What You'll Get

What is Saxenda? Saxenda is a weight-loss treatment which can help adults to lose weight when used alongside a lower-calorie diet and exercise routine. If you have a BMI of 30 and above and are finding it difficult to lose weight and keep it off, Saxenda weight loss injections may be right for you. They help you to feel fuller, which may help you to eat less and reduce your calorie intake, which leads to losing weight and may help you to keep it off. How does the Liraglutide in Saxenda work for weight loss? The active ingredient in Saxenda is Liraglutide, a medication which is similar to a naturally occurring hormone in your body which is called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1). GLP-1 is created in your digestive system after you eat a meal and is a hormone which tells your body that you’re full and helps to regulate your hunger. By creating a similar effect to GLP-1, Liraglutide helps to reduce your appetite and makes you feel fuller, which may lead to you consuming fewer calories and therefore losing weight. When paired with a low-calorie diet and regular exercise, this treatment can help you to lose weight and keep it off. Can I use the weight loss pen? The Saxenda weight loss pen should only be used by adults over the age of 18 who have a BMI (body mass index) of 30 or more and fall into the obese weight category. It also may be used by adults who have a BMI between 27 and 30 who have weight-related health problems, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or obstructive sleep apnoea (a condition which causes breathing problems when you sleep). If you do not fall into either of these categories, this weight loss medication is not recommended for you and you should not attempt to use it for weight loss. If you’re unsure about your BMI, you can use our calculator below or the NHS’s BMI calculator, which will ask for your height, weight, and some other details so it can work out your BMI for you. Will I need to change my diet when I’m using these weight loss injections? You will need to follow a low-calorie diet and exercise more while taking Saxenda weight loss injections. Your prescriber will be able to provide a diet and exercise programme for you to use alongside your weight loss injections which will help you to get the most out of your treatment. This will not only work alongside your weight-loss treatment but will help you to make lifestyle changes and create good habits which will help you to maintain your weight loss when you eventually end your treatment. Do weight loss injections work? Yes, Saxenda works for weight loss when it’s used correctly. However, this doesn’t mean that you’ll lose weight if you take liraglutide injections but don’t make any other lifestyle changes. The treatment needs to be used alongside a low-calorie diet and regular exercise to be at its best, it won’t do all the weight loss work for you, but it can make your dietary changes feel easier. How much weight can you lose on Saxenda? The amount of weight you can lose when you’re taking Saxenda will depend on your own personal circumstances. For starters, your starting weight will play a part in the amount of weight you could potentially lose, as well as your current diet and exercise plan. When you start to take liraglutide, your prescriber will take down your starting weight and use that to monitor your progress during the first 12 weeks of treatment. If you have increased your daily dose to 3mg of liraglutide but have not lost at least 5% of your body weight during this time, these injections probably aren’t the right weight-loss treatment for you. With this in mind, you can determine that if this treatment does work for you, you will usually lose at least 5% of your starting weight within 12 weeks of increasing to a maximum daily dose of 3mg a day. If you’re concerned about the amount of weight you’re losing while taking this medication, you should speak to your prescriber, doctor or pharmacist and ask for their advice. Can I use weight loss medication if I’m pregnant or breastfeeding? You should not use the Saxenda pen if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. This treatment can affect your baby, so if you are already taking this product you should speak to your doctor or prescriber about stopping your treatment before you try to become pregnant. It is not currently known whether the ingredients in this product can pass into your breastmilk, which is why you should not use it while breastfeeding as it could cause a risk to your baby. Can I take the Liraglutide injection if I’m taking other medication? If you’re taking any other medications you should speak to your prescriber before taking Liraglutide injections, as your medications may not be suitable to use together and this could result in unwanted effects. This especially applies if you are already taking: Diabetes medications called sulfonylurea, e.g. glimepiride, glibenclamide Insulin, as you may get low blood sugar when using these two treatments together Warfarin or any other blood thinners (also known as anticoagulants), which are used to prevent blood clotting Can I use Saxenda if I have diabetes? You should tell your prescriber that you have diabetes before using Saxenda for the first time. You may be able to use this product to aid with weight loss, but your prescriber may need to adjust the dose of your diabetes medications. As these injections affect your blood sugar levels, your medications will need to be carefully managed to keep your blood sugar from getting too low. If your prescriber does agree that Saxenda is right for you, you should be careful not to mix up your injected medications and make sure that you do not use this product at the same time as GLP-1 receptor agonists, including exenatide and lixisenatide. Are Saxenda and Victoza the same thing? Victoza is a treatment for type 2 diabetes which uses the same active ingredient as Saxenda, which is Liraglutide. In patients with diabetes, it’s used to lower blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of heart attacks or stroke in those who also have heart disease. However, you should not attempt to use Saxenda for anything other than weight loss or use Victoza for anything other than type 2 diabetes treatment. Always follow the dosage instructions for your own medications carefully and do not try to change them without consulting with a medical professional. If you’re at all concerned that you may have diabetes, you should speak to your prescriber right away so they can make any necessary assessments and provide treatment as needed. Can I drive after using Saxenda injections? The Saxenda jab usually won’t affect your ability to drive or use any tools or machinery. However, you may experience dizziness during the first 3 months of your treatment, which could affect your concentration. If this happens to you, or if you experience any other symptoms which could affect your driving, you should not attempt to drive until you’re sure the symptoms have passed and you are safe to do so. How to use Saxenda for weight loss When you receive your Saxenda pen it will come with an official instruction pack to teach you how to use this treatment in detail. However, we’re also going to tell you what you’d need to do to take this medication so you can make an informed decision about your healthcare treatment. You take Saxenda by using the pen it comes in to inject a dose once a day. You can inject your dose at any time of day, with or without food, so you can choose when you’ll get the most out of this treatment. To inject, you’ll need to follow these steps: Step 1 - Check the solution in the pen is clear, do not use the pen if the solution is cloudy. Carefully open a new NovoTwist needle and insert it into the pen, turning it until you hear a click to lock it into place, then remove the needle cap and keep it for later, you can throw away the inner needle cap Step 2 - If you’re using a new pen, check the flow by turning the dose selector until it shows the flow check symbol. Hold the pen with the needle pointing up and press and hold the dose button until the counter returns to 0. If the pen is working properly, you should see a drop of solution at the end of the needle, if not, try again up to 6 times. If the pen still isn’t working, use a new one Step 3 - Turn the dose selector until the counter shows the dose you need (for example 0.6 for a 0.6mg dose) Step 4 - Insert the needle into your skin, making sure that you can see the dose counter clearly. Press and hold down the dose button until the counter shows 0, then keep the needle in your skin and slowly count to 6 before removing the needle Step 5 - Use the outer needle cap to safely unscrew the needle from the pen and dispose of it carefully. Put the pen cap back on the pen to protect the solution from light between uses Where are the injection sites for this product? The best places to inject Saxenda are the front of your waist, the front of your thighs, or your upper arm. You should not inject the solution into a vein or muscle, the treatment is designed to be injected under the skin and nowhere else. If you’re unsure where you should inject this product, ask your prescriber to show you in more detail. What is the usual dose of Saxenda? Your daily dose of Saxenda will increase over 5 weeks, with each dose injected once a day and no more. You should follow the dosage instructions given to you by your prescriber, but the usual amounts you will use will be as follows: Week Daily Dose Week 1 0.6>mg once a day Week 2 1.2mg once a day Week 3 1.8mg once a day Week 4 2.4mg once a day Week 5 3mg once a day How many pens will I need to complete my dose? When you're beginning to take Saxenda, the number of pens you will need to complete your dose will depend on the amount of medication you're taking every day. Does this product come with needles and a sharps container? Yes, when you order Saxenda from us it can include NovoTwist needles, a sharps bin, and an official Saxenda instruction guide. During your consultation you will be asked if you want these add-ons, so make sure the options are ticked to claim yours. These add ons are free to those who order 3 or more Saxenda pens, but their cost will be added to your order total if you order 2 or fewer. If you ask for them, you will receive 21 NovoTwist needles for each pen ordered, but we’d recommend contacting us as soon as you’ve placed your order and before it’s dispatched if you think you may need more needles. If our healthcare team agrees that you’ll need more, we’ll be able to adjust your order as necessary. What are NovoTwist needles? NovoTwist needles are unique twist-on needles designed to be changed with just a twist and a click. They work with Saxenda pens as well as Novo Nordisk diabetes pen devices to make changing your needles easier than ever. Simply twist the cartridge into place on the pen until you hear a click, remove the safety cap and use your pen, then put the safety cap back on and twist the needle off again so it can be thrown away safely. NovoTwist uses 32G 5mm needles, which are incredibly thin, and their SuperFlow technology enhances flow rates and reduces dosage force. The cap has a flat base which helps to improve skin contact and comfort, which is important for those who need to use needles regularly to administer their medication and make their comfort a priority. How should I dispose of my sharps bin? Rising Dawn Aesthetics@redmayne lodge can dispose of this . Please arrange a date with the practitioner. When should this product not be used? Saxenda is not suitable for use in children under the age of 18 or adults over the age of 75. Do not use this product if you are allergic to liraglutide or any of the other listed ingredients. Do not ever share your Saxenda pen with someone else, even if you have changed the needle in the pen. Sharing a pen can lead to serious infections or the transmission of serious illnesses. Do not use this product if you have: Severe heart failure A severe stomach or gut problem which causes delayed stomach emptying, which is also known as gastroparesis Inflammatory bowel disease Speak to your prescriber before using this product if you: Have kidney problems or are on dialysis Have liver problems Have diabetes. You should not use Saxenda as a replacement for insulin Experience severe pain in your upper abdomen, especially on the right side under the ribs. If you lose a lot of weight you will be at risk of gallstones and an inflamed gallbladder Have thyroid disease, including thyroid nodules and enlargement of the thyroid gland Have palpitations or feel your heart racing while at rest when you’re taking this product Experience dehydration as this treatment can cause you to lose bodily fluids Does Saxenda have any side effects? Like all medications, Saxenda injections can have side effects, although not everyone will experience them. If you experience any of the following serious side effects while taking liraglutide you should seek immediate medical assistance: Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, e.g. difficulty breathing or swallowing, swelling of the face, mouth, tongue, or throat, a fast heartbeat Symptoms of pancreatitis, e.g. severe and persistent pain in the stomach which may reach your back, feeling or being sick Other common side effects you may experience include: Feeling sick, being sick, diarrhoea or constipation - these will usually go away within a few days or weeks Stomach and intestinal problems, e.g. indigestion, inflammation of the stomach lining, stomach discomfort, upper stomach pain, heartburn, bloating, wind, belching, dry mouth Feeling weak or tired Changes to your sense of taste Feeling dizzy Difficulty sleeping, insomnia Gallstones Reactions in the area where you’ve injected the needle, e.g. bruising, irritation, itching, rash Low blood sugar, causing symptoms such as a cold sweat, cool pale skin, headaches, fast heartbeat, feeling sick, feeling very hungry, changes in your vision, feeling sleepy, weakness, nervousness, feeling anxious, feeling confused, difficulty concentrating, shaking Increase in pancreatic enzymes, e.g. lipase, amylase For a full list of potential side effects of this product, please see the patient information leaflet included with your medication. If you experience these or any other side effects you should speak to your prescriber, doctor or pharmacist right away. For more information about reporting the side effects of medication, please see the MHRA’s Yellow Card Scheme. Does stopping Saxenda cause any side effects? There are currently no known side effects of stopping Saxenda weight loss injections. However, you should only stop taking this treatment if you have been told to do so by your prescriber, doctor, or pharmacist. They will help you to prepare for stopping your treatment in the most effective way possible. Do I need a prescription for Saxenda? You do need a prescription for Saxenda in the UK. Our healthcare professionals can provide prescriptions if they think this treatment would be right for you and your condition. How long will delivery take? If our independent prescribing pharmacists prescribe Saxenda for you after your consultation, they’ll send your prescription to our pharmacy team so we can send it to you quickly. The packaging will also include a cold pack which will keep your Saxenda pens refrigerated until they arrive at your door. How to store this product Before using each Saxenda pen for the first time you should store it in the refrigerator at a temperature between 2 - 8 degrees C. Do not freeze. Once you start using the pen you can keep it for 1 month, storing it at temperatures below 30 degrees C. You can continue to store the pen in the refrigerator if you’d like to. When you’re not using your pen, put the pen cap on to protect it from light. Do not use this product if the expiry date printed on the original packaging has passed. Keep out of sight and reach of children. When you’ve finished using your pen or if 1 month has passed since its first use, dispose of it safely, using sharps boxes for needles where necessary. If you’re unsure of how to dispose of this product safely, speak to your pharmacist and ask their advice. Pharmacists can dispose of any unused medication safely and responsibly too. Important information This product is a medicine; make sure to speak to your prescriber, before taking this product if you have an underlying medical problem or are taking any other medicine or complementary therapy. If your symptoms get worse or continue after taking this product, contact us or your doctor. For medical services in your area, please refer to https://www.nhs.uk If you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, speak to your doctor or our prescribers or pharmacists before taking this product. If you suffer from any allergies, ask your prescriber, doctor or our pharmacist if this medicine is right for you. Store all medicines out of sight and reach of children. If you are concerned about addiction to 'over the counter' medication, we urge you to visit the below links for professional help and advice: NHS Help & Advice on Drug Addiction Talk To Frank - Drug Addiction Help & Support

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Located within the Redmayne Lodge complimentary therapy centre, Yorkshire Floatation Centre operates two floatation rooms and an infrared sauna. Sessions are designed to help clients unwind with sensory deprivation and heat-based treatments, with the centre also offering the likes of colonic hydrotherapy, reflexology, Swedish massage and more.

Telephone: 01904 501500
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