What is Wegovy? Wegovy is a brand name for semaglutide, a GLP-1 analogue. It is a weight loss drug manufactured by Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk.
Wegovy is an injectable weight loss medication that is being prescribed by Australian health professionals and doctors. Such is the popularity that the main component - Semaglutide - ran out of stock in pharmacies in Australia and worldwide in early 2023.
In Australia, Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is available through several major pharmacy retailers, including: Chemist Warehouse - Chemist Warehouse is one of the largest pharmacy chains in Australia, with over 400 stores nationwide. They carry Mounjaro and can dispense it with a valid prescription from your doctor.
Some people start seeing results from Saxenda in the first two to four weeks. You may lose about 2%—4% of your body weight. However, during clinical trials, people taking Saxenda saw a significant weight loss of at least 5% after eight weeks of treatment.
How much is saxenda in Australia in Australia can vary depending on several factors, such as the place of purchase, the form of the medication, and if it is covered by private health insurance. As a general estimate, the cost of a single pen of Saxenda (3 ml) can range from AUD 250 to AUD 400.
It also decelerates stomach emptying but reacts with other drugs that may enter your system. Moreover, there are many reported side effects and risks that question its credibility as a safe weight loss solution! It is for this reason that health care professionals discourage Saxenda.
According to the manufacturer, Saxenda has a list price of $1,349.02 for a 30-day supply. However, the cost of Saxenda varies for each patient depending on insurance plans, assistance programs, and more.
The most common side effects of Saxenda® in adults include nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, injection site reaction, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), headache, tiredness (fatigue), dizziness, stomach pain, and change in enzyme (lipase) levels in your blood.
Ozempic® is more effective for weight loss and blood sugar improvements than Saxenda®. Studies have also shown that Ozempic® leads to fewer side effects and adverse events than Saxenda® with people tolerating Ozempic® better.
Semaglutide, which is taken as a weekly injection that is self-administered, helps people with type 2 diabetes to control their blood sugar and in many cases also lose weight.
Mounjaro is a more effective drug than Saxenda. As demonstrated above, tirzepatide (the active ingredient in Mounjaro) leads to more clinically significant weight loss and blood sugar reductions than liraglutide (the active ingredient in Saxenda).
We do not currently offer Mounjaro (Tizepatide) at Simple Online Doctor as it is still awaiting release in the Australian market. Whilst it has been registered for use in Australia for people with type 2 diabetes by the therapeutic goods administration as of late 2022, it is yet to be released to the Australian public.
Ozempic is an injectable drug that is being prescribed off-label by Australian health professionals and doctors for weight loss. Originally meant as a diabetes treatment, the active ingredient Semaglutide has experienced supply issues in pharmaceutical wholesalers around Australia and the world.
Ozempic has a new rival: Mounjaro, also a diabetes drug, has led to average weight losses of 15 to 24 kg. A powerful new diabetes drug is poised to become a hit on the global weight loss market.
The use of Saxenda® is not recommended if you have severe heart failure. There is little experience with this medicine in patients of 75 years and older. It is not recommended if you are 75 years or older. There is little experience with this medicine in patients with kidney problems.
The Effects of Wegovy (Semaglutide)
Wegovy, like Saxenda, is a (GLP-1) receptor agonist. In clinical trials, Wegovy was shown to be associated with an increased heart rate at rest. 2This may be of concern, especially for those at risk of developing certain arrhythmias.
"This medication has led to significant amounts of weight loss, but when it stops, patients have reported gaining up to two-thirds of that weight back," Sutton said, citing published research.
In studies, significant weight loss of at least 5% was seen after 8 weeks of treatment. After one year of treatment in adults, 85% of patients treated with Saxenda lost weight (an average of 21 lb. [9.5 kg] weight loss, or 9.2% of their weight). Your results may be different.
They will decide if the medication is still the best option for you and is having the desired effect, however you should only continue over a period of 12 weeks if you demonstrate weight loss of 5% when used in conjunction with a calorie-controlled diet and regular exercise.
Saxenda starts working straight away, and you should see the effects within 2 weeks.
Drinking too much alcohol while on Saxenda can increase the risk of low blood sugar or hypoglycemia. Heavy alcohol drinking while on Saxenda can also increase the risk of pancreatitis and should be avoided when taking this medication.
Exercise. Another reason you may be gaining weight on Saxenda is you need more physical activity. Using medication alone is not enough, and getting enough exercise is essential to achieve weight loss results. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests 150 minutes of physical activity each week.