Saxenda vs Mounjaro is a daily weight-loss shot vs a weekly dual-hormone diabetes shot. Saxenda (liraglutide) is a once-daily GLP-1 injection from Novo Nordisk that is FDA-approved for weight management. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a once-weekly GIP and GLP-1 injection from Eli Lilly that is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes — not for weight loss under this brand name. And Saxenda is being discontinued, with last shipments to wholesalers in late January 2027.
There is no head-to-head trial of Saxenda against Mounjaro. In their own label studies, each drug did what it was approved to do — Saxenda for weight, Mounjaro for blood sugar (with weight change reported as a secondary finding). Coverage, diagnosis and dosing schedule usually decide the fit.
The RX Index is the independent GLP-1 decision resource that scores telehealth providers and treatment paths on clinical legitimacy, care quality, transparency, access and cost, so readers can choose the path that fits their situation.
Saxenda vs Mounjaro at a glance
| Saxenda (liraglutide) | Mounjaro (tirzepatide) | |
|---|---|---|
| How often | Once a day | Once a week |
| How it works | GLP-1 only | GIP and GLP-1 (two hormones) |
| Maker | Novo Nordisk | Eli Lilly |
| FDA-approved for weight loss | Yes — adults, and kids 12+ over 60 kg with obesity | No (tirzepatide for weight is Zepbound) |
| FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes | No (liraglutide for diabetes is Victoza) | Yes — adults and kids 10+ |
| Label dose (adults) | 0.6 mg start, up to 3 mg daily | 2.5 mg start, up to 15 mg weekly |
| Weight change in its own label trials | −7.4% at 56 weeks (adults without diabetes; placebo −3.0%) | −6.3 / −7.0 / −7.8 kg at 40 weeks on 5 / 10 / 15 mg in SURPASS-1 (diabetes monotherapy; placebo −1.0 kg) |
| Blood sugar (A1C) in its own label trials | Not a diabetes drug on this label | −1.8 / −1.7 / −1.7 points at 40 weeks on 5 / 10 / 15 mg (placebo −0.1) |
| Most common side effects | Nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, injection-site reactions, headache | Nausea, diarrhea, decreased appetite, vomiting, constipation, indigestion, belly pain |
| Serious shared warning | Boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumors; do not use with MTC or MEN 2 | Same boxed warning; do not use with MTC or MEN 2 |
| List / WAC (Nov 6, 2026) | $1,349.02 for a 5-pen pack (~30 days) | $1,112.16 per fill (4 pens / 28 days) |
| Cash path | No manufacturer cash price posted; savings offer closed 2023 | Starting at $499 a month via LillyDirect / TrumpRx path |
| Future | Being discontinued; last shipments late January 2027 | Not discontinued |
Sources for every row are in the sections below. Prices checked November 6, 2026.
If you're sorting out a weekly GLP-1 path after Saxenda — including options other than Mounjaro — The RX Index's Find My GLP-1 Path tool is free, takes about 2 minutes and needs no signup.
Is Saxenda being discontinued?
Yes. Novo Nordisk says it is discontinuing Saxenda, with last shipments to wholesalers in late January 2027. It says the decision is not because of any safety or quality concern. As alternatives became available, fewer people used Saxenda. Novo's customer care line is 1-800-727-6500.
If you're on Saxenda now, talk to your prescriber about what's next before your last pens run out. Our best Saxenda alternatives guide, Saxenda insurance coverage, Saxenda cost and GLP-1 shortage tracker cover the practical next steps. The three-way Wegovy vs Zepbound vs Saxenda page compares the weight-loss brands; this page stays on Saxenda vs Mounjaro only.
What is each one FDA-approved for?
They treat different jobs. That one difference drives coverage, price and which one your prescriber is likely to suggest.
| FDA-approved use | Saxenda | Mounjaro |
|---|---|---|
| Weight loss, adults with obesity or overweight plus a weight-related condition | Yes | No |
| Weight loss, kids 12 and older over 60 kg with obesity | Yes | No |
| Blood sugar control, adults with type 2 diabetes | No | Yes |
| Blood sugar control, kids 10 and older with type 2 diabetes | No | Yes (pediatric max 10 mg) |
| Lower risk of major heart events in adults with type 2 diabetes | No | Yes, if you are at high risk for these events |
| Obstructive sleep apnea | No | No (tirzepatide OSA indication is on Zepbound) |
Liraglutide for type 2 diabetes is sold as Victoza. Tirzepatide for weight loss is sold as Zepbound. See also the GLP-1 FDA indications chart.
Ro does not currently offer Mounjaro. It does offer Zepbound (same molecule for weight) and a free coverage check for select weekly brand-name pens.
Check your GLP-1 coverage with Ro for free (sponsored affiliate link, opens in a new tab)
How do the label results compare?
There is no trial that put Saxenda's 3 mg daily dose against a Mounjaro dose. Treat these as separate studies, not a scoreboard.
| Trial (on each drug's own label) | Who was in it | Result that matters most |
|---|---|---|
| Saxenda Study 1, 56 weeks | Adults with obesity, no diabetes | Weight −7.4% on Saxenda vs −3.0% on placebo |
| Saxenda Study 2, 56 weeks | Adults with type 2 diabetes | Weight −5.4% on Saxenda vs −1.7% on placebo |
| Mounjaro SURPASS-1, 40 weeks | Adults with type 2 diabetes, monotherapy | A1C −1.8 / −1.7 / −1.7 points on 5 / 10 / 15 mg vs −0.1 placebo; weight −6.3 / −7.0 / −7.8 kg vs −1.0 kg placebo |
What this means for you:
- Saxenda's label job is weight. The −7.4% figure is from people without diabetes in a 56-week weight-management trial.
- Mounjaro's label job is blood sugar. The A1C drops in SURPASS-1 are the primary diabetes result. The kilograms lost were measured in the same diabetes trial — useful context, not a weight-loss approval.
- Different lengths and populations. A 56-week obesity trial and a 40-week diabetes trial are not interchangeable.
If weight loss without diabetes is your goal, ask about weekly weight-loss brands (Wegovy or Zepbound), not Mounjaro. If type 2 diabetes is your goal, Mounjaro is in its lane; Saxenda is not a diabetes brand. More comparisons: Mounjaro vs Ozempic, Victoza vs Mounjaro, Trulicity vs Mounjaro and best GLP-1 for diabetes.
Saxenda vs Mounjaro side effects
They share the same main stomach side effects: nausea, diarrhea, constipation and vomiting. Each label lists rates from its own placebo-controlled trials, so these are not head-to-head numbers:
| Nausea in each drug's own trials (not head to head) | Placebo | Drug |
|---|---|---|
| Saxenda 3 mg daily (adult weight-loss trials) | 13.8% | 39.3% |
| Mounjaro 5 mg weekly (type 2 diabetes trials) | 4% | 12% |
| Mounjaro 10 mg weekly | 4% | 15% |
| Mounjaro 15 mg weekly | 4% | 18% |
Both labels carry the same boxed warning, the FDA's most serious kind: in rodents, medicines in this class caused thyroid C-cell tumors, and it isn't known if that happens in people. Do not use either if you or a family member has had medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), or if you have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Both labels also warn about pancreatitis, gallbladder problems, kidney injury from dehydration, and low blood sugar when used with insulin or sulfonylureas. See our GLP-1 side effects comparison chart.
Get medical help right away for severe belly pain that won't go away, signs of an allergic reaction, or a lump or swelling in your neck.
Saxenda vs Mounjaro cost: which is cheaper?
At list price, Mounjaro's monthly fill is lower than Saxenda's 5-pen pack. Paying cash, Mounjaro also has a posted manufacturer self-pay path and Saxenda does not. With insurance, it depends on why you're taking it.
| Medicine | Pack | List price (Nov 6, 2026) | Days it lasts (our math) | List per 28 days (our math) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saxenda 3 mg daily | 5 pens | $1,349.02 | 30 | $1,259.09 |
| Mounjaro, any strength | 4 pens (1 fill) | $1,112.16 | 28 | $1,112.16 |
Each Saxenda pen holds 18 mg, so five pens give 30 daily 3 mg doses. Each Mounjaro fill is four weekly pens.
What you'd pay, path by path
| Your situation | Saxenda | Mounjaro |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial plan that covers it | Your plan's copay. Saxenda's savings offer closed to new enrollees in 2023 | As little as $25 with Lilly's savings card when your plan covers it (terms apply; government beneficiaries excluded) |
| Paying cash | No manufacturer cash price posted. Ask your pharmacy | Starting at $499 a month via LillyDirect / TrumpRx path |
| Weight loss is the goal, cash | Ask about Wegovy or Zepbound cash offers instead | Mounjaro is the wrong brand for weight-loss coverage; ask about Zepbound |
| Medicare | Check your plan | Check Part D for diabetes coverage; Lilly's commercial card excludes government plans |
Details: Saxenda cost, Mounjaro cost without insurance, Mounjaro cost with insurance, Mounjaro savings card and cheapest Wegovy without insurance.
If you're leaving Saxenda and want a weekly weight-loss shot with published cash prices, Ro lists Zepbound KwikPen cash at $299 / $399 / $449 with the manufacturer offer (membership separate). Ro does not sell Mounjaro.
See Ro's Zepbound and GLP-1 cash prices (sponsored affiliate link, opens in a new tab)
Should you switch from Saxenda to Mounjaro?
Only if your prescriber agrees it fits — and for most people without type 2 diabetes, Mounjaro isn't the usual swap. Here's how the choice tends to break down:
| If this sounds like you | The option to ask your prescriber about first |
|---|---|
| You have type 2 diabetes and want a weekly dual-agonist shot | Mounjaro, which is approved for your diabetes |
| You don't have diabetes and want a weekly weight-loss shot | Wegovy or Zepbound — not Mounjaro |
| Your child takes Saxenda | Ask the prescriber. Mounjaro's pediatric indication is for type 2 diabetes (age 10+), not weight loss |
| Saxenda works for you and you're doing fine | Ask whether to stay until supply ends, and plan the next step now |
| You're paying cash for weight loss | Compare posted self-pay prices for Wegovy/Zepbound; Saxenda has none and Mounjaro's cash path is the diabetes brand |
| Stomach side effects were your problem on Saxenda | Talk it through. Tirzepatide causes them too |
Don't stop, start or change doses on your own. Switching between these medicines isn't milligram for milligram, and your prescriber decides the starting dose.
Still comparing options? See Saxenda vs Ozempic, Wegovy vs Zepbound vs Saxenda, Zepbound vs Mounjaro and the GLP-1 comparison hub.
Find the GLP-1 path that fits you after Saxenda
If your next step depends on what your plan will cover for a weekly brand-name pen, Ro's insurance team can check and handle the paperwork.
Let Ro's insurance team check your plan (sponsored affiliate link, opens in a new tab)
Safety before you choose
Do not use Saxenda or Mounjaro if you or a family member has had medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), or if you have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Stop and call your doctor for severe stomach pain that will not go away. If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, talk with your prescriber first; both labels say the medicine may cause fetal harm.
This page is information, not medical advice. The RX Index may earn a commission when you sign up with Ro through our links, which does not change the prices or our verdict.
What we actually verified
- Read the Saxenda prescribing information (revised February 2026) and the Mounjaro prescribing information (revised August 2026) for uses, doses, warnings, side-effect rates and label trial results.
- Opened NovoCare's Saxenda page for the discontinuation notice and the closed savings offer.
- Opened Novo Nordisk's Saxenda list-price page ($1,349.02) and TrumpRx's Mounjaro page ($1,112.16 list; $499 after stated savings).
- Read Ro's pricing page and Ro's Mounjaro page (Ro does not offer Mounjaro).
- Did the per-28-day and pound-conversion math ourselves.
All checks were done on November 6, 2026. What we did not do: invent a head-to-head trial, get a quote from any insurer or pharmacy, or state a generic Saxenda cash price we could not re-verify from a primary source today. Prices and supply change, so confirm before you fill.
Frequently asked questions
Is Saxenda the same as Mounjaro?
No. Saxenda is liraglutide, a daily shot approved for weight loss. Mounjaro is tirzepatide, a weekly dual GIP/GLP-1 shot approved for type 2 diabetes. Different drugs, different schedules, different FDA jobs.
Which is better for weight loss, Saxenda or Mounjaro?
Mounjaro is not FDA-approved for weight loss. Saxenda is. If weight loss is your goal, ask about Wegovy or Zepbound (the weight-loss tirzepatide brand). There is no head-to-head Saxenda vs Mounjaro weight trial on either label.
Why is Saxenda being discontinued?
Novo Nordisk says it's a business decision, not a safety or quality issue: fewer people are using Saxenda as newer options have arrived. Last shipments to wholesalers are planned for late January 2027.
Is Saxenda or Mounjaro cheaper?
At list price, Mounjaro's $1,112.16 per 28-day fill is lower than Saxenda's $1,349.02 for a ~30-day 5-pen pack. Paying cash, Mounjaro has a posted path starting at $499 a month; Saxenda has no posted manufacturer cash price.
Can I switch from Saxenda to Mounjaro?
Your prescriber can decide that. If you have type 2 diabetes, Mounjaro may fit. If you don't, a weight-loss weekly shot (Wegovy or Zepbound) is the usual FDA-approved lane. Don't change medicines or doses on your own.
Does Ro offer Mounjaro?
No. Ro's own Mounjaro page says it does not currently offer Mounjaro. It does offer Zepbound and a free coverage check for select weekly pens.
Can teenagers take Saxenda or Mounjaro?
Saxenda is FDA-approved for weight loss in kids 12 and older who weigh more than 60 kg and have obesity. Mounjaro is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes in kids 10 and older (max 10 mg), not for weight loss.
Sources
- Saxenda prescribing information (Novo Nordisk, revised February 2026; checked November 6, 2026)
- Mounjaro prescribing information (Eli Lilly, revised August 2026; checked November 6, 2026)
- NovoCare: Saxenda cost, coverage and discontinuation notice (checked November 6, 2026)
- Novo Nordisk: Saxenda pricing (list price) (checked November 6, 2026)
- TrumpRx: Mounjaro (checked November 6, 2026)
- Ro: pricing and Mounjaro page (checked November 6, 2026)
Still not sure which GLP-1 path fits you? Take The RX Index's free Find My GLP-1 Path quiz — about 2 minutes, no signup.