What Prescription is Similar to Wegovy? 7 Options to Discuss With Your Doctor

Wegovy is a popular injectable prescription medication used for weight management. It contains semaglutide and helps regulate appetite while also improving feelings of fullness after meals. However, due to high demand and manufacturing constraints, Wegovy is often difficult to obtain nowadays.

If you’re looking for Wegovy alternatives to discuss with your doctor, there are several options that work in a similar way for weight loss.

Overview of Wegovy

Wegovy is a once-weekly injection that is self-administered under the skin. It is approved by the FDA for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or who are overweight with at least one weight-related condition like hypertension or type 2 diabetes.

It works by mimicking the incretin hormone GLP-1, which helps regulate blood sugar levels and appetite. Wegovy delays stomach emptying, leading to prolonged feelings of fullness and reduced food intake.

In clinical trials, Wegovy has been shown to result in significant weight loss, with an average of 12.4% reduction in body weight over 68 weeks when used alongside diet and exercise.

However, it does have some side effects like nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, and hypoglycemia. It is also not recommended for people with a personal or family history of certain endocrine tumors.

Prescription Alternatives Similar to Wegovy

Here are some prescription medications that work in a similar manner to Wegovy for weight management:

1. Saxenda

• Active ingredient: Liraglutide
• How it works: Saxenda is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, just like Wegovy. It regulates appetite and food intake.
• Dosage: Self-injected once daily
• Approved use: Weight management in adults with obesity or who are overweight with a weight-related condition.

2. Contrave

• Active ingredients: Naltrexone HCl + bupropion HCl
• How it works: Contrave affects appetite signaling in the body and brain to reduce food cravings.
• Dosage: Oral tablet taken twice daily
• Approved use: Chronic weight management

3. Qsymia

• Active ingredients: Phentermine + topiramate
• How it works: Qsymia decreases appetite and increases feelings of fullness. It also alters metabolism.
• Dosage: Oral capsule taken once daily
• Approved use: Chronic weight management

4. Xenical

• Active ingredient: Orlistat
• How it works: Xenical reduces the absorption of dietary fat in the gastrointestinal tract.
• Dosage: Oral capsule taken up to 3 times per day with meals
• Approved use: Weight management along with reduced-calorie diet

5. Phentermine

• Active ingredient: Phentermine hydrochloride
• How it works: Phentermine is an appetite suppressant that affects the central nervous system.
• Dosage: Oral capsule or tablet, taken once daily before breakfast or 1-2 hours after breakfast
• Approved use: Short-term weight loss (a few weeks) along with exercise and diet

6. Belviq

• Active ingredient: Lorcaserin hydrochloride
• How it works: Belviq activates serotonin receptors that regulate satiety signals.
• Dosage: Oral tablet twice daily
• Approved use: Chronic weight management in adults with obesity or who are overweight with a weight-related condition

7. Bontril

• Active ingredient: Phendimetrazine tartrate
• How it works: Bontril stimulates the central nervous system to decrease appetite.
• Dosage: Oral tablet 2-3 times per day before meals
• Approved use: Short-term weight loss for obese patients along with doctor-supervised reduced-calorie diet

Key Differences From Wegovy

While these prescription medications promote weight loss through different mechanisms, there are some key differences to note compared to Wegovy:

• Frequency of dosage: Wegovy only needs to be injected once per week while most alternatives are taken daily or multiple times a day.

• Route of administration: Alternatives like Xenical, Belviq, Qsymia, and Contrave are oral medications while Wegovy and Saxenda are injectable.

• Duration of treatment: Drugs like phentermine and diethylpropion are only approved for short-term use of a few weeks or months while Wegovy can be used longer-term.

• Side effect profile: The alternatives may have different types or rates of side effects like gastrointestinal issues, headaches, insomnia, dry mouth, or dizziness.

• Cost: While all these medications are expensive, some alternatives like phentermine tend to be cheaper compared to Wegovy. However, insurance coverage varies.

• Clinical results: Wegovy shows greater average weight loss (around 12%) than some alternatives based on clinical data.

Key Factors in Selecting an Alternative

If Wegovy is not accessible or suitable for you, discuss the following factors with your doctor to choose the most appropriate alternative medication:

• Your weight loss goals and targets – How much weight do you need to lose and by when? What rate of weight loss seems realistic?

• Any comorbidities or contraindications – Be sure to discuss your complete medical history and any conditions that may affect which obesity medications are recommended for you.

• Medication safety – Carefully evaluate the potential risks and side effects of each drug.

• Treatment duration needed – Some drugs like phentermine work only short-term while others can be taken long-term for weight maintenance.

• Cost and insurance coverage – Choose a medication that’s reasonably affordable with your health insurance plan or discount programs.

• Route and frequency of administration – Injectable vs. oral medication, once daily vs. multiple times per day, etc.

• Lifestyle changes – These medications work best along with a reduced-calorie diet and exercise program. Assess your ability to make necessary lifestyle modifications.

Talk to Your Doctor

While Wegovy is very effective for weight loss in many people, it doesn’t work for everyone. Alternative anti-obesity medications with different mechanisms of action, side effect profiles, costs, and dosing convenience may be a better fit for your needs.

Have an open discussion with your healthcare provider about the pros and cons of Wegovy alternatives like Saxenda, Qsymia, Xenical, and others. Together, you can determine if another prescription option makes more sense for your health goals and circumstances.

Weight management medications should always be taken under medical supervision, along with adopting healthy nutrition and exercise habits. Thorough medical evaluation is needed to prescribe them safely and set realistic expectations.

Don’t try to obtain weight loss drugs without a prescription or use medications not meant for this purpose. Only an experienced doctor can help you decide if obesity medication is appropriate and select the right one tailored to your situation.