Saxenda vs. Zepbound: 5 Differences Between These Weight-Loss Injections

Saxenda(liraglutide) andZepbound(tirzepatide) are two injectable weight-loss medications. Saxenda was the firstglucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1) agonistto be FDA approved for weight loss inadultsandadolescentsage 12 and older. Zepbound was thefirst in its classto be approved for weight loss in adults. It's a dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP)/GLP-1 receptor agonist.

With anincreasing numberof weight-loss medications, it's common to wonder how they differ. Are the dosages the same? Does one cause more weight loss than the others? Here, we'll review five differences to consider when comparingSaxenda versus Zepbound.

1. Different people are eligible for Saxenda and Zepbound

Not everyone is eligible to use Saxenda or Zepbound. Both medicationsare approvedfor chronic weight management in adults who meet the following body mass index (BMI) criteria:

• BMI of at least 30, or
• BMI of at least 27 and one or more weight-related conditions, such as high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, and obstructive sleep apnea

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• How they work:Saxenda and Zepbound act like incretins, which are natural gut hormones in the body. Learn more about howincretin-based medicationswork for weight loss.
• Losing weight:Medications can be a useful tool to help you lose weight. But dietary and lifestyle changes help provide the best results. Experts break downscience-backed tips for weight lossthat you can add to your routine.
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Unlike Zepbound,Saxenda is also approvedfor use in adolescents age 12 and older who have an initial body weight of greater than 132 lbs (60 kg) and a BMI that's equal to an adult BMI of 30.

2. Saxenda and Zepbound work in similar but different ways

Saxenda and Zepbound act like the actions ofgut hormonesin the body. The body releases these hormones after you eat, which help balance digestion, blood glucose (sugar), and appetite.

By acting like gut hormones, Saxenda and Zepbound do the following:

• Signal your pancreas to make more insulin
• Signal your liver to produce less new glucose
• Slow the passage of food through your digestive tract
• Target areas of the brain that regulateappetiteandfood cravings

Both Saxenda and Zepboundact likethe gut hormone GLP-1. But Zepboundalso actslike another hormone, GIP. This additional action is thought to enhance the effects listed above. And this is likely why it has a greater effect on weight loss.

Good to know:Some of these actions also make the two medications helpful in managing Type 2 diabetes. That's why the active ingredients in Saxenda and Zepbound are approved for diabetes under different brand names.Victoza(liraglutide) is alower-dose versionof Saxenda. AndMounjaro(tirzepatide) contains thesame medicationas Zepbound.

3. Zepbound likely causes more weight loss than Saxenda

There are no studies directly comparing Saxenda with Zepbound for weight loss. But individual clinical trial results suggest that Zepbound likely promotes more weight loss than Saxenda.

A72-week (16.5-month) studycompared the effects of Zepbound injection with aplacebo(an injection with no medication) in adults considered overweight or obese. People using the highest dose of Zepbound (15 mg) lost an average of 21% of their starting body weight.Real-world studieshave reported similar weight-loss results.

A56-week (13-month) studycompared Saxenda with placebo for adults considered overweight or obese. On average, people using the recommended maintenance dose of Saxenda (3 mg) lost 8% of their initial body weight. Real-world studies of people using Saxenda foundsimilar results.

4. Zepbound is injected less often than Saxenda

The dosages for Saxenda and Zepbound is one of the most obvious differences between them. Saxenda is aonce-dailyinjection. Zepbound is aonce-weeklyinjection. This distinction may be a factor in deciding which one is right for you.

Zepbound stays in your body longer than Saxenda. It has a half-life of5 days. Saxenda's half-life is much shorter than Zepbound's: about13 hours. A medication'shalf-lifeis the time it takes for your body to clear half of the medication. It helps researchers determine how much time should be between doses.

This difference in half-life is why you inject Zepbound only once a week but need to inject Saxenda once a day.

5. Zepbound comes as single-use pens and vials, while Saxenda is a multiple-dose pen

Zepbound is available as single-use, prefilled pens and single-dose vials that contain 0.5 mL of liquid (enough for one dose). The pens and vials come in six doses:

• 2.5 mg
• 5 mg
• 7.5 mg
• 10 mg
• 12.5 mg
• 15 mg

Zepbound pens comeready to use, with a needle preattached. But you'll need to purchase syringes and needles separately if you're using the single-dose vials.

Saxenda's prefilled penscontain 3 mL of liquid and are designed for multiple doses. Each pen can deliver five different doses:

• 0.6 mg
• 1.2 mg
• 1.8 mg
• 2.4 mg
• 3 mg

You'll need to purchase pen needles separately in order touse Saxenda pens. Unlike Zepbound, the needles aren't already attached. You should use a fresh pen needle for each dose. Saxenda doesn't come in single- or multiple-use vials.

Can you use both Saxenda and Zepbound?

No, you shouldn't use both Saxenda and Zepbound. These medications work similarly, so using them together can increase your risk ofside effects, such as nausea, constipation, and vomiting.

Using these medications together can also raise your risk ofmore serious side effects, such as low blood glucose (hypoglycemia). This is especially true if you also take certain diabetes medications, such asinsulin.

How to save on Saxenda and Zepbound

Saxenda and Zepbound are both available as brand-name medications. There are ways to save on your prescription, such asmanufacturer copay savings cardsand GoodRx coupons.

If you're eligible, you could pay as little as$25 for Zepboundper prescription with a copay savings card. GoodRx can help you saveover 20% offthe average retail price of Saxenda.

If cost is preventing you from accessing either medication, tell your prescriber. There are alternatives available for bothSaxendaandZepbound. Many of these are available as lower-cost generics or have cost-savings opportunities.

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" data-qa="ContentCalloutH2Title" The bottom line

Saxenda (liraglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide) are injectable weight-loss medications. They are similar in many ways, but they have a number of notable differences. These include who they're FDA approved for, how often you use them, and the injection devices they come in. You shouldn't use Saxenda and Zepbound together since this can raise the risk of side effects. Speak with a healthcare professional to determine which one may be better for you.

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