Medication Comparison
Semaglutide vs Liraglutide
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.
| Category | Semaglutide | Liraglutide |
|---|---|---|
| Brands | Ozempic / Wegovy | Victoza / Saxenda |
| Class | GLP-1 RA | GLP-1 RA |
| Administration | Weekly injection | Daily injection |
| Average weight loss | ~15% | ~8% |
| Compounded cost | $150-400/mo (compounded) | $100-300/mo (compounded) |
| Brand cost | $1,000-1,400/mo | $1,300-1,500/mo |
| Half-life | ~7 days | ~13 hours |
| Dosing frequency | Once weekly | Once daily |
| Key trial | STEP 1 (16.9% weight loss) | SCALE (8% weight loss) |
Best for Semaglutide
Most patients — better efficacy and convenience with weekly dosing
Best for Liraglutide
Patients who prefer daily dosing for gradual adjustment or cannot tolerate semaglutide
Semaglutide tradeoffs
Pros
- Once-weekly dosing
- Greater weight loss
- Oral option available
Cons
- Higher brand cost
- More potent GI side effects initially
Liraglutide tradeoffs
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
Common 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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