Switching from Saxenda to Wegovy: How the Dose Change Works

Why the dose numbers between Saxenda and Wegovy are not interchangeable

Saxenda's titration runs daily: 0.6 mg to start, climbing weekly through 1.2 mg, 1.8 mg, 2.4 mg and finally 3 mg, the maintenance dose. Wegovy runs weekly: 0.25 mg rising every four weeks through 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg, 1.7 mg and 2.4 mg. On paper, 3 mg versus 2.4 mg might suggest Saxenda is stronger. It is not, the two drugs and their delivery frequencies mean you cannot map one milligram figure onto the other.

The clinical evidence backs the difference in effect. STEP 1 (68 weeks, semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly) recorded an average body-weight reduction of around 15%, as published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Liraglutide's pivotal trials produced roughly 5–8% mean weight loss at 3 mg. The trial populations and durations differed, so head-to-head caution applies, but NICE's appraisals (TA875 for semaglutide) reflect the stronger performance data. That evidence is one reason people switch.

There is also the injection schedule. Moving from a daily injection to a once-weekly one changes the routine considerably. Many people find the weekly pen easier to build into their week, keeping it in the fridge door and injecting on the same evening each week, rather than remembering a daily step.

Where on the Wegovy schedule would you actually start after Saxenda?

This is the decision at the heart of the switch, and it sits entirely with your prescriber. The standard Wegovy starting dose is 0.25 mg regardless of prior treatment, because Wegovy's titration schedule exists partly to settle the gut into the new medicine, not just to build therapeutic effect. Even someone who tolerated Saxenda at 3 mg may still be asked to begin Wegovy at 0.25 mg, because semaglutide and liraglutide act on the same receptor but with different receptor kinetics and different side-effect timing.

Some prescribers will consider starting at a later point in the schedule if a patient has demonstrated GLP-1 tolerance at higher doses, but that is an individual clinical judgement informed by your current dose, how long ago you stopped Saxenda, and any side effects you experienced. There is no universal answer. The NHS patient information for semaglutide is clear that titration is managed by your prescriber; attempting to self-direct a mid-ladder start without clinical oversight adds risk without benefit. If you want to understand how each dose step works before your consultation, the Wegovy doses overview explains the schedule in detail.

It is also worth noting that Saxenda is not dispensed by nume, and importantly, Saxenda is not a product on any part of the weight-loss treatment page here. The detail above is educational background so that the switch conversation with your prescriber is better informed.

What the comparison table looks like side by side

The table below compares the two medicines on the factors most relevant to someone considering the switch. Numbers are cited where available; clinical suitability is always a separate determination.

Which medicine suits your situation is a clinical decision our prescribers reach with you, not a table. The comparison above is a starting point for that conversation, not a conclusion.

What is licensed for weight loss in the UK, and how to access it through a regulated pharmacy

Both Saxenda and Wegovy are licensed for weight management in adults in the UK, but nume does not dispense Saxenda. The two medicines available through the service are Wegovy (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide). If you are currently on Saxenda and want to explore a switch to either, that conversation starts with a clinical consultation. The NHS England guidance on weight management injections covers the clinical framework, including advice on contraception during treatment and informing your surgical team if you have any procedures planned.

For people considering the step up from Wegovy 2.4 mg toward the newly approved 7.2 mg dose, the guide to moving from 1.7 mg to 2.4 mg is useful context, and there is a separate piece on switching to Wegovy for maintenance for those transitioning from other treatments. If you have questions about earlier points in the schedule, our guide on going from 0.25 to 0.5 mg Wegovy walks through what that first increase involves, and if you are wondering whether a larger jump is possible, there is also guidance on whether you can go from 0.25 to 1 mg Wegovy and what your prescriber would consider before agreeing to that. Any transfer between medicines, or any dose increase, requires a prescriber to review current evidence and confirm clinical suitability first. A real clinician reviews your consultation the same day. That is not a formality, it is the point.

To see whether you are eligible to start or switch, check your eligibility with a free consultation.