Navigating Wegovy alternatives: What you need to know

The Wegovy injection is a safe and effective weight loss treatment, but it's not right for everybody. Fortunately, there are a number of alternatives to Wegovy that can help you lose weight such as Mounjaro and orlistat. Read on to find out more about alternatives to Wegovy, and find the best weight loss medication for you.

Wegovy isn’t the only weight loss injection available. There are currently 2 approved and regulated injectable Wegovy alternatives, which are:

• Mounjaro
• Generic Liraglutide (Nevolat)

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

*percentage of initial body weight lost by patients 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 90.7% on the 7.2mg dose at 72 weeks compared to Mounjaro which was 96.3% on the 15mg dose after 72 weeks. Mounjaro also leads to a slightly higher average weight loss of 22.5% after 72 weeks on the highest dose, compared to 21% for Wegovy.

Both are taken weekly and are a similar price, so it’s up to you which you’d prefer to try. You can also switch from Wegovy to Mounjaro as long as you speak to your doctor before doing so to check the right dose for you to start with.

For a more detailed comparison of these two medications, you can find more information on our dedicated Wegovy vs Mounjaro page.

Generic liraglutide, Nevolat 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.

*percentage initial body weight lost by patients on average according to clinical studies

Is Wegovy or liraglutide better for weight loss?

For most people, Wegovy may be a better option for weight loss than liraglutide. This is because Wegovy only needs to be injected once per week, instead of every day like liraglutide. 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.

There’s also a few diabetes injections that contain a GLP-1 receptor agonist but are prescribed for managing blood sugar levels. For example, you may have heard of Ozempic

Ozempic (semaglutide)

Ozempic which 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 maximum 2mg, 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 7.2mg, 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.

*percentage of initial body weight lost by patients 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.

You can find more information about how these two medications compare on our dedicated Wegovy vs Ozempic page.

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:

• Wegovy pill
• orlistat
• Xenical
• alli
• Mysimba

Wegovy pills vs injections

Wegovy pills contain the same active ingredient as the injections, semaglutide. Both treatments are both licensed for weight loss in the UK. The main difference is how they are taken. Wegovy pills are taken once daily, not weekly. They have to be taken with a small amount of water on an empty stomach, after 8 hours of no eating. You then need to wait 30 minutes before eating or drinking anything else. The dosage of the Wegovy pill is also different due to how the treatment is absorbed in the digestive system.

Are Wegovy pills or injections better for weight loss?

Wegovy injections are slightly more effective, leading to an average weight loss of 21% after 72 weeks on the highest dose compared to 17% for Wegovy pills after 64 weeks on the highest dose.

While injections are more effective, pills may be more convenient or suitable for some people who don’t feel comfortable self-injecting.

Wegovy vs orlistat (brand names alli, Xenical, and Orlos)

Orlistat (Xenical, Orlos, 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 another 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.

*percentage initial body weight loss 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.

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

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 medication that works for most people who try it. The most popular alternative is Mounjaro, which works similarly and has been proven to have slightly higher weight loss results, although both can cause significant weight loss. You can switch to Mounjaro if you want to improve your weight loss results, however, due to the price difference, this may not be possible for everyone.

If you’re not losing weight on Wegovy right now, there may be some changes you can make to kickstart your weight loss again, including making sure you’re eating the right foods.

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

AJMC (2020). Efficacy of Oral Semaglutide: Overview of the PIONEER Clinical Trial Program and Implications for Managed Care: https://www.ajmc.com/view/efficacy-of-oral-semaglutide-the-pioneer-clinical-trial-program-and-implications-for-managed-care, [accessed 17 August 2026]

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