How is Nevolat different to Saxenda?

Liraglutide is an active ingredient found in different weight loss medicines like Nevolat and Saxenda. It is a GLP-1 medication which means it mimics your brain’s natural GLP-1 hormone. This helps you feel fuller for longer and have a reduced appetite.

It has also been used as a treatment for type 2 diabetes. This is because it can also lower your blood sugar. But the product that was licensed for this, Victoza, is no longer available.

Nevolat is a weight loss medication for people with a BMI of over 30. People who have a BMI of 27 and a weight-related medical condition like prediabetes, heart disease or sleep apnoea may also be eligible for it.

It is a daily treatment that must be used at the same time each day. You will be prescribed pen injectors. Each one contains 5 different doses: 0.6, 1.2, 1.8, 2.4 and 3.0mg which must be set using the pen’s dial. It is injected using a pen injector into either your thigh, tummy or upper arm. ¹

You start on the lowest dose and take it for 1 week before moving up to a higher dose. This is to allow your body to get used to the medication and reduce your chance of developing side effects. For the first 5 weeks of treatment, you increase your dose with the approval of your pharmacist or doctor. After this, you will continue to use the maximum dose of 3.0mg until you reach your target weight. You will then slowly ease off the medication with the support of a healthcare professional.¹

Saxenda is the branded version of liraglutide. A branded medicine is produced and patented by a specific company.

Like Nevolat, there are 5 doses of the medicine available. If you were prescribed it, you may need to increase the dose each week for 5 weeks to help you get used to the medicine.

However, due to shortages, Saxenda isn’t as readily available in the UK, unlike other medicines that contain liraglutide.

Nevolat is the generic version of Saxenda. Both medicines contain the same active ingredient, liraglutide. There are very few differences between the two medicines. Differences include the packaging, the inactive ingredients in the drug and the price. Inactive ingredients don’t have a therapeutic effect. This means that they won’t change the way that your weight management treatment works.

Because Nevolat is unbranded, it is cheaper than Saxenda.

Weight loss medications are a financial commitment. To achieve the best results, you may need to take your prescribed medication for several months. This means that you will need to purchase new doses of your treatment regularly to reach your goals.

If you’re unable to pay for weight loss medications, there are still ways for you to manage your weight without them. The NHS’s Better Health resources can help you with meal planning, workouts and making healthy lifestyle changes.

You should also speak to your GP about your options. Depending on your circumstances, some treatments may be available on the NHS. You may also qualify for weight loss surgery. Your doctor will let you know if they think it’s suitable for you. If you need help with talking about your weight loss options with them, here are some questions you can ask to start the conversation.

• How can you help me put together a weight management plan?
• How much weight do I need to lose?
• Does my BMI give me an accurate picture of my weight status? How else can or should it be measured?
• Would medicated weight loss be right for me, and is it available on the NHS?
• What other options would be suitable for me?
• What should I do if I can’t afford or can’t commit to the options you’ve suggested?
• How sustainable are the options you’ve suggested?
• Can I get help from other healthcare professionals like dieticians, physiotherapists or psychologists? Can I access their services for free?