Liraglutide (Saxenda / generic) maintenance: long-term use and stopping

Liraglutide (Saxenda / generic) is intended to be used alongside long-term changes to diet and physical activity. The “maintenance” phase usually means continuing on a dose that you tolerate and that is working, rather than increasing further.

The UK product information and NICE guidance include points at which treatment should be reviewed, for example if you have not lost enough weight after a set period on the maintenance dose. Your prescriber will use these to decide whether continuing is appropriate.

Studies in which participants stopped GLP-1-based treatment have generally found that weight tends to be regained over time. Stopping is a decision to make with your prescriber, who may suggest a plan for diet, activity and follow-up.