Switching from Saxenda to Mounjaro

Yes, you can switch from Saxenda to Mounjaro. Saxenda contains the active ingredient liraglutide, which is different to the active ingredient in Mounjaro, tirzepatide. Another main difference is that Saxenda is taken daily, whereas Mounjaro is taken weekly.

These medications are not interchangeable, and you cannot take them at the same time, so you should tell your doctor if you are thinking about switching treatments and they will be able to advise depending on which stage of your treatment you are on.

For example, if you’ve been taking the highest maintenance dose of Saxenda, you will still have to begin Mounjaro on the lowest dose and gradually increase as supervised by your doctor.

If you think that Mounjaro could be a suitable alternative to Saxenda for you, contact ZAVA today for a consultation:

You should speak to your doctor if you are thinking about switching from Saxenda to Mounjaro and they will assess your suitability by asking about:

• your medical history
• what medications you are currently taking
• how long you’ve been taking Saxenda for and whether you’ve been getting severe side effects

Always follow the instructions of your doctor when switching weight loss treatments.

To switch from Saxenda to Mounjaro:

1: Stop taking Saxenda

You should not start taking Mounjaro until Saxenda has completely left your system, this should take around 2 days. This means you should leave a gap of at least 48 hours between stopping Saxenda and starting Mounjaro to avoid severe side effects.

It is not safe to take both Saxenda and Mounjaro at the same time because they have similar active ingredients.

2: Start your Mounjaro treatment

Once Saxenda is out of your system, you can start your treatment with Mounjaro. Your doctor will start you on the lowest dosage of Mounjaro (2.5mg), even if you were on the highest maintenance dosage of Saxenda (3mg).

There are a range of reasons you may want to switch weight loss treatments, including:

Not seeing the results you expected

You may find that Saxenda is not working for you, and that’s okay. Weight loss looks different for everybody, and not all treatments work for everyone.

Clinical studies have shown that people can lose up to 22.5% of their starting weight while taking the highest maintenance dose of 15 mg after just 72 weeks on Mounjaro. Whereas, in a trial on Saxenda it was reported that patients lost an average of up to 8% of their body weight after 56 weeks on the maintenance dose. So, it is not unusual to see less change in starting weight when taking Saxenda compared to Mounjaro.

Based on trials showing a higher percentage of weight loss for people taking Mounjaro, you may want to switch from Saxenda to Mounjaro if you’re not getting the results you wanted. It’s important that with either medication, you follow a reduced-calorie diet and exercise regularly, or it will not be as effective.

Experiencing unpleasant side effects

Saxenda is an effective treatment, but it isn’t right for everybody. You may have experienced side effects which are unpleasant, or haven’t gone away since you started taking Saxenda. Your doctor might then suggest trying an alternative treatment to ensure you have a safe and successful weight loss journey.

Although Saxenda and Mounjaro contain similar active ingredients, they are not exactly the same and so you may tolerate one better than the other.

Long-term costs

There are costs associated with buying weight loss medications and you may be looking for the most cost effective treatment option. It may be that you can get Mounjaro at a lower price than Saxenda.

The weight loss treatment you’re currently taking is no longer available

In the UK, branded Saxenda is no longer available. Now, only Nevolat (generic liraglutide) is available as an alternative. If you’re having trouble obtaining Saxenda or Nevolat, you may want to consider alternative treatments.

There is a similar eligibility requirement to take Mounjaro as Saxenda, so if you’re taking Saxenda already you’ll likely be eligible for Mounjaro too. To take either medication, you must have:

• a BMI (body mass index) of 30kg or higher (obesity)
• a BMI between 27 and 30kg (overweight ) and a weight-related health condition like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, prediabetes, or heart problems

It is not suitable to take Mounjaro if you are:

• breastfeeding
• pregnant

Even though you have previously taken Saxenda, you still will need a consultation with a doctor or healthcare provider and they will assess based on your medical history and family medical history whether Mounjaro is a suitable alternative for you.

Here is an overview of the dosage schedules for Mounjaro compared to Saxenda.

Your doctor will supervise your treatment with Mounjaro or Saxenda. Each treatment has a different dosage schedule. Although these are the recommended times to increase your dose, you can stay at a lower dose for longer if you’re happy with your results or have side effects at a higher dose. Some people stay at 5mg or 10mg of Mounjaro without going to the 15mg highest maintenance dose. It’s important that you listen to your doctor and their recommendations when switching weight loss medications.

Here is more information on Mounjaro and Saxenda dosage schedules:

When switching to Mounjaro, you may experience some slight changes in your body.

Short term

In the short term, you shouldn’t experience ‘withdrawal symptoms’ from Saxenda, though you may feel your appetite returning to normal.

Once you’ve started Mounjaro, you may experience common side effects as your body adjusts to the treatment, including:

• low blood sugar – dizziness, confusion, irritability, and sweating
• feeling sick (nausea)
• diarrhoea
• constipation
• vomiting
• stomach ache

These side effects are typically mild and should subside between a few days to a couple of weeks. If you experience severe side effects which do not go away, speak to your doctor.

➤ Check out our guide for more information on side effects of Mounjaro and more guidance on how to handle them.

Long term

Long term experiences after switching to Mounjaro may include better weight loss results. Mounjaro has been clinically proven to be a more effective treatment than Saxenda, with 10 clinical studies involving 9,873 patients reporting a significant loss in body weight with tirzepatide.

A clinical study focused on comparing semaglutide (Saxenda) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) found tirzepatide to be a more effective weight loss solution, with patients achieving up to 15% greater weight loss with the medication.

Remember that weight loss looks different for everybody. Weight loss injections are only effective if used alongside healthy lifestyle changes to diet and exercise routine, so it’s important to adapt to these changes too when swapping over to Mounjaro. We recommend tracking your weight changes, meals, and exercise routines to stay motivated over time.

Yes, if you fit the eligibility criteria and want to, you can switch to Mounjaro from Saxenda with the help of a doctor. It’s clinically proven to be the most effective weight loss injection, in addition to the fact that it is more cost effective too through ZAVA.

You must do what feels right for you and follow your doctor’s advice. If you are feeling like Saxenda isn’t right for you anymore, are experiencing side effects, or may be re-evaluating the cost of your weight loss journey, Mounjaro could be the right solution for you.

ZAVA Online Doctors are here to help if you are stuck or unsure, simply start a consultation today.

• Mounjaro, EMC [accessed March 2025]
• Saxenda, EMC [accessed March 2025]
• Weight loss efficiency and safety of tirzepatide: A Systematic review, National Library of Medicine [accessed March 2025]
• Semaglutide vs Tirzepatide for Weight Loss in Adults With Overweight or Obesity, JAMA [accessed March 2025]
• Tirzepatide 10 and 15 mg compared with semaglutide 2.4 mg for the treatment of obesity: An indirect treatment comparison, Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism Journal [accessed March 2025]