Saxenda (liraglutide): the 2026 buyer's guide
Saxenda is Novo Nordisk's once-daily liraglutide injection, FDA-approved in 2014 as the first GLP-1 specifically indicated for chronic weight management. It has been largely displaced by Wegovy (same manufacturer, more effective, weekly instead of daily) for adult weight loss. It retains a pediatric indication for adolescents 12-17. Below: trial efficacy, 2026 pricing, when it still makes sense to choose and which programs prescribe it.
Compare Saxenda prices →- Saxenda is a daily injection of liraglutide, FDA-approved for chronic weight management since 2014.
- In the SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes trial, mean weight loss was 8% over 56 weeks, with 14.4% of patients losing 15% or more of body weight.
- It carries the GLP-1 class boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumor risk, and is not for people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN2.
- Cash, insurance and compounded prices differ widely. See the cost breakdown below, and the all-in program costs on the chart.
What Saxenda costs in 2026
There is no one price. What you pay depends on which path you take:
Telehealth programs add a membership fee on top of the medication cost (typically $40-$200/mo). For all-in monthly costs by program, see the chart, the full GLP-1 cost guide, or calculate your exact all-in cost by drug, coverage and state.
Who it's for
Adults with BMI ≥30, or BMI ≥27 with at least one weight-related comorbidity. Pediatric indication for adolescents 12-17 with obesity, which is unique among GLP-1s in 2026.
What the trials show
Saxenda's registration trial was SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes (NEJM, 2015). At 56 weeks at the maximum dose, mean weight loss was 8% (5.4 percentage points greater than placebo). 63.2% of patients lost at least 5% of body weight; 14.4% lost at least 15%. Real-world results vary; trial patients are typically more adherent and more closely managed than typical telehealth patients.
Dose schedule
Dose levels: 0.6mg, 1.2mg, 1.8mg, 2.4mg, 3.0mg. Standard practice is to titrate up monthly, holding at any tolerated dose. Maximum dose is 3.0mg daily; many patients reach goal weight at sub-maximum doses and stay there.
Common side effects
The most commonly reported side effects in the registration trial:
- nausea (39%)
- diarrhea (21%)
- constipation (19%)
- vomiting (16%)
- headache (14%)
Boxed warning: Risk of thyroid C-cell tumors (rodent data); contraindicated in patients with personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN2 syndrome.
How Saxenda differs from related drugs
Daily injection (vs weekly for newer GLP-1s). Less effective than semaglutide or tirzepatide on average. Has a pediatric indication for adolescents 12-17, which Wegovy and Zepbound do not. Often the right choice when insurance covers Saxenda but not Wegovy or Zepbound.
Compounded liraglutide (rare)
Compounded liraglutide (rare) is the same active molecule prepared by a 503A pharmacy under prescription rather than manufactured under FDA new-drug approval as Saxenda. Cash-pay savings versus branded Saxenda are typically 50-80%. The regulatory environment has tightened. Not on FDA shortage list. Largely displaced by Wegovy.
Programs that prescribe Saxenda
These programs in our chart prescribe Saxenda (with insurance coverage where applicable, or as a cash-pay option). Ranked by overall score.
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Saxenda vs other GLP-1s
Learn more about Saxenda
References
- SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes registration trial. New England Journal of Medicine, 2015.
- Saxenda FDA prescribing information (DailyMed).
Trial figures are mean results at the maximum dose in the cited registration trial. Real-world outcomes vary with adherence and clinical management.
Editorial disclosure
GLP Chart is an editorial comparison site. We do not dispense, prescribe or fulfill medications. Talk to a licensed clinician about whether Saxenda is appropriate for you. Pricing reflects publicly verified rates as of June 22; verify with the manufacturer or your prescriber before committing.
