Liraglutide vs Semaglutide: Uses, Differences, & Results

Medical science and pharmaceutical innovation are always evolving. With this in mind, liraglutide and semaglutide are two drugs creating big waves in the load loss industry. These two medications offer a multifaceted approach to deal with not only diabetes but in addition how your body loses weight. 

Beyond their shared purpose, liraglutide and semaglutide belong to the identical category of GLP-1 receptor agonists yet possess enough unique attributes to warrant a comprehensive exploration.

This text details what you may expect from taking liraglutide and semaglutide for weight reduction and diabetes control. Furthermore, we are going to examine the security considerations surrounding their usage, dosages, and relative costs. The goal is to equip you with the insights to make your mind up if one among these drugs is true for you. 

Table of Contents:

• What Is Liraglutide?
• How Does Liraglutide Work?
• What Is Semaglutide?
• How Does Semaglutide Work?
• Semaglutide vs Liraglutide: What’s The Difference?
• Semaglutide vs Liraglutide: Dosing Schedules
• Liraglutide vs Semaglutide: Weight Loss
• Liraglutide vs Semaglutide: Diabetes
• Semaglutide vs Liraglutide: Side Effects
• Liraglutide vs Semaglutide: Cost
• FAQs

What Is Liraglutide?

Liraglutide is a drugs used to assist individuals with type 2 diabetes stabilize their blood sugar. Type 2 diabetes is when the blood sugar (glucose) level becomes abnormally high.

It happens because your body either doesn’t use insulin properly or doesn’t make enough of it. Insulin helps your body’s cells use sugar for energy. When sugar stays in your blood as a substitute of entering your cells, it will possibly lead to numerous health problems over time.

Liraglutide belongs to the category of medication called GLP-1 receptor agonists. These drugs mimic the consequences of a natural hormone called GLP-1, which regulates blood sugar levels after meals. Once you eat, GLP-1 stimulates insulin release from the pancreas, which helps lower blood sugar. 

Liraglutide acts like GLP-1, encouraging the pancreas to release insulin when needed and reducing the quantity of sugar produced by the liver. This leads to higher control of blood sugar levels throughout the day.

Moreover, liraglutide helps your weight reduction journey by making you’re feeling full and satisfied, resulting in less eating. Weight reduction is all about calories in and calories out. Liraglutide works by making it easier to limit what number of calories you’re taking in.

We discuss liraglutide’s role as an appetite suppressant in additional detail in our article: Do Appetite Suppressants Work?

How Does Liraglutide Work?

As mentioned, liraglutide helps control the quantity of sugar in our blood. It does this by telling our body to release insulin. It also slows down how quickly our stomach handles food and crushes our appetite.

Let’s break it down further:

• Blood Sugar Regulation: Liraglutide triggers insulin release from the pancreas, which helps transport glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream into cells. This reduces blood sugar levels, improves overall glycemic control, and may reduce the chance of heart problems.
• Slowed Digestion: Liraglutide slows down the emptying of the stomach’s contents into the intestines. This helps in reducing the speed at which glucose enters the bloodstream after meals, resulting in more stable blood sugar levels.
• Appetite Control: By acting on the brain’s appetite-regulating centers, liraglutide helps individuals feel fuller and more satisfied after eating, reducing overeating and promoting weight reduction.
• Liver Glucose Production: Liraglutide reduces the liver’s production of glucose, which is a vital think about managing glucose levels, especially in periods of fasting. Early research has also shown improvement in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
• Weight Loss Promotion: Beyond its effects on diabetes management, liraglutide’s impact on appetite and digestion makes it an efficient tool for weight reduction and reducing body mass index. The slower stomach emptying and increased fullness contribute to reduced calorie intake and sizeable weight reduction.

It is vital to notice that liraglutide is run as a subcutaneous injection (under the skin) to make sure its direct entry into the bloodstream. An injection bypasses the digestive system, allowing for more controlled and efficient motion.

What Is Semaglutide?

Semaglutide, like liraglutide, is an artificial compound that belongs to a bunch of pharmaceuticals often called GLP-1 receptor agonists. These medicines are designed to assist with type 2 diabetes and weight management.

Semaglutide also helps control glucose levels, insulin release, appetite, and how briskly our stomach digests food, making it helpful in coping with diabetes and chronic weight management issues.

You may have heard of semaglutide by its brand names, Ozempic and Wegovy. Ozempic is principally used to administer diabetes, while Wegovy is designed to assist with weight reduction. Each versions are given through shots under the skin. The cool thing is that you just only have to take them once every week, which makes things more convenient.

Semaglutide is currently one among the most well liked drugs on the planet for its weight reduction effects. Some have even called it a “miracle” weight reduction drug. By controlling blood sugar, improving how insulin works, making you’re feeling full, and slowing down digestion, semaglutide offers a comprehensive approach to weight reduction. 

As we dive into its features, perks, and things to take into consideration, we’ll see how semaglutide has the potential to remodel how we cope with diabetes and achieve lasting weight reduction.

Should you’re occupied with learning more about two different types of semaglutide, head to our article: Ozempic vs Rybelsus: Which One Is Higher?

How Does Semaglutide Work?

Semaglutide works very just like liraglutide. It’s like an intelligent helper on your body, controlling blood sugar, appetite, and weight control. 

Let’s take a straightforward take a look at how it really works:

• Blood Sugar Control: When you have got diabetes, your sugar levels can go haywire. Semaglutide steps in and tells your body to release more insulin. Insulin acts like a key, letting sugar into your cells, which helps lower sugar levels in your blood.
• Slow and Regular Digestion: Semaglutide helps control energy intake regulation, slowing down the speed at which your stomach empties. This implies sugar enters your bloodstream more regularly, stopping those quick spikes in sugar levels.
• Fullness: Sometimes, our brains do not get the message that we’re full, and we eat more. Semaglutide communicates along with your brain to signal it’s full sooner so you do not overeat.
• Weight Loss Support: By blunting appetite, semaglutide makes it easier to regulate your eating habits resulting in weight reduction and reducing body mass index.

In a nutshell, semaglutide is sort of a helper that talks to your body and brain to maintain your sugar levels regular, make you’re feeling full faster, and support your weight goals. It’s given as a shot and gets to work helping you manage diabetes and keep your weight in check.

Semaglutide vs Liraglutide: What’s The Difference?

Obviously, as we’ve got already discussed, there are a ton of similarities between semaglutide and liraglutide. Most notably, each drugs help control blood sugar and may aid in weight reduction. 

The essential difference is how often you’re taking them. Semaglutide is often taken once every week, while liraglutide is once each day. Also, semaglutide tends to be stronger, so you would possibly need a lower dose than liraglutide.

Let’s take a better look.

Dosing Schedule

Each medications can have long-term advantages, so chances are you’ll have to take them for quite some time – even for the remaining of your life – to maintain having fun with the positive effects. Nevertheless, if you happen to are taking them for weight reduction, when you reach your goal, you may transition off of it.

For semaglutide: It’s always taken once every week, which is good since you only get a shot one time every week. You will probably keep taking it for so long as your doctor recommends to administer your diabetes or weight.

For liraglutide: It’s typically taken once each day, so you have got to provide yourself a shot each day. Identical to with semaglutide, you will likely keep using it so long as your doctor suggests to regulate your diabetes or weight in check.

Here’s a weekly breakdown of the usual dosing schedule. Please note that Saxenda is a type of liraglutide, while Wegovy and Ozempic are types of semaglutide.

Liraglutide vs Semaglutide For Weight reduction

Each liraglutide and semaglutide are very effective weight reduction treatments, particularly if you have got excess body weight. As mentioned, along with controlling blood glucose, they reduce appetite. Weight-reduction plan is difficult, and being unable to stay it out long-term derails most individuals’s fat loss efforts. Using liraglutide and semaglutide as an appetite suppressant makes them so effective for weight reduction.

Although each are effective, the preliminary research tends to favor semaglutide. A 2022 study comparing the 2 drugs shows participants within the 2.4mg semaglutide treatment group have lost almost 16% of their body weight, in comparison with just over 6% within the 3mg liraglutide group¹.

Here is one Reddit user’s experience with semaglutide:

“7 weeks and down 23 kilos. I workout 6 days every week and eat what I need for probably the most part… My portions are naturally much smaller. I used to be on .25 for 4 weeks then on .5 dose since then. I won’t be increasing the dose because the .5 is working so well. I’ve never ever ever lost weight this easily. Love this med. Starting weight 200 kilos and now at 177 kilos!” (source)

You’ll be able to learn much more concerning the role semaglutide plays in weight reduction in our article: How Much Weight Can You Lose on Semaglutide?

You could find loads of satisfied people taking liraglutide as well. Here’s a Reddit user who’s thrilled: “I’m almost 8 weeks in. I began at 207 and I’ve lost 16 kilos thus far. Not too fast, but still regular by way of loss. I’m thrilled!” (source)

Keen on the appetite suppressant aspect of every weight reduction medication? You’ll be able to study more appetite suppressants by trying out our article: 7 Best Appetite Suppressants!

Liraglutide vs Semaglutide for Diabetes

Each semaglutide and liraglutide are effective medications for managing diabetes, however the alternative between them depends upon various aspects, including your individual needs, preferences, and your doctor’s advice.

Should you prefer fewer injections and are in search of a medicine that helps with diabetes and weight management, semaglutide is perhaps a superb alternative. Nevertheless, if you happen to’re comfortable with each day injections or prefer a rather milder approach to weight management, liraglutide may very well be an acceptable option.

Ultimately, your doctor is the most effective person to guide you. They’ll consider your medical history, any chronic disease, health status, insulin sensitivity evaluation, and other aspects to recommend the medication that aligns along with your needs and goals.

It is vital to debate your options and any concerns along with your healthcare provider to make the proper decision for you. 

Semaglutide vs Liraglutide: Side Effects

As with every drug, each liraglutide and semaglutide have some uncomfortable side effects. Most are minor, like nausea, bloating, cramping, and constipation. Nevertheless, in rare cases, there’s an increased risk of thyroid cancer while taking liraglutide².

These medications are generally considered protected for managing diabetes and weight reduction. They will and have helped many individuals, but like all medicines, they’re only suitable for some.

Talking to your doctor before starting any recent medication is basically necessary. They’ll aid you understand if semaglutide or liraglutide is a superb alternative, considering your health, needs, and another medications you is perhaps taking.

They’ll also monitor the way you’re doing and help manage any uncomfortable side effects you would possibly experience. Your safety and well-being are their top priority.

Liraglutide vs Semaglutide: Cost

Regarding cost, here’s a general overview, though do not forget that medication prices can change and vary based on location, insurance coverage, and pharmacy discounts.

• Semaglutide (Ozempic): Within the US, Ozempic costs about $800 to $1000 per thirty days without insurance. But many individuals have insurance that helps pay for it.
• Liraglutide (Victoza): Within the US, Victoza is perhaps around $1000 to $1500 per thirty days without insurance. Insurance can lower this cost. 

Insurance Coverage:

Within the US, most insurance policy cover these meds if needed. But how much they cover may be different. Some plans pay so much, while others might require you to pay more.

Other Countries:

Prices and coverage may be really different outside the US. Some countries have cheaper meds due to their healthcare systems. The names of the meds is perhaps different too.

Ask your doctor and insurance about costs. They’ll know the small print. If the value worries you, your doctor may need other options to suggest. It is often good to speak with them to find out your best plan.

FAQs

Listed here are a couple of answers to common questions on liraglutide and semaglutide.

Are you able to shed some pounds in a single month of semaglutide? 

Many individuals have experienced significant weight reduction in just one month of using semaglutide.

Do you gain weight back after stopping semaglutide? 

Weight regain is feasible after stopping semaglutide if healthy lifestyle habits aren’t maintained; nonetheless, if you happen to proceed weight-reduction plan and exercising, you may maintain your reduced baseline body weight after stopping the drug. To make sure the load stays off, follow one among these workout splits and this weight reduction meal plan.

Does semaglutide do away with belly fat? 

Semaglutide doesn’t explicitly goal belly fat but can contribute to weight reduction, possibly reducing belly fat.

Is liraglutide higher than Ozempic for weight reduction?

Liraglutide (Saxenda) and semaglutide (Ozempic) are effective for weight reduction, but individual responses may vary. Research shows semaglutide is best than liraglutide for weight reduction.

Can you’re taking Ozempic and Victoza at the identical time? 

As a result of potential interactions, combining Ozempic (Semaglutide) and Victoza (Liraglutide) shouldn’t be advisable.

Is Victoza insulin? 

No, Victoza (liraglutide) shouldn’t be insulin. It is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that helps manage glucose levels.

Can you’re taking Wegovy and Saxenda together? 

Wegovy (semaglutide) and Saxenda (liraglutide) are usually not advisable to be taken together since they’re similar.

Semaglutide vs Liraglutide: Final Thoughts

To sum it up, each semaglutide and liraglutide help manage diabetes and even weight reduction. They work barely otherwise, like how often you’re taking them and the way strong they’re for controlling blood sugar and appetite.

But the most effective alternative depends upon what you and your doctor think is true for you.

Talking to your doctor is crucial to aid you select the one that matches your needs. No matter your alternative, each offer plenty of advantages to aid you live a healthier and happier life.

Keen on learning more concerning the role semaglutide plays in weight reduction? Try our article: How Much Weight Can You Lose on Semaglutide?

References:

1. Rubino, D. M., Greenway, F. L., Khalid, U., O’Neil, P. M., Rosenstock, J., Sørrig, R., Wadden, T. A., Wizert, A., Garvey, W. T., & STEP 8 Investigators (2022). Effect of Weekly Subcutaneous Semaglutide vs Day by day Liraglutide on Body Weight in Adults With Obese or Obesity Without Diabetes: The STEP 8 Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. https://doi.org/10.1001/j
2. Funch, D., Mortimer, K., Ziyadeh, N. J., D Seeger, J., Zhou, L., Ng, E., Ross, D., Major-Pedersen, A., Bosch-Traberg, H., Gydesen, H., & Dore, D. D. (2021). Risk of Thyroid Cancer Related to Use of Liraglutide and Other Antidiabetic Drugs in a US Commercially Insured Population. Diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity : targets and therapy. https://doi.org/10.2147/DMSO.S305496