| Obesity
Qsymia vs Saxenda
Side-by-side clinical, coverage, and cost comparison for obesity.Deep comparison between: Qsymia vs Saxenda with Prescriber.AI
AI compares prescribing info and payer-specific access barriers across 1,200+ formularies. Here's a preview of what prescribers are already asking.Safety signalsSaxenda has a higher rate of injection site reactions vs Qsymia based on FDA-approved prescribing information
Coverage gaps3 major payers require step therapy for Saxenda but not Qsymia, including UnitedHealthcare
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Category
Qsymia
Saxenda
At A Glance
Oral
Once daily
Sympathomimetic amine anorectic combination
SC injection
Daily
GLP-1 receptor agonist
Indications
- Obesity
- Obesity
- Overweight and obesity
Dosing
Obesity Start 3.75 mg/23 mg orally once daily in the morning for 14 days, then increase to 7.5 mg/46 mg once daily; may escalate to 11.25 mg/69 mg then 15 mg/92 mg based on weight loss response; maximum dose 7.5 mg/46 mg in moderate or severe renal impairment or moderate hepatic impairment; avoid in severe hepatic impairment and end-stage renal disease on dialysis.
Obesity, Overweight and obesity Initiate at 0.6 mg SC once daily; escalate weekly to recommended dose of 3 mg SC once daily in abdomen, thigh, or upper arm; pediatric maintenance dose may be reduced to 2.4 mg daily if 3 mg not tolerated.
Contraindications
- Pregnancy
- Glaucoma
- Hyperthyroidism
- Concomitant use or within 14 days of stopping a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI)
- Known hypersensitivity to phentermine, topiramate, or any excipient in QSYMIA, or idiosyncrasy to sympathomimetic amines
- Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
- Serious hypersensitivity reaction to liraglutide or any excipient in SAXENDA
Adverse Reactions
Most common (>=5%) Paraesthesia, dizziness, dysgeusia, insomnia, constipation, dry mouth
Serious Embryo-fetal toxicity, suicidal behavior and ideation, acute angle-closure glaucoma, mood and sleep disorders, cognitive impairment, metabolic acidosis, decreased renal function, seizure with abrupt withdrawal, kidney stones, oligohydrosis and hyperthermia, hypokalemia, DRESS/multiorgan hypersensitivity, serious skin reactions, anaphylaxis and angioedema
Postmarketing Suicidal ideation, suicidal behavior, acute angle closure glaucoma, increased intraocular pressure, urticaria, elevation of blood pressure, ischemic events, euphoria, psychosis, tremor, anaphylaxis, angioedema, bullous skin reactions (erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis), pancreatitis, hepatic failure, hyperammonemia with or without encephalopathy, maculopathy
Most common (>=2%) Nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, injection site reaction, headache, hypoglycemia in T2DM, dyspepsia, fatigue, dizziness, abdominal pain, increased lipase, gastroenteritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, abdominal distension, eructation, flatulence
Serious Thyroid C-cell tumors, acute pancreatitis, acute gallbladder disease, hypoglycemia with concomitant anti-diabetic therapy, heart rate increase, acute kidney injury due to volume depletion, severe gastrointestinal reactions, hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis, pulmonary aspiration
Postmarketing Acute pancreatitis, hemorrhagic and necrotizing pancreatitis, ileus, hyperbilirubinemia, cholestasis, hepatitis, angioedema, anaphylactic reactions, medullary thyroid carcinoma, acute kidney injury, cutaneous amyloidosis, alopecia
Pharmacology
Phentermine, a sympathomimetic amine, reduces appetite via hypothalamic catecholamine release; topiramate enhances satiety and suppresses appetite through GABA augmentation, voltage-gated ion channel modulation, AMPA/kainate glutamate receptor inhibition, and carbonic anhydrase inhibition, though the precise mechanism of action for weight reduction is not fully established for either component.
Liraglutide is an acylated human GLP-1 receptor agonist with 97% amino acid sequence homology to endogenous human GLP-1(7-37) that binds and activates the GLP-1 receptor to reduce calorie intake and lower body weight; it also stimulates insulin secretion and reduces glucagon secretion in a glucose-dependent manner.
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Most Common Insurance
Anthem BCBS
Qsymia
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (10/12) · Step Therapy (0/12) · Qty limit (6/12)
Saxenda
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (10/12) · Step Therapy (10/12) · Qty limit (9/12)
UnitedHealthcare
Qsymia
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (4/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
Saxenda
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (5/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (5/8)
Humana
Qsymia
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (0/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · Qty limit (0/3)
Saxenda
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (3/3) · Step Therapy (3/3) · Qty limit (3/3)
Coverage data sourced from MMIT. Updated monthly.
Savings
No savings programs available for Qsymia.
No savings programs available for Saxenda.
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QsymiaView full Qsymia profile
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Clinical data sourced from FDA-approved labeling. Coverage data via MMIT. Updated monthly.