This article was first published on: G&L Surgical Clinic. 

The Saxenda pen is an exciting new weight loss drug, liraglutide which has been approved by the Health Sciences Authority in Singapore. It is prescribed as an injectable drug under the skin, similar to that of insulin injections. It was developed initially to treat diabetes and was later discovered to be able to manage both blood sugar and appetite centres within the brain to treat obesity!

The Saxenda Pen is a special injectable device prefilled with the liraglutide drug. The drug behaves like a hormone in the body that helps to regulate your appetite. When injected, you do not feel so hungry, and your tummy begins to feel satisfied with eating less.  Unlike other drugs, this ‘smart drug’ only activates when there are food intake and absorption into the blood. It does not work when there is no food intake, unlike other drugs that cause hypoglycemia. This hypoglycemia effect is not present in liraglutide. However, the amount of drug that is used should be slowly increased to avoid the side effects. Liraglutide can cause effects such as giddiness, nausea and abdominal discomfort if the dose is not slowly titrated upwards.

While the drug may seem like an easy weight-loss method, it does not replace the fundamentals of weight management – diet and exercise. It is meant to complement your overall weight loss regime, especially in adults who are morbidly obese. Our doctor and team of health professionals will be able to advise you on the right dosage of Saxenda Pen. Furthermore, they will provide you with a appropriate diet and exercise plan that you can follow. 

Saxenda is an independent weight loss procedure that is legal in Singapore. Should you have queries on the drug, please contact us. We will be pleased to advise you.

The Saxenda weight loss injection is approved in Singapore for use in adults with the following body mass index (BMI) and health conditions:

You can calculate your BMI using our online calculator.

You must use a new needle each time you take the injection. You are not allowed to share the Saxenda Pen with anyone as it can cause the spread of infections. This will be risky for your health. When unsure, always seek a doctor’s advice.