Saxenda and Wegovy: what's the difference between these two weight-loss injections?

The misconception worth clearing up first: they're not the same drug with different names

A surprisingly common belief is that Saxenda and Wegovy are interchangeable, perhaps because both are GLP-1 injections used for weight loss and both are made by Novo Nordisk. They are not the same drug, and the differences between Saxenda and Wegovy go deeper than branding. Saxenda contains liraglutide, administered once daily. Wegovy contains semaglutide, administered once weekly. These are chemically distinct molecules, and the dosing frequency alone makes a practical difference to many people.

Liraglutide was the earlier GLP-1 medicine to reach the UK weight-management market, and for several years it was the main injectable option. Semaglutide came later and, in head-to-head and independent trial data, has consistently produced greater average weight reduction. The STEP 1 trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, reported around 15% average body-weight reduction over 68 weeks with semaglutide 2.4mg alongside lifestyle changes. Liraglutide's comparable trials reported roughly 5–8% average loss at its licensed doses. That is a meaningful gap, and it shapes how clinicians and guidelines now position these two medicines relative to each other.

A second misconception is that Saxenda is somehow easier to access or less tightly controlled. Both are prescription-only medicines under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012. Neither can be legally supplied without a prescription following a proper clinical assessment.

Saxenda is not dispensed by nume, here's why, and what is available instead

Saxenda (liraglutide) is licensed for weight management in the UK, but nume does not dispense it. Our prescribers work with the medicines that current evidence and NICE guidance support most strongly for private weight management: Wegovy (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide). If you've arrived here wondering whether Saxenda is an option through us, the honest answer is no, but the medicines we do offer have a stronger evidence base for weight loss than liraglutide.

Wegovy is recommended by NICE (TA875) for eligible adults, and semaglutide's trial data places it well ahead of liraglutide in terms of average weight reduction. The MHRA has also approved a 7.2mg maintenance dose of Wegovy (higher than the previous 2.4mg ceiling) with trial results of around 20.7% average weight loss over 72 weeks at that dose. For a full picture of what Wegovy involves, our treatment overview is a good place to start.

If your current prescription is for Saxenda and you're considering switching, that is a conversation for your prescriber. Transfer patients are always reviewed clinically before any change is made.

How Saxenda and Wegovy differ on the things that matter day to day

Beyond the molecule itself, a few practical differences are worth understanding.

The daily injection requirement for Saxenda is something patients often raise. Building a once-daily injection into a routine requires more consistency than a once-weekly dose, though some people find a daily ritual easier to remember. Either way, both medicines require refrigerated storage; always check the patient information leaflet for the exact temperature window and any room-temperature allowance.

Side effects follow a broadly similar GI-led pattern for both medicines: nausea, loose stools, constipation and indigestion are most commonly reported, particularly at the start of treatment or after a dose increase. These tend to ease with time. Persistent or severe symptoms, and any stomach pain that radiates to the back, warrant prompt medical attention. You can read the NHS patient information on semaglutide for a full side-effect profile for Wegovy specifically.

Which one is right for you? That's a clinical question, not a comparison-chart answer

No comparison table (including this one) can tell you which medicine suits your health, your history and your goals. Clinicians weigh up factors that don't appear in a side-by-side chart: what you've tried before, other medicines you take, any contraindications, and what a realistic and safe titration looks like for you. For people comparing semaglutide with other injectable options, it may also be worth reading about how Ozempic and Wegovy differ, since semaglutide appears under both brand names for different licensed uses, and if you are curious about how Wegovy and Ozempic are distinguished from each other, that page covers the topic in detail, or exploring how Manjaro and Wegovy compare if you are weighing up tirzepatide as an alternative. Those considering the newer tirzepatide brand specifically may also find it helpful to read about the difference between Monjaro and Wegovy before speaking to a prescriber.

The difference between Wegovy and Saxenda is real and clinically relevant, but it's one input into a broader assessment. Our prescribers take that assessment seriously. If you'd like to find out whether Wegovy is suitable for you, a free consultation is the place to start. There's no obligation, and you'll have an answer the same day, which, for most people, is more useful than another afternoon of comparison-chart reading.

You can verify our pharmacy on the GPhC register (premises number 9012878), and our clinical team page sets out who oversees prescribing decisions.