Liraglutide, Injection (for Obesity)

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KEY POINTS

• This medicine is given by injection to manage weight in people who are obese or have health problems related to being overweight.
• This medicine may cause thyroid tumors or other unwanted side effects. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that are serious, continue, or get worse.
• Tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take.

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What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: GLP-1 receptor agonist

Generic and brand names: liraglutide, injection; Saxenda

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by injection (shots) along with diet and exercise to treat manage weight in people who have a BMI of 30 or higher, or a BMI of 27 with an illness related to weight, such as diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure. This medicine is not used to treat diabetes.

This medicine may be used to treat other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• An allergic reaction to any medicine
• Depression or thoughts of suicide
• Diabetes
• Gallstones
• Gastroparesis (slow stomach emptying) or problems digesting food
• High triglycerides
• Liver or kidney problems
• Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2) (tumors in more than 1 gland in your body)
• Pancreatitis
• Problems with alcohol abuse
• Thyroid problems, including thyroid cancer

Females of childbearing age: Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant. If you are pregnant, tell your healthcare provider. If you become pregnant, contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

Read the Medication Guide that comes in the medicine package when you start taking this medicine and each time you get a refill.

This medicine comes in a prefilled pen. Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Be sure you know when to take the medicine and how much medicine you should take. Carefully follow the instructions for using this medicine. If you are not sure how to use this medicine, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for help.

Check with your healthcare provider before using this medicine in children under age 18.

This medicine is injected once a day, with or without food. Talk with your healthcare provider for specific instructions. Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

Do not use this medicine if the liquid in the vial looks cloudy or has changed color.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than 3 doses, contact your healthcare provider. Your dose may need to be changed to avoid side effects.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, weakness, dizziness, confusion, flushing, irritability, hunger, fast heartbeat, sweating, tremors.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine caused thyroid tumors in rats and mice. It is not known if it causes thyroid tumors in people. While taking this medicine, if you develop a lump in the neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath, contact your healthcare provider right away.

Follow the diet and exercise program prescribed by your healthcare provider.

Alcohol may affect your response to medicine and food. Do not drink alcohol unless your healthcare provider approves.

If you have diabetes, you need to check your blood sugar before you start taking this medicine and while you take this medicine. Symptoms of low blood sugar include shaking, anxiety, cold sweats, irritability, fast heartbeat, feeling faint, strong hunger, vision problems, headache, nausea, slurred speech, confusion, unusual mood changes, tingling in the lips or tongue, and weakness. Treat the condition quickly by eating or drinking something with sugar in it such as candy, juice, or nondiet soda. Taking glucose tablets or gels (available in drug stores) is another quick way to treat hypoglycemia. Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can happen if you miss or delay meals, drink too much alcohol, use too much of this medicine or too much of your diabetes medicine, or exercise more than usual.

This medicine may increase your heart rate. It may also cause nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea leading to loss of fluids (dehydration). When you lose a lot of fluid, you need to drink more to replace what you have lost. Ask your healthcare provider how much liquid you should drink while taking this medicine.

You need regular checkups and blood tests to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments.

This medicine may make you dizzy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

If you need emergency care, surgery, lab tests, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help.): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (Report these to your healthcare provider right away.): Lump in the neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath; symptoms of hypoglycemia (shaking, anxiety, cold sweats, irritability, fast heartbeat, feeling faint, strong hunger, vision problems, headache, nausea, slurred speech, confusion, unusual mood changes, tingling in the lips or tongue, weakness); severe or constant nausea or vomiting; yellowing of your eyes or skin; severe stomach pain or diarrhea; light-colored bowel movements; fever; severe back pain; trouble passing urine or change in the amount of urine; fast or pounding heartbeat; severe dizziness; new or worsening depression or thoughts of suicide.

Other: Mild nausea, headache, mild diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite, tiredness, dizziness, injection site redness or rash.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• Diabetes medicines such as albiglutide (Tanzeum), chlorpropamide, dulaglutide (Trulicity), exenatide (Bydureon, Byetta), glimepiride (Amaryl), glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (Glynase), insulin, metformin (Fortamet, Glucophage, Riomet), pioglitazone (Actos), repaglinide (Prandin), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and tolbutamide
• Liraglutide (Saxenda, Victoza)

This medicine slows stomach emptying and can affect other medicines you take by mouth. Talk with your healthcare provider about this if you are taking any other medicines by mouth.

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Before you use the pen for the first time, you may store this medicine in the refrigerator. Do not let it freeze. If kept in the refrigerator, unused pens may be used until the expiration date on the label.

After the first use, you may store the injection pen in the refrigerator or at room temperature for up to 1 month. After 1 month, throw away the pen you have been using, even if it still has medicine in it.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicines in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.