Saxenda

The most common side effects are gastrointestinal: nausea (about 39% in trials), diarrhea (about 21%), constipation (about 19%), vomiting (about 16%), and decreased appetite. These are typically mild to moderate and tend to improve as your body adjusts during the dose-escalation period. Eating smaller meals, avoiding fatty foods, and staying hydrated can help manage these effects. Because Saxenda is a daily injection with a shorter half-life, side effects that do occur typically resolve within hours rather than lingering for days. Your clinician will monitor for any side effects and adjust your treatment plan as needed.

All three are injectable GLP-1 receptor agonists FDA-approved for weight loss, but they differ in key ways. Saxenda (liraglutide) is a daily injection with ~8% average body weight loss. Wegovy (semaglutide) is a weekly injection with ~15% average weight loss. Zepbound (tirzepatide) is a weekly dual GIP/GLP-1 injection with up to ~22.5% weight loss. Saxenda has the longest FDA track record (approved 2014) and may be preferred when insurance covers it favorably or when patients prefer daily dosing. See the full comparison.

Many commercial insurance plans cover Saxenda for weight management, though coverage varies by plan. Some insurers that don't cover Wegovy or Zepbound may still cover Saxenda, making it an important coverage alternative. PEAK accepts Anthem, Cigna, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Sentara, and TRICARE commercial plans, and does not accept Medicare or Medicaid plans. PEAK handles the prior authorization process and will confirm coverage before you begin treatment. Visit pricing is $199 for the initial appointment, $135 for follow-up visits, and $75 for dietitian visits. View our full insurance and pricing information.

Saxenda and Victoza both contain liraglutide and are made by Novo Nordisk, but they are FDA-approved for different uses and dosed differently. Victoza is approved for type 2 diabetes at a maximum dose of 1.8 mg daily, while Saxenda is approved for chronic weight management at 3.0 mg daily — a higher dose designed to produce the weight loss results seen in the SCALE clinical trials. At PEAK, we prescribe Saxenda (not Victoza) for weight management to ensure patients receive the correct dose and the cleanest path to insurance approval.

Saxenda is approved for long-term use in chronic weight management. Treatment duration varies by individual — some patients continue indefinitely for sustained weight management, while others may eventually transition to a different medication or taper off if they've developed strong nutritional and behavioral habits. Research shows that weight regain is common when GLP-1 medications are discontinued without ongoing support, which is why PEAK's program emphasizes building lasting habits alongside medication. Your clinician will regularly assess whether Saxenda remains the right fit or if transitioning to a different treatment makes more sense.

Yes. Like all GLP-1 receptor agonists, Saxenda carries a boxed warning about thyroid C-cell tumors observed in animal studies. Liraglutide caused thyroid tumors in rodents at clinically relevant doses. It is unknown whether this occurs in humans. Saxenda is not recommended for people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2). Less common but important risks include pancreatitis (rare but serious), gallstones (more common with weight loss), increased heart rate, and kidney problems. Your provider will review your medical history to ensure Saxenda is appropriate for you.