SAXENDA

[les121]

Hi..has anyone had success getting Saxenda...after going 5 stone over 3 years I am desperate to try..but not only was my Gp ignorant of my explanation its not due to overeating...which he replied he hears this all the time!...he also claimed never heard of Saxenda either...so annoying always getting nowhere..feel like noone is helping at all.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Looking at previous posts your TSH was way too high 6 months ago at over 30 and ferritin deficient at 16

Have you retested thyroid and all four vitamins

Until thyroid is well managed weight gain is likely

Aiming for TSH around 1 (or likely less on NDT)

All four vitamins need to be optimal

Please add latest results

Get full thyroid and vitamin testing privately via Medichecks or Blue horizon if GP won’t

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

On T3 or NDT - day before test split daily dose into 3 smaller doses, spread through the day at approx 8 hour intervals, taking last 1/3rd dose 8-12 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

[Sparklingsunshine]

Hi

It's a weight loss drug I think its a pen you inject weekly, and helps curb appetite. I think its only recently been approved and may not be widely available on the NHS. It's supposed to be very effective. You might need to wait before it's prescribed.

[Sparklingsunshine]

Hi

Sorry its a daily injection I think, I think its available privately but not be on the NHS yet.

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

Hi

From the NHS

Liraglutide (also called Saxenda) is a weight loss medicine that works by making you feel fuller and less hungry. It's taken as an injection once a day. Your doctor or nurse will show you how to take it.

You can usually only take liraglutide if it's prescribed for you by a specialist weight management service. A doctor might recommend that you take it if:

diet and exercise changes have not worked on their own

orlistat has not worked or you cannot take it

you do not want to have weight loss surgery

You'll need to continue with a diet and exercise plan while taking liraglutide.

Before prescribing liraglutide, your doctor will talk you through its benefits and limitations, including any side effects you might get.

[radd]

les121,

I hadn't heard of Saxenda so googled it and their website states under serious side effects ......

'Possible thyroid tumors, including cancer. Tell your health care professional if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. These may be symptoms of thyroid cancer. In studies with rats and mice, Saxenda® and medicines that work like Saxenda® caused thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer. It is not known if Saxenda® will cause thyroid tumors or a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in people'.

saxenda.com/about-saxenda/s...

What thyroid meds are you taking, how much and do you have recents blood results to share? You previously looked under medicated.

[Hidden]

If you are on Facebook, there is a group (members only) where they discuss the pros and cons of Saxenda. You would probably get a lot of useful feedback there. Common side effects are nausea, constipation and heartburn. They often seem to subside over time. You start with a low dose and work your way up over several weeks. One problem is the cost; around $500 per month. In some countries, you can get your health insurance provider to cover it if your BMI is over 30; in other countries, patients have to pay for it out of their own pockets. I know some alternative doctors in the US prescribe it for obese thyroid patients who are leptin resistant (as Saxenda lowers that). As long as you have not had thyroid cancer, you are not at greater risk of developing thyroid cancer simply because you have hypothyroidism.