Rybelsus vs Saxenda: Weight Loss, Side Effects, Price
Rybelsus (semaglutide) and Saxenda (liraglutide) are both GLP-1 medicines, daily tablet versus daily injection.
A quick look at Rybelsus and Saxenda
A comparison of Rybelsus and Saxenda
| Rybelsus | Saxenda | |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine | Rybelsus |  Saxenda |
| Active ingredient | semaglutide | liraglutide |
| Manufacturer | Novo Nordisk | Novo Nordisk |
| How it is taken | Daily tablet | Daily injection |
| Approved for | Type 2 diabetes and heart risk | Weight loss |
| First FDA approval | 2019 | 2014 |
| Average weight loss in trials | Not listed | 7.4% (SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes, 56 weeks) |
| Most common side effect | Nausea 20% vs 6% on placebo | Nausea 39.3% vs 13.8% on placebo |
| List price | $1,027.51 per 30 tablets | $1,349.02 per 5 pens |
| FDA shortage | Resolved February 21, 2025 | On the FDA shortage list |
Sources: FDA label, FDA label (DailyMed), Novo Nordisk pricing, FDA.
Weight loss compared
Because no trial has compared them directly, the results come from separate trials. Those trials used different people and lasted different lengths.
| Trial | Who took part | Length | Group | Average weight loss | Placebo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes | Adults who have obesity or overweight but do not have type 2 diabetes | 56 weeks | Liraglutide 3.0 mg daily | 7.4% | 3% |
Trial sources: SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes (FDA label (DailyMed)).
Side effects compared
Each label ran a separate study that included its own placebo group. Compare each drug first with the placebo used in its own trials.
| Side effect | Rybelsus | Placebo (Rybelsus trials) | Saxenda | Placebo (Saxenda trials) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nausea | 20% | 6% | 39.3% | 13.8% |
| Abdominal Pain | 11% | 4% | Not listed | Not listed |
| Diarrhea | 10% | 4% | 20.9% | 9.9% |
| Decreased appetite | 9% | 1% | Not listed | Not listed |
| Vomiting | 8% | 3% | 15.7% | 3.9% |
| Constipation | 6% | 2% | 19.4% | 8.5% |
| Injection Site Reaction | Not listed | Not listed | 13.9% | 10.5% |
| Headache | Not listed | Not listed | 13.6% | 12.6% |
| Hypoglycemia in T2DM | Not listed | Not listed | 12.6% | 6.6% |
| Dyspepsia | Not listed | Not listed | 9.6% | 2.7% |
Price and coverage compared
In November 2026, a price check used notes 1 and 2 from Novo Nordisk pricing. See rybelsus.com.
Who should pick which?
- No needles needed: Rybelsus is a tablet, while Saxenda needs a daily injection.
- Saxenda alone is approved for weight loss without diabetes.
- Type 2 diabetes: Rybelsus is the only one with a diabetes approval.
- Rybelsus is approved to lower heart attack and stroke risk.
- Saxenda has approval for some children under 18.
Your prescriber reviews your health history and other medicines you take, along with your coverage. The choice to switch stays with them.