Wegovy vs Saxenda
Last reviewed against the current FDA prescribing information for both products. Not medical advice.
Short answer
Wegovy (semaglutide) and Saxenda (liraglutide) are different medicines: Wegovy is taken once weekly (injection) and Saxenda once daily.
Wegovy is FDA-approved for weight management; Saxenda is FDA-approved for weight management. The table below lists each product's approved uses, doses and most common side effects from its FDA label. Your prescriber can tell you which, if either, fits your situation.
This pairing isn't one of our reviewed comparison guides. For the comparisons people ask about most, see all GLP-1 comparisons.
Wegovy and Saxenda side by side
| From the FDA label | Wegovy | Saxenda |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | semaglutide | liraglutide |
| Drug class | GLP-1 receptor agonist | GLP-1 receptor agonist |
| Manufacturer | Novo Nordisk | Novo Nordisk |
| FDA-approved uses |
|
|
| Approved for weight management? | Yes | Yes |
| How it's taken | Injection under the skin (subcutaneous); also approved as a once-daily tablet (25 mg maintenance) | Injection under the skin (subcutaneous) |
| How often | Once weekly (injection) | Once daily |
| Starting dose | 0.25 mg once weekly for weeks 1–4 | 0.6 mg once daily for 1 week |
| Dose increases | 0.5 mg (weeks 5–8), 1 mg (weeks 9–12), 1.7 mg (weeks 13–16); escalation can be delayed 4 weeks if a step is not tolerated | Increase each week: 1.2 mg, 1.8 mg, 2.4 mg, then 3 mg from week 5 |
| Maintenance dose | 2.4 mg (recommended) or 1.7 mg once weekly for most uses | 3 mg once daily for adults (children who do not tolerate 3 mg may use 2.4 mg) |
| Maximum dose | 7.2 mg once weekly for weight reduction in adults who have tolerated 2.4 mg for at least 4 weeks and need more weight reduction; 2.4 mg for other uses | 3 mg once daily |
| When to take it | Same day each week, any time of day, with or without meals | Once a day at any time, regardless of meals |
| Pens and devices | Single-dose pens (0.25 mg to 2.4 mg, plus 7.2 mg "Wegovy HD"), single-dose syringes, and a 4-dose Wegovy FlexTouch pen (2.4 mg) with NovoFine Plus needles included. Tablets: 1.5 mg, 4 mg, 9 mg, 25 mg | Multi-dose 3 mL pen that dials 0.6 mg to 3 mg doses. Pen needles are not included |
| Storage | Refrigerate. Single-dose pens and syringes can be kept at 46–86°F for up to 28 days before the cap is removed. FlexTouch: 56 days at room temperature or in the fridge after first use. Do not freeze | Before first use: refrigerate. After first use, the pen can be kept at room temperature (59–86°F) or in the fridge for 30 days. Do not freeze |
| Weight results in the label | In the label’s 68-week trial in adults with obesity, or overweight with a weight-related condition (Study 2), average weight change was −14.9% with Wegovy 2.4 mg vs −2.4% with placebo, on top of diet and exercise. (Wegovy label, section 14.2, Table 8) | In the label’s 56-week trial in adults with obesity, or overweight with a weight-related condition (Study 1), average weight change was −7.4% with Saxenda vs −3.0% with placebo, on top of diet and exercise. (Saxenda label, section 14.1, Table 4) |
| Most common side effects (≥5%) | Nausea, Diarrhea, Vomiting, Constipation, Abdominal pain, Headache, Fatigue, Indigestion (dyspepsia), Dizziness, Bloating, Belching, Low blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, Gas, Stomach flu (gastroenteritis), Acid reflux (GERD), Hair loss, Altered skin sensation (dysesthesia) | Nausea, Diarrhea, Constipation, Vomiting, Injection site reactions, Headache, Low blood sugar, Indigestion (dyspepsia), Fatigue, Dizziness, Abdominal pain, Increased lipase, Upper abdominal pain, Fever, Stomach flu (gastroenteritis) |
| Boxed warning | Risk of thyroid C-cell tumors. Do not use if you or a family member have had medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or if you have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). | Risk of thyroid C-cell tumors. Do not use if you or a family member have had medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or if you have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). |
| First FDA approval | June 4, 2021 (injection); December 22, 2025 (tablets) | December 23, 2014 |
Side effects listed are the label's “most common adverse reactions”; the full label also covers serious risks such as pancreatitis, gallbladder problems and low blood sugar. Weight results come from separate placebo-controlled trials and are not a head-to-head comparison unless stated.
Good to know
- Wegovy tablets are approved for the adult weight-reduction and cardiovascular uses only, starting at 1.5 mg once daily and stepping up monthly to a 25 mg maintenance dose.
- The label says using Wegovy together with other semaglutide-containing products, or any other GLP-1 receptor agonist, is not recommended.
- The label says adults should stop Saxenda if they have not lost at least 4% of their starting weight after 16 weeks.
Questions to ask your prescriber
- Which of these is approved for my diagnosis, and is it covered by my plan?
- How should I step up the dose, and what should I do if the side effects are hard to tolerate?
- Do any of my other medicines, or my personal or family history, rule one of these out?
- If I switch from one to the other, what dose should I start on and when?
Sources
- Wegovy (semaglutide) injection and tablets — FDA prescribing information, DailyMed (label effective June 18, 2026, version 19) (Sections 1, 2, 3, 6, 14.2, 16, boxed warning, Instructions for Use; checked September 24, 2026)
- Drugs@FDA: NDA 215256 (Wegovy injection) (Original approval date (injection); checked September 24, 2026)
- Drugs@FDA: NDA 218316 (Wegovy tablets) (Original approval date (tablets); checked September 24, 2026)
- Saxenda (liraglutide) injection — FDA prescribing information, DailyMed (label effective February 25, 2026, version 22) (Sections 1, 2, 3, 6, 14.1, 16, boxed warning, Instructions for Use; checked September 24, 2026)
- Drugs@FDA: NDA 206321 (Saxenda) (Original approval date; checked September 24, 2026)
How we review: every fact on this page is taken from the current FDA prescribing information on DailyMed or from Drugs@FDA, and re-checked on the date shown. This page was reviewed against FDA labeling, not by a named clinician.
Medical disclaimer: This page is general information, not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and it doesn't cover every use, dose, warning or side effect. Always follow the advice of your doctor, pharmacist or other prescriber and read the Medication Guide that comes with your medicine. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call your local emergency number. ShotWise is a tracking app and does not prescribe, sell or recommend any medication.
