Saxenda vs Ozempic is really a weight-loss drug vs a diabetes drug. Saxenda (liraglutide) is a daily shot that's FDA-approved for weight loss in adults and teens 12 and up. Ozempic (semaglutide) is a weekly shot that's FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes, not weight loss. And Saxenda is being discontinued, with last shipments in late January 2027.
So if you're on Saxenda or were about to start it, the real question is what comes next. Below: what each one is approved for, what the trials showed, what each costs in 2026, and which option is the true like-for-like swap.
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 Ozempic at a glance
| Saxenda (liraglutide) | Ozempic (semaglutide) | |
|---|---|---|
| How often | Once a day | Once a week |
| FDA-approved for weight loss | Yes, adults and kids 12 and older (over 60 kg with obesity) | No |
| FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes | No | Yes, adults |
| Label dose | Starts at 0.6 mg, up to 3 mg daily | Starts at 0.25 mg, up to 2 mg weekly |
| Weight loss in its own label trials | 7.4% at 56 weeks (adults without diabetes; placebo 3.0%) | No weight-loss trial on its label |
| List price | $1,349.02 for 5 pens (about 30 days) | $1,027.51 per pen (28 days) |
| Manufacturer cash price | None posted; Saxenda's savings offer closed in 2023 | $349 a month (0.25 to 1 mg) or $499 (2 mg) |
| Future | Being discontinued; last shipments late January 2027 | Not on FDA's shortage or discontinuation list |
| Maker | Novo Nordisk | Novo Nordisk |
Sources for every row are in the sections below.
Neither is "better" for everyone. The right next step depends on whether you have type 2 diabetes, what your plan covers, and how you've done on Saxenda so far. If you want to see every option side by side, including weekly weight-loss shots and daily pills, The RX Index's Find My GLP-1 Path tool is free, takes about 2 minutes and needs no signup.
See which GLP-1 path fits you after Saxenda
Is Saxenda being discontinued?
Yes. Novo Nordisk says it's discontinuing Saxenda, with last shipments to wholesalers in late January 2027. It says the decision isn't because of any safety or quality concern. As alternatives became available, fewer people used Saxenda.
FDA's drug shortage list shows the same thing: Saxenda is "To Be Discontinued" and available until January 2027. Pharmacies may run low before then, so don't wait until your last pen to plan. Novo's customer care line is 1-800-727-6500. Our GLP-1 shortage tracker covers GLP-1 supply.
If you're on Saxenda now, talk to your prescriber about what's next. Our best Saxenda alternatives guide lists every option, and Saxenda insurance coverage covers what your plan may do before January 2027.
Is Ozempic stronger than Saxenda for weight loss?
Semaglutide, the drug in Ozempic, has beaten liraglutide, the drug in Saxenda, for weight loss in head-to-head trials. But no trial has tested Saxenda's 3 mg dose against an Ozempic dose. Here's what the two closest trials found:
| Trial | Who was in it | Semaglutide arm | Liraglutide arm | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEP 8 (68 weeks) | 338 adults with overweight or obesity, no diabetes | 2.4 mg weekly (the Wegovy dose) | 3.0 mg daily (the Saxenda dose) | 15.8% lost vs 6.4% lost |
| SUSTAIN 10 (30 weeks) | 577 adults with type 2 diabetes | 1.0 mg weekly (an Ozempic dose) | 1.2 mg daily (a Victoza dose) | 5.8 kg (about 12.8 lb) vs 1.9 kg (about 4.2 lb) |
What this means for you:
- STEP 8 is the real Saxenda matchup, but it used Wegovy's dose. At 2.4 mg, semaglutide is higher than any Ozempic dose (Ozempic tops out at 2 mg). For an average starting weight of about 230 lb, 15.8% is about 36 lb and 6.4% is about 15 lb (our math).
- Fewer people quit semaglutide. In STEP 8, 13.5% stopped semaglutide for any reason vs 27.6% for liraglutide. Stomach side effects were about equally common (84.1% vs 82.7%).
- SUSTAIN 10 used Ozempic's dose, but not Saxenda's. It compared diabetes doses in people with type 2 diabetes.
Both trials were open-label, meaning people knew which drug they were taking. Think of it like comparing two cars on different roads: both trials point the same way, but neither is the exact race you're asking about.
What is each one FDA-approved for?
Saxenda is approved for weight loss. Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabetes. That one difference drives coverage, price and which one your prescriber is likely to suggest.
| FDA-approved use | Saxenda | Ozempic |
|---|---|---|
| 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. Its label says safety and effectiveness in children haven't been established |
| Blood sugar control, adults with type 2 diabetes | No | Yes |
| Lower risk of major heart events, adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease | No | Yes |
| Lower risk of kidney decline, adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease | No | Yes |
A doctor can prescribe Ozempic "off-label" for weight loss, but your plan doesn't have to pay for that use, and Novo's own savings page describes Ozempic as a medicine to improve blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. The semaglutide brand that is FDA-approved for weight loss is Wegovy. Our Ozempic vs Wegovy comparison explains the difference.
Saxenda vs Ozempic side effects
They share the same main side effects: nausea, diarrhea, constipation and vomiting. Each label lists them from its own placebo-controlled trials, so these aren't head-to-head numbers:
| Nausea in each drug's own trials (not head to head) | Placebo | Drug |
|---|---|---|
| Saxenda 3 mg daily (adults, weight-loss trials) | 13.8% | 39.3% |
| Ozempic 0.5 mg weekly (type 2 diabetes trials) | 6.1% | 15.8% |
| Ozempic 1 mg weekly (type 2 diabetes trials) | 6.1% | 20.3% |
Both labels carry the same boxed warning, the FDA's most serious kind: in rodents, both drugs 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.
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 Ozempic cost: which is cheaper?
At list price, Ozempic costs less per month than Saxenda. Paying cash, Ozempic also has a posted manufacturer price and Saxenda doesn't. With insurance, it depends on why you're taking it.
List price is what Novo Nordisk charges wholesalers before discounts. Novo says most people with insurance don't pay it. Lined up to the same 28 days:
| Medicine | Pack | List price | Days it lasts (our math) | List price per 28 days (our math) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saxenda 3 mg daily | 5 pens | $1,349.02 | 30 | $1,259.09 |
| Ozempic, any dose | 1 pen | $1,027.51 | 28 | $1,027.51 |
Each Saxenda pen holds 18 mg, so five pens give 30 daily 3 mg doses. Each Ozempic pen lasts four weekly doses.
What you'd pay, path by path
| Your situation | Saxenda | Ozempic |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial plan that covers it | Your plan's copay. Saxenda's savings offer closed to new enrollees in 2023 | As little as $25 a month with Novo's savings card, up to $100 off a month, for up to 48 months, if your plan covers it |
| Paying cash | No manufacturer cash price posted. Ask your pharmacy | NovoCare self-pay: $349 a month (0.25 to 1 mg) or $499 (2 mg). New patients pay $199 for their first 2 fills of 0.25 or 0.5 mg through December 31, 2026 |
| Medicare Part D | Check your plan | Novo says most Part D plans cover Ozempic. Medicare patients can't use the $25 card |
Ozempic coverage usually depends on a type 2 diabetes diagnosis. Novo's own page says coverage depends on your plan's formulary and the FDA-approved use. If you don't have diabetes, a plan is far more likely to look at Wegovy, which is approved for weight loss. Wegovy's self-pay price is also $349 a month after a $199 intro for the first 2 months at 0.25 or 0.5 mg.
Self-pay purchases don't count toward your insurance deductible or out-of-pocket limit, Novo says. For more, see does insurance cover Ozempic, our Ozempic savings card guide and the cheapest ways to get Wegovy without insurance.
Compare GLP-1 costs for your situation
Should you switch from Saxenda to Ozempic?
Only if your prescriber agrees it fits, and for most people without diabetes, Ozempic 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 shot | Ozempic, which is approved for your diabetes and has the $25 card if your plan covers it |
| You don't have diabetes and want the closest weekly semaglutide | Wegovy, the weight-loss version of semaglutide (STEP 8 tested its dose against Saxenda's) |
| Your child, 12 or older, takes Saxenda | Ask the prescriber. Ozempic isn't approved for kids; Wegovy is approved for teens 12 and older |
| Saxenda works for you and you're doing fine | Ask whether to stay on it until supply ends, and plan the next step now |
| You're paying cash | Compare posted self-pay prices, since Saxenda has none and Ozempic and Wegovy do |
| Stomach side effects were your problem on Saxenda | Talk it through. Semaglutide 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.
If neither Saxenda nor Ozempic fits cleanly, our Wegovy vs Zepbound vs Saxenda comparison and GLP-1 FDA indications chart cover the rest of the field. Our Victoza vs Ozempic comparison covers the diabetes version of liraglutide.
Find the GLP-1 option that fits you
What we actually verified
- Read the Saxenda prescribing information (revised February 2026), the Ozempic prescribing information (revised May 2026) and the Wegovy prescribing information (revised June 2026) for uses, doses, pen sizes, warnings, side-effect rates and Saxenda's weight results.
- Read the STEP 8 and SUSTAIN 10 trial abstracts on PubMed.
- Opened NovoCare's Saxenda page for the discontinuation notice and the closed savings offer.
- Checked FDA's drug shortage data for liraglutide and semaglutide.
- Opened Novo Nordisk's Saxenda and Ozempic list price pages, and the Ozempic and Wegovy savings pages.
- Did the per-28-day, pound conversion and per-pack math ourselves.
All checks were done on November 2, 2026. What we did not do: get a quote from any insurer or pharmacy, check discount-card prices, or confirm the price or supply of generic liraglutide. Prices and supply change, so confirm before you fill.
Frequently asked questions
Is Saxenda the same as Ozempic?
No. Saxenda is liraglutide, a daily shot approved for weight loss. Ozempic is semaglutide, a weekly shot approved for type 2 diabetes. Both are GLP-1 medicines from Novo Nordisk, but they're different drugs with different doses.
Which works better for weight loss, Saxenda or Ozempic?
In the STEP 8 trial, semaglutide at the Wegovy dose of 2.4 mg led to 15.8% weight loss vs 6.4% for Saxenda's 3 mg dose over 68 weeks. No trial has tested Saxenda against an Ozempic dose, and Ozempic isn't FDA-approved for weight loss.
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 Ozempic cheaper?
At list price, Ozempic: $1,027.51 per 28-day pen vs $1,349.02 for Saxenda's 5-pen pack, which lasts about 30 days. Paying cash, Ozempic is $349 a month at 0.25 to 1 mg through NovoCare. Saxenda has no posted manufacturer cash price.
Can I switch from Saxenda to Ozempic?
Your prescriber can decide that. If you have type 2 diabetes, Ozempic may fit. If you don't, Wegovy, the weight-loss version of semaglutide, is the FDA-approved weekly option. Don't change medicines or doses on your own.
Can teenagers take Saxenda or Ozempic?
Saxenda is FDA-approved for weight loss in kids 12 and older who weigh more than 60 kg and have obesity. Ozempic's label says its safety and effectiveness in children haven't been established.
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.
Sources
- Saxenda prescribing information (Novo Nordisk, revised February 2026; checked November 2, 2026)
- Ozempic prescribing information (Novo Nordisk, revised May 2026; checked November 2, 2026)
- Wegovy prescribing information (Novo Nordisk, revised June 2026; checked November 2, 2026)
- STEP 8: weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg vs daily liraglutide 3.0 mg, JAMA, 2022 (PubMed) (checked November 2, 2026)
- SUSTAIN 10: semaglutide 1.0 mg vs liraglutide 1.2 mg, Diabetes & Metabolism, 2020 (PubMed) (checked November 2, 2026)
- NovoCare: Saxenda cost, coverage and discontinuation notice (checked November 2, 2026)
- FDA drug shortage data: liraglutide and semaglutide (FDA records posted or updated May–September 2026; checked November 2, 2026)
- Novo Nordisk: Saxenda pricing (list price) and Ozempic pricing (list price) (checked November 2, 2026)
- Ozempic: savings and self-pay offers (checked November 2, 2026)
- Wegovy: savings and self-pay offers (checked November 2, 2026)