Saxenda vs. Wegovy: Which Should You Choose?

Direct Answer

Saxenda contains liraglutide, dosed daily. Wegovy contains semaglutide, dosed weekly. Both are FDA-approved for chronic weight management, but semaglutide has consistently shown greater average weight loss in clinical trials than liraglutide, and weekly dosing is generally considered more convenient than a daily injection.

Dosing Convenience

Saxenda requires a daily injection at a titrated dose up to 3 mg. Wegovy requires a single weekly injection up to 2.4 mg. For many patients, the reduced injection frequency alone is a meaningful practical difference.

Trial Results

Semaglutide's STEP 1 trial showed roughly 14.9 percent average weight loss at 68 weeks. Liraglutide trials have generally shown more modest average weight loss by comparison, part of why semaglutide-based Wegovy has become the more commonly prescribed option of the two in recent years.

Why Saxenda Still Gets Prescribed

Saxenda has a longer approval history, predating Wegovy, and may be considered when a patient has a specific reason to prefer liraglutide, cost factors, insurance coverage, or a documented response to liraglutide-based medications like Victoza in the past.

Which One Might Your Doctor Prescribe

This depends on insurance coverage, prior medication history, and individual response more than trial averages alone. Discuss both directly with your provider.

References

• Wilding JPH et al., STEP 1 Trial, NEJM (2021)
• Saxenda Prescribing Information (FDA)
• Wegovy Prescribing Information (FDA)

Related Resources

• Saxenda Medication Guide
• Wegovy Medication Guide
• Victoza vs. Saxenda

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