Mounjaro vs. Saxenda: 7 Differences You Should Know About
Key takeaways:
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Saxenda (liraglutide) are injectable medications that have several notable differences. Mounjaro is FDA approved for adults with Type 2 diabetes. Saxenda is approved for chronic weight management for certain adults and adolescents ages 12 and older.
People typically lose more weight with Mounjaro than Saxenda. But Mounjaro isn’t approved for weight loss and may not be covered by your insurance if you don’t have Type 2 diabetes.
Mounjaro and Saxenda have different dosage schedules. Mounjaro comes as a single-dose pen or vial that should be injected once a week. Saxenda is available as a multiple-dose pen that should be used once a day.
Table of contents
Injectable medications that can lead to significant weight loss are increasingly popular. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Saxenda (liraglutide) are two examples. And while they have similar actions in the body, they have several distinctions. These include their FDA-approved uses and dosage schedules.
Below are seven differences you should know about when comparing Mounjaro and Saxenda.
1. Mounjaro and Saxenda have different FDA-approved uses
One of the most obvious differences between Mounjaro and Saxenda is that they’re FDA approved for different reasons.
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Mounjaro is approved for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. People tend to experience significant weight loss while using Mounjaro, which is one reason it may be added to your diabetes treatment plan. But it’s not approved for weight loss. If you’re using this medication for weight loss alone, it’s considered an off-label use.
Saxenda is approved for chronic weight management in people who meet certain body mass index (BMI) criteria. It’s not approved for Type 2 diabetes. But Saxenda may help lower your blood glucose (sugar) levels.
Good to know: There is a version of tirzepatide (Mounjaro’s active ingredient) called Zepbound that’s approved for chronic weight management. Similarly, there’s a form of liraglutide (Saxenda’s active ingredient) called Victoza that’s approved for Type 2 diabetes.
How they work: Mounjaro and Saxenda act like incretins, natural gut hormones in the body. Learn more about how incretin-based medications work for weight loss.
What it feels like: Three people share their experiences with Mounjaro, which can be beneficial for many people living with Type 2 diabetes.
What is available: Many medications are available to help people lose weight. From injections to pills, learn more about new weight-loss medications on the horizon.
2. Different people are eligible for Mounjaro and Saxenda
In addition to having different uses, Mounjaro and Saxenda are approved for different age ranges.
Mounjaro is approved only for use in adults. It’s being studied for safety and effectiveness in children ages 10 and older. This clinical trial is expected to be completed in early 2025. There are no body-weight requirements on Mounjaro’s label.
Saxenda is approved for adults and adolescents ages 12 and older who meet certain BMI criteria. The following people may be eligible to use Saxenda for chronic weight management:
Adults with a BMI of 30 or more
Adults with a BMI of 27 who also have a weight-related health condition, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or Type 2 diabetes
Adolescents ages 12 and older who have a body weight greater than 132 lbs and a BMI that corresponds to 30 or more for adults
3. Mounjaro and Saxenda work in similar but different ways
Both Mounjaro and Saxenda work by acting like incretins (hormones in your gut). Among other actions, incretins tell your pancreas to release insulin after eating and your liver to make less new glucose. They also slow down the passage of food through your digestive tract, causing you to feel fuller longer.
Saxenda is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist. It acts like the GLP-1 hormone found naturally in your body. When using Saxenda, it also affects the part of your brain that regulates your appetite and feelings of fullness, which can help you lose weight.
Mounjaro also simulates GLP-1. But it acts like a second incretin, called glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). So Mounjaro is known as a dual GIP / GLP-1 receptor agonist. This added target helps it lower blood glucose more than GLP-1 agonists that are used for diabetes, such as Ozempic (semaglutide).
4. Mounjaro likely causes more weight loss than Saxenda
Mounjaro and Saxenda have not been directly compared in clinical trials. But based on results of individual studies, it’s likely that Mounjaro leads to more weight loss than Saxenda.
In a 72-week (16.5 months) clinical trial, Mounjaro was compared with placebo (an injection with no medication) in people with Type 2 diabetes. People using the highest Mounjaro dose (15 mg) lost close to 16% of their starting body weight. People using a lower, 10 mg dose lost a little more than 13%.
Keep in mind that Mounjaro isn’t approved for weight loss. But Zepbound (tirzepatide for weight loss) had similar results. In a 72-week clinical trial of people without Type 2 diabetes, those using Zepbound lost nearly 21% of their body weight with the 15 mg dose.
In a 56-week (about 13 months) clinical trial, Saxenda was also compared with placebo in people without diabetes. People using Saxenda lost an average of 8% of their starting body weight.
5. Mounjaro and Saxenda have different dosages
The recommended dosages for Mounjaro and Saxenda are another difference to consider.
Mounjaro lasts longer in your body than Saxenda. You need to inject your dose only once a week. This may make it a more convenient option for some people. You can inject Mounjaro at any time of day, with or without food. Just be sure to inject yourself on the same day each week.
If you’re taking Saxenda, you’ll have to inject once a day. Similar to Mounjaro, you can inject your dose at any time of day, without regard to meals.
6. Mounjaro comes as single-use pens, while Saxenda is a multiple-dose pen
Mounjaro and Saxenda also differ in their injection devices. The pens have distinct shapes. But the bigger difference lies in whether you use the device more than once.
When you get Mounjaro from the pharmacy, you should receive a box of four single-dose pens. Each Mounjaro pen contains one dose with a needle already attached to it. After you inject your weekly dose, discard your pen in a sharps container.
Saxenda comes in a box of three or five multidose pens. Each pen contains multiple doses and is meant to be used more than once. You’ll need to purchase pen needles to attach to your Saxenda pen. Once you inject your daily dose, be sure to throw away the pen needle in a sharps container and replace it with a new one when it’s time for your next dose.
Keep in mind that only one person should use a Saxenda pen. You shouldn't share pens, even if someone else uses the same amount of Saxenda as you.
Good to know: Mounjaro also comes as single-dose vials. Like the pens, the vials contain only one dose of medication. You should throw them away after your dose. Keep in mind that you’ll need to use syringes to draw up Mounjaro from vials. Be sure to discard them in a sharps container and use a fresh syringe for every dose.
7. Insurance coverage may be different for Mounjaro and Saxenda
Insurance coverage for Mounjaro and Saxenda depends on the plan you have.
Your plan may cover Mounjaro if you’re using it for Type 2 diabetes. But your insurance plan may require extra steps, such as a prior authorization, before they’ll cover it. If you’re taking Mounjaro off-label for weight loss, your plan may not cover it. In this case, you may want to check whether your plan covers Zepbound, since it’s approved for chronic weight management.
Depending on your insurance plan, Saxenda coverage may be a little different. Most weight-loss medications are not covered by Medicare. But it may be covered by Medicaid or private insurance plans. Contact your plan to see what weight-loss medications they cover.
Can you use both Mounjaro and Saxenda?
No, you shouldn’t combine Mounjaro and Saxenda. You should use only one. Combining them raises your risk of side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Keep in mind that if you have Type 2 diabetes, your prescriber may prefer Mounjaro. That’s because it’s approved for this use, and Saxenda is not.
If you are taking either Mounjaro or Saxenda and haven’t achieved the results you were expecting, tell your healthcare team. They can advise you about your options.
How to save on Mounjaro and Saxenda
Mounjaro and Saxenda are both available as brand-name medications. There are ways to save on your prescription, such as manufacturer copay savings cards and GoodRx discounts.
If you’re eligible, you could pay as little as $25 for Mounjaro with a copay savings card. Keep in mind that you may need a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis to qualify. GoodRx can help you save over 20% off the average retail price of Saxenda.
The bottom line
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Saxenda (liraglutide) are injectable medications that share similarities in how they work in your body. But they have several differences, including how often you inject them and the types of injector pens they come in.
People typically lose more weight with Mounjaro, but it’s FDA approved only to treat Type 2 diabetes. Saxenda is approved for chronic weight management. Mounjaro is also approved only for adults. Certain adults and adolescents ages 12 and older may be eligible for Saxenda.
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References
ClinicalTrials.gov. (2024). A study to evaluate tirzepatide (LY3298176) in pediatric and adolescent participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus inadequately controlled with metformin or basal insulin or both (SURPASS-PEDS). U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Eli Lilly and Company. (2023). Lilly’s tirzepatide achieved up to 15.7% weight loss in adults with obesity or overweight and type 2 diabetes in SURMOUNT-2.
Eli Lilly and Company. (2023). Mounjaro- tirzepatide injection, solution [package insert].
Jastreboff, A. M., et al. (2022). Tirzepatide once weekly for the treatment of obesity. The New England Journal of Medicine.
Novo Nordisk. (2023). Saxenda- liraglutide injection, solution [package insert].
Pi-Sunyer, X., et al. (2015). A randomized, controlled trial of 3.0 mg of liraglutide in weight management. The New England Journal of Medicine.
