Obesity Treatment The Differences Between Saxenda and Wegovy By Sara Hoffman, PharmD Updated on April 03, 2024 Medically reviewed by Lindsay Cook, PharmD Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents What Is Saxenda? What Is Wegovy? Which Is More Effective? Dosage Alternatives Precautions Who Should Avoid Saxenda or Wegovy? Interactions Frequently Asked Questions Wegovy (semaglutide) and Saxenda (liraglutide) are injectable medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for weight loss. Both medications belong to a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists. A main difference between the two is that Saxenda is injected once daily, while Wegovy is injected once weekly. This article will cover differences in effectiveness and dosing, as well as other information about Saxenda and Wegovy. What Is Saxenda? Saxenda is a brand of liraglutide that's a once-daily injectable medication. It is injected just under the skin by way of a pen injector. In 2014, Saxenda became the first GLP-1 agonist approved for weight loss in people without diabetes. It’s meant to be used along with diet and exercise in people with a body mass index (BMI) at or above 30 kilograms per meters squared (kg/m²). This measurement is a person's weight in kilograms divided by their height in meters squared. The FDA also approved its use in adolescents 12 to 17 years old who weigh more than 132 pounds (60 kg). How Does Saxenda Work? Saxenda is a GLP-1 agonist, which mimics GLP-1, a hormone your body produces naturally. GLP-1 causes your body to release insulin, suppresses your appetite, and makes you feel full for longer. These actions together can help lead to weight loss. The same drug, liraglutide, is also available as a brand-name product, Victoza, to treat type 2 diabetes. This product is dosed differently than Saxenda, so they are not interchangeable. What Is Wegovy? Wegovy is a brand of semaglutide that's a once-weekly injectable medication. It comes as a pen injector that's injected under the skin. Wegovy was approved by the FDA in 2021 and was the first drug approved for weight loss since Saxenda was approved in 2014. In 2024, the FDA approved Wegovy to reduce the risk of serious heart problems in adults with obesity or who are overweight. Wegovy should be used in addition to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. Besides Saxenda, semaglutide comes in other brand-name products, Ozempic and Rybelsus, approved for treating type 2 diabetes. These other brands are dosed differently than Wegovy. How Does Wegovy Work? Being part of the same drug class, Wegovy works similarly to Saxenda. It is also a GLP-1 agonist that suppresses your appetite and helps you feel fuller for longer. However, it continues working for much longer than Saxenda. Wegovy is active for around 165 hours after injection, while Saxenda lasts just 13 to 15 hours. Wegovy is a weekly injection, whereas Saxenda must be given daily. Wegovy package. Picture Alliance / Getty Images Is Saxenda or Wegovy More Effective? In a study comparing weight loss results between the two medications, people who took Wegovy lost significantly more weight than those on Saxenda. At 68 weeks after starting the medication, the average weight loss was 15.8% on Wegovy and around 6.4% on Saxenda. These results came not only from the medication itself but with improvements in exercise and diet as well. The results of this study align with the results of clinical trials that these drugs went through before approval as well. When taking Wegovy or Saxenda for 68 weeks, weight loss results in people experiencing overweight or obesity who had at least one comorbid condition—a health condition such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, or dyslipidemia—were: Wegovy decreased weight by an average of 14.9%.Saxenda showed a 7.4% average decrease. 8 FDA-Approved Drugs for Weight Management Dosage: Saxenda vs. Wegovy This table summarizes the differences and similarities in how Saxenda and Wegovy are to be taken. Saxenda Wegovy Available strengths and pen sizes Prefilled pen containing 3 milliliters (mL) that can deliver doses of 0.6 milligrams (mg), 1.2 mg, 1.8 mg, 2.4 mg or 3 mg; the same pen will be used for multiple days in a row. Single-dose pens containing doses of 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg, and 2.4 mg; a new pen will be used for each dose each week. Recommended dosing Week 1: 0.6 mg dailyWeek 2: 1.2 mg dailyWeek 3: 1.8 mg dailyWeek 4: 2.4 mg dailyThereafter: 3 mg daily Weeks 1–4: 0.25 mg weeklyWeeks 5–8: 0.5 mg weeklyWeeks 9–12: 1 mg weeklyWeeks 13–16: 1.7 mg weeklyWeeks 17 on: 2.4 mg weekly Available generically No No Pediatric and adolescent dosing Approved for people 12 years and older, with the same goal maintenance dose of 3 mg daily; may reduce to 2.4 mg daily if 3 mg is not tolerated Approved for people 12 years and older, with the same goal maintenance dose of 2.4 mg weekly; may reduce to 1.7 mg weekly if 2.4 mg is not tolerated Alternatives to Manage Blood Sugar and Body Composition Drug administration is not the sole way to maintain healthy blood sugars and body composition. As shown in the clinical trials for these drugs, results are much better if exercise and an improved diet are added to Saxenda and Wegovy use. If you have prediabetes, there are specific measures you can take to prevent its progression into diabetes and possibly the need to go on medication at all. The National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) is a nationwide effort spanning public and private organizations. It offers programs and education to help prevent type 2 diabetes across the United States. This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)–recognized lifestyle-change program has decreased the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58%, or even more in people over 60. Plenty of habits and lifestyle choices can help reduce blood sugar and give you a healthier body composition. The National DPP suggests the following ways to accomplish these goals: Eat healthy without giving up all the foods you love.Add physical activity to your life in convenient ways that you enjoy.Deal with stress in healthy ways.Cope with challenges that can derail your hard work—like how to choose healthy food when eating out.Get back on track if you start to stray from your plan. The world of nutrition can feel complicated, especially if you’re trying to make a lot of lifestyle changes at once. As part of a care plan with your primary healthcare provider, it can help to consult a registered dietitian (RD), registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) or even a certified diabetes care and education specialist (CDCES). They can help make it easier to eat healthy and understand why certain foods affect blood sugar in certain ways. Precautions Saxenda and Wegovy come with a boxed warning (the FDA’s strictest warning) regarding thyroid C-cell tumors. This is because GLP-1 agonists have been found to cause C-cell tumors in rats and mice. The risk in humans is unknown, but you shouldn’t take Saxenda or Wegovy if you have a personal or family history of thyroid cancer. Other potential severe effects of GLP-1 agonists like Saxenda and Wegovy include the following: Acute pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas Gallbladder disease Hypoglycemia, or blood sugar levels that are too low Acute kidney injury Complications of diabetic retinopathy in people with type 2 diabetes Increased heart rate Thoughts of suicide Who Should Avoid Saxenda or Wegovy? GLP-1 agonist medications like Saxenda and Wegovy are not appropriate for everyone. You should avoid both of these drugs if you: Have a personal or family history of thyroid cancerHave had a severe prior reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, to Wegovy or Saxenda or any of the inactive ingredients in the medicationsHave a history of suicidal thoughts or behavior, as these medications have the potential to worsen mental health conditionsAre pregnant or breastfeeding, as risks to developing fetuses are not well understoodAre planning to become pregnant in the next two months Interactions for Saxenda and Wegovy Taking a GLP-1 agonist like Saxenda or Wegovy while you’re also on another diabetes medication, such as glyburide or glipizide, may cause hypoglycemia (too-low blood sugar levels). The risk of hypoglycemia is higher when taking multiple diabetes medications. The dose of other diabetes medications may need to be lowered when you start a GLP-1 agonist. Summary Saxenda and Wegovy are effective GLP-1 agonists that promote weight loss by controlling your appetite and making you feel fuller for longer. They are both self-injectable drugs, but Wegovy is given only once weekly compared to Saxenda, which is given once daily. In clinical trials, people taking Wegovy lost an average of almost twice the weight of those taking Saxenda. These medications are most effective when paired with exercise and dietary changes, which can include increasing the amount of fiber and vegetables in your diet, and ensuring you have enough protein, Frequently Asked Questions Is there controversy surrounding Saxenda or Wegovy? Yes. You’ve likely seen headlines on the news and social media about drugs like Saxenda and Wegovy. Some controversy exists regarding the use and promotion of these drugs by celebrities for off-label cosmetic use, which may contribute to shortages of the drugs for people with diabetes who really need the drugs. How should I store Wegovy? Wegovy should be stored in the refrigerator (36 degrees F to 46 degrees F), never frozen, and kept in the original carton until you're ready to use it. Wegovy comes with only one dose per pen that should be refrigerated. Discard after your dose. If needed, you can store pens at room temperature (at around 46 degrees F to 86 degrees F) for up to 28 days if you have not removed the pen cap. How should I store Saxenda? Saxenda should be kept refrigerated (36 degrees F to 46 degrees F) in its original carton until you’re ready to use it. Saxenda pens contain multiple doses per pen. After your first dose, you can either continue to store that pen in the fridge or at controlled room temperature (at about 59 degrees F to 86 degrees F) between doses. Remember to keep the pen cap on when you’re not using it. 5 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Food and Drug Administration. Saxenda Prescribing Information. Ard J, Fitch A, Fruh S, Herman L. Weight Loss and Maintenance Related to the Mechanism of Action of Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists. Adv Ther. 2021 Jun;38(6):2821-2839. Food and Drug Administration. Wegovy prescribing information. Rubino DM, Greenway FL, Khalid U, O'Neil PM, Rosenstock J, Sørrig R, Wadden TA, Wizert A, Garvey WT; STEP 8 Investigators. Effect of Weekly Subcutaneous Semaglutide vs Daily Liraglutide on Body Weight in Adults With Overweight or Obesity Without Diabetes: The STEP 8 Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2022 Jan 11;327(2):138-150. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About the National Diabetes Prevention Program. By Sara Hoffman, PharmD Hoffman is a Kansas-based clinical pharmacist with experience working in hospitals, specialty clinics, and community pharmacies. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit