Saxenda: How to Use The Injection

Step 1: Check your needle.

·        Wash your hands with soap and water.

·        Check the name and coloured label of the pen to make sure that it contains Saxenda.

·        Pull off the pen cap.

·        Check that Saxenda in your pen is clear and colourless. Look through the pen window.

If Saxenda looks cloudy, do not use the pen.

Step 2: Prepare your pen with a new needle.

·        Take a new needle, and tear off the paper tab.

·        Push the needle straight onto the pen. Turn until it is on tight.

·        Pull off the outer needle cap. Do not throw it away.

·        Pull off the inner needle cap and throw it away.

·        A drop of Saxenda may appear at the needle tip. This is normal, but you must still check the Saxenda flow, if you use a new pen for the first time.

Step 3: Check the Saxenda flow with each new pen.

·        Check the Saxenda flow before your first injection with each new pen. If your Saxenda pen is already in use, go to Step 4 “Select your dose”.

·        Turn the dose selector until the dose counter shows the flow check symbol.

·        Hold the pen with the needle pointing up. Press and hold in the dose button until the dose counter shows 0. The 0 must line up with the dose pointer.

·        A drop of Saxenda will appear at the needle tip.

·        If no drop appears, repeat Step 3  up to 6 times.

·        If there is still no drop, change the needle and repeat Step 3, 1 more time.

·        Do not use the pen if a drop of Saxenda still does not appear.

Step 4: Select your dose.

·        Turn the dose selector until the dose counter shows your dose (0.6 mg, 1.2 mg, 1.8 mg, 2.4 mg or 3 mg).

·        Make sure you know the dose of Saxenda you should use. If you select the wrong dose, you can turn the dose selector forward or backwards to the correct dose.

How much Saxenda is left?

The pen scale shows you about how much Saxenda is left in your pen.

·        To see how much Saxenda is left, use the dose counter: Turn the dose selector until the dose counter stops. If it shows 3, at least 3 mg are left in your pen. If the dose counter stops before 3 mg, there is not enough Saxenda left for a full dose of 3 mg.

Step 5: Inject your dose

·        Wipe the injection site with an alcohol swab.

·        Insert the needle into your skin at one of the injection sites.

·         Make sure you can see the dose counter. Do not cover it with your fingers. This could stop the injection.

·        Press and hold down the dose button until the dose counter shows 0. The 0 must line up with the dose pointer. You may then hear or feel a click.

·        Keep the needle in your skin after the dose counter has returned to 0 and count slowly to 6.

·        If the needle is removed earlier, you may see a stream of Saxenda coming from the needle tip. If this happens, the full dose will not be delivered.

·        Remove the needle from your skin. If blood appears at the injection site, press lightly. Do not rub the area.

How to identify a blocked or damaged needle?

·        If 0 does not appear in the dose counter after continuously pressing the dose button, you may have used a blocked or damaged needle.

·        If this happens you have not received any Saxenda even though the dose counter has moved from the original dose that you have set.

How to handle a blocked needle? 

·        Change the needle as described in Step 6, and repeat all steps starting with Step 1: “check your needle”.

·        Make sure you select the full dose you need.

·        Never touch the dose counter when you inject. This can stop the injection.

Step 6: After your injection.

·        Carefully remove the needle from the pen. Do not put the needle caps back on the needle, to avoid needle sticks.

·        Place the needle in a sharps container right away to reduce the risk of needle sticks.

·        Put the pen cap on your pen after each use to protect Saxenda from light.

·        If you do not have a sharps container, follow a 1-handed needle recapping method. Carefully slip the needle into the outer needle cap. Dispose of the needle in a sharps container as soon as possible.