Comparisons Semaglutide vs Liraglutide

Semaglutide vs Liraglutide

Side-by-side comparison of weight loss results, pricing, side effects, and clinical data.

Semaglutide

~15%

Liraglutide

~8%

Head-to-Head Comparison

Metric
SemaglutideOzempic / Wegovy
LiraglutideVictoza / Saxenda
Drug Class
GLP-1 RA
GLP-1 RA
Administration
Weekly injection
Daily injection
Dosing
Once weekly
Once daily
Avg. Weight Loss
~15%
~8%
Half-Life
~7 days
~13 hours
Compounded Cost
$150-400/mo (compounded)
$100-300/mo (compounded)
Brand Cost
$1,000-1,400/mo
$1,300-1,500/mo
FDA Approved
2021
2014
Key Trial
STEP 1 (16.9% weight loss)
SCALE (8% weight loss)

Side Effects Comparison

Semaglutide

  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting

Liraglutide

  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation

Pros & Cons

Semaglutide

Pros

  • +Once-weekly dosing
  • +Greater weight loss
  • +Oral option available

Cons

  • -Higher brand cost
  • -More potent GI side effects initially

Liraglutide

Pros

  • +Longest GLP-1 track record for obesity
  • +Daily dosing allows fine-tuned adjustment
  • +Well-studied safety profile

Cons

  • -Daily injections required
  • -Less weight loss than semaglutide
  • -Older generation

The Verdict

Semaglutide produces nearly twice the weight loss of liraglutide (~15% vs ~8%) with the convenience of weekly vs daily injections. Liraglutide has a longer safety record and daily dosing can allow more gradual titration for sensitive patients.

STEP 8 compared semaglutide 2.4mg weekly to liraglutide 3.0mg daily — semaglutide achieved 15.8% vs 6.4% weight loss.

Which Is Right for You?

Choose Semaglutide if...

Most patients — better efficacy and convenience with weekly dosing

Choose Liraglutide if...

Patients who prefer daily dosing for gradual adjustment or cannot tolerate semaglutide

Frequently Asked Questions

Is semaglutide better than liraglutide?

For weight loss, semaglutide is significantly more effective (~15% vs ~8%) and requires only weekly injections instead of daily. The STEP 8 trial directly confirmed semaglutide's superiority.

Why would anyone choose liraglutide over semaglutide?

Some patients prefer daily dosing for finer dose control, or they may not tolerate semaglutide. Liraglutide also has the longest safety track record among GLP-1s for obesity.

Can you switch from liraglutide to semaglutide?

Yes. Your doctor will typically stop liraglutide and start semaglutide at the lowest dose (0.25mg weekly), then titrate up over several weeks.

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