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Saxenda · Dosage

Saxenda dosage

The label titration for Saxenda, step by step: increase by 0.6 mg each week; the label says to stop if you haven't lost at least 4% of body weight after 16 weeks on treatment.

Clinician review pending Updated
Start
0.6 mg
1 week
Steps
5
on the label
Maintenance
3 mg once daily
Max
3 mg once daily

Dosage chart

DoseFastest label timingLabel note
0.6 mgWeek 1Week 1.
1.2 mgWeek 2Week 2.
1.8 mgWeek 3Week 3.
2.4 mgWeek 4Week 4.
3 mgWeek 5 onwardMaintenance dose from week 5.

The fastest timing assumes every increase happens as soon as the label allows. Prescribers often hold a dose longer; that's common and on-label.

Changing your dose day

Take it once a day at any time, independent of meals.

Explainer · 0:22

START LOW 2.5 mg weeks 1 to 4 Not a maintenance dose it's there to let your stomach adjust STEP UP SLOWLY 2.557.51012.515 mg each step: 4+ weeks SIDE EFFECTS FOLLOW THE STEPS +2.5 mg+2.5 mg+2.5 mg+2.5 mg flare, then settle how often nausea is reported IT'S OK TO HOLD 7.5 mg · held on-label, common 0:22 · voiced · captions on
GLP-1 doses start low. Zepbound starts at 2.5 mg, a starter dose that gives your gut time to adjust.
0:00 / 0:22
Why GLP-1 doses go up slowly
Read the transcript
  1. GLP-1 doses start low. Zepbound starts at 2.5 mg, a starter dose that gives your gut time to adjust.
  2. After at least 4 weeks, your prescriber may step it up by 2.5 mg, up to a maintenance dose of 5, 10 or 15 mg.
  3. Stomach side effects like nausea often flare for a few days after each increase, then settle on the same dose.
  4. Staying on a dose longer is common and allowed by the label. Never increase faster than your prescription says.

Common questions

What dose does Saxenda start at?

0.6 mg, 1 week. It's a starter dose; the label doesn't use it as a maintenance dose.

How fast does the Saxenda dose go up?

Increase by 0.6 mg each week; the label says to stop if you haven't lost at least 4% of body weight after 16 weeks on treatment.

What is the maximum Saxenda dose?

3 mg once daily.

Can I stay on a lower dose of Saxenda?

Yes, if your prescriber agrees. The label allows maintenance at 3 mg once daily.

Sources

  1. Saxenda prescribing information (FDA label on DailyMed)
  2. SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes trial publication

Clinician review pending. Drafted from primary sources and waiting for sign-off by a licensed clinician (MD, DO or PharmD) before launch. Every number is checked against its source. Drug facts are re-checked quarterly, prices monthly and whenever a label changes. How we review · Report an error