Saxenda vs. Trulicity
See how Saxenda and Trulicity compare on approved uses, dosing, side effects, and cost.
Key Takeaways
Saxenda is FDA-approved for chronic weight management, while Trulicity is approved for type 2 diabetes and used off-label for weight loss.
Saxenda requires a daily injection, while Trulicity only needs to be injected once a week.
Both carry a boxed warning for thyroid tumors seen in animal studies, and nausea is the most common side effect for each.
Saxenda vs. Trulicity Drug Summary
Saxenda
Saxenda (liraglutide) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist injected once a day under the skin for chronic weight management in adults and in adolescents 12-17 with obesity. It works by slowing digestion and reducing appetite, and it is not approved for treating diabetes.
Trulicity
Trulicity (dulaglutide) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist given as a once-weekly injection, approved to control blood sugar in type 2 diabetes and to lower cardiovascular risk in adults with diabetes and heart disease. It is sometimes prescribed off-label for weight loss, though it has no FDA weight-management approval.
Saxenda vs. Trulicity Side Effects
Saxenda
Trulicity
Saxenda vs. Trulicity Dosage
Saxenda
Trulicity
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 0.6 mg once daily | Week 1 |
| Maximum dose | 3 mg once daily | Week 5 onward |
| Dose changes | 4 increases | Every week |
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 0.75 mg once weekly | Weeks 1-4 |
| Maximum dose | 4.5 mg once weekly | If needed |
| Dose changes | 3 increases | Every 4 weeks |
Saxenda
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 0.6 mg once daily | Week 1 |
| Maximum dose | 3 mg once daily | Week 5 onward |
| Dose changes | 4 increases | Every week |
Trulicity
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 0.75 mg once weekly | Weeks 1-4 |
| Maximum dose | 4.5 mg once weekly | If needed |
| Dose changes | 3 increases | Every 4 weeks |
Saxenda vs. Trulicity Indications
Saxenda
Saxenda is FDA-approved for chronic weight management in adults with obesity, or who are overweight with a weight-related condition like high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes. It is also approved for adolescents 12-17 with obesity, but it is not approved to manage diabetes itself.
Adults with obesity (BMI 30 or higher)
Adults who are overweight (BMI 27+) with a weight-related condition
Adolescents 12-17 with obesity
Not approved for type 1 or type 2 diabetes
Trulicity
Trulicity is FDA-approved to improve blood sugar control in adults and children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes. It is also approved to lower the risk of major cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes and existing heart disease or multiple risk factors, and it is sometimes used off-label for weight loss.
Adults with type 2 diabetes
Children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes
Adults with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease or risk factors
Off-label: weight loss without diabetes
Saxenda vs. Trulicity Pros and Cons
Saxenda
Saxenda has the longest real-world track record among weight-loss GLP-1 drugs and is approved for both adults and teens, though its daily injection schedule is a bigger day-to-day commitment than newer options. Insurance coverage for weight-loss GLP-1 drugs remains inconsistent across plans.
Pros
FDA-approved specifically for chronic weight management
Approved for adolescents 12-17 with obesity
Dose can be fine-tuned in small daily increments during titration
Cons
Requires a daily injection instead of weekly
Higher rate of nausea reported in trials (up to 39.3%)
Roughly $1,300 to $1,350 per month without insurance, before savings programs
Trulicity
Trulicity's once-weekly injection and added heart-protective benefit make it a mainstay for type 2 diabetes care, but weight loss is not an FDA-approved use for it. It costs less on average than Saxenda before any insurance adjustments.
Pros
Only needs to be injected once a week
Also lowers cardiovascular risk in people with type 2 diabetes and heart disease
Roughly $987 to $1,065 per month without insurance, before savings programs
Cons
No FDA approval for weight loss, so that use is off-label
Not intended for people without type 2 diabetes seeking blood sugar goals
Fixed weekly dose steps offer less flexibility than daily titration
Common Symptoms and Related Diseases You Can Explore
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