Saxenda vs Wegovy

Saxenda and Wegovy are both glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. This means they mimic the hormone GLP-1 by binding to the same receptors in your body. They are prescription-only medications that are injected to help suppress appetite and aid in weight loss. Both medications should be used alongside a healthy diet and regular exercise.

Saxenda is long-term out of stock. Instead, Nevolat, a generic liraglutide weight loss injection, is available.

The key differences between Saxenda and Wegovy include the active ingredients, dosage, and effectiveness. Both medications are GLP-1 receptor agonists, but they contain different active ingredients. Saxenda contains liraglutide, and Wegovy contains semaglutide.

Both medications are given as injections. Saxenda is taken once daily, with a starting dose of 0.6mg, increasing to a maintenance dose of 3mg after 5 weeks. Wegovy is a once-weekly injection, starting at 0.25mg and increasing to a maintenance dose of 7.2mg.

Here are the main differences outlined in a table:

Saxenda and Wegovy work by acting on areas of your brain that control and regulate your appetite. They mimic the GLP-1 hormone that is naturally produced by the body, which causes your body to:

• feel fuller
• slow down stomach emptying
• increase insulin being released and insulin sensitivity, which in turn helps to control blood sugar levels

By having these effects, both medications help to regulate your appetite, making you feel fuller for longer, which makes it easier to lose weight.

Both medications also help control your blood sugar levels, which can aid in weight loss by regulating blood sugar spikes and preventing excess fat storage, while promoting fat burning. However, they are only licensed for weight loss medication and not as a diabetes treatment. Ozempic is a semaglutide medication created for type 2 diabetes, and is available in a different dosage schedule.

Wegovy works for longer than Saxenda, being active in the body for 165 hours. Saxenda is active for 13 to 15 hours. That’s why Wegovy only needs to be taken once a week, while Saxenda needs to be taken every day to remain effective.

Wegovy is administered by injection. It is taken once a week on the same day with or without food. The starting dose for Wegovy is 0.25mg and increases every 4 weeks up to the 7.2mg maximum maintenance dose. The standard Wegovy dosing schedule looks like:

Saxenda is taken once a day, starting at a dose of 0.6mg and increasing every week until you reach the full maximum maintenance dose of 3mg. The standard dosing schedule for Saxenda is as follows:

Although both follow increasing dosage schedules, you can go at your own pace if you need longer to adjust to the treatment, such as if you get side effects. You can also stay at a lower maintenance dose if you prefer. You should speak to your doctor for more information on this.

Both Saxenda and Wegovy are effective medications, especially when used alongside a healthy, reduced-calorie diet and lifestyle. Overall, studies show that Wegovy works better for weight loss than Saxenda, as after 72 weeks, there was an average weight loss of 21% on Wegovy. An average weight loss of 8.0% on Saxenda was seen after 56 weeks.

A study comparing the 2 medications found that people are more likely to stop taking Saxenda than Wegovy. 13.5% of people stop taking Wegovy compared to 27.6% for Saxenda.

When taking Wegovy, almost 91% of people taking the maintenance dose of 7.2mg lost at least 5% of their starting body weight after 72 weeks. 63.5% of people taking the 3mg maintenance dose of Saxenda for 56 weeks lost at least 5% of their starting body weight.

Like all medications, both semaglutide and liraglutide can lead to you experiencing some side effects. Most side effects are mild and will lessen as your body adjusts to the medication. Side effects may get temporarily worse when you increase your dose.

Semaglutide (Wegovy) side effects

Common side effects include:

• feeling sick (nausea)
• diarrhoea
• being sick (vomiting)
• constipation
• stomach pain
• headache
• dizziness
• feeling bloated
• tiredness
• upset stomach
• gas
• heartburn
• burping
• low blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes
• runny nose or sore throat
• stomach flu

Uncommon side effects include:

• inflammation of the pancreas
• gallbladder problems, including gallstones
• dehydration leading to kidney problems
• severe stomach problems
• change in vision
• increased heart rate

Rare side effects include:

• serious allergic reaction – symptoms include difficulty breathing, dizziness, and swelling in the face and throat

A serious allergic reaction is a medical emergency, and someone must call 999 straight away.

Liraglutide (Saxenda) side effects

Common side effects include:

• feeling sick (nausea)
• diarrhoea
• constipation
• bloating
• being sick (vomiting)
• injection site irritation
• low blood sugar
• headache
• burping
• tiredness
• dizziness
• stomach pain
• decreased energy levels
• change in enzyme levels
• gastrointestinal discomfort or pain
• acid reflux

Uncommon side effects include:

• dehydration
• pancreatitis
• kidney impairment
• rapid heart rate
• inflamed gallbladder
• rashes
• severe stomach problems

Rare side effects include:

• severe allergic reaction – symptoms include difficulty breathing, dizziness, and swelling in the face and throat

A severe allergic reaction is a medical emergency, so someone must call 999 straight away if you get these symptoms.

The price of both medications will vary depending on which dose you are on and where you purchase them.

Asda Online Doctor offers Wegovy as a 4-week supply. Saxenda is currently not available as it is long-term out of stock for all prescribing services. However, Asda Online Doctor offers a generic version of Saxenda, called Nevolat, which works in the same way. Nevolat can be bought in 3 or 5 packs.

When you get weight loss medication with us, prices include free doctor support through messages in your patient account, and a range of weight loss resources to help you get the most from your weight loss journey.

Wegovy and Nevolat are also available on the NHS for free if you meet the criteria and do not pay for your prescriptions. In most cases, the cost of Wegovy or Nevolat on the NHS is £9.90 per item.

There are a number of weight loss medications available in the UK that you can try if Saxenda or Wegovy is not right for you. There are also tablet alternatives available for people who do not want to take regular injections.

Nevolat

Nevolat is a liraglutide injection that is an alternative to Saxenda, as Saxenda is currently out of stock. It works in the same way.

Mounjaro

Mounjaro contains the active ingredient tirzepatide and is another well-known weight loss medication. It is also a GLP-1 medication, so works in the same way as Wegovy and Saxenda. It also mimics a second hormone known as glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). This helps to produce more insulin when it is needed and slows down how quickly food is digested.

Mounjaro is an effective weight loss medication with 96.3% of people losing at least 5% of their starting body weight after 72 weeks on the 15mg maintenance dose.

Ozempic

Ozempic is a GLP-1 medication containing the active ingredient semaglutide. It is licensed as a type 2 diabetes medication and is not currently available as a weight loss treatment in the UK, although some services may provide this off-label. We do not recommend this, as weight loss injections like Wegovy are created with weight loss in mind, making them a better, more effective treatment.

Tablets

The most common weight loss tablets are Mysimba and orlistat. Both pills are prescription-only medications that are taken with water and should be used alongside a diet and exercise plan.

Mysimba contains the active ingredients naltrexone (8mg) and bupropion (90mg). It works by suppressing your appetite to make you feel fuller for longer as well as blocking specific signals to the brain that link eating with a feeling of reward. It is taken every day, starting with 1 pill and increasing to 4 per day over time.

Orlistat contains the active ingredient orlistat and works to reduce the amount of fat that is absorbed into your body when you digest food. You take a 120mg tablet 3 times a day with a meal that contains fat. Xenical is the branded version of orlistat, also available as 120mg tablets. There are also 2 over-the-counter versions called alli and Orlos, which come in 60mg tablets.

There is no ‘best’ weight loss injection. Finding the best option for you will depend on many factors, including your individual health conditions, personal preference, lifestyle, and how you react to the medication. It is best to discuss your options with your doctor, and they will help you look at the options and make a plan. When making a decision between Wegovy and Saxenda, it’s good to consider:

• how comfortable you are with injections – Wegovy only needs to be injected once a week, while Saxenda is taken every day, which may not be as tolerable for some people
• cost and budget – weight loss medication is usually taken long-term to manage your weight, with clinical trials showing the best results after a year or more of treatment
• effectiveness – both medications are effective, though Wegovy has shown higher weight loss in clinical trials
• side effects – familiarise yourself with the side effects of both medications to see if you’d prefer to try one medication over the other