Saxenda Special Precautions

To be used as prescribed by doctor only. If experience dizziness or fainting, please consult the doctor immediately.
Traceability: In order to improve the traceability of biological medicinal products, the name and the batch number of the administered product should be clearly recorded.
Patients with heart failure: There is no clinical experience in patients with congestive heart failure New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV, and liraglutide is therefore not recommended for use in these patients.
Special populations: The safety and efficacy of liraglutide for weight management have not been established in patients: aged 75 years or more, treated with other products for weight management, with obesity secondary to endocrinological or eating disorders or to treatment with medicinal products that may cause weight gain, with severe renal impairment, with severe hepatic impairment.
Use in these patients is not recommended (see Dosage & Administration).
As liraglutide for weight management was not investigated in subjects with mild or moderate hepatic impairment, it should be used with caution in these patients (see Dosage & Administration and PHARMACOLOGY: Pharmacokinetics under Actions).
There is limited experience in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and diabetic gastroparesis. Use of liraglutide is not recommended in these patients since it is associated with transient gastrointestinal adverse reactions, including nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Pancreatitis: Acute pancreatitis has been observed with the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists. Patients should be informed of the characteristic symptoms of acute pancreatitis. If pancreatitis is suspected, liraglutide should be discontinued; if acute pancreatitis is confirmed, liraglutide should not be restarted.
Cholelithiasis and cholecystitis: In clinical trials for weight management, a higher rate of cholelithiasis and cholecystitis was observed in patients treated with liraglutide than in patients on placebo. The fact that substantial weight loss can increase the risk of cholelithiasis and thereby cholecystitis only partially explained the higher rate with liraglutide. Cholelithiasis and cholecystitis may lead to hospitalisation and cholecystectomy. Patients should be informed of the characteristic symptoms of cholelithiasis and cholecystitis.
Thyroid disease: In clinical trials in type 2 diabetes, thyroid adverse events, such as goitre, have been reported in particular in patients with pre-existing thyroid disease. Liraglutide should therefore be used with caution in patients with thyroid disease.
Heart rate: An increase in heart rate was observed with liraglutide in clinical trials (see PHARMACOLOGY: Pharmacodynamics under Actions). Heart rate should be monitored at regular intervals consistent with usual clinical practice. Patients should be informed of the symptoms of increased heart rate (palpitations or feelings of a racing heartbeat while at rest). For patients who experience a clinically relevant sustained increase in resting heart rate, treatment with liraglutide should be discontinued.
Dehydration: Signs and symptoms of dehydration, including renal impairment and acute renal failure, have been reported in patients treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists. Patients treated with liraglutide should be advised of the potential risk of dehydration in relation to gastrointestinal side effects and take precautions to avoid fluid depletion.
Hypoglycaemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus receiving liraglutide in combination with insulin and/or sulfonylurea may have an increased risk of hypoglycaemia. The risk of hypoglycaemia may be lowered by a reduction in the dose of insulin and/or sulfonylurea.
Hyperglycaemia in insulin treated patients with diabetes mellitus: In patients with diabetes mellitus Saxenda must not be used as a substitute for insulin. Diabetic ketoacidosis has been reported in insulin-dependent patients after rapid discontinuation or dose reduction of insulin (see Dosage & Administration).
Excipients: Saxenda contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per dose, therefore the medicinal product is essentially 'sodium-free'.
Effects on ability to drive and use machines: Saxenda has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines. However, dizziness can be experienced mainly during the first 3 months of treatment with Saxenda. Driving or use of machines should be exercised with caution if dizziness occurs.
Use in Children: Episodes of clinically significant hypoglycaemia have been reported in adolescents (≥12 years) treated with liraglutide. Patients should be informed about the characteristic symptoms of hypoglycaemia and the appropriate actions.