| WEGOVY | SAXENDA | XENICAL |
Active Ingredient | Semaglutide | Liraglutide | Orlistat |
How does it work? | Makes you feel fuller and reduces cravings | Makes you feel fuller and reduces cravings | Reduces how much fat your body absorbs from food |
How much weight can I lose? | Up to 15% after a year’s use (with lifestyle change)* | Up to 11% after a year’s use (with lifestyle change)* | Around 5% after a year’s use (with lifestyle change)* |
How do I take it? | It’s self-injected | It’s self-injected | You swallow a capsule |
When do I take it? | Once a Week | Once a Day | Up to three times a day with meals |
Does the dose change? | Dose increases every 4 weeks until you reach a maintenance dose** | Doses increases every week until you reach a maintenance dose** | The dose stays the same, 1 capsule up to three times a day |
Is it prescription only? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
How long do I take it for? | As obesity is treated as a chronic condition, weight loss medicines can
be taken long-term to help you reach a healthier weight. For long lasting weight loss you’ll need to make some key lifestyle
changes as well - we can help you with these. |
How else can you help me? | 10-week weight loss support programme, live webinars and lots of helpful information on our website and in your patient record from our expert in-house Lifestyle Medicine team*** We also have an exclusive WeightWatchers offer**** |
| OZEMPIC | RYBELSUS | MOUNJARO |
Active Ingredient | Semaglutide | Semaglutide | Tirzepatide |
Why don’t you offer these? | Both these medicines are licensed for treating Type 2 diabetes. Limited supplies mean these medicines should be prioritised for patients with diabetes. | This is licensed for treating Type 2 diabetes and is only available in the US*****. |
* Average weight loss seen in clinical studies. All patients also increased their physical activity and had a reduced calorie diet.
Clinical studies references:
(1) Wilding J et al. [2021]. Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity. N Engl J Med 2021; 384:989-1002. Available from Here [Accessed 31 March 2023]
(2) Pi-Sunyer X et al. [2015]. A randomized, controlled trial of 3.0 mg of liraglutide in weight management. N Engl J Med. 2015;373(1):11-22. Available from Here [Accessed 31 March 2023]
(3) Torgersen J et al. [2004]. XENical in the prevention of diabetes in obese subjects (XENDOS) study: a randomized study of orlistat as an adjunct to lifestyle changes for the prevention of type 2 diabetes in obese patients. Diabetes Care. 2004 Jan;27(1):155-61. doi: 10.2337/diacare.27.1.155. Erratum in: Diabetes Care. 2004 Mar;27(3):856. Available from Here [Accessed 31 March 2023]
** We’ll let you know the dosing schedule in your personalised treatment plan.
***Available free to all Boots Online Doctor customers.
****From only £7/ month for your first 6-months.
*****Mounjaro Clinical studies references:
(1) Rosenstock J et al. [2021]. Efficacy and safety of a novel dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist tirzepatide in patients with type 2 diabetes (SURPASS-1): a double-blind, randomised, phase 3 trial. The Lancet 2021; 398:143-155. Available from Here [Accessed 6 July 2023]
(2) Frías J et al. [2021]. Tirzepatide versus Semaglutide Once Weekly in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes. N Engl J Med 2021; 385:503-515. Available from Here [Accessed 6 July 2023]