Brand product · Liraglutide
Saxenda: FDA Status, Uses, Safety and Cost
Single receptor target (GLP-1)
What Saxenda is
Saxenda is Novo Nordisk’s brand of liraglutide approved for chronic weight management — the first GLP-1 medication approved for weight management (2014). It is injected once daily, unlike the newer once-weekly options, and generic liraglutide products have been approved by the FDA.
Key facts
| Generic (active ingredient) | Liraglutide |
|---|---|
| Brand names | Saxenda |
| Drug class | GLP-1 receptor agonist |
| Manufacturer | Novo Nordisk |
| FDA status | FDA ApprovedApproved for chronic weight management |
| Administration | Subcutaneous injection (prefilled pen) |
| Frequency | Once daily |
| Approval date | December 2014 (adults); December 2020 (adolescents 12+) |
| Prescription required | Yes |
| Official label | Prescribing information (DailyMed) |
What Saxenda is approved for
- Chronic weight management in adults with obesity (BMI ≥30), or overweight (BMI ≥27) with at least one weight-related condition, as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity
- Chronic weight management in pediatric patients aged 12 and older with obesity (per label criteria)
How Saxenda works
Liraglutide mimics the GLP-1 hormone, acting on appetite-regulation pathways and slowing gastric emptying to reduce calorie intake.
- 1
Medication binds
A GLP-1 receptor agonist activates the receptor for the natural GLP-1 hormone.
- 2
Signals are sent
Appetite-regulating areas of the brain are affected, increasing fullness.
- 3
Stomach slows
Gastric emptying slows, so food stays in the stomach longer.
- 4
Intake falls
Per FDA labeling, weight reduction happens mainly through eating fewer calories.
Administration
Saxenda is given by subcutaneous injection (prefilled pen), once daily.
We do not publish dosing guidance
Dose selection, titration schedules, and what to do about a missed dose are individual clinical decisions. Follow the instructions from your prescriber and the official prescribing information — never a website.
Important safety information
Boxed Warning — the FDA’s most serious warning
Risk of thyroid C-cell tumors: caused thyroid C-cell tumors in rodents at clinically relevant exposures; it is unknown whether this occurs in humans. Contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
Summarized from the product’s FDA prescribing information. Read the full label, linked in Sources below.
Contraindications (who should not take it)
- Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC)
- Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
- Pregnancy
- Known serious hypersensitivity to liraglutide or product components
Summarized from the FDA prescribing information. This is not the complete list — see the full label.
Common adverse reactions from official labeling
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Vomiting
- Injection site reactions
- Headache
- Hypoglycemia
- Dyspepsia (indigestion)
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
The most common adverse reactions listed in the product’s FDA prescribing information. Frequency and full adverse-reaction data are in the label.
Brand and generic relationships
Saxenda is a brand product containing the active ingredient liraglutide.
Cost and access
- Prescription only.
- FDA-approved generic liraglutide may offer a lower-cost route to the same active ingredient — availability varies by pharmacy.
- Novo Nordisk savings offers may apply for eligible patients; verify current terms.
Why we don't publish a price
List prices, savings-card amounts, and self-pay offers change frequently and vary by pharmacy, plan, and location. Any figure we printed would be wrong for many readers and stale within weeks. See our cost guide for how to get an accurate number for your own situation.
Insurance considerations
- Subject to the same weight-management exclusions as other GLP-1 weight-loss drugs; coverage varies by plan.
More detail: how insurance coverage works for weight-loss medication.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Saxenda the same as Wegovy?
- No. Both are Novo Nordisk GLP-1 injections approved for weight management, but Saxenda is liraglutide (once daily) and Wegovy is semaglutide (once weekly).
- Is there a generic Saxenda?
- The FDA has approved generic liraglutide products. Whether a generic equivalent to Saxenda is stocked varies by pharmacy — confirm locally.
Related guides
Sources
- Saxenda prescribing information (DailyMed, NIH) — DailyMed/NIH. Link last verified August 12, 2026.
- Drugs@FDA database — FDA. Link last verified August 12, 2026.
- Saxenda official site (Novo Nordisk) — Manufacturer. Link last verified August 12, 2026.
Not medical advice. WeightLossDrugsGuide is an independent educational publisher. We are not a pharmacy, a medical provider, or a telehealth clinic, and we do not provide personalized medical recommendations or dosing guidance. Information here summarizes official FDA labeling and other primary sources and may not reflect the most recent changes. Always talk with a licensed clinician about your own situation, and read the full prescribing information for any medication.