Key Takeaways:
- Every pre-filled 3 mL Saxenda pen holds 18 mg of liraglutide (6 mg/mL)—so how many days a pen lasts depends entirely on your current daily milligram step.
- On the standard 5-week escalation schedule (+0.6 mg every 7 days), your very first pen lasts 17 days, and a starter box of 5 pens lasts 46 days.
- Once you reach the 3.0 mg daily maintenance dose, 1 pen lasts exactly 6 days and a 5-pen box provides a neat 30-day monthly supply.
- Once opened, a pen stays stable for up to 30 days stored below 86°F (30°C) or in the refrigerator (36°F–46°F)—never freeze.
Starter Titration Supply Schedule (Weeks 1–7)
Stepping up by 0.6 mg every 7 days lets your digestive system adapt smoothly. Because each pen contains 18 mg total, here is how far a 5-pen starter pack stretches:
| Cumulative Pens Used | Titration Steps Covered | Total Days of Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Pen (18 mg) | 7d × 0.6 mg + 7d × 1.2 mg + 3d × 1.8 mg | 17 days |
| 2 Pens (36 mg) | Remaining 4d × 1.8 mg + 7d × 2.4 mg | 28 days (4 full weeks) |
| 3 Pens (54 mg) | First 6 days of 3.0 mg maintenance | 34 days |
| 4 Pens (72 mg) | Next 6 days of 3.0 mg maintenance | 40 days |
| 5 Pens (90 mg) | Next 6 days of 3.0 mg maintenance | 46 days |
3.0 mg Maintenance Supply Math & Delaying Escalation
At full 3.0 mg daily maintenance (18 mg ÷ 3.0 mg = 6 doses): 1 pen = 6 days, 3 pens = 18 days, and 5 pens = 30 days. If temporary nausea leads your clinician to keep you at a lower step (such as 1.8 mg or 2.4 mg) for an extra week before moving up, your pens will naturally last several extra days—just discard any single in-use pen 30 days after first opening.
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