Wegovy alternatives include other weight loss injections that contain a similar active ingredient, or weight loss tablets that work in different ways. Whether you cannot take Wegovy, or just want to explore your different options, here we look at the best weight loss treatments available at Superdrug Online Doctor.
Weight loss injections
Mounjaro
Mounjaro is a similar weight loss injection that contains the active ingredient tirzepatide. Like Wegovy, it helps you lose weight by reducing your appetite and increasing feelings of fullness. Instead of mimicking 1 hormone, tirzepatide mimics 2 hormones, which is thought to enhance appetite suppression.
Combined with a healthy diet and exercise, Mounjaro can lead to patients losing up to 22.5% of their starting weight (after 72 weeks of treatment on a maintenance dose of 15mg). Like Wegovy, Mounjaro is a weekly injection.
Liraglutide
Liraglutide is a generic weight loss injection of Saxenda, which is currently long-term out of stock. It contains the active ingredient liraglutide, which is in the same family of medications as Wegovy (semaglutide). It helps you lose weight by suppressing your appetite and reducing the amount of food you need to eat to feel full.
Over 56 weeks, the average weight loss on the maintenance dose (3mg) of liraglutide is 8%. While Wegovy is a weekly injection, you need to inject liraglutide every day.
Weight loss tablets
Orlistat (Xenical)
Orlistat and Xenical are weight loss tablets that reduce the amount of dietary fat absorbed by your body when you eat food. This excess fat is instead passed through the body as stool waste. You can take them up to 3 times a day, with meals containing fat. Orlistat is the unbranded (generic) version of Xenical.
alli
alli is a lower-dose version of orlistat that is available over the counter, which means you don’t need a doctor’s prescription to get it. It works in the same way as orlistat, by reducing the amount of fat absorbed from food you eat. A pharmacist or online doctor will still need to check your suitability before you can buy it.
Mysimba
Mysimba is a weight loss tablet that works like Wegovy on areas of your brain responsible for appetite helping you lose weight by suppressing your hunger levels. This may be a good alternative for people who want a medication that works like Wegovy but don’t want to take an injection.
What is the difference between Wegovy and Mounjaro?
The difference between Wegovy and Mounjaro is the active ingredient. Wegovy contains semaglutide while Mounjaro contains tirzepatide. They still belong to the same medication group and so have a similar effect on appetite and fullness levels.
Further differences between Wegovy and Mounjaro are highlighted in the table:
What is the difference between Wegovy and Ozempic?
The difference between Wegovy and Ozempic is what the medication is approved for. Wegovy is a weight loss injection while Ozempic is a type 2 diabetes treatment. Although they both contain semaglutide, they come in different doses because they are used for different reasons.
As well as helping with appetite, semaglutide can regulate blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Ozempic comes in a maximum dose of 2mg, and your doctor will only prescribe this dose if lower doses are not working well enough for blood sugar control.
Ozempic is rarely prescribed off-label for weight loss, as Wegovy and other alternatives are available. These work much better as their dosage schedule has been created specifically with weight loss in mind.