Weight Loss Injections : An Overview of Saxenda, Byetta, and Victoza

Diet and exercise play a main role in achieving optimal weight. Sometimes the most efficient diet plans and exercise routines are ineffective. In this case, people resort to modern medicine to help them get in shape.

There are many drastic procedures nowadays other than surgery that can be helpful in losing weight. One such procedure is weight loss injection. There are also a few studies supporting their effectiveness.⁽¹⁾

It is important to note that the use of weight loss injections should always be discussed with a healthcare professional and should not be used as a substitute for a healthy diet and exercise regimen.

Many people find it difficult to maintain a moderate weight. The use of weight loss injections is approved by the Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and also by the Food and Drug Administration.^{(3, 4)}

There are a few weight loss injections available in the market such as Saxenda, Byetta, and Victoza. They mimic glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP1) that is released in the body after eating.⁽²⁾ These are quite effective for weight loss but not as common as the other weight loss methods.

1. Saxenda

   Saxenda is prescribed to overweight individuals to lose weight. It can be used in combination with reduced calorie intake and regular exercise for long-term weight management in adults and some children. It can also be given to those with weight-related comorbidities.

   Saxenda contains liraglutide as an active drug, which belongs to the GLP1 agonist. It comes in a form of prefilled injection. It is given under the skin, each once a day, with or without meals. It works by interacting with insulin and glucagon and reducing appetite and slowing down the emptying of the stomach contents.

   A person still needs to be on a calorie-deficit diet to keep the calorie intake under control.

   Side Effects of Saxenda

   Like other drugs, Saxenda may also cause mild to serious side effects, which may depend on the age, health condition, or medicine intake of an individual.

   The mild side effects of Saxenda include:

   • Belly pain
   • Upset stomach
   • Constipation
   • Vomiting
   • Diarrhea
   • Fever
   • Nausea
   • Headache
   • Bloating
   • Fatigue

   Serious side effects of Saxenda weight loss injection include:

   • Acute pancreatitis
   • Low blood sugar level
   • Suicidal thoughts
   • A heart rate that is faster than it is normally
   • Gall bladder disease
   • Allergic reaction

2. Byetta

   Byetta is a prescription medication for weight loss. It works by lowering the blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. It is not yet approved to be used for children.

   Byetta contains exenatide, a type of glucagon-like peptide 1 drug (GLP1).

   Just like Saxenda it also comes in the form of a fluid-filled injection. It can be injected before the two main meals such as breakfast and dinner.

   Sometimes metformin is also prescribed along with Byetta to help lower blood sugar levels. It is effective whether used alone or with any other blood sugar-lowering medication.

   A clinical study found Byetta to be effective when used on its own. There was a reduction in the HbA1c level after taking it for 24 weeks.⁽¹⁾ Another clinical study found a similar result when it was used with blood sugar-lowering medication.

   Side Effects of Byetta

   Byetta may lead to mild to serious side effects.

   Mild side effects include:

   • Nausea
   • Vomiting
   • Diarrhea
   • Dizziness
   • Feeling jittery
   • Headaches
   • Reduced appetite
   • Hypoglycemia
   • Constipation
   • Indigestion

   Serious side effects include:

   • Acute pancreatitis
   • Problem with kidney function
   • Low platelet count
   • Severe allergic reaction

3. Victoza

   Victoza is a prescription drug for diabetes with the added benefit of weight loss in both diabetic and non-diabetic individuals.

   It is an injection medication that needs to be taken once daily and can be injected into the upper arm, thigh, or stomach.

   When a person eats food containing carbohydrates, some of the sugar comes in contact with the inner lining of the small intestine. Glucagon-like peptide 1 is released which helps the pancreas to release a rapid burst of insulin and decrease other hormones that raise the blood sugar. It also slows down digestion and decreases appetite. Victoza works similarly to glucagon-like peptide 1 and helps with weight loss or diabetes.

   Side Effects of Victoza

   The common side effects of Victoza include:

   • Diarrhea
   • Nausea
   • Constipation
   • Loss of appetite
   • Headache
   • Hives
   • Low blood sugar
   • Vomiting
   • Upset stomach

   Severe side effects of Victoza include:

   • Pancreatitis
   • Kidney failure
   • Allergic reaction
   • Gall bladder disease
   • Excessively low blood sugar

   When the diet and exercise seem to not work, weight loss injection can play a part. These injections do work but their result can be temporary. As a person goes back to eating too much, sedentary lifestyle, much alcohol consumption, and lack of sleep schedule, there can be looking back to those extra kilos on the weighing machine. It is therefore important to keep up with the lifestyle changes made along with any of the intervention used for weight loss for a long-term result.