How to take Saxenda

Wash with soap and water. Check the name and coloured label so you know you have Saxenda, pull off the pen cap, and look through the window: the liquid should be clear and colourless. If it looks cloudy, the Instructions for Use say not to use the pen.

Tear the paper tab off a new needle, push it straight onto the pen and turn until tight. Pull off the outer cap and keep it; pull off the inner cap and throw it away. The label says to use a new needle for every injection — reusing one risks contamination, infection, leakage and a blocked needle.

Before your first injection from each new pen, turn the dose selector to the flow check symbol, hold the pen with the needle pointing up, and press the dose button until the counter shows 0. A drop should appear at the tip. If your pen is already in use, skip this step.

Turn the dose selector until the counter shows your dose — 0.6, 1.2, 1.8, 2.4 or 3 mg. The Instructions for Use say to read the dose counter and pointer, not to count the clicks and not to use the pen scale.

Wipe the site with an alcohol swab and let it dry. Insert the needle the way your prescriber showed you, then press and hold the dose button until the counter shows 0. Do not cover the dose counter with your fingers — that can stop the injection.

Keep the needle in your skin for a slow count of 6 after the counter reaches 0. Take it out earlier and you may see a stream of Saxenda at the needle tip, which means the full dose was not delivered. If blood appears, press lightly with cotton wool or gauze — do not rub.

Carefully remove the needle without putting the caps back on, and put it straight into a sharps container. Put the pen cap on to protect Saxenda from light, and store the pen with no needle attached.