With many weight loss medications available, finding the right one for you can feel like an overwhelming task. You may have heard of Wegovy weight loss injections and Saxenda weight loss injections. Both are available on the NHS and through private prescription. On first look they seem pretty similar. But if you’re considering starting Wegovy or Saxenda, or switching from Saxenda to Wegovy, there are some key differences you should know about.
Is Saxenda the same as Wegovy?
Although they’re similar, they’re actually two different drugs. Both come as preloaded injection pens that you self-administer. They’re used for weight loss—alongside changes in diet and exercise—because they make you feel less hungry and eat fewer calories. You’ll need to have a BMI of 30 or more, or a BMI of at least 27 and one weight-related condition (think high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes) to qualify.
One difference between Wegovy and Saxenda is the active ingredient (the component of a drug that makes it do its thing). In Saxenda it’s liraglutide and in Wegovy it’s semaglutide. Both work in the same way, but for different lengths of time. Saxenda is taken every day while Wegovy is just once a week.
Active ingredient in Wegovy
Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, is a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonist. It mimics a hormone in your gut that suppresses your appetite. It can slow down digestion and keep food in your stomach for longer, too.
GLP-1 agonists also stop the sugar levels in your blood from getting too high (which would mean it gets stored as fat).
Active ingredient in Saxenda
Liraglutide, the active ingredient in Saxenda, is also a GLP-1 agonist. It works the same way as semaglutide. An important difference is that liraglutide doesn’t hang around in your body for as long, so it needs to be topped up every day (vs. once a week for semaglutide).
Effectiveness of Wegovy vs. Saxenda
Is Wegovy better than Saxenda? Both are great for weight loss in people who are living with obesity. But clinical trials have found that Wegovy is more effective. In fact, recent research looking at people taking a higher 7.2mg dose of Wegovy found that participants lost an average of 20.7% of their body weight over 72 weeks.
In a 2021 study, people taking Wegovy’s previously highest dose (2.4mg) alongside lifestyle changes lost almost 15% of their body weight in 68 weeks. Those who tried diet and exercise alone lost around 2.5%. On Saxenda, people lost 8% in 56 weeks. These are just averages, though. Your results will vary depending on your starting weight, diet, and lifestyle.
Dosage and administration
Wegovy and Saxenda are injection pens that come already loaded with the drug. Wegovy is taken on the same day every week. Saxenda needs to be taken every day.
If you start using either, you’ll gradually increase your doses until you hit your maximum tolerated dose. This gives your body time to get used to the drug (which should minimise any side effects). The dosages, however, differ slightly for each drug.
Wegovy dosage
Everyone starts with 0.25mg of Wegovy per week and ups it to 2.4mg by week 17. If all’s good and you don’t have any bothersome side effects, here’s what the Wegovy dosage schedule looks like each week:
- Week 1 to 4: 0.25mg
- Week 5 to 8: 0.5mg
- Week 9 to 12: 1.0mg
- Week 13 to 16: 1.7mg
- From week 17: 2.4mg
Saxenda dosage
The starting dose for Saxenda is 0.6mg per day. You’ll increase this to 3mg after four weeks. Here’s what the Saxenda dosing schedule looks like per day:
- Week 1: 0.6mg
- Week 2: 1.2mg
- Week 3: 1.8mg
- Week 4: 2.4mg
- Week 5 onwards: 3mg.
You’ll have a follow-up with whoever prescribed the medication after four months to see how you’re getting on. If you’re worried about any side effects, you can bring this forward.
Side effects and safety profiles
Wegovy and Saxenda are approved by The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK for treating obesity. But there are some people who, due to certain health conditions or medical and family history, aren’t safe to use them. That’s why you should only ever take them if they’ve been prescribed to you after a personal assessment—and under the watchful eye of a clinician.
One in 10 people have side effects. For most, they’re mild, manageable, and go away quickly. But when comparing Wegovy vs Saxenda side effects, it’s good to know that more people stop taking Saxenda (nearly 28%) because of them than Wegovy (nearly 14%).
There’s some crossover between Saxenda side effects and Wegovy side effects. Both may cause:
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Upset stomach (dyspepsia)
- Tiredness (fatigue)
- Dizziness
- Low blood sugar
Side effects support at Voy
"If you're using Voy and you experience any side effects, rest assured that our expert clinicians are just a message or phone call away. They can adjust your dose, prescribe medication to ease your symptoms, or simply offer reassurance.
Everyone responds differently to weight loss treatment and we'll help you find what feels right for you."
Serious risks
If you’re at risk, or have a personal or family history, of thyroid cancer you won’t be prescribed Wegovy or Saxenda. They’ve caused thyroid tumours in animal trials and we don’t yet know whether this is true for humans.
They’re also not safe to take if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to conceive.
Ultimately, as long as you’re prescribed the drug by a clinician and take it as instructed, it should be safe. If you ever notice any unusual symptoms, checking in with your healthcare provider can put your mind at ease.
Wegovy vs Saxenda cost
When it comes to the Saxenda vs Wegovy price, it depends on where you get your medication. Through the NHS, you’ll either pay nothing or £9.90 (the standard prescription cost).
If you buy from a private provider, prices can vary.
At Voy, we offer a weight loss programme that includes medication plus support from a dedicated health team. They’ll help you stay on track through our app—all with a money-back guarantee if you don’t lose more than 10% of your body weight within six months.
Your weight loss journey
Tried losing weight through diet and exercise and it didn’t work as well as you’d have liked? Wegovy or Saxenda may be a good next step. If you’re ready, fill out this short quiz to find out if our weight loss programme is right for you. Our team of experts will get in touch with a programme to get you on track to reaching your goals.
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