Liraglutide (Saxenda) for Weight Loss in Illinois
Liraglutide is a daily GLP-1 injection and an earlier generation of the weekly medications. Saxenda is the liraglutide brand approved for weight management.
Important safety information. This page is general education, not medical advice. Only a licensed clinician who knows your history can decide whether a medication is right for you. Do not start, stop or change a prescription without talking to your clinician. If you have severe abdominal pain, trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, or thoughts of harming yourself, seek emergency care or call 988.
What It Is
Saxenda is a once-daily injection that mimics GLP-1 to reduce appetite and increase fullness.
FDA-Approved Uses
Saxenda is approved, with diet and exercise, for long-term weight management in adults with obesity or overweight with a weight-related condition, and in patients 12 and older who weigh more than 60 kg with obesity.
How It Is Taken
Dosing starts at 0.6 mg daily and increases by 0.6 mg each week to a 3 mg daily dose, as tolerated.
What to Expect
In the SCALE trial, adults lost an average of about 8% of body weight at 56 weeks, compared with about 2.6% on placebo. Weight loss is generally less than with semaglutide or tirzepatide.
Common Side Effects
Nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, injection-site reactions, headache and decreased appetite.
Serious Warnings
The label carries a boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumors. Other warnings include pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, faster heart rate, low blood sugar with diabetes medicines, kidney injury from dehydration, and mood changes or suicidal thoughts. Do not combine it with other GLP-1 medicines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why choose a daily injection over a weekly one?
Some people prefer it for cost, availability or tolerability reasons. Your clinician can discuss the tradeoffs.
Can I take it with other GLP-1 medicines?
No. Using more than one GLP-1 medicine at the same time is not recommended.
How TeleSlim Clinic Can Help
A TeleSlim Clinic physician can review your health history and goals by secure video visit and discuss whether prescription weight loss treatment is appropriate for you. Prescribing is always at the clinician's discretion, and not every medication is right for every person. See our Cost & Insurance guides and Illinois locations.
Cost & Insurance guides
TeleSlim Clinic visits are self-pay, and we do not bill insurance for our own services. We do handle prior authorization for your medication, provide a superbill you can submit to your insurance for possible reimbursement, and send your medication and lab orders to the pharmacy or lab you choose, where your insurance can be used. We do not see patients with Medicare.
- Weight Loss Medication Cost in Illinois
- Insurance and Weight Loss Medication in Illinois
- Illinois Medicaid and Weight Loss Medication
- TeleSlim Clinic Pricing and Plans
- HSA and FSA for Weight Loss Treatment
- Cash-Pay vs. Insurance for Weight Loss Treatment
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois and Weight Loss Medication
- Illinois State Employee Plan and Weight Loss Medication
- When Your Employer Plan Excludes Weight Loss Drugs
- Prior Authorization and Appeals for Weight Loss Medication
- Self-Pay Weight Loss Medication and Compounded Drugs
- What to Ask Your Insurance About Weight Loss Medication
Medications & Decision Guides
Learn about the prescription options and how to choose:
Weight Loss Guides by Health Condition
- PCOS and Weight Loss
- Prediabetes and Weight Loss
- Menopause Weight Gain
- Weight Regain After Bariatric Surgery
- Sleep Apnea and Weight Loss Medication
- Blood Pressure and Heart Health
- Fatty Liver and Weight Loss
- Hypothyroidism and Weight Loss
- Antidepressants and Weight
- Binge and Emotional Eating
- Weight Loss After 50
More in This Library
- Semaglutide (Wegovy)
- Tirzepatide (Zepbound)
- Phentermine-Topiramate (Qsymia)
- Naltrexone-Bupropion (Contrave)
- Setmelanotide (Imcivree)
- Orlistat (Xenical, alli)
Cost, Coverage and Illinois Care
- Weight Loss Medication Cost in Illinois
- Does Insurance Cover Weight Loss Medication?
- Illinois Medicaid and Weight Loss Medication
- TeleSlim Clinic Pricing and Plans
- HSA/FSA and Weight Loss Medication
- Cash Pay vs Insurance
TeleSlim Clinic serves patients across Illinois, including Naperville, Aurora, Joliet, Evanston, Peoria, Springfield, Champaign, Schaumburg, Oak Lawn. See all Illinois locations.
Start Your Weight Loss Journey
Free visit available — book your free visit.
If you are considering bariatric surgery, learn about surgical options with Dr. Jihad Kudsi at DoctorKudsi.com (https://www.doctorkudsi.com).
Sources: FDA prescribing information for Saxenda (liraglutide); SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes trial, New England Journal of Medicine 2015.
This page is general information, not medical advice. Prescribing information changes; confirm current details with your clinician or pharmacist. Last updated: October 7, 2026.