Quick Facts

What Is Saxenda?

Saxenda is a prescription injectable medication. It contains liraglutide, a synthetic form of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1). GLP-1 is a hormone your body produces naturally after eating. It tells your brain you are full and signals your pancreas to release insulin.

Saxenda mimics this hormone. It activates GLP-1 receptors in the brain and digestive system. This reduces hunger, slows digestion, and helps you feel satisfied with less food.

It is injected once daily using a pre-filled pen. It is not a fat-dissolving injection. It works through your body's own hormonal system to support medically supervised weight loss.

Cost of Saxenda Injections in Abu Dhabi

The cost of Saxenda injections in Abu Dhabi ranges from 1,800 AED to 2,000 AED. The final price depends on your prescribed dose and the duration of your treatment programme.

All costs are confirmed at your initial consultation before any treatment begins.

Conditions Treated

How Does Saxenda Work?

Saxenda activates GLP-1 receptors in the brain and gut. This produces three key effects:

Appetite suppression: The hypothalamus receives stronger satiety signals. You feel full sooner and stay full longer between meals.

Slowed gastric emptying: Food moves more slowly from your stomach to your intestine. This extends the feeling of fullness after eating.

Blood sugar regulation: Saxenda stimulates insulin release when blood sugar rises. It also reduces the amount of glucose the liver releases into the bloodstream. Together, these effects improve blood sugar stability.

The result is a sustained reduction in calorie intake without the constant hunger that makes dieting hard to maintain.

How to Get the Most from Saxenda

Saxenda works best as part of a structured programme. These steps improve your results:

1. Take your injection at the same time every day for consistency
2. Follow a calorie-reduced diet as advised by your physician
3. Incorporate regular physical activity; even 30-minute daily walks make a difference
4. Attend all follow-up appointments to monitor progress and adjust the dose
5. Stay well hydrated throughout treatment

Saxenda is not a standalone solution. It supports the dietary and lifestyle changes that produce lasting weight loss.

Saxenda Dosage Schedule

Saxenda always starts at a low dose. The dose increases gradually over five weeks. This reduces side effects and allows your body to adjust.

If the 3.0 mg dose is not tolerated, your physician may recommend staying at 2.4 mg. If you have not lost at least 5% of your starting body weight after 12 weeks at the full dose, your physician will review whether to continue treatment.

Who Is the Right Candidate?

Saxenda is appropriate for adults who meet the following criteria:

1. BMI of 30 or above
2. BMI of 27 or above with at least one weight-related health condition such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, or high cholesterol
3. Have not achieved sufficient weight loss through diet and exercise alone
4. Committed to following a calorie-reduced diet and increasing physical activity alongside the medication
5. Not pregnant or breastfeeding
6. No personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2)

When to Avoid Saxenda

Saxenda is not appropriate for all patients. Do not use it if you have:

1. Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma
2. Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2)
3. Active or chronic pancreatitis
4. Severe kidney disease
5. Known hypersensitivity to liraglutide or any ingredient in Saxenda
6. Current pregnancy or breastfeeding

Patients with a history of gallbladder disease, heart problems, or severe depression should discuss these with their physician before starting.

Diagnostic Assessment

Before prescribing Saxenda, your physician will assess:

1. Your BMI and body weight
2. Waist circumference and body composition
3. Blood glucose, HbA1c, lipid profile, and kidney function
4. Personal and family medical history
5. Current medications and potential interactions
6. Overall physical and mental health

This assessment confirms your suitability and helps determine the right treatment plan.

How to Prepare for Your First Session

1. Discuss your full medical history with your physician before starting
2. Disclose all current medications and supplements, as some interact with Saxenda
3. Stay well hydrated in the days leading up to your appointment
4. Begin following a calorie-appropriate diet before your first injection
5. Ask your physician or nurse any questions about the injection technique before leaving the clinic

How Saxenda Is Administered

Using Saxenda at Home

After an initial demonstration with your clinic nurse, most patients self-administer Saxenda at home. What you need:

1. A valid prescription
2. Pre-filled Saxenda pens (available from an authorized pharmacy)
3. Replacement needles (compatible with the Ozempic-style pen device)
4. A sharps disposal container

Your nurse will demonstrate full injection technique before you self-inject for the first time. Do not attempt home injection without this training.

Results: What to Expect

Initial appetite suppression is noticeable within the first two to four weeks. Weight loss typically becomes visible from weeks four to eight as the dose builds toward 3.0 mg.

Average results from clinical trials:

1. Approximately 5 to 8% of body weight lost at one year with Saxenda plus lifestyle changes
2. Up to 9.2% body weight loss reported in the SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes trial at 56 weeks

Results are progressive. They depend on how well dietary and lifestyle changes are maintained alongside the medication. Patients who stop the medication without sustaining lifestyle changes typically regain weight over time.

Benefits of Saxenda

1. Clinically proven long-term weight loss
2. Reduced appetite and food cravings
3. Improved blood sugar regulation
4. Lower blood pressure in many patients
5. Improved cholesterol levels
6. Reduced waist circumference
7. Improved mobility and physical activity
8. Lower risk of obesity-related diseases
9. Better long-term weight maintenance when combined with lifestyle changes

Possible Side Effects

Most side effects are mild and improve as the body adjusts to treatment.

Common Side Effects

1. Nausea
2. Vomiting
3. Diarrhoea
4. Constipation
5. Headache
6. Fatigue
7. Reduced appetite
8. Injection-site redness or bruising

Serious Side Effects (Rare)

1. Pancreatitis
2. Gallbladder disease
3. Kidney injury due to dehydration
4. Severe allergic reaction
5. Possible thyroid tumours (boxed FDA warning)

Contact your physician immediately if severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, breathing difficulty, or swelling develops.

Why Choose Us for Saxenda Injections in Abu Dhabi?