abdomen (stomach), thigh, or upper arm.
One Saxenda pen can deliver one of five different doses:
0.6 mg
1.2 mg
1.8 mg
2.4 mg
3 mg
Saxenda dosage schedule
An example of a typical Saxenda dosage schedule is detailed in the table below.
Week number | Recommended Saxenda dosage |
Week 1 | 0.6 mg once a day |
Week 2 | 1.2 mg once a day |
Week 3 | 1.8 mg once a day |
Week 4 | 2.4 mg once a day |
Week 5 (and beyond) | 3 mg once a day |
Following this recommended dosage schedule can help lower the risk of gastrointestinal side effects, such as nausea and diarrhea. If you’re unable to tolerate the 3 mg dosage, your prescriber may recommend alternative weight-loss medications. This is because lower dosages may not be effective for adults.
Can you split your Saxenda dose?
No, it’s not recommended to split your Saxenda dose. But, if you’re experiencing bothersome side effects, talk to your medical care team about slowing down your dosage titration schedule. Some people need longer than 5 weeks to get used to Saxenda. Your prescriber can help you develop a schedule that works better for you.
What’s the typical Saxenda dosage for children?
It’s recommended that adolescents ages 12 and older follow the same Saxenda dosages as adults (described above). But some children may need a longer initial dosage titration schedule to adjust to the medication. It may take up to 8 weeks for adolescents to reach the target 3 mg dose.
If your child can’t tolerate the target dose, speak with their healthcare team. They may recommend lowering their Saxenda dosage to 2.4 mg once a day. If they still can’t tolerate this lower dosage, let your child’s prescriber know. They may recommend alternative weight-loss options.
Are there any dosage adjustments for health conditions?
People with certain health conditions, such as kidney or liver disease, typically take the standard Saxenda doses discussed above. But in rare cases, Saxenda can cause a decrease in kidney function. If you have a history of kidney problems, your medical care team may routinely monitor your kidney function to watch for signs of this side effect.
You should let your medical care team know if you have severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea that doesn’t go away. While these may be common Saxenda side effects, they can also lead to dehydration which can raise the risk of kidney problems with Saxenda.
What happens if you miss a dose of Saxenda?
If you miss your Saxenda dose, inject it as soon as you remember. You’ll want to skip the missed dose if it’s close to the time for your next injection. After that, you can go back to your regular dosage schedule. Don’t try to catch up by doubling your dose or using more than what’s recommended.
If more than 3 days have passed since your last Saxenda injection, speak with your medical care team on the best way to restart the medication. Depending on how long it’s been, you may need to restart Saxenda at the typical starting dosage (0.6 mg per day).
Can you switch from Saxenda to Wegovy?
Yes. With your prescriber’s guidance, you can switch from Saxenda to Wegovy (semaglutide). Wegovy is a once-weekly GLP-1 injection that’s also FDA approved for chronic weight management in people ages 12 and older. Some people tolerate Wegovy better than Saxenda. And you may lose more weight with Wegovy.
But, there isn’t an equivalent dosage for the two medications. So you may need to start with the lowest dosage of Wegovy and follow the usual dosing schedule. Your prescriber can help determine the best way for you to make the switch if you’re interested.
What should you do if you take too much Saxenda?
If you take too much Saxenda, you may experience more severe side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, or low blood glucose (sugar). There are reports that Saxenda overdoses caused symptoms similar to those of pancreatitis (swollen pancreas). In some cases, taking too much of the medication could require medical care in a hospital.
Contact your prescriber if you think you’ve injected too much Saxenda, even if you’re not having any unusual side effects. You can also call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for additional guidance. Call 911 or go to the nearest ER if you’re experiencing anything that seems severe or life-threatening.
How to save on Saxenda
There are ways to save on Saxenda, which is only available as a brand-name medication. GoodRx can help you save over 20% off the average retail price of Saxenda. If cost is an issue, consider discussing Saxenda alternatives with your prescriber. Many of these other weight-loss treatments are available as lower-cost generics or have other savings opportunities available.
The bottom line
The starting Saxenda (liraglutide) dosage for chronic weight management is 0.6 mg injected beneath the skin once a day. This dose will be increased over 5 weeks to the target dosage of 3 mg once a day. This is also the maximum Saxenda dosage. Some people may need a slower dosage titration schedule to adjust to the medication.
Adolescents who can’t tolerate the 3 mg Saxenda dosage may be able to take 2.4 mg once a day instead. But it’s not recommended for adults to use less than 3 mg daily. Lower dosages may not be effective for them.
Why trust our experts?
References
MedlinePlus. (2021). Liraglutide injection.
Nafisah, S. B., et al. (2020). Liraglutide overdose: A case report and an updated review. Turkish Journal of Emergency Medicine.
Novo Nordisk. (2023). Saxenda - liraglutide injection, solution [package insert].
Was this page helpful?
Related Articles
Browse medications
View AllResearch prescriptions and over-the-counter medications from A to Z, compare drug prices, and start saving.