Saxenda (liraglutide) is a prescription drug used to help with weight loss and weight management in adults and certain children. This drug can interact with other medications and some supplements. For example, Saxenda can interact with certain antidepressants.
An interaction can occur because one substance causes another substance to have a different effect than expected. Interactions can also occur if you have certain health conditions.
Before you start Saxenda treatment, tell your doctor and pharmacist about any prescription, over-the-counter, or other drugs you take. Sharing this information with them may help prevent possible interactions. (To learn whether Saxenda interacts with herbs or vitamins and supplements, see the “Are there other interactions with Saxenda?” section.)
If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
The table below lists drugs that may interact with Saxenda. Keep in mind that this table does not include all drugs that may interact with Saxenda. For more information about some of these interactions, see the “Drug interactions explained” section.
| Drug group or drug name | Drug examples | What can happen |
|---|---|---|
| other GLP-1 agonists | • exenatide (Byetta, Bydureon) • liraglutide (Victoza) • semaglutide (Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy) | can increase the risk of side effects from Saxenda and other GLP-1 agonists |
| certain antidepressants | • fluoxetine (Prozac) • phenelzine (Nardil) | can increase the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) |
| certain blood pressure medications | • enalapril (Vasotec) • lisinopril (Zestril) • losartan (Cozaar) | can increase the risk of hypoglycemia |
| sulfonylureas (a group of diabetes medications) | • glimepiride (Amaryl) • glipizide (Glucotrol XL) • glyburide (Diabeta, Glynase) | can increase the risk of hypoglycemia |
| insulins | • insulin detemir (Levemir) • insulin glargine (Basaglar, Lantus, Toujeo) • insulin lispro (Admelog, Humalog, Lyumjev) | can increase the risk of hypoglycemia |
| clarithromycin | — | can increase the risk of hypoglycemia |
| chloroquine | — | can increase the risk of hypoglycemia |
Certain health conditions or other factors could raise your risk of harm if you take Saxenda. In such cases, your doctor may not prescribe Saxenda for you. These are known as contraindications. The list below includes contraindications of Saxenda.
If you have a higher risk of thyroid cancer: If you have an increased risk of thyroid cancer due to certain conditions, your doctor likely won’t prescribe Saxenda for you. This is because Saxenda has a boxed warning for the risk of thyroid cancer. For more information, see the “Boxed warning” section.
If you’re pregnant: If you’re pregnant, your doctor likely won’t prescribe Saxenda for you. That’s because Saxenda helps with weight loss, and losing weight during pregnancy can harm a fetus. If you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy, talk with your doctor about how to safely manage your weight.
If you’ve had an allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Saxenda or any of its ingredients, your doctor likely won’t prescribe Saxenda for you. This is because using the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask your doctor about other treatments that may be better options for you.
Before you start Saxenda treatment, talk with your doctor if any of the factors above apply to you. Your doctor can determine whether Saxenda is safe for you to take.
Saxenda is not known to interact with alcohol. But Saxenda and alcohol can cause some similar side effects, such as:
- nausea
- diarrhea
- upset stomach
- headache
- dizziness
- hypoglycemia
If you drink alcohol, you may be more likely to experience these side effects if you drink it during your Saxenda treatment. Drinking large amounts of alcohol can also cause dehydration, which can raise your risk of kidney problems with Saxenda.
If you have questions about consuming alcohol during your Saxenda treatment, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Learn more about certain drug interactions that can occur with Saxenda.
Interaction with certain antidepressants
Saxenda can interact with certain antidepressants, which are used to treat depression and anxiety disorders.
Examples of antidepressants that may interact with Saxenda include:
- fluoxetine (Prozac)
- phenelzine (Nardil)
What could happen
Saxenda can cause hypoglycemia. Combining Saxenda with certain antidepressants may increase your risk of this side effect.
If you have type 2 diabetes and take insulin or a sulfonylurea drug, you may have a higher risk of hypoglycemia if you take Saxenda with these antidepressants. Examples of sulfonylurea drugs include glipizide (Glucotrol XL) and glimepiride (Amaryl).
Saxenda also causes your stomach to empty more slowly. So it can cause oral medications, such as antidepressants, to stay in your stomach for longer than usual. This could change how your body absorbs these medications, which can alter their effects.
What you can do
If you take an antidepressant, talk with your doctor before starting Saxenda treatment. They can recommend whether it’s safe to take Saxenda with your antidepressant.
If you take Saxenda with an antidepressant, your doctor may monitor your treatment more closely. Tell your doctor if you notice any changes in how your antidepressant affects you after starting Saxenda treatment.
If you take certain antidepressants, your doctor may recommend watching for symptoms of hypoglycemia. These may include:
- shaking
- dizziness
- headache
- irritability
- sweating
Talk with your doctor about what to do if you experience these symptoms during your Saxenda treatment. If your symptoms seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.
If you have questions about using Saxenda with an antidepressant, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Interaction with certain blood pressure medications
Saxenda can interact with certain blood pressure medications, which are used to treat high blood pressure and certain heart conditions. In particular, Saxenda can interact with ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers.
Examples of blood pressure medications that can interact with Saxenda include:
- enalapril (Vasotec)
- lisinopril (Zestril)
- losartan (Cozaar)
What could happen
Saxenda can cause hypoglycemia. Combining Saxenda with certain blood pressure medications can raise your risk of this side effect.
If you have type 2 diabetes and take insulin or sulfonylurea drugs, you may have a higher risk of hypoglycemia if you take Saxenda with these blood pressure medications. Examples of sulfonylurea drugs include glipizide (Glucotrol XL) and glimepiride (Amaryl).
Saxenda also causes your stomach to empty more slowly. So it can cause oral medications, including blood pressure medications, to stay in your stomach for longer than usual. This could change how your body absorbs these medications, and it could alter their effects.
What you can do
If you take a blood pressure medication, talk with your doctor before starting Saxenda treatment. Your doctor can determine whether Saxenda is safe to combine with your blood pressure medication.
If you take Saxenda and certain blood pressure medications together, your doctor may monitor your blood pressure more closely during your treatment.
If you take certain blood pressure medications, your doctor may recommend watching for symptoms of hypoglycemia. These may include:
- shaking
- dizziness
- headache
- irritability
- sweating
Talk with your doctor about what to do if you experience these symptoms during your Saxenda treatment. If your symptoms seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.
If you have questions about using Saxenda with blood pressure medications, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Interaction with other GLP-1 agonists
Saxenda belongs to a group of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. Some of these drugs are used to help manage blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. And some are used to help with weight loss and long-term weight management.
Examples of GLP-1 agonist medications include:
What could happen
Saxenda and other GLP-1 agonists work in the same way in your body and can cause similar side effects. Combining Saxenda with another GLP-1 agonist can increase the risk of side effects from both drugs. Examples include:
- nausea
- constipation
- diarrhea
- indigestion
- hypoglycemia
What you can do
If you already take a GLP-1 agonist, your doctor likely won’t prescribe Saxenda for you. You can talk with them about other treatment options that may be better options for you.
Saxenda may have other interactions. They could occur with supplements, foods, vaccines, or lab tests. See below for details. Note that this information does not include all other possible interactions with Saxenda.
Does Saxenda interact with supplements?
You should not take weight loss supplements during your Saxenda treatment. Saxenda hasn’t been studied with weight loss supplements. It’s not known whether it’s safe or effective to combine Saxenda with these products.
In addition, Saxenda may cause hypoglycemia in some people. Using Saxenda with certain supplements may increase your risk of this side effect. These supplements include:
- DHEA
- garlic
- green tea
Before you start Saxenda treatment, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about any herbs or vitamins and supplements you take. Sharing this information with them may help you avoid possible interactions.
If you have questions about interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Saxenda interactions with herbs
There are currently no reports of Saxenda interacting with herbs. But this doesn’t mean that interactions with herbs won’t be recognized in the future.
For this reason, it’s still important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products with Saxenda.
Saxenda interactions with vitamins and minerals
There are currently no reports of Saxenda interacting with vitamins. However, Saxenda may interact with the mineral chromium, which is sometimes used to help manage blood sugar levels. Chromium may be included in some multivitamin and mineral products.
Saxenda and chromium can both cause hypoglycemia. Combining Saxenda with chromium may increase your risk of this side effect.
It’s important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any vitamin and mineral products with Saxenda.
Does Saxenda interact with food?
Saxenda can interact with green tea, which some people use to help with weight management. Drinking green tea may increase your risk of having hypoglycemia with Saxenda. Talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe for you to drink green tea while using Saxenda.
If you have questions about consuming other foods or drinks during your Saxenda treatment, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Does Saxenda interact with vaccines or lab tests?
There are currently no reports of Saxenda interacting with vaccines or lab tests. If you have questions about receiving certain vaccines or having lab tests during your Saxenda treatment, talk with your doctor.
Does Saxenda interact with cannabis or CBD?There are currently no reports of Saxenda interacting with cannabis (commonly called marijuana) or cannabis products such as cannabidiol (CBD). But as with any drug or supplement, talk with your doctor before using cannabis with Saxenda.
Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.
Certain medical conditions or other health factors may raise the risk of interactions with Saxenda. Before using Saxenda, talk with your doctor about your health history. They’ll determine whether Saxenda is right for you.
Health conditions or other factors that might interact with Saxenda include:
Increased risk of thyroid cancer: If you have a higher risk of thyroid cancer due to certain conditions, your doctor will likely not prescribe Saxenda for you. Saxenda has a boxed warning for the risk of thyroid cancer. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. For more information, see the “Boxed warning” section.
Type 2 diabetes: Saxenda can sometimes cause hypoglycemia. If you have type 2 diabetes and take insulin or certain other diabetes drugs, you may have a higher risk of this side effect. If you have type 2 diabetes, talk with your doctor about whether Saxenda is the right treatment option for you.
Slow stomach emptying: Saxenda slows the emptying of your stomach. If you have a condition called gastroparesis, which also causes slow stomach emptying, it’s not known whether Saxenda is safe for you. Talk with your doctor about this before using Saxenda.
History of pancreatitis: In rare cases, Saxenda may cause pancreatitis. If you’ve had pancreatitis before, it’s not known whether you may have a higher risk of this side effect with Saxenda. Talk with your doctor about whether Saxenda is safe for you.
Kidney problems: Saxenda can cause kidney problems in some people. If you already have a kidney problem, Saxenda could make it worse. Talk with your doctor about whether this medication is right for you.
Liver problems: Saxenda hasn’t been studied in many people with liver problems. If you have a liver problem, talk with your doctor about whether Saxenda is a safe treatment option.
Pregnancy: Saxenda is not safe to use during pregnancy. For more information, see the “When should I avoid Saxenda?” section.
Breastfeeding: It’s not known whether it’s safe to use Saxenda while breastfeeding. The drug passes into breast milk, but it isn’t known whether the drug may cause side effects in a child who is breastfed. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor about your options.
Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Saxenda or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Saxenda. This is because using the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask your doctor about other treatments that may be better options for you.
Suicidal thoughts or behaviors: Rare cases of suicidal thoughts or behaviors have been reported with Saxenda. If you have a history of suicidal thoughts or behaviors, your doctor will likely not prescribe Saxenda for you. And if you’ve had mental health conditions (such as depression) before, talk with your doctor about whether Saxenda is right for you.
Help is out there
If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:
- Call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
- Text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741.
- Not in the United States? Find a helpline in your country with Befrienders Worldwide.
- Call 911 or your local emergency services number if you feel safe to do so.
If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.
If you are not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.
Find answers to some frequently asked questions about Saxenda and possible interactions.
Can you take Saxenda and phentermine together?
No, you should not use Saxenda and phentermine (Adipex-P, Lomaira) together. Saxenda and phentermine are both weight loss drugs. Saxenda hasn’t been studied with other weight loss drugs, and it’s not known whether it’s safe to combine these drugs.
Saxenda and phentermine can both increase your heart rate. Using them together could raise your risk of this side effect, or have an increased effect on your heart rate. This could be dangerous, especially if you have a heart problem or high blood pressure.
If you take any weight loss medications, be sure to tell your doctor before using Saxenda.
Can I drink coffee while using Saxenda?
Yes, you can likely drink coffee during your Saxenda treatment. But it’s important to note that Saxenda can cause nausea and heartburn. It may also increase your heart rate. Some people may find that drinking coffee makes these side effects worse.
If drinking coffee worsens any side effects you have with Saxenda, it may be best to avoid coffee or limit the amount you drink.
If you have other questions about drinking coffee with Saxenda, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Can you take Saxenda and citalopram together?
Yes, it’s generally considered safe to use Saxenda and citalopram (Celexa) together. Saxenda hasn’t been reported to interact with this antidepressant.
However, Saxenda causes your stomach to empty more slowly. Because of this, it can cause oral medications, such as tablets, capsules, or liquids, to stay in your stomach for longer than usual. This could change how your body absorbs these medications, which could alter their effects.
If you take Saxenda with citalopram, your doctor may monitor your citalopram treatment more closely. Tell your doctor if you notice any change in how citalopram affects you after you begin using Saxenda.
Can you take Saxenda and omeprazole together?
Yes, it’s generally considered safe to use Saxenda and omeprazole (Prilosec) together. Omeprazole is used to reduce stomach acid and treat conditions such as heartburn. Saxenda hasn’t been reported to interact with omeprazole.
However, Saxenda causes your stomach to empty more slowly. So it can cause certain oral medications, such as tablets, capsules, or liquids, to stay in your stomach for longer than usual. This could change how your body absorbs these medications, which could alter their effects.
If you use Saxenda with omeprazole, your doctor may monitor your omeprazole treatment more closely. Tell your doctor if you notice any change in how omeprazole affects you after starting Saxenda treatment.
Taking certain steps can help you avoid interactions with Saxenda. Before starting treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Things to discuss with them include:
- whether you drink alcohol or use cannabis
- other medications you take, as well as any vitamins, supplements, and herbs (they can also help you fill out a
medication list ) - what to do if you start taking a new drug during your Saxenda treatment
It’s also important to understand Saxenda’s
If you have trouble reading or understanding this information, your doctor or pharmacist can help.
Using Saxenda exactly as prescribed can also help prevent interactions.
Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.