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

Most common
nausea (up to 39.3%)
diarrhea (up to 20.9%)
vomiting (up to 15.7%)
constipation (up to 19.4%)

Trulicity

Most common
nausea (up to 21.1%)
diarrhea (up to 13%)
vomiting (up to 13%)
abdominal pain (up to 13%)

Saxenda vs. Trulicity Dosage

Saxenda

Dosage
Dosage Table
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

Dosage
Dosage Table
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

Explore a range of common symptoms the Doctronic Symptom Checker can help you understand.