Can You Take Saxenda and Mounjaro Together for Weight Loss?

Can You Take Saxenda and Mounjaro Together?

With the rising rates of obesity, more and more people are turning to prescription weight loss medications to help them lose weight. Two of the most popular injectable weight loss drugs are Saxenda and Mounjaro. But can you take both Saxenda and Mounjaro together safely and effectively?

What is Saxenda?

Saxenda is a brand name for the injectable weight loss drug liraglutide. It is an injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist and is approved for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or who are overweight with at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol.

Saxenda works by mimicking the hormone GLP-1 which helps regulate blood sugar levels and appetite. It slows down digestion and suppresses appetite by increasing feelings of fullness and satiety. This leads to reduced food intake and potential weight loss.

In clinical trials, people taking Saxenda lost an average of 5-10% of their body weight compared to placebo. The most common side effects are nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, low blood sugar, dizziness, headache, gallstones and increased heart rate.

What is Mounjaro?

Mounjaro is the brand name for tirzepatide, a new injectable weight loss medication that was approved by the FDA in May 2022. Like Saxenda, Mounjaro is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that mimics the hormone GLP-1 to reduce appetite and increase feelings of fullness.

In clinical trials, people taking Mounjaro had significantly greater weight loss compared to placebo and other obesity medications like Saxenda. People lost an average of 12-25% of their body weight on the highest doses of Mounjaro.

Mounjaro acts on both GLP-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptors to reduce appetite and improve blood sugar control. The most common side effects are nausea, diarrhea, decreased appetite, vomiting, constipation, indigestion and headaches.

Can You Take Saxenda and Mounjaro Together?

Saxenda and Mounjaro have not been studied for use together, so there is no data on the safety or efficacy of taking both medications at the same time. Saxenda and Mounjaro have similar mechanisms of action, so taking both together may increase the risk of side effects.

According to experts, it is not recommended to take Saxenda and Mounjaro together unless directed by a healthcare provider. There are a few reasons for this:

• Increased risk of side effects - Taking two GLP-1 receptor agonists together can increase the likelihood of gastrointestinal side effects like nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
• Unknown efficacy - It is unknown if taking Saxenda and Mounjaro together leads to additional weight loss compared to taking just one medication.
• Lack of research - There are no studies examining the safety or effectiveness of using Saxenda and Mounjaro concurrently.
• Increased cost - Both Saxenda and Mounjaro are expensive medications, so taking both would significantly increase the cost of treatment.

For these reasons, healthcare providers do not recommend taking Saxenda and Mounjaro simultaneously. If you are taking Saxenda, talk to your doctor before switching to Mounjaro as it may be more effective for weight loss.

Who Should Take Saxenda vs. Mounjaro?

Saxenda and Mounjaro are both effective for weight loss in people with obesity or who are overweight with weight-related conditions. However, there are some differences in who each medication may be more appropriate for:

• Saxenda may be preferred for: People who need to lose 5-10% of their body weight, have tried other weight loss medications like phentermine that have stopped working, or cannot afford or get access to Mounjaro.
• Mounjaro may be preferred for: People with type 2 diabetes needing blood sugar control and weight loss, people who need to lose 10% or more of their body weight, and people who have not had success losing weight with other medications like Saxenda.

Talk to your doctor about whether Saxenda or Mounjaro is more appropriate for your health history, weight loss goals and current medication regimen.

How Saxenda and Mounjaro Work for Weight Loss

Saxenda and Mounjaro work in similar ways to promote weight loss:

• They mimic the hormone GLP-1 leading to increased insulin production, slowed digestion and reduced appetite.
• They activate areas of the brain involved in appetite regulation to increase feelings of fullness and satiety.
• They may also delay gastric emptying to physically make you feel fuller for longer after eating.
• The combined effects of appetite suppression, slowed digestion and feelings of fullness allow you to reduce calorie intake leading to weight loss.

However, Mounjaro also activates GIP receptors while Saxenda only acts on GLP-1 receptors. The dual mechanism of Mounjaro leads to greater weight loss effects compared to Saxenda in clinical trials.

Dosage for Saxenda vs. Mounjaro

Saxenda and Mounjaro have different dosing schedules:

• Saxenda - Starting dose is 0.6 mg injected once daily. Increased by 0.6 mg each week up to 3.0 mg daily maintenance dose.
• Mounjaro - Starting dose is 2.5 mg injected once weekly. Increased by 2.5-5 mg each month up to maximum 15 mg weekly dose.

It is important to follow the dosage schedule provided by your healthcare provider. Inject Saxenda and Mounjaro subcutaneously into areas like the thighs, arms or abdomen. Proper injection technique should be shown by a medical professional.

Cost of Saxenda vs. Mounjaro

Both Saxenda and Mounjaro are brand-name prescription medications that can be expensive. However, Mounjaro is newer and costs significantly more than Saxenda. Here’s a comparison of costs:

• Saxenda - Around $1,300 per month without insurance. With insurance, copays can range from $15 to $200 per month.
• Mounjaro - Around $974 to $1,306 per month based on dosage. With insurance, copays average around $25 to $900 per month depending on insurance plan.

Talk to your insurance provider about specific medication coverage and costs. Pharmaceutical companies may offer savings programs for brand-name drugs like Saxenda and Mounjaro to reduce monthly costs.

The Bottom Line

In summary, Saxenda and Mounjaro are both effective injectable weight loss medications but have not been studied for concurrent use. It is not recommended to take both drugs together due to increased side effects and unknown risks.

Talk to your doctor about whether Saxenda or Mounjaro is more appropriate for your situation. While Mounjaro leads to greater average weight loss, Saxenda may still be a good option for some people needing less weight reduction or who cannot access or afford Mounjaro.

Carefully follow dosage instructions for either medication and let your healthcare provider know about any side effects. With proper medical supervision, medications like Saxenda and Mounjaro can be useful tools for losing weight along with diet and exercise.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.