Big news: a FOURTH new weight management drug has just been approved, called liraglutide (brand name Saxenda). The active ingredient is the same as that in the diabetes drug Victoza. Its a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, and is taken as a once a day injection. As with ALL weight management medication, Saxenda is NEVER to be used to REPLACE healthy diet, exercise, and behavioral strategies, it is used to help SUPPORT those strategies, as an adjunctive (add-on, supportive) treatment for those who need help to achieve a healthier weight. It is not recommended for certain people - those with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), or in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2. 4,800 patients have been studied in three clinical trials, with these results: Results from a clinical trial that enrolled patients without diabetes showed that patients had an average weight loss of 4.5 percent from baseline compared to treatment with a placebo (inactive pill) at one year. In this trial, 62 percent of patients treated with Saxenda lost at least 5 percent of their body weight compared with 34 percent of patients treated with placebo. Results from another clinical trial that enrolled patients with type 2 diabetes showed that patients had an average weight loss of 3.7 percent from baseline compared to treatment with placebo at one year. In this trial, 49 percent of patients treated with Saxenda lost at least 5 percent of their body weight compared with 16 percent of patients treated with placebo...Serious side effects reported in patients treated with Saxenda include pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, renal impairment, and suicidal thoughts. Saxenda can also raise heart rate and should be discontinued in patients who experience a sustained increase in resting heart rate. In clinical trials, the most common side effects observed in patients treated with Saxenda were nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), and decreased appetite. fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm427913.htm
Posted on: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 23:00:26 +0000
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