Using Saxenda

Just saw some doctor on TV aggressively pitching Saxenda—claiming it’s some kind of miracle cure for weight loss and insulin resistance.

Anyone here actually tried it? Or does anyone have the inside scoop?

Who can even get a prescription for this stuff—and what’s the damage to the wallet?

It’s a shame nobody seems to have any experience here—apparently, it’s supposed to be effective for tackling insulin resistance. It’s essentially just those self-administered injections, similar to the pens used by diabetics...

$333 is the monthly dosage... but if I could actually confirm this works, I wouldn't care about the price tag 😁

🤦
Have you had a chance to look at what the manufacturer says on their site?

What exactly is Saxenda and how is it used?
Saxenda is a medication intended to supplement a diet and increased physical activity to manage body
weight in adult patients:
 who are obese (have a Body Mass Index - BMI - of 30 or higher)
 who are overweight (have a BMI between 27 and 30) along with at least one other
weight-related health issue, such as diabetes, high cholesterol,
high blood pressure, or sleep apnea (interrupted breathing during sleep).
...it acts as a physiological regulator of appetite and food intake, though its precise mechanism isn't
entirely clear. In animal studies, the peripheral application of liraglutide resulted in uptake in
specific areas of the brain responsible for appetite regulation; by specifically
activating GLP-1R, liraglutide boosted satiety signals and lowered hunger cues, leading to
lower body weight...

It seems you haven't. 🙏
It isn't indicated for insulin resistance.
To tackle insulin resistance, the primary goal is shifting toward a healthier lifestyle: eating right and staying active. If those steps aren't enough, then medical therapy might be considered.
But based on the instructions, Saxenda isn't meant for insulin resistance.

By the way, have you tried losing weight through diet and exercise?
Staying consistent for, say, a full year?
And sticking to that routine?

It doesn't sound like insulin resistance is your main struggle, otherwise you wouldn't be pushing for this specific medication.
It feels more like you just want to lose weight without the heavy lifting.

Olivia Jackson64, look—it’s a prescription drug. It doesn't matter what other patients claim they can get their hands on here.

Medicare usually covers liraglutide under its brand name, Victoza. If your endocrinologist thinks you need it—assuming there aren't some other medical reasons why you shouldn't take it—they'll write the script. You might as well just ask them first if they think it's even indicated for you.

Thanks for the feedback and for clarifying what Medicare covers 🙂

Hey everyone!

Just thought I'd drop a quick note if anyone's curious—I actually kicked things off with Saxenda last week! My endocrinologist suggested it, so I got a prescription to get the ball rolling.
Dealing with insulin resistance and a super high BMI, so it felt like the right move.

Along with the Saxenda, I'm also taking Glucophage to help keep my insulin levels steady and manage my PCOS symptoms.

But let me be totally real with you guys right out of the gate: these meds aren't some kind of magic wand! You still have to stay on top of your diet and keep moving if you want results.

My first week was pretty chill, nothing crazy happened. My appetite stayed basically the same, honestly didn't feel much change there. But, I did manage to drop about 3 pounds over those 7 days!
As of yesterday, I bumped up to a double dose of both Saxenda and Glucophage, so we'll see if that finally starts to dial down my hunger.

Side effects-wise? Nothing too intense. On the second and third day, I dealt with some random bouts of nausea, even during the night. I had a couple of runs and felt a little lightheaded here and there too. It wasn't a total dealbreaker for me, but I am wondering if those feelings will ramp up once I hit the higher doses.

When it comes to the shots, if I aim for my stomach, I barely feel a thing! It stings just a tiny bit when I do it in my leg, though.

The price tag on Saxenda is around $135, and you actually have to buy the needles separately. The whole setup looks just like an insulin pen, and the needles look identical too.
One pack (which has 3 pens) should last you about five weeks, but once you crank it up to the max dose, a single pack only lasts about 18 days.
In my opinion, it’s way too pricey—definitely not something most people can just swing easily.

So, yeah, that's the scoop from my side! If anyone's interested, I'll try to post an update in a week or two. Or, if you've got questions, just shoot them my way!

Thanks for posting—I’m actually quite interested in this.
Definitely keep us posted on any updates, including side effects like nausea or any actual results you see.

I’ve got my own set of issues to deal with, and now that I’m hitting a certain age, I’m seriously considering finally heading over to Varaždin Hospital for a proper endocrine workup just to see where things stand.

If this helps with the weight loss—specifically by killing off that constant hunger—then great. If not, there's really no point. Obviously, diet and exercise matter, but I have these phases where I'm working out like a maniac and eating strictly, yet the scale still refuses to budge.

Even the doctor I saw for acupuncture mentioned that I find it harder to lose weight than the average person—which is living proof enough for me—but I didn't feel like getting into a whole debate about it with him. 🙂

Did you go to V. Vrhovac or a different hospital? I assume the basic process would be visiting a weight loss clinic for blood work and whatever else they deem necessary before deciding on next steps.

Did you run any blood work regarding your sugar levels before starting the medication—and if so, what did the results look like? I mean, things like glucose, insulin resistance, HbA1c, or whatever the specific markers are. Did they actually perform those tests before prescribing the therapy?

Hey everyone! So, after three weeks, I am officially down exactly 13 pounds! It’s like a drop in the bucket compared to where I started, but man, it feels so good to finally see some movement on the scale.

As far as side effects go, every single time I bump up my dose, I deal with nausea for about three days straight, plus some random bouts here and there. But those first three days are definitely the worst. Overall, though, I feel way less hungry so I just eat less, I get full super fast, and if I overdo it even a little bit, I feel sick immediately. Along with the Ozempic, I’m also taking 1000mg of Glucophage daily.

I had my fasting blood sugar checked and it was 5.7. I honestly didn't realize that was actually high—I told them it felt more like a 7, but nope! My insulin levels were pretty elevated too. I ended up doing an OGTT and a bunch of other tests as well.

I’m originally from up north, so I went to a weight loss clinic in Cleveland, but the meal plans and everything they gave me actually came from V. Vrhovac.

Honestly, we all have a lot going on "in our heads." Nobody ends up in this situation because everything is perfectly balanced in their life; at least, that’s how I see it. Going for a checkup and getting your labs done doesn't cost a thing, and it can really give you some peace of mind. If you're sitting on the fence about it, I totally recommend just going to see an endocrinologist.

So, how much weight are you looking to lose that you're considering medication? 🤔
I managed to get my insulin levels back under control just by adjusting my diet, taking Glucophage, and staying active.

I mean, obviously I've got some extra weight to lose, otherwise I wouldn't even be hanging out here! 😁

Major props to you, though—I am seriously so stoked that you crushed your goals, whether you used meds or just pure willpower!

So, what's actually driving all those extra pounds?
I mean, even if you're dealing with insulin resistance, you can't really gain that much weight just by breathing air.

Look, I never said or even hinted that I just magically grew extra pounds out of thin air, so don't even worry about it! My job basically keeps me glued to a desk all day long, and let's be real—I absolutely live for food. I don't have some massive, dramatic secret or a sob story about why I'm carrying extra weight, lol

I'm just out here working on breaking my old habits, and honestly, what anyone else thinks about how I'm tackling this isn't my circus and not my monkeys.

I'm really just hanging out here to share my own journey and maybe drop a few nuggets of info about what's been working for me.

Look, I never claimed I was born this way or anything, so don't even worry about it! My job basically has me glued to a desk all day long, and let's be real—I absolutely live for food. It’s not some big, dramatic mystery why I've put on weight, lol

I’m just out here working on breaking my old habits, and honestly, what anyone else thinks about how I tackle things isn't really my business at all.

I'm only hanging out here to share my own journey and maybe toss out some info on how things are going for me personally.

Sorry about the double post! My Wi-Fi is being a total nightmare today.

Brenda Alvarez24 said:So, why are you even (that) heavy?
I mean, even with insulin resistance, you don't just gain all that weight out of thin air.

And how are you still so clueless despite having the entire internet at your fingertips?

Ugh, I seriously love it when people who finally slim down after quitting chips and mayo try to judge the whole world based on their own experience.

Megan Anderson5, losing those 13 pounds feels like a massive win to me—honestly, I’d say it’s the perfect psychological boost to keep you moving forward. Now that you've started, just focus on incrementally bumping up your activity or finding small ways to cut calories where you can. Don't rush it, though; this is a marathon, not a sprint. Don't let yourself get swept up in the frantic pace or the hype.

I'm speaking from experience here—mostly for my own sake, really:-)

And please, just ignore the trolls.🙂)

What’s your daily Metformin dosage? And how long have you been on it?

Nausea is a huge issue for me—I actually quit Metformin because of it—but I can see things getting worse over time, so I’ll eventually have to face reality. You're right, though; you need to get your labs done first to see if there's actually anything to worry about.

Keep me posted; I'm genuinely curious. Thanks!

Hey there!

It’s honestly great to see someone else on Saxenda posting here—it’s nice to get some actual firsthand info. Plus, I think it's pretty cool we're even in the same city 😊👍🏻.

If you don't mind me asking, how has your experience been at that weight loss clinic over at Varaždin Hospital?
What are the doctors like? And did you have to deal with a massive wait for your first appointment, or was it pretty chill?
I’ve been thinking about going, but I just can't seem to get myself moving...
Did you actually ask them for the Saxenda, or did they just suggest it after running some tests? Or were you supposed to try a diet first or something?
I know, I know... way too many questions... 🙃

Anyway, props to you for actually taking the plunge and getting started!

Olivia Jackson64 said:Megan Anderson5, honestly, losing those 13 pounds feels like such a massive win to me—and I’m telling you, use that as your psychological fuel to keep going! Now that you’ve started, just try to incrementally bump up your activity levels or sneak in some extra calorie burning whenever you can. But please, don't rush it—this whole thing is a marathon, not a sprint, so don't let yourself get sucked into the frantic race or the hysterics.

I'm speaking from personal experience here—mostly for my own sake, really—but definitely for yours too!

And seriously, just ignore the trolls.🙂)

What's your daily dose of Metformin? And how long have you been on it?

I personally couldn't stomach the nausea, which is why I ended up quitting Metformin altogether—though, looking back, I see things tend to get worse over time, so I'll eventually have to face the music. You're absolutely right, though; you need to run all the tests first to see if there's actually something to worry about.

Keep me posted, I'm genuinely curious, and thank you so much!!!!

My dad has been on Metformin for twenty years because of his diabetes, and he's found that it's easier on him with certain brands than others—some give him more nausea or that heavy feeling in his stomach while others don't. Don't give up just yet; try to find the specific brand that bothers you the least.

Thanks, Mario!

I have to say, I didn't deal with much nausea from the Belmonte—which is made by General Mills—but for some reason, it just vanished from pharmacy shelves for a while. You’re absolutely right, though; there's no reason to give up. Thanks for sharing your experience and for the encouragement! 🙂🙂🙂