Weight Management

**Medical Disclaimer

Saxenda ®

Saxenda ® is a prescription medicine that is unfunded - a prescription charge and doctor’s fees will apply. Saxenda ® is indicated as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for weight management in adult patients with an initial Body Mass Index of ≥30 kg/m2 (obese) or ≥27 kg/m2 to < 30 kg/m2 (overweight) in the presence of at least one weight related comorbidity, such as dysglycaemia (pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus), hypertension, dyslipidaemia or obstructive sleep apnoea. Saxenda ® contains liraglutide (rys) 6 mg/mL. Saxenda ® has risks and benefits. Ask your doctor if Saxenda ® is right for you. Use strictly as directed. If you experience side effects, see your doctor, pharmacist or healthcare professional. Very common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, headache. Please refer to the Saxenda ® Consumer Medicine Information available at [www.medsafe.govt.nz](http://www.medsafe.govt.nz), in your Saxenda ® pack or access this online atwww\.novonordisk.co.nz/content/dam/ nncorp/nz/en/pdfs/leaflets/Saxenda ® cmi.pdf before taking your medication. Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals Ltd., G.S.T. 53 960 898.PO Box 51268 Pakuranga, Auckland, New Zealand. NovoCare. Customer Care Centre (NZ) 0800 733 737, novonordisk.co.nz PP1258.

Wegovy ®

Wegovy® (semaglutide) injection 2.4 mg is an injectable prescription medicine used with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity, to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as death, heart attack, or stroke in adults with known heart disease and with either obesity or overweight and that may help adults and children aged 12 years and older with obesity, or some adults with overweight who also have weight-related medical problems, to help them lose excess body weight and keep the weight off. Wegovy® is a prescription medication. Ask your doctor if Wegovy® is is right for you. Use strictly as directed. If you experience side effects, see your doctor, pharmacist or healthcare professional.You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit [www.fda.gov/medwatch](http://www.fda.gov/medwatch), or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Wegovy® FlexTouch® (semaglutide solution for injection). Available in the following dose forms: 0.25 mg (0.68 mg/mL), 0.5 mg (1.34 mg/mL), 1.0 mg (1.34 mg/mL), 1.7 mg (2.27 mg/mL) and 2.4 mg (3.2 mg/mL). Indication: As an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management (including weight loss and weight maintenance) in adult patients with an initial Body Mass Index (BMI) of ≥30 kg/m2 (obesity) or ≥27 kg/m2 to < 30 kg/m2 (overweight) in the presence of at least one weight-related comorbidity; in adolescents ages 12 years and above with initial obesity\* and body weight above 60 kg (\* obesity (BMI ≥95th percentile) as defined on sex- and age-specific BMI growth charts (CDC.gov) – refer to full datasheet); as an adjunct to standard of care therapy to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction or non-fatal stroke) in adults with established cardiovascular disease, with a BMI ≥27 kg/m2, and without established Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Treatment with Wegovy® should be re-evaluated and discontinued if adolescent patients have not reduced their BMI by at least 5% after 12 weeks on the 2.4 mg or maximum tolerated dose. Dosage and administration: Administered subcutaneously once weekly at any time of day, with or without meals; starting dose 0.25 mg; increase to a maintenance dose of 2.4 mg over a 16-week period at 4 weekly intervals. In case of significant gastrointestinal symptoms, consider delaying dose escalation until symptoms have improved. If patients do not tolerate the 2.4 mg dose, the dose can be decreased to 1.7 mg weekly. Patients should re-escalate to the 2.4 mg dose if tolerated. Doses higher than 2.4 mg are not recommended. Must not be administered intravenously or intramuscularly. Contraindications\:Hypersensitivity to semaglutide or any of its excipients. Warnings and precautions: Consider the risk of aspiration during general anaesthesia or deep sedation; dehydration in relation to gastrointestinal side effects in patients with impaired renal function may cause deterioration in renal function; there have been postmarketing reports of acute kidney injury and worsening of chronic renal failure. Inform patients of the characteristic symptoms of acute pancreatitis, and discontinue if suspected; do not restart if confirmed. Exercise caution in patients with a history of pancreatitis. Not studied in patients: treated with other products for weight management; with Type 1 diabetes; with congestive heart failure New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV. Limited experience in patients: aged 85 years or more; with inflammatory bowel disease; with diabetic gastroparesis; with severe renal impairment; with severe hepatic impairment. Must not be used as a substitute for insulin. Should not be used in combination with other GLP-1 products. Treatment in combination with a sulfonylurea or insulin may have an increased risk of hypoglycaemia. The addition of Wegovy® in patients treated with insulin has not been evaluated. Patients with a history of diabetic retinopathy should be monitored for worsening. Not recommended for patients with uncontrolled or unstable diabetic retinopathy. When initiating treatment of semaglutide in patients treated with warfarin or other coumarin derivatives, frequent monitoring of INR is recommended. Pregnancy Category D. Not for use during pregnancy or breast-feeding. Interactions: Semaglutide delays gastric emptying, use with caution in patients receiving oral medicinal products that require rapid gastrointestinal absorption. Undesirable effects: Very Common (≥10%): nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal pain, headache, fatigue. Common (≥1 to <10%): gastritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, dyspepsia, eructation, flatulence, abdominal distension, dry mouth, dizziness, dysgeusia, dysaesthesia, cholelithiasis, hair loss, injection site reactions; in patients with Type 2 diabetes: hypoglycaemia, diabetic retinopathy. (April 2025)

Contrave®

Contrave® is an unfunded Prescription Medicine. CONTRAVE 8/90 (naltrexone hydrochloride and bupropion hydrochloride extended release tablets). CONTRAVE is indicated, as an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, for the management of weight in adult patients (≥18 years) with an initial Body Mass Index (BMI) of ≥ 30 kg/m2 (obese), or ≥ 27 kg/m2 to < 30 kg/m2 (overweight) in the presence of one or more weight-related comorbidities (e.g., type 2 diabetes, dyslipidaemia, or controlled hypertension). Contrave has risks and benefits. Do not use in uncontrolled high blood pressure, a seizure disorder or a history of seizures, a tumour in the central nervous system, a history of bipolar disorder, patients currently dependent on chronic opioids or opiate agonists e.g. methadone or patients in acute opiate withdrawal, current or previous diagnosis of bulimia or anorexia, Pregnancy, concomitant administration of a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, severe liver or kidney disease. Precautions are possible thoughts of suicide, in controlled high blood pressure, concomitant administration with medicines that affect serotonin levels, possible likelihood of seizure and driving and operating machinery, history of mania or depression. Common side effects are nausea or vomiting, dizziness, dry mouth, constipation, headache. Ask your doctor if Contrave is right for you. Use strictly as directed. If symptoms persist or you have side effects, see your doctor. You will have to pay for this medicine as it is not funded on the Pharmaceutical Schedule. Normal doctor’s fees and pharmacy charges apply. Refer to the Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) at [https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/consumers/cmi/c/contrave890.pdf](https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/consumers/cmi/c/contrave890.pdf) for more detailed information. ©2025 Radiant Health, an iNova Pharmaceuticals company. Contrave is a registered trademark of iNova Pharmaceuticals. Distributed in New Zealand by Radiant Health Ltd, c/- Supply Chain Solutions, 74 Westney Road, Airport Oaks, Auckland. For all product enquiries: New Zealand Toll Free: 0508 375 394. TAPS NA 22069. NZ-2024-12-0013. Prepared January 2025.