Navigating Wegovy Alternatives: What You Need to Know

Wegovy is a type of prescription weight loss injection 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 body mass index (BMI) of over 27 and a health condition that affects your weight, such as high blood pressure, or
• a BMI of 30 or above

The active ingredient is semaglutide, which is a GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-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 (with help). It’s effective in over 80% of users and can lead to a weight loss of over 20%.

GLP-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 regimen.

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

• 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 isn’t the only GLP-1 receptor agonist available for weight loss. There are currently 2 approved and regulated injectable Wegovy alternatives, which are:

• Saxenda
• Mounjaro

There’s also a few diabetes injections that contain a GLP-1 receptor agonist but are prescribed for managing blood sugar levels. These are:

• Victoza
• Trulicity
• Ozempic

Please note these aren’t recommended for weight loss, although people with diabetes taking them may notice reduced appetite and weight loss as a side effect. Some services may offer these medications as an off-label (treatments being in a way they aren’t licensed for) weight loss treatment, but ZAVA Online Doctor does not offer this. As some services are classing these medications as weight loss injections, we’ll also discuss them here so you can have a clearer picture of what they are.

Mounjaro (tirzepatide)

Mounjaro is a prescription injectable medication approved in the UK for both weight loss and treating type 2 diabetes.. The active ingredient is tirzepatide, a GIP and GLP-1 agonist. This means it mimics 2 hormones (GIP and GLP-1), which:

• stimulates insulin release from the pancreas after eating (for blood sugar regulation)
• send signals to the brain that you are full
• slows 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

Is Wegovy or Mounjaro better for weight loss?

Recent studies have shown that Mounjaro may help more people to lose weight, as the percentage of people that lost 5% or more of their weight on Wegovy was 83.5% on the 2.4mg dose at 68 weeks compared to Mounjaro which was 96.3% on the 15mg dose after 72 weeks.

These studies were completed over a different number of weeks, so it’s unfair to say whether one is definitely more effective than the other. Although Mounjaro has shown higher results on the maximum maintenance dose of 15mg, not everybody will take this dose, as there’s also 2 other maintenance doses (5mg and 10mg).

Both are taken weekly and are a similar price, so it’s up to you which you’d prefer to try. You can also swap from Wegovy to Mounjaro as long as you wait 5 weeks between.

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 maintenance 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.

Currently, Saxenda is long-term out of stock, although there is going to be a generic liraglutide injection available in the future, but we aren’t yet sure on a date for this.

Wegovy vs Saxenda for weight loss

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

Is Wegovy or Saxenda better for weight loss?

For most people, Wegovy may be a better option for weight loss than Saxenda. This is because Wegovy only needs to be injected once per week, instead of every day like Saxenda. Wegovy also has a higher percentage of weight loss in clinical trials (as shown in the comparison table), although they were tested over a different number of weeks. Plus, Saxenda is currently unavailable, and we aren’t sure if or when it’ll be back in stock.

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. A side effect of taking Trulicity in people with diabetes is weight loss and reduced appetite, due to the active ingredient belonging to the same medication group as Wegovy (GLP-1 agonists).

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 a condition different from what it was originally intended for, 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

Is Wegovy or Trulicity better for weight loss?

As Trulicity is not approved as a weight loss medication, Wegovy is the best choice for those trying to lose weight. While there is currently no approved medication for weight loss that contains dulaglutide (the active ingredient in Trulicity), studies have shown that semaglutide is a more effective medication at helping people lose weight. This might change in the future if dulaglutide is researched as a weight loss medication in different doses.

Ozempic (semaglutide)

Ozempic is a type 2 diabetic treatment for managing blood sugar levels. Like Wegovy, Ozempic contains semaglutide, a GLP-1 agonist, so a side effect is reduced appetite and weight loss. The current dose for type 2 diabetes is a maintenance dose of 1mg, which is reached after gradually increasing dosage from the starting dose of 0.25mg. This is a much lower dose than the maintenance dose of Wegovy, which is 2.4mg, so is likely to be less effective for weight loss. 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

Is Wegovy or Ozempic better for weight loss?

Wegovy is a better option than Ozempic for weight loss. They use the same active ingredient, but Wegovy has been manufactured specifically to help people lose weight. It is available at a higher dosage than Ozempic, and it’s more suitable to help people lose weight.

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 may cause weight loss in people with diabetes as a side effect. Victoza should be taken once a day.

It’s currently not approved for weight loss, although it may be prescribed off-label. 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

Is Wegovy or Victoza better for weight loss?

Wegovy is better for weight loss than Victoza as it’s a licensed and approved medication. Clinical trials have been carried out to prove its effectiveness as a weight loss medication, while Victoza has only been proven to help with weight loss as a side effect. The doses of Victoza are lower too, which means you aren’t likely to see as effective results as you would with 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. These include:

• orlistat
• Xenical
• alli
• Mysimba

As with weight loss injections, there is an oral diabetes medication called Rybelsus that contains the same ingredient as Wegovy, and is being prescribed off-label for weight loss by some services. ZAVA Online Doctor doesn't offer this service, but we’ve included this information to give you more information on what Rybelsus is.

Wegovy vs orlistat (brand names alli, Xenical)

Orlistat (Xenical and alli) is a prescription weight loss pill that can prevent the digestion and absorption of fat. alli can be bought without a prescription but a pharmacist or doctor still needs to check it’s safe. When taken with a meal, orlistat stops around a third of the fat being absorbed, aiding with weight loss.

Is Wegovy or orlistat better for weight loss?

Wegovy can help patients lose more weight than those on orlistat according to clinical studies. However, orlistat may be a better option for patients who would rather take a tablet than an injection. They also work in different ways, so orlistat could be a good option for those who cannot take GLP-1 agonists. You can also get alli without a prescription, if you want to try a lower dose, over-the-counter weight loss tablet first.

Mysimba (naltrexone and bupropion hydrochloride)

Mysimba is a weight loss pill that also reduces appetite, like Wegovy. It contains 2 active ingredients: naltrexone and bupropion hydrochloride, which are thought to affect the parts of the brain responsible for hunger and energy levels, reducing appetite and cravings. You’ll take 2 pills, twice a day after following a dosage schedule to reach this dose.

Mysimba vs Wegovy for weight loss

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

Is Wegovy or Mysimba better for weight loss?

Wegovy and Mysimba have both been proven to be effective for weight loss in clinical trials, but people lost more weight with Wegovy. Mysimba may be a better choice if you can’t take GLP-1 agonists or you don’t want to take an injection. Wegovy may be preferred if you’d rather take a once-weekly injection rather than remember to take 4 pills each day.

Rybelsus (semaglutide)

Rybelsus is a type 2 diabetes pill that contains semaglutide, the same active ingredient found in Wegovy. It’s currently used to manage blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes, but can be prescribed off-label for weight loss in eligible patients. ZAVA Online Doctor doesn’t offer off-label Rybelsus prescriptions.

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

Is Wegovy or Rybelsus better for weight loss?

Wegovy is the only approved and licensed weight loss treatment out of the two. It’s been proven in clinical trials to work for weight loss, while Rybelsus has only been shown to have weight loss as a side effect. More studies need to be carried out into oral semaglutide before it’s ready to be approved as a weight loss treatment.

There is no natural alternative medication for Wegovy, but there are natural alternatives 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 weight loss surgery if medications and natural weight loss treatments do not work.

Wegovy is a highly effective weight loss injection medication that works for most people who try it. However, Mounjaro is a weight loss injection that works in a similar way, and has been proven to have slightly higher weight loss results (although clinical trials were done over a different number of weeks). If you are taking Wegovy and are seeing positive results, you may want to try switching to Mounjaro to see if your results improve.

If you find injections uncomfortable, there are a number of tablets for weight loss that can help, such as Mysimba and orlistat. While these medications are less effective than injections, they are still effective and may better suit your needs.