# Liraglutide vs Semaglutide: How They Differ | PepVault

Source: https://pepvault.app/peptides/compare/liraglutide-vs-semaglutide

Last updated: 2026-09-26

[Library](https://pepvault.app/peptides) [Comparisons](https://pepvault.app/peptides/compare) Liraglutide vs Semaglutide

Compared side by side

# Liraglutide vs semaglutide: how they differ

Reviewed September 2026 [How we check the library](https://pepvault.app/about#library)

## The short answer

Both are GLP-1 receptor agonists, and liraglutide is semaglutide’s predecessor: its half-life of about 13 hours means a daily shot, where semaglutide’s of about a week allows one a week. Both are FDA-approved, liraglutide as Victoza and Saxenda, semaglutide as Ozempic and Wegovy. Commonly reported: appetite drops on both, less dramatically on liraglutide.

## Side by side

| Compared | [Liraglutide](https://pepvault.app/peptides/liraglutide) | [Semaglutide](https://pepvault.app/peptides/semaglutide) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Category | Metabolic & GLP-1 | Metabolic & GLP-1 |
| Also known as | Victoza, Saxenda, Liraglutide injection | Ozempic, Wegovy |
| What it is | The predecessor to semaglutide: a GLP-1 receptor agonist that reduces appetite and improves blood sugar control, given as a daily injection rather than weekly. | A GLP-1 receptor agonist that mimics a gut hormone your body releases after eating: it reduces appetite and slows stomach emptying. |
| How it works | GLP-1 receptor agonist and predecessor to semaglutide. Stimulates insulin secretion, reduces glucagon, slows gastric emptying, and reduces appetite. Shorter half-life than semaglutide requiring daily dosing. FDA approved for type 2 diabetes (Victoza) and obesity (Saxenda). The labels step the dose up from 0.6 mg to minimize GI side effects. | GLP-1 receptor agonist that reduces appetite, slows gastric emptying, and improves glucose metabolism. FDA-approved for T2DM and obesity. Titrate dose slowly to minimize GI side effects. |
| Commonly reported | Appetite drops and meals end sooner, though less dramatically than on semaglutide or tirzepatide, with nausea during the climb to 3 mg. FDA-approved for diabetes (Victoza) and obesity (Saxenda), with one of the longest track records of any GLP-1 drug. | The constant background thoughts about food ("food noise") go quiet and portions shrink without effort, with nausea worst in the first days after each dose step. FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes, weight management, heart-risk reduction and MASH, with about 15% average weight loss at 68 weeks in its main trial. |
| Studied range | FDA label: 0.6–3 mg, starting dose 0.6 mg. | FDA label: 0.25–2.4 mg, starting dose 0.25 mg. |
| How often | Daily SubQ | Weekly SubQ |
| Half-life | ~13 hours | ~1 week (FDA label) |
| Route | SubQ injection | SubQ injection |
| Typical run | FDA-approved for daily use. Community uses continuously or until goal reached. | FDA-approved for ongoing use. Community uses indefinitely or until goal weight reached, then tapers. |
| Evidence | Established: clinical trials or FDA-approved use exists | Established: clinical trials or FDA-approved use exists |
| Common side effects | Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, pancreatitis risk, thyroid C-cell tumor risk (animal data) | Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, decreased appetite, fatigue, pancreatitis risk |

Typical run: Community practice — opinions vary. Not a clinical recommendation.

## Week by week

Each entry’s cards by day window, as the compound pages show them. Day 1 is the day you start it.

### Liraglutide

- Day 1–14 · 0.6 mg Starting dose — GI is the main thing
- Day 14–42 Titrating up — appetite really drops
- Day 42–168 Steady loss at target dose
- Day 168–365 Maintenance and long game

[Every card for liraglutide, with its sources](https://pepvault.app/peptides/liraglutide#weeks)

### Semaglutide

- Day 1–28 · 0.25 mg Gut is adapting
- Day 29–56 · 0.5 mg Appetite shifts are real now
- Day 57–112 · 1 mg Clinically useful weight loss kicks in
- Day 113–140 · 1.7 mg Max submaximal step
- Day 141–364 · 2.4 mg Full dose — the working dose
- Day 365+ Plateau territory — new baseline

[Every card for semaglutide, with its sources](https://pepvault.app/peptides/semaglutide#weeks)

## Questions people ask

### How long do liraglutide and semaglutide last?

The half-life of liraglutide is ~13 hours. The half-life of semaglutide is ~1 week (FDA label).

### How often are liraglutide and semaglutide taken?

Liraglutide: daily SubQ. Route: SubQ injection. Semaglutide: weekly SubQ. Route: SubQ injection.

### How are liraglutide and semaglutide dosed in research?

The FDA label range for liraglutide is 0.6–3 mg, with a 0.6 mg starting dose. The FDA label range for semaglutide is 0.25–2.4 mg, with a 0.25 mg starting dose.

### What are the common side effects of liraglutide and semaglutide?

For liraglutide, the library lists: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, pancreatitis risk, thyroid C-cell tumor risk (animal data). For semaglutide: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, decreased appetite, fatigue, pancreatitis risk.

## Each one in full

- [Liraglutide: dosage, half-life & reference guide](https://pepvault.app/peptides/liraglutide)
- [Semaglutide: dosage, half-life & reference guide](https://pepvault.app/peptides/semaglutide)
- [Liraglutide dose guide](https://pepvault.app/lab/dosage/liraglutide)
- [Semaglutide dose guide](https://pepvault.app/lab/dosage/semaglutide)

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## Track either one in PepVault

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## More comparisons

- [All peptide comparisons](https://pepvault.app/peptides/compare)
- [Semaglutide vs Tirzepatide](https://pepvault.app/peptides/compare/semaglutide-vs-tirzepatide)
- [Retatrutide vs Semaglutide](https://pepvault.app/peptides/compare/retatrutide-vs-semaglutide)
- [Orforglipron vs Semaglutide](https://pepvault.app/peptides/compare/orforglipron-vs-semaglutide)
- [Cagrilintide vs Semaglutide](https://pepvault.app/peptides/compare/cagrilintide-vs-semaglutide)
- [Retatrutide vs Tirzepatide](https://pepvault.app/peptides/compare/retatrutide-vs-tirzepatide)
- [Mazdutide vs Tirzepatide](https://pepvault.app/peptides/compare/mazdutide-vs-tirzepatide)

## The library

- [The peptide reference library](https://pepvault.app/peptides)
- [Metabolic & GLP-1 peptides](https://pepvault.app/peptides#metabolic)

## Free tools

- [The Dose Guide](https://pepvault.app/lab/dosage)
- [Half-life & active level](https://pepvault.app/tools/peptide-half-life-calculator)
- [Reconstitution calculator](https://pepvault.app/tools/reconstitution-calculator)
- [GLP-1 titration planner](https://pepvault.app/tools/glp1-titration-calculator)

PepVault is a research and tracking resource, not medical advice. Ranges are what studies used, never a dose for you. Brand names are trademarks of their owners; PepVault is independent of them.

PepVault is a private research and tracking tool, not medical advice. The information here is reference material from published literature and community use — always verify it and discuss any protocol with a qualified clinician before changing it. Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, Mounjaro, Zepbound, Saxenda, Victoza and Trulicity are trademarks of their respective owners; PepVault is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by any manufacturer.

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