How long does a Saxenda pen last?

Every Saxenda pen is filled with 18mg of liraglutide, which is the active ingredient, and it can measure an accurate dose of 0.6mg, 1.2mg, 1.8mg, 2.4mg, or 3mg.

Starting dose

You will start your weight loss treatment on a small dose of 0.6mg of Saxenda each day. This will be increased over a few weeks to 3mg per day.

Once you have got to the regular (maintenance) maximum dose of 3mg a day, your pen should last for 6 days. This means that 5 Saxenda pens should provide a month’s supply at the maintenance dose, or 30 days.

One Saxenda pen will last between 6 to 17 days depending on your dosage.

When you start using Saxenda, you will have a small dose and slowly build it up over a few weeks. The goal is to get to 3mg from one Saxenda injection per day. One of our doctors will advise you on exactly how much you need to inject each day.

Always follow their guidance and get in touch if you have any concerns.

Learn more about how to use Saxenda on our Saxenda patient information page.

The number of Saxenda pens you will need in a month can vary. You might need up to 3 pens per month to start with, and up to 5 per month to maintain your dose of Saxenda.

When you are first prescribed Saxenda, you will start with fewer pens as you will only be required to take a low dose. This dose will be increased slowly over the first 5 weeks. One of our doctors will tell you exactly how to manage your dosage until you reach 3mg a day. 3mg is called the maintenance dose.

By slowly building up your use of Saxenda, you reduce the chances of nausea (feeling sick) as a side effect.

You can request Saxenda from Asda Online Doctor by filling in a short online questionnaire. A doctor will review your answers to check if Saxenda is the right weight loss treatment for you.

They will prescribe the correct dosage for you. This will determine how many Saxenda pens you will need to order in a month.

A Saxenda pen at the maintenance dose of 3mg a day lasts for up to 6 days.

Once you have started using a Saxenda pen you can keep it for 1 month. It can be stored in a fridge or at room temperature, as long as the room is below 30°C.

Saxenda starts to wear off after around 13 hours, and it can take a few days for it to completely leave your body.

Saxenda works by releasing liraglutide which tells the receptors in your brain that you are full. This can help you to eat less because you will be satisfied with smaller portions of food.

Liraglutide is similar to a natural hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). You normally release GLP-1 from your intestine after a meal to signal you have eaten enough. Your Saxenda injection prolongs this feeling, and this means it can be an ideal weight loss tool for controlling your appetite.