Liraglutide (the active ingredient in Saxenda and Victoza) and semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic) are two of the most studied options, and while they work through the same pathway, they differ in dosing, potency, side effects, and the kind of support they offer over time
However, they shared tips for reducing weight regain after ceasing use should a person need to stop
Discontinuation due to adverse events was reported as higher at the top dose than placebo
The NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health notes that weight effects appeared mainly at doses above 1 gram per day taken for more than 8 weeks
Yet weight regain after stopping anti-obesity pharmacotherapy is still too often interpreted as therapeutic failure
Real-World Comparison of Oral Versus Injectable Semaglutide for the Reduction of Hemoglobin A 1C and Weight in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes