Saxenda Before and After: Real Timelines and the Trial Numbers
In SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes, people on liraglutide 3.0 mg daily lost 7.4% of their body weight on average over 56 weeks, against 3% on placebo.
- Average loss, top dose
- 7.4%
- On placebo
- 3%
- Trial length
- 56 weeks
- Trial
- SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes
A quick Saxenda overview
Saxenda has a half-life of about 13 hours. After 13 h, half is gone, and after five half-lives (2.7 d), about 3% remains.
For SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes, 56 weeks, the body weight change was 7.4%, compared with 3% on placebo.
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed).
Saxenda before and after: the numbers first
| Trial | Dose group | Average weight lost | Placebo or comparison | Weeks | Who was in it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes | Liraglutide 3.0 mg daily | 7.4% | 3% | 56 | Adults who were overweight or obese, and none of them had type 2 diabetes |
Taken from SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes (FDA label (DailyMed)).
Saxenda before and after: the numbers first
The 7.4% average from that trial was calculated for three different starting weights. This is arithmetic, not a guess about what any single person will lose. Some lose more, while others lose less.
| Starting weight | Average loss on liraglutide 3.0 mg daily | Average loss on placebo |
|---|---|---|
| 180 lb | about 13 lb | about 5 lb |
| 220 lb | about 16 lb | about 7 lb |
| 260 lb | about 19 lb | about 8 lb |
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed).
Week by week
- During the first weeks, stomach side effects occur most often when the dose remains low and is being increased. After every dose increase, they often return for a few days.
- The SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes trial ended at Week 56, when the average loss stated above was measured.
The sources are health.clevelandclinic.org and PubMed.
Why does progress stall, and what helps?
- Look at which dose step you are on. Every trial above shows less weight loss at lower doses.
- During the past month, count any doses you missed or took late.
- Write down what you eat and drink for a few days. Liquid calories and grazing build up when portion sizes get smaller.
- Ask your prescriber about a thyroid test, or about a blood sugar test. If progress has stalled for months, also talk about changing medicines.