Guide to Saxenda and Trulicity in Singapore

Saxenda (Liraglutide)

What is Saxenda and How Does It Work?

Saxenda (Liraglutide) is a GLP-1 RA, just like Ozempic. It works by imitating the GLP-1 hormone (which regulates hunger) to help control one’s appetite and make one feel full. This means that one may eat fewer calories as a result, thereby losing weight. Saxenda should be taken alongside a calorie-reduced diet and increased physical activity.

Unlike Ozempic, however, Saxenda is taken as a once-daily injection subcutaneously (beneath the skin). It can be injected into the abdomen, thigh or upper arm, and a different site should be used for each injection.

What are Possible Side Effects of Saxenda?

The most common side effect of the Saxenda injection is nausea. To alleviate this, consider consuming lower-fat foods and avoid lying down immediately after eating. Patients will normally start from a low dose in order to reduce these side effects.

Other possible side effects include constipation, which can usually be fixed with adequate hydration, and diarrhoea, which usually resolves after a few days and does not require medication.

Trulicity (Dulaglutide)

What is Trulicity and How Does It Work?

Trulicity (Dulaglutide) is another GLP-1 RA injectable medication that improves blood sugar in suitable patients with type 2 diabetes. At the same time, it can slow down the speed through which food travels from one’s stomach to the intestines, which has the effect of appetite regulation and digestion.

Trulicity is administered as a once-weekly injection under the skin (subcutaneous injection), ideally on the same day and time each week. The possible injection sites are the abdomen, thigh or upper arm. Be sure to rotate injection sites with each use.

What are Possible Side Effects of Trulicity?

The most common side effect of Trulicity is nausea. To alleviate this, patients should consider splitting their main meals into more frequent, smaller ones, avoiding oily foods, and stop eating once they feel full.

Patients may also experience decreased appetite, diarrhoea, indigestion, and fatigue. To reduce these side effects, patients will normally start from a low dose before slowly increasing it over time.