Switching From Saxenda to Wegovy

Yes, it is possible to switch from Saxenda to Wegovy. Wegovy contains a similar active ingredient (semaglutide) and is able to help people lose weight, whether they have diabetes or not. Please note, at ZAVA we are offering Wegovy only to people without diabetes because using Wegovy as a diabetic treatment requires close monitoring we can not offer through our online service.

Switching from Saxenda to Ozempic can be a good idea as long as:

• you have type 2 diabetes
• Saxenda treatment isn’t right for you
• Ozempic is safe for you to switch to
• Ozempic is likely to work for you

Why you might want to switch from Saxenda

You may want to switch from Saxenda to another treatment for a few different reasons, like:

• you’ve been using Saxenda and it hasn’t worked as well as you’d like
• you’ve been using Saxenda but you’ve had side effects you can’t put up with

You might find that other treatments can work where Saxenda hasn’t. They may also give fewer side effects as well. This could apply to Wegovy which is a similar treatment but with a different active ingredient. The difference in active ingredients can lead to different effectiveness and side effects.

Is Wegovy a good alternative?

Wegovy can be a good alternative to Saxenda. Studies show that medications containing semaglutide like Wegovy are generally more effective than Saxenda.

People using Wegovy / Ozempic (semaglutide) have a:

• 86% chance of losing at least 5% weight
• 71% chance of losing at least 10% weight
• 56% chance of losing at least 15% weight
• 39% chance of losing at least 20% weight

People using Saxenda (Liraglutide) have a:

• 56% chance of losing at least 5% weight
• 26% chance of losing at least 10% weight
• 12% chance of losing at least 15% weight
• 6% chance of losing at least 20% weight

Before starting Wegovy you would need to stop taking Saxenda. This is because taking both at the same time wouldn’t be safe. Since they have similar active ingredients, taking them together would be like taking an overdose. Provided Wegovy is suitable for you, you can start using it 48 hours after your last Saxenda injection. This is because it takes about 2 days for most of the liraglutide to leave your system, so waiting 2 days can reduce the risk of severe side effects.

When you see a doctor to get Wegovy treatment they will ask what medications you’re already taking. Once you tell them you’re already on Saxenda, they will give you advice about when and how to switch. Always follow advice from your doctor when it comes to starting new treatments to make sure your treatment is safe and you’re not at risk.

What dose to switch to

Everyone gets the same dose when starting Wegovy (0.25mg), whether they have used Saxenda before or not. You’d take this dose for a month and then move up a dose. You’d increase your dose every 4 weeks for 16 weeks until you reach the maximum dose of 2.4mg.

Saxenda doesn’t cause withdrawal because it’s not addictive. But, it will cause your appetite to come back again once you stop taking it, although this is not likely to last long if you’re switching straight to Wegovy as an alternative.

By sticking to your diet and exercise plan after you stop Saxenda, you can avoid putting the weight back on.

Is it ok to stop Saxenda suddenly?

It is safe to stop Saxenda suddenly and if you’re switching to Wegovy, you can stop straight away. There are no major health risks and no withdrawal that comes from stopping suddenly.

It is a good idea to stop Saxenda straight away if you’re having serious side effects.

How long it stays in your system

13 hours after taking a dose of Saxenda, half of the medication will already be out of your system. It takes a full 3 days from your last dose for your body to get rid of all the Saxenda completely.

Are there side effects to stopping?

It depends how fast you stop. If you stop slowly, there shouldn’t be any side effects, but stopping suddenly can make you feel sick. Saxenda doesn’t cause withdrawal or any other side effects when you stop it. The only other effect of stopping it is that your appetite will return to normal.

Also, if you were having side effects from taking Saxenda, these will go away once you stop taking it.

You can request Wegovy treatment by making an appointment with your regular GP or ordering it online from an online doctor service like ZAVA.

Your GP may refer you to a weight management specialist. They may decide to start you on Wegovy if:

• you’ve already tried losing weight using diet and exercise alone
• you’ve tried other weight loss medications like Orlistat already
• you’ve considered weight loss surgery but it’s not right for you

Alternatively if you order it online, a doctor will check it’s safe for you and you can start treatment that way instead. You will still need to provide your BMI since Wegovy is only for people who are overweight.

While there was a shortage of Ozempic in 2022 due to people ordering it for weight loss, as of Spring 2023 this shortage is being resolved. Novo Nordisk, the manufacturers of Ozempic and Wegovy, say they have been ramping up production for both medications.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33567185/ [Accessed April 2023]

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5358074/ [Accessed April 2023]

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8753508/ [Accessed April 2023]

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.2313.pdf [Accessed April 2023]

https://www.novo-pi.com/ozempic.pdf [Accessed April 2023]

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.13800.pdf [Accessed April 2023]