Obesity is a global concern but is a more prevalent medical condition in developed countries around the world.
According to statistics, in 2019, 67% of men and 60% of women in the UK were classified as being overweight, out of which 26% of men and 29% of women were obese.
By definition, an adult with a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight, while an adult who has a BMI at or above 30 is considered obese.
These numbers are rather frightening because being overweight is associated with several severe medical conditions. It significantly increases your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and various types of cancer.
So if you are worried about your excess weight and have already tried the conventional approaches to weight loss, now is the time to try some weight loss supplements.
In the post below, we provide a comparison of Saxenda vs. Mysimba, two exceptional weight loss drugs. Let’s take a look at their mode of action, active ingredients, price, and reviews.
Comparison Table
| Mysimba | Saxenda | |
| Active Ingredients | Naltrexone hydrochloride and bupropion hydrochloride | Liraglutide |
| Mode of Action | Suppresses appetite and controls cravings | Makes you feel full for longer. |
| Availability | Tablets (Registered UK based pharmacies on prescription) | Injections (Registered UK based pharmacies on prescription) |
| Price | 112 tablets for £169.99224 tablets for £279.99 | 1, 3 ml pen for £75.993, 3 ml pens for £215.99 and5, 3 ml pens for £324.99. |
| Recommended Users | Obese (BMI of 30 or more)Overweight (BMI of 27 or more if at a risk of serious medical conditions) | Obese (BMI of 30 or more)Overweight (BMI of 27 or more if at a risk of serious medical conditions) |
| Average User Rating | 6.7 out of 10 (drugs.com) | 7.7 out of 10 (drugs.com) |
MySimba 8mg/90mg – Overview
Mysimba is a weight loss supplement available in the form of a tablet.
It is often prescribed to aid weight loss when diet and exercise alone are insufficient to produce the required result. It is one of the best weight loss supplements for obese individuals (BMI of 30 or more).
People with a BMI below 30 may be prescribed this drug only if they are at a greater risk of developing severe medical conditions such as high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol levels, cardiovascular diseases, and various types of cancers.
Active Ingredients
Though the exact mode of action is still now known, Mysimba contains two active ingredients naltrexone hydrochloride and bupropion hydrochloride that work together to suppress appetite and change your feeling about food.
Changed perception of foods along with reduced intake and moderate exercise leads to weight loss.
Availability
The drug is available in the form of tablets through any registered UK pharmacy.
However, since it is a prescribed drug, if you are unable to make an appointment or visit the doctor’s office, you can always schedule an online appointment and get your weight loss prescription and drug delivered at your doorstep.
How to Use it?
The dosage of Mysimba increases gradually as your body adjusts to the drug. You will start by taking one tablet every day and increase the dose gradually.
However, you should never use more than four tablets of Mysimba every day. Here is the recommended dose of the Mysimba.
Week 1 – One tablet, once in the morning.
Week 2 – One tablet, twice a day
Week 3 – Two tablets in the morning and one in the evening
Week 4 and onwards – Two tablets, twice daily
Since it is an FDA-approved weight loss drug and is only prescribed when all other weight loss measures have failed to produce results, the weight loss is closely monitored by your doctor.
If you have not lost 5% of your weight within the first 16 weeks of the treatment, it is best to consult your doctor and reconsider its use.
Price
A pack of 112 Mysimba tablets is available for £169.99, which can last for up to 6 weeks. You can also find a pack of 224 tablets for £279.99 that can last for a little over nine weeks.
Reviews
Contrave (the American brand name for Mysimba) has conducted studies to find its effect on weight loss.
The results indicated that over a period of 56 weeks, participants who used Mysimba (along with a healthy diet and moderate exercise) managed to lose around 5% of the body weight.
This was in comparison to 1% weight loss for people who relied on a healthy diet and moderate exercise alone. The drug has an average rating of 6.7 out of 10 on drugs.com.
Saxenda – Overview
Saxenda is also a prescription-only, weight loss medication that is designed as an alongside therapy with a healthy diet and moderate exercise.
However, it is different from all other weight loss medications as it comes in the form of injections.
It is recommended for people with a BMI of 30 or greater (obese) and overweight individuals (with a BMI of 27 or more) if they are at a higher risk of developing serious medical conditions.
Active Ingredients
Saxenda contains Liraglutide that mimics the mode of action of a naturally occurring hormone called GLP-1.
This hormone is released by the intestines after a meal that allows the brain to know when the stomach is full. Saxenda replicates this action of GLP-1, and as a result, a person taking Saxenda feels more satisfied and full even after eating less food.
Thus it helps reduce food intake and eventually leads to weight loss.
Availability
Saxenda is available in the form of a preloaded, injectable pen that can be easily used.
Just like Mysimba, Saxenda is also available on prescription. If you are unable to schedule an appointment at the doctor’s office, you can seek online consultation and a prescription that will allow you to get the drug delivered at your doorstep.
How to Use it?
As with any other medication, your doctor will prescribe the dosage of the drug, which starts from 0.6 mg per day and gradually increases up to 3 mg per day over a period of 5 weeks.
From week five onwards, you can continue to take 3 mg per day. Saxenda is easily injectable in the front of your abdomen or in your upper arm or thighs. The injectable pen needs to be stored in the refrigerator at a temperature below 30OC.
Just like Mysimba, the usage of Saxenda needs to be evaluated by the doctor after the first 12 weeks of the usage.
If you have failed to lose at least 5% of your initial weight, your doctor might need to reconsider your weight loss treatment.
Price
A single 3 ml Saxenda pen is available for £75.99.
However, the price per pen tends to decrease as you go for packs containing more pens. A pack of 3, 3 ml Saxenda pens is available for £215.99, and a pack of 5, 3 ml pens cost £324.99.
Reviews
Saxenda is considered to be one of the most effective weight loss medications. Since its launch, the drug has continued to receive many positive reviews and its effectiveness has been proven through several studies.
In one of the studies comprising of 3,731 participants, 60% of the participants taking Saxenda managed to lose 5% or more of their initial starting weight. Another 3 year study concluded that 56% of the participants using Saxenda injections achieved significant (5% or more) weight loss after the first year.
The drug has an average rating of 7.7 out of 10 on drugs.com.
Final Words
Both MySimba and Saxenda are incredibly effective for weight loss.
However, both these drugs come in different forms and have different modes of action. If you are looking for a weight reduction medication and not sure whether to use Mysimba vs. Saxenda, it is best to consult your doctor.
Based on your BMI, medical record, and risk assessment of health conditions, only a registered practitioner can recommend which medicine you need to use.
