Navigating Wegovy Alternatives: What You Need to Know

Wegovy is a type of prescription weight loss treatment. It can be used if you want to lose weight and have been struggling to do this through diet and exercise alone. To be suitable for Wegovy, you must:

• have a BMI of over 27 and a health condition that is affected by your weight, such as high blood pressure, or
• have a BMI of 30 or above

The active ingredient is semaglutide, which is a GLP-1 agonist. This works by reducing your appetite, which can help you stick to a reduced calorie intake, so you can lose weight safely.

Wegovy is taken once a week and should be injected into your lower abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. It’s effective in over 80% of users and can lead to a weight loss of over 20%.

At the moment, Wegovy isn’t available in Ireland yet. But there are alternative medications to help you with your weight loss, such as Orlistat or Mysimba. You can request your prescription online here at ZAVA.

GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) is a hormone that’s released naturally when you eat. It tells your brain that you’re full and reduces blood sugar levels.

Semaglutide acts in the same way as this hormone, tricking your brain into believing you’re full for longer. This means you don’t feel hungry, making it easier to stick to a diet regime.

There are several reasons why you might need an alternative to Wegovy for weight loss, such as:

• it’s not available in your country
• you don’t meet the requirements to take Wegovy (as listed above)
• it’s not suitable due to another medical condition
• it could interact with another medication you currently take
• you don’t want to use an injectable medication
• you’d prefer a Wegovy alternative
• you want to find a cheaper alternative to Wegovy

Wegovy is a relatively new injectable weight loss treatment. There are several Wegovy alternatives that might also be prescribed to help lose weight, such as:

• Saxenda
• Trulicity
• Ozempic
• Mounjaro
• Victoza

We explore each of these in more detail below, including the active ingredient, how often it’s taken, and its effectiveness.

Saxenda (Liraglutide)

Saxenda contains the active ingredient liraglutide, which works in the same way as semaglutide, as it’s a GLP-1 agonist as well. It should be injected once daily, and the recommended dose is 3mg. You will follow a regime to slowly increase the dosage. This allows your body to adjust to the medication and reduces side effects.

Once it’s available, Wegovy may be a better choice than Saxenda since it’s usually more effective and only needs to be taken once a week instead of daily.

Wegovy vs Saxenda for weight loss

* percentage of people that lost 5% or more of their initial body weight according to clinical studies

Trulicity (Dulaglutide)

Trulicity is a type 2 diabetes treatment that is approved to help control blood sugar levels. It can also reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke in those who have heart disease. The active ingredient in Trulicity is dulaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist.

It works for weight loss by slowing down the emptying of the stomach, while also reducing hunger and appetite. These combined effects make it easier to eat less and lose weight.

Although not approved for weight loss, Trulicity has been found to help with weight management and may be prescribed off-label. This means a doctor can prescribe a medication for something that is not the primary use if they believe it’s suitable for the patient. Please note: At ZAVA we do not prescribe weight loss treatments off label.

Wegovy vs Trulicity for weight loss

* percentage of people that lost 5% or more of their initial body weight according to clinical studies

Ozempic (Semaglutide)

Ozempic is a type 2 diabetic treatment for managing blood sugar levels. It’s sometimes used as a weight loss treatment, but is only meant to treat diabetes type 2, which often comes along with obesity. Like Wegovy, Ozempic contains semaglutide, a GLP-1 agonist.

The current dose for type 2 diabetes is a maintenance dose of 1mg, which would be gradually increased when starting treatment. It should be taken once a week and is prescription only. Ozempic can only be prescribed off-label for weight loss. At ZAVA we do not prescribe Ozempic off-label.

Wegovy vs Ozempic for weight loss

* percentage of people that lost 5% or more of their initial body weight according to clinical studies

Mounjaro (Tirzepatide)

Mounjaro is another treatment for managing blood sugar in type 2 diabetics, but can also help with weight loss. The active ingredient is tirzepatide, a GIP and GLP-1 agonist. This means it mimics 2 hormones: GIP and GLP-1, which:

• make the pancreas stop releasing insulin after eating
• send signals to the brain that you are full
• slow digestion, to make you feel fuller for longer

Wegovy vs Mounjaro for weight loss

* percentage of people that lost 5% or more of their initial body weight according to clinical studies

Victoza (Liraglutide)

Victoza contains the active ingredient liraglutide, like Saxenda. Its primary use is managing blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes, but it can also be an effective weight loss treatment. It’s currently not approved for weight loss, although it may be prescribed off-label.

Victoza should be taken once a day. It’s a GLP-1 agonist, so it can trick your brain into thinking you are full. Please note: We do not prescribe Victoza off-label for weight loss at ZAVA.

Wegovy vs Victoza for weight loss

* percentage of people that lost 5% or more of their initial body weight according to clinical studies

What weight loss pill is a good alternative to Wegovy?

If you would rather take a weight loss pill there are some Wegovy alternatives that work in the same way and some that work differently.

Rybelsus (Semaglutide)

Rybelsus is a weight loss pill that contains semaglutide, the same active ingredient found in Wegovy. It’s currently used as a type 2 diabetes treatment, but might also be prescribed off-label for weight loss in eligible patients.

Rybelsus is an oral tablet that should be taken once daily. You may be prescribed 3mg, 7mg, or 14mg, depending on how you react to the lower doses. Just like Wegovy, Rybelsus is a prescription-only medication.

Rybelsus vs Wegovy for weight loss

* percentage of people that lost 5% or more of their initial body weight according to clinical studies

Wegovy vs Orlistat (brand names Alli, Xenical)

Orlistat (Xenical) is a prescription weight loss pill that can prevent the digestion and absorption of fat. When taken with a meal, it stops around a third of the fat being absorbed, aiding with weight loss.

Qsymia is not currently available in the UK but is expected to be approved within the next year. It contains the active ingredients phentermine and topiramate, which can help you lose weight by helping you feel fuller for longer.

Qsymia’s main use is regulating blood sugar levels in overweight people who have high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, or heart disease.

There is no natural alternative medication for Wegovy, but there are natural alternatives to Wegovy for weight loss, such as:

• eating a healthy, balanced diet
• exercising regularly
• joining a local weight loss group
• setting realistic weight loss goals
• slowly reducing your calorie intake and making healthier lifestyle choices
• avoiding fad diets and very low-calorie diets, which aren’t good for your health and aren’t likely to lead to long-term weight loss
• asking family and friends for help
• getting psychological support

You may also be referred by your GP for surgery if medications and natural weight loss treatments do not work.

Wegovy is one of several effective weight loss treatments for anyone who needs a helping hand in reaching their weight loss goals. You will need a prescription for most weight loss treatments, which you can get through our online doctor service.

Deciding which weight loss treatment is best for you depends on your current medical conditions, weight, and preferences. You can also speak through your patient account to one of our doctors about Wegovy and the Wegovy alternatives we offer.