What are the alternatives to Wegovy? (Updated June 2024)
We list the four main alternatives to get you going on your weight loss journey, including "Wegovy in a pill" from same manufacturer and the new block-buster alternative; Mounjaro from Eli Lilly.
1. Mounjaro (Tirzepatide)
Manufactured by the US pharmaceutical giant, Eli Lilly, Mounjaro is the commercial name for the ground-breaking medication Tirzepatide. It works in a similar way to Wegovy, but differs in its active ingredients and mechanisms of action - which result in significantly improved weight loss. Wegovy is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) that mimics the action of a hormone called GLP-1. It has demonstrated substantial weight loss in clinical trials, with many patients achieving over 15-20% reduction in body weight. Mounjaro is a dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and GLP-1 RA. This dual mechanism of action leads to even greater weight loss compared to semaglutide. Clinical trials have shown that Mounjaro can result in weight reduction of up to 25%, surpassing the weight loss achieved with semaglutide. Mounjaro is licensed for type 2 diabetes in the United Kingdom and was approved for use in the UK early in 2024.
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3. Rybelsus ("Wegovy in a pill")
Another alternative to Wegovy is Rybelsus - which contains the same activeingredient as Wegovy, Semaglutide, but is taken as a pill.
Rybelsus is an oral form of semaglutide is a medication used to treat obesity and overweight patients with a BMI of 27 or greater who also have at least one weight-related health condition such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol. Rybelsus is taken orally once a day without food, after you wake up - at least 30min before you have your breakfast.
3. Saxenda (Liraglutide)
According to the clinical trial data, Saxenda has a very similar weight loss profile to Wegovy in the first few months. Like Wegovy, Saxenda is manufactured by Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharmaceutical company, but has a different active ingredient - Liraglutide. Saxenda is licensed for weight loss and is an injectable pen which is taken daily. It works in exactly the same way as Wegovy - by making users feel full so they eat less and lose weight.
4. Orlistat / Xenical
For the most price-conscious, the obvious option is Orlistat, which is also marketed as Xenical. Orlistat works by blocking the absorption of some of the fat consumed in the diet. It is taken orally up to three times per day. Studies have shown that, on average, people taking Orlistat may lose up to 5% to 10% of their initial body weight over six months to a year. There is no dose increase or titration period with Orlistat. The recommended dose is one 120mg capsule taken with each main meal that contains fat, up to three times per day.
Published: 04 May 2023