Your Patients Need Saxenda — And Your Help Finding It

You've assessed the patient, determined that Saxenda (Liraglutide 3.0 mg) is clinically appropriate, written the prescription, and initiated prior authorization. But for too many patients, that's where the journey stalls. They call their pharmacy only to hear that Saxenda is out of stock, on backorder, or unavailable.

While the Saxenda supply situation has improved markedly in 2026, pharmacy-level access gaps persist. As a provider, you're uniquely positioned to help patients overcome these barriers — not by calling pharmacies yourself, but by building systems and workflows that make the process smoother for everyone.

This guide outlines the current availability picture, why patients still struggle, five concrete steps your practice can take, alternatives to consider, and workflow tips to reduce access friction.

Current Saxenda Availability in 2026

The supply landscape for liraglutide has improved substantially since the peak shortage of 2023-2024:

• Brand Saxenda (Novo Nordisk): Generally available per ASHP. Novo Nordisk has expanded manufacturing capacity
• Generic Liraglutide (Teva): Launched August 2025. WAC of approximately $1,165/month — the first generic GLP-1 for weight loss
• Generic Liraglutide (Meitheal): Available since April 2025
• More generics expected: Additional manufacturers eligible to enter market after February 24, 2026

Despite these improvements, patients may still encounter availability issues at specific pharmacies due to high local demand, distribution variability, or pharmacy ordering patterns. The challenge has shifted from a true national shortage to a pharmacy-level access problem — which is actually easier to solve with the right tools.

Why Patients Still Can't Find Saxenda

Even with improved supply, several factors contribute to ongoing patient frustration:

Pharmacy Ordering and Stocking Patterns

Many pharmacies order based on historical demand. If a pharmacy hasn't regularly stocked Saxenda, they may not keep it in their standard inventory. Patients may need to ask the pharmacy to place a special order, which can take 1-3 business days.

Chain vs. Independent Distribution

Large chain pharmacies receive supply allocations from centralized distribution centers, while independent pharmacies often have more flexibility to source from multiple wholesalers. This means independent pharmacies may have Saxenda in stock when chains don't — and vice versa.

Generic Awareness Gap

Many patients (and some pharmacies) are not yet aware that generic Liraglutide is available. A prescription written for "Saxenda" may not prompt a pharmacist to check generic stock unless the prescription allows substitution.

Insurance and Cost Barriers

Some patients find a pharmacy with stock but can't afford the copay — or discover their insurance requires prior authorization that hasn't been completed. These cost and coverage barriers can feel like availability issues to the patient. For guidance on helping patients navigate costs, see: How to help patients save money on Saxenda.

5 Steps Providers Can Take to Help Patients Find Saxenda

Step 1: Direct Patients to Medfinder

Medfinder allows patients (and care teams) to check which pharmacies near them have Saxenda or generic Liraglutide in stock. Instead of sending patients off with a prescription and hoping for the best, provide them with this resource at the point of prescribing.

Consider adding Medfinder to your patient handouts or after-visit instructions for weight management prescriptions. This one step can dramatically reduce the number of frustrated patient callbacks.

Step 2: Write Prescriptions That Allow Generic Substitution

Unless there's a specific clinical reason to require brand Saxenda, ensure your prescription allows generic substitution. This gives pharmacies the flexibility to dispense generic Liraglutide (from Teva or Meitheal), which may be in stock when brand is not.

On your prescription, avoid checking "dispense as written" or "DAW" unless clinically necessary. Writing for "liraglutide injection 3 mg" rather than "Saxenda" can also prompt pharmacies to check generic options first.

Step 3: Initiate Prior Authorization Early

PA delays are one of the biggest reasons patients can't access Saxenda even when it's in stock. Best practices include:

• Submit PA at the time of prescribing, not after the patient reaches the pharmacy
• Include complete clinical documentation: BMI, comorbidities, previous weight management attempts, and rationale for GLP-1 therapy
• Use electronic PA (ePA) tools when available to reduce processing time
• Assign a dedicated staff member to manage PA workflows for weight management medications

Step 4: Build Relationships with Local Pharmacies

Identifying 2-3 pharmacies in your area that reliably stock Saxenda or generic Liraglutide creates a smoother pathway for patients. Consider:

• Contacting local independent pharmacies to understand their ordering capabilities
• Identifying specialty pharmacies that focus on injectable medications
• Maintaining a running list of pharmacies with reliable GLP-1 supply to share with patients
• Using Medfinder to periodically check availability patterns in your area

Step 5: Have a Clear Alternative Plan

Not every patient will be able to access liraglutide, whether due to availability, cost, or insurance coverage. Having a clear decision tree for alternatives reduces delays:

• If injectable GLP-1 preferred: Wegovy (Semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly) or Zepbound (Tirzepatide weekly)
• If oral preferred or injectables not covered: Contrave (Naltrexone/Bupropion) or Qsymia (Phentermine/Topiramate)
• If cost is primary barrier: Qsymia ($150-$250/month) or Phentermine monotherapy as a short-term bridge

Discuss potential alternatives proactively during the initial visit, so patients aren't left without a plan if their first-choice medication isn't available.

Alternatives to Saxenda at a Glance

Here's a quick reference for common alternatives:

• Wegovy (Semaglutide 2.4 mg): Once-weekly GLP-1 RA. ~15% average weight loss. $1,300–$1,700/month cash price. May also face supply variability
• Zepbound (Tirzepatide): Once-weekly dual GIP/GLP-1 RA. >20% average weight loss in trials. $1,000–$1,100/month. Eli Lilly offers savings programs
• Contrave (Naltrexone/Bupropion): Oral BID. ~5-8% average weight loss. $300–$600/month. Different mechanism; may be better for patients with cravings or reward-driven eating
• Qsymia (Phentermine/Topiramate): Oral daily. ~8-10% average weight loss. $150–$250/month. Phentermine is Schedule IV. Contraindicated in pregnancy (topiramate teratogenicity)

For a detailed comparison, refer patients to: Alternatives to Saxenda if you can't fill your prescription.

Workflow Tips for Your Practice

Incorporating medication access into your clinical workflow can prevent many common access issues:

At the Point of Prescribing

• Check Medfinder or have staff check availability before the patient leaves
• Initiate PA immediately with complete documentation
• Enroll eligible patients in the NovoCare Savings Card or PAP
• Provide a printed or digital handout with pharmacy search instructions

Follow-Up Protocol

• Follow up within one week to confirm the patient was able to fill the prescription
• If the patient couldn't fill, escalate to the alternative plan or assist with pharmacy identification
• Track PA outcomes to identify payer patterns and adjust documentation accordingly

Patient Education Materials

• Create a one-page handout covering: dose escalation schedule, injection technique basics, what to do if pharmacy is out of stock, and links to savings resources
• Include links to relevant Medfinder resources: What is Saxenda, Saxenda side effects, and How to save money on Saxenda

Final Thoughts

The Saxenda access landscape in 2026 is the best it's been in years, but the last mile — getting the medication from a pharmacy shelf into the patient's hands — still requires intentional effort. Providers who build medication access into their prescribing workflow will see better treatment adherence, fewer patient callbacks, and improved outcomes.

Tools like Medfinder make it easier to bridge the gap between prescription and fill. By combining proactive pharmacy identification, timely PA management, and clear alternative plans, your practice can ensure that patients who need Saxenda actually get it.