Nevolat (Liraglutide)

Nevolat is a weight loss treatment which comes in the form of a pre-filled injectable pen. It contains the active ingredient liraglutide which mimics the natural hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). Usually, this is released from your intestines after you eat a meal and tells your brain that you are full. As a result, the treatment helps you lose weight by:

• increasing feelings of fullness
• decreasing appetite and cravings

Who can use Nevolat?

Nevolat is used as a weight loss treatment. It can be prescribed if you have:

• a BMI of 30 kg/m² or greater (obesity)
• a BMI of 27 kg/m² and less than 30 kg/m² (overweight) and weight-related health problems, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and/or cholesterol, or breathing problems during sleep called obstructive sleep apnoea

Asda Online Doctor always takes your BMI and medical history into consideration and may prescribe off-label when making a decision about treatment.

How long does Nevolat take to work?

Studies show patients can lose at least 5% of their body weight within just 12 weeks of taking Nevolat (liraglutide) after a gradual increase of dosage (up to 3mg).

It’s important that you follow a balanced diet and exercise plan during your treatment with Nevolat to ensure you see the best results.

How effective is Nevolat?

Clinical studies have shown Nevolat to be a highly effective treatment. Patients have seen an average 8.0% change in their body weight in just 56 weeks of taking liraglutide. This was compared to a 2.6% change in those taking a placebo.

Nevolat works by mimicking a naturally occurring hormone, GLP-1, which is typically released from your intestines after you have eaten a meal to signal to your brain that you are full.

This effect can help you control your appetite so you find it easier to eat less and lose weight faster.

Nevolat comes in the form of an easy-to-use self-injectable pen. It contains pre-filled dosages as prescribed by your doctor per week. Your dosage will increase week on week until you reach the maximum maintenance dose.

Your Nevolat medication will also come with full instructions and a how-to-use leaflet for more detailed information.

How to use Nevolat

Preparing your pen:

1: Prepare your pen with a new needle – be sure to check the name and coloured label of your pen to check that it contains Nevolat and pull off the cap if it is correct.

2: Check that the solution in your pen is clear, you will be able to check this by looking through the pen window. If the solution is cloudy do not use.

3: Take a new needle and tear off the paper tab.

4: Make sure to attach your needle correctly by pushing the needle straight into the pen and turning it tight.

5: The needle is covered by 2 caps – you must remove both for the solution to run through. Pull off the outer needle cap and keep it for later. You will need it after the injection to safely remove the needle from the pen.

6: Pull off the inner needle cap and throw it away. A drop of solution may appear on the needle tip, this is normal.

Do not attach a new needle to your pen until you are ready to take your injection. Always use a new needle for each injection and check your needle is not bent or damaged.

Checking the flow:

Before your first injection with each new pen, you must ‘check the flow’. Doing this will ensure that your needle and solution are ready before you insert it into your skin.

7: To check the flow all you need to do is turn the dose selector until the dose counter shows a symbol that looks like this: .----

8: Hold the pen with the needle pointed up. Press and hold the dose button until the dose counter returns to 0. The 0 must line up with the dose pointer. A drop of solution should appear at the needle tip, a small drop may remain at the needle tip but it will not be injected.

9: If no drop appears, repeat this process up to 6 times, if this does not work, change the needle and repeat this process. If this still doesn’t work, you may need a new pen. Checking the flow is important to ensure you are using a pen that is not blocked or damaged so you can get the right amount of medication.

Injecting your dose

10: Once you have checked the flow, select your dose by turning the dose selector on the end of the pen. Be careful to ensure you select the correct dose. More information on how this looks can be found in your how-to-use instruction guide or in the patient information leaflet.

11: Inject your dose by inserting the needle in your skin as your doctor or nurse has shown you. Press and hold down the dose button until the dose counter shows 0, you should hear or feel a click.

12: Keep the needle in your skin after the dose counter has reached 0 and count slowly to 6 to ensure full delivery of your dose.

13: Remove the needle from your skin and release the dose button. There is more information on dose counter clicks in the patient information leaflet.

14: After your injection, lead the needle tip into the needle cap on a flat surface without touching the needle or outer cap. Once covered, carefully push the outer cap on, unscrew the needle, and dispose of it carefully.

When should I take Nevolat?

Nevolat should be taken daily at a time that is convenient for you – we recommend taking Nevolat at the same time each day. For example, you may find it most suitable to take it in the morning.

You should take the doses of Nevolat that your doctor prescribes for you. You must never take a double dose, only ever take one pre-filled dose daily. When starting Nevolat, you will begin taking the smallest dose which is 0.6mg. The gradual increase week on week is as follows:

Dosages of Nevolat can vary. Here is an overview of roughly how long each dose will last:

• 0.6mg daily dose - each pen will last 30 days
• 1.2mg daily dose - each pen will last 15 days
• 1.8mg daily dose - each pen will last 10 days
• 2.4mg daily dose - each pen will last 7.5 days
• 3.0mg daily dose - each pen will last 6 days

You should take Nevolat for as long as it takes to reach your target weight loss goal unless you experience any unwanted side effects and decide to stop or change your weight loss treatment. It is safe to take Nevolat long-term alongside a doctor’s supervision.

Nevolat is available to request from a specialist weight management service on the NHS or from regulated, safe, and reputable online services like Asda Online Doctor.

Can I buy Nevolat online?

Yes, Nevolat is available to request online from Asda Online Doctor in just 3 simple steps:

1. Start a consultation online to request Nevolat, here you will fill in a health questionnaire.
2. A doctor will review your health questionnaire to assess your suitability.
3. If approved, your order will be sent with our discreet and fast delivery service.

Can I buy Nevolat over the counter?

No, you can only get Nevolat by prescription so a doctor can assess if it is safe and suitable for you. However, there are alternative over-the-counter weight loss treatments that work in a different way, like alli.

Can I buy Nevolat on the NHS?

Yes, Nevolat may be available on the NHS if you meet the prescribing eligibility criteria. You’ll need a referral to a weight management service as most GPs cannot yet prescribe weight loss injections. This would likely require a face-to-face consultation with your prescribing GP. Waiting times can vary, and weight loss injections may not be the first treatment offered to you.

➤ More information on getting weight loss injections on the NHS is available in our guide.

Like all medications, Nevolat can cause side effects, however, not everybody will experience them

Common side effects (may affect 1 in 10 people) include:

• dizziness
• feeling weak
• changed sense of taste
• rash
• injection site reactions
• indigestion, gastritis
• stomach discomfort
• upper stomach pain
• heartburn
• feeling bloated
• wind
• belching
• dry mouth
• low blood sugar
• increase in pancreatic enzymes, lipase and amylase

Uncommon side effects include:

• loss of fluids (dehydration) due to sickness, vomiting or diarrhoea
• delay in emptying of the stomach
• inflamed gall bladder
• allergic reactions (skin rash)
• feeling unwell generally
• faster pulse

Rare side effects include:

• reduced kidney function
• acute kidney failure

Not known (frequency not yet available from current patient reports):

• bowel obstruction (severe constipation)

You should report any side effects that are not on this list at MHRA Yellow Card and to your prescribing doctor.

What to do if you get Nevolat side effects

If you experience side effects with Nevolat, there are a range of ways you can deal with them, depending on their severity.

Dehydration

To ease all possible common side effects, stay hydrated with clear fluids.

Gastrointestinal side effects

If you experience gastrointestinal side effects like:

• indigestion
• nausea or vomiting
• stomach pain
• heartburn
• bloating

We recommend eating plain foods like toast, rice, and crackers, and eating slowly. If you are suffering from indigestion, speak to your local pharmacist and they may be able to prescribe antacids or other solutions.

Ensure you are taking Nevolat as your doctor prescribes and that you are eating meals alongside the medication for it to work safely and effectively.

Constipation

To ease constipation, we recommend:

• keeping hydrated,
• exercising regularly
• trying to establish a regular bowel routine
• getting enough fibre in your diet
• speaking to your doctor about a constipation treatment if other lifestyle changes do not help

How long do Nevolat side effects last?

Common Nevolat side effects typically go away after the first few days of starting treatment. In some cases, they may last a few weeks as your body adjusts, especially because you increase your dose once per week. Once you settle on a dose, you should find any side effects get better. Your doctor may also suggest staying on a lower dose to make sure your side effects go away before continuing the dosage schedule.

If you begin to experience persistent side effects which are bothering you and are not going away, speak with your doctor straight away.

Nevolat is an effective weight loss treatment, though this does not mean that it is suitable for everyone.

You must also inform your doctor of any personal or familial medical history so that they can assess whether or not Nevolat is right for you.

Nevolat may not be recommended if you:

• have severe heart failure
• are 75 years or older (due to little research on patients taking it)
• have kidney problems (disease or dialysis)
• have liver problems
• have severe gut or stomach problems (gastroparesis or inflammatory bowel disease)
• are due to have surgery with anaesthesia
• have pancreas disease
• have inflamed gallbladder or gallstones
• Have certain thyroid diseases
• have a racing heartbeat
• are under the age of 18

Nevolat is not a replacement treatment for diabetes, inform your doctor if you have diabetes.

Nevolat and other medications:

You should tell your doctor if you have recently taken or might be taking:

• warfarin (to reduce blood clots) or other anticoagulants
• sulfonylurea (glimepiride or glibenclamide for diabetes, or hypoglycaemia)

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

You must not use Nevolat if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you are planning to have a baby. There is no information on the safety of using Nevolat whilst pregnant.

It’s recommended to take a regular form of contraception when taking Nevolat to reduce the risk of pregnancy if you’re sexually active. If you want to try for a baby, you must stop taking Nevolat.

Driving and machine use

Nevolat is unlikely to affect your ability to drive. However, some patients may feel dizziness within the first 3 months of treatment. Within this period, you should take caution with driving or avoid it altogether if you get side effects like this. For more information, contact your doctor.

There are a range of alternatives to Nevolat that are licensed and approved for use in the UK. This includes other weight loss injections and weight loss tablets, most of which are available at Asda Online Doctor. Whatever weight loss treatment you take, you’ll be prescribed it alongside lifestyle changes, including eating a healthy, balanced diet and exercising regularly.

Weight loss injections

Wegovy (semaglutide)

Wegovy is a self-injectable weight loss medication that contains semaglutide. Semaglutide mimics GLP-1, just like Nevolat, which sends messages to your brain to signal you are full. In turn, this can help you lose weight as you feel fuller for longer.

Mounjaro (tirzepatide)

Mounjaro is a self-injectable weight loss treatment which contains the active ingredient tirzepatide. Tirzepatide works by mimicking 2 naturally occurring hormones in your body including GLP-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). These work by controlling your appetite, helping you feel fuller for longer and enabling you to lose weight due to lessening your cravings and appetite

Weight loss tablets

Orlistat, Xenical and alli

Orlistat, Xenical and alli all work in the same way as they all contain the same active ingredient orlistat. Orlistat works by attaching to enzymes in your digestive system called lipase, blocking it from breaking down fat in your food and absorbing it into your body. As a result, the fat turns to waste (stool). These tablets must be taken with meals that contain fat to work.

alli contains a lower dosage of orlistat than generic orlistat and Xenical, and it is available over-the-counter.

Mysimba

Mysimba is a tablet which is taken once daily and gradually increased to twice daily. It works by sending messages to the brain that control your energy levels and food intake. It can reduce your appetite as it helps you feel fuller for longer and reduce cravings.

Nevolat vs Saxenda

Nevolat and Saxenda contain the exact same active ingredient (liraglutide) which means they work in the same way and are taken the exact same way, too. The only differences are the price, name, packaging and non-active ingredients.

Saxenda is now long-term out of stock. If Saxenda worked for you, Nevolat may be a suitable new alternative. To find out, request a consultation and one of our doctors can assess if it is safe and suitable for you.

Nevolat vs Wegovy

Wegovy and Nevolat work in a similar way, as they both work to reduce your appetite and increase feelings of fullness. However, Wegovy contains the active ingredient semaglutide and is taken weekly, whereas Nevolat contains liraglutide and is taken daily.

Clinical trials have found that patients can lose up to 15% of their body weight in 68 weeks with Wegovy on the highest maintenance dosage. Clinical trials on Nevolat have found that patients can lose an average 8.0% of their weight in 56 weeks on the highest maintenance dosage.

Nevolat vs Mounjaro

Mounjaro and Nevolat also work in a similar way, since they both work to reduce your appetite and increase feelings of fullness. However, Mounjaro contains the active ingredient tirzepatide (which mimics 2 hormones rather than 1) and is taken weekly, while Nevolat contains liraglutide and is taken daily.

Clinical trials have shown Mounjaro to be an effective weight loss treatment with patients losing up to 22.5% of their starting weight after 72 weeks on the highest maintenance dosage. Clinical trials on Nevolat have found that patients can lose an average 8.0% of their weight in 56 weeks on the highest maintenance dosage.

Weight loss looks different for everyone. It is important to discuss with your doctor your personal health needs and they should be able to assess a safe, suitable and effective treatment plan for you.