Wegovy vs. Saxenda: What's the difference?

Obesity is a complex yet worldwide health issue that is currently impacting thousands of individuals. It usually occurs when extra calories are stored in the body as fat. If an individual has a high-calorie(or high-energy) intake which isn't utilised through physical activity, that extra energy will be stored in the body as fat.

According to the NHS, the average physically active male needs approximately 2,500 calories and physically active female requires around 2,000 calories per day.

There are many reasons why obesity develops and some of them include:

• Eating large amounts of fast food or processed food - these foods are high in fat and sugar and contain excessive calories

• Eating fewer home-cooked meals and more restaurant/takeaway food - this food can be higher in fat than home-cooking

• Drinking too much alcohol - alcohol contains a lot of calories

• Eating bigger portions than required

• Comfort eating

• Underactive thyroid gland

• Cushing's Syndrome

• Certain medications such as steroids, some antidepressants etc

• A side effect of stopping smoking

• Genetic conditions such as Prader-Willi syndrome

Prescription medication is available to aid weight loss. These include weight loss injections and tablets. These medicines play a huge role in supporting weight loss and can be very impactful on a person's health and lifestyle.

Losing excess weight and modifying your food intake can have a significant impact on weight-related medical problems such as high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, and cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke etc.

The two current weight loss injections that are taking the weight loss world by storm are Saxenda and Wegovy. Wegovy is a once weekly injection whilst Saxenda is a daily injection. They both work by making an individual feel fuller, quicker and longer, decreasing their overall calorie intake.

An Overview of Wegovy

Wegovy is indicated alongside a calorie-controlled diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management. Containing the active ingredient semaglutide, wegovy belongs to the GLP-1 family of medications. These work by slowing gastric emptying, and regulating appetite.

Semaglutide works by mimicking the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 which targets an area of the brain that plays a part in regulating appetite. As a once-weekly treatment, it is taken on the same day at roughly the same time. Its important to stick to the dose schedule for safety and effectiveness.

In a 68-week trial, patients taking Wegovy achieved around 15% weight loss or around 35 pounds of body weight reduction. This shows a significantly greater weight loss in patients who take Wegovy compared to those just on lifestyle modifications.

Amount of weight lost with treatment depends on how well you implement healthy lifestyle changes. In short, fewer calories consumed and more calories burnt can lead to weight loss. Importantly, the treatment is not a 'magic pill'. Ultimately, treatment helps you to implement the lifestyle changes and should be emphasised rather than relying on the medication.

Wegovy Dosing Schedules

All patients new to treatment start at the initiaton dose of 0.25mg, increased in no sooner than 4-weekly intervals. Whilst the dose does not need to be increased if a patient is acheiving results on the lower doses, it may be increased to a maxiumum of 2.4mg or the newly approved 7.2mg once-weekly dose.

The dose should not be adjusted earlier than every 4 weeks as this interval helps the body adjust to treatment at each stage, reducing the risk of side effects.

As with all medicines, Wegovy can cause side effects though not everyone gets them. Common side effects include:

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Headaches

• Diarrhoea

• Constipation

• Stomach ache/ abdominal pain

• Tiredness

Altering the dose schedule (i.e. injecting in an interval other than every 7-days) or increasing the dose sooner than every 4 weeks increases the risk of side effects. The risk of pancreatitis - a severe side effect also increases if treatment not used alongside the prescribers directions.

An Overview of Saxenda

Saxenda is a licensed weight loss treatment that has been available to purchase for several years. It works similarly to the Wegovy but is a daily injection rather than weekly. Saxenda is a weight loss injection that helps regulate hunger and demonstrates clinically significant weight loss. Saxenda contains the active ingredient liraglutide and like semaglutide, also belongs to the GLP-1 group of medicines, and works on stomach emptying, reducing appetite, helping you to lose weight.

Saxenda begins to work right away, aiding appetite reduction in a few days. Again, results can vary between patients based on adherence to lifestyle modifications.

Common side effects of Saxenda include:

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Headache

• Diarrhoea

• Constipation

• Redness or inflammation at injection sites

For an extensive list of side effects, please see the patient information leaflet.

Saxenda cannot be used in pregnant or breastfeeding women as liraglutide can cause foetal harm.

Saxenda needs to be injected everyday, at roughly the same time each day.

How to use Saxenda

Check the fluid before injection - it must be clear and free of particles. If your medication is coloured, cloudy or has particles in it, do not use it and contact your provider immediately.

• Attach a new needle to the pen. A new needle must be used for each dose.

• Turn the dose selector until you have selected the correct and appropriate dose

• Remove the needle cap and insert the needle into the skin at a straight angle (90 degrees)

• Press the dose button and hold the pen into the skin for six seconds

• Remove the pen from the skin and dispose of the needle in a sharps bin.

Saxenda can be injected into the upper arm, abdomen or thigh, though, the abdomen is preferred. You should vary the site of injection on the chosen body part to prevent scarring or bruising to the area.

The dose starts at 0.6mg everyday for one week, then increased every week through 1.2mg daily, 1.8mg daily, 2.4mg daily until the maintenance dose of 3mg daily is reached.

Buying Saxenda and Wegovy

Both treatments can be accessed through Quick Meds via our private weight loss clinic. They are not over-the-counter medications and cannot be purchased without an in-depth consultation online and with our clinical pharmacists. Requirements must be met for the weight loss medication to be prescribed.

Saxenda and Wegovy can be requested online via the Quick Meds website. We require you to fill out an online questionnaire which is then assessed by our clinical pharmacists. This may be followed up with a call to discuss the drug in question and any key information you may require to safely use the treatment.

These treatments are available on the NHS but only through a specialist for weight management and the waiting list may be quite long.

Comparative Analysis: Wegovy Vs. Saxenda

Expert Opinions and Recommendations

Semaglutide and Liraglutide have already had a significant impact on the lives of many patients who have sought treatment through Quick Meds.

If you are having difficulties losing weight and need assistance, Wegovy or Saxenda may be the treatment you need.

Conclusion

Both Wegovy and Saxenda have their advantages and disadvantages and there may be personal reasons as to why you would prefer one over the other. Ultimately, the patient decides to choose a treatment that is best suited to them and their lifestyle.

The future of Obesity treatment is uncertain but we anticipate even greater things than what we currently have.