Weight Loss Injections: Every Option Ranked and Compared

Five years ago there was one weight loss shot. Now there are seven, with more in the pipeline, and the differences between them are bigger than most people realize.

This page covers every weight loss injection available in 2026: the names, how each one is dosed, who qualifies, what it costs, the side effects, the contraindications, and how to pick the one that fits your situation.

Who Qualifies for Weight Loss Injections

There is a clear threshold.

FDA-approved weight loss injections have specific eligibility rules. Meeting them is the foundation for getting a prescription and getting insurance to pay for it.

If you fall below these thresholds but still want access, some people pursue compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide through a telehealth platform. Compounded versions do not require the same BMI cutoff but still need a consultation with a licensed provider. Quality of the source pharmacy matters far more than any marketing language. See our GLP-1 without insurance breakdown for the lower-cost path.

Every Weight Loss Injection Available Right Now

Here are the names.

If you've been searching for weight loss injections names, the landscape has expanded fast. Here's every injection for weight loss that's either FDA-approved, available through compounding, or in late-stage trials:

Below is a detailed breakdown of each injection: how it's dosed, who it's best for, what side effects to expect, what it costs, and how to store it.

Semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic)

The one everyone knows.

Semaglutide is a once-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist and the most widely prescribed weight loss injection in the world. Wegovy is the brand approved for chronic weight management. Ozempic is the same molecule at slightly lower doses, approved for type 2 diabetes but often prescribed off-label for weight loss.

• Who it's for: Adults with BMI 30+, or 27+ with a weight-related condition. Wegovy is also approved for ages 12 to 17 with obesity. The first-choice pick when cardiovascular disease is part of the picture, thanks to the SELECT trial showing a 20% reduction in major cardiovascular events.
• Dose schedule: 0.25 mg weekly for 4 weeks, then 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg, 1.7 mg, and a target of 2.4 mg. The 4-week step-up is a guideline, not a rule. Holding at a lower dose for 8 weeks when GI symptoms are strong is a valid call.
• Average weight loss: 14.9% over 68 weeks in the STEP 1 trial. 13.7% in the direct head-to-head SURMOUNT-5 comparison.
• Common side effects: Nausea (44%), diarrhea (30%), constipation (24%), vomiting (24%), headache (14%), fatigue. Most resolve within 4 to 8 weeks.
• Cost: Wegovy list price runs about $1,350/month. NovoCare cash pay is $199/month for the first two months, then $349/month. Insured copays range from $25 to $200. Starting July 2026, eligible Medicare beneficiaries can access Wegovy at roughly $50/month through the GLP-1 Bridge.
• Storage: Refrigerate at 36 to 46 F. Can stay at room temperature up to 77 F for up to 28 days. Protect from light. Never freeze.

Semaglutide also has deep clinical data for adjacent conditions: MASH (liver disease), cardiovascular risk reduction, and kidney disease progression. If you want more on the mechanism and dosing nuance, the what is GLP-1 page goes deeper.

Tirzepatide (Zepbound, Mounjaro)

The current leader in effectiveness.

Tirzepatide is a once-weekly dual agonist hitting both the GLP-1 and GIP receptors. Zepbound is the brand approved for chronic weight management. Mounjaro is the same molecule approved for type 2 diabetes. In December 2024, Zepbound also received FDA approval for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity, the first drug ever approved for that indication.

• Who it's for: Adults with BMI 30+, or 27+ with a weight-related condition. First-choice pick when maximum weight loss is the priority, when type 2 diabetes is part of the picture (largest A1c reduction of any injectable), or when obstructive sleep apnea is a factor.
• Dose schedule: 2.5 mg weekly for 4 weeks, then 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and a ceiling of 15 mg. Target dose is usually 10, 12.5, or 15 mg depending on response and tolerability.
• Average weight loss: 20.2% over 72 weeks in SURMOUNT-5 (direct head-to-head against semaglutide). 22.5% in SURMOUNT-1 at the 15 mg dose. Over half of users lose 20% or more of their body weight.
• Common side effects: Similar class effects to semaglutide but slightly better GI tolerability in head-to-head data: nausea (29%), diarrhea (23%), constipation (17%), vomiting (10%).
• Cost: Zepbound list price runs about $1,060/month. Lilly's direct-to-patient single-dose vials cost $499/month at any dose through LillyDirect. Insured copays range $25 to $250. Zepbound KwikPen will be covered through the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge starting July 2026.
• Storage: Refrigerate at 36 to 46 F. Room temperature (up to 86 F) for up to 21 days for the pen or 42 days for the vial. Protect from light.

For a side-by-side with semaglutide, see tirzepatide vs semaglutide and the tirzepatide side effects guide.

Liraglutide (Saxenda, Victoza)

The first, but no longer the best.

Liraglutide is the original GLP-1 agonist, approved back in 2010. Saxenda is the brand for weight management. Victoza is the diabetes brand. It requires a daily injection, not weekly, and its weight loss effect is noticeably weaker than newer options.

• Who it's for: Adults with BMI 30+, or 27+ with a weight-related condition. Also approved for ages 12 to 17 with obesity. Still prescribed when insurance restricts newer options, or when a patient has had GI issues with semaglutide or tirzepatide and wants to test a lower-intensity option.
• Dose schedule: Daily injection, starting at 0.6 mg and titrating weekly to 1.2, 1.8, 2.4, and finally 3.0 mg.
• Average weight loss: About 8% at 56 weeks in the SCALE trial.
• Common side effects: Same GI pattern as the class, but milder overall. Nausea (40%), diarrhea (21%), constipation (20%).
• Cost: Saxenda list price runs about $1,350/month. Generic liraglutide has started to become available as patents expire, with cash prices as low as $250/month through select pharmacies.
• Storage: Refrigerate before first use. After first use, store at room temperature (up to 86 F) for 30 days.

If you can access semaglutide or tirzepatide, there's almost no scenario where liraglutide is the better pick. The exception is physician preference when a shorter half-life is desired (for patients who may need to stop quickly due to upcoming surgery or pregnancy planning).

Retatrutide (investigational)

The most powerful one yet.

Retatrutide is Eli Lilly's triple agonist, hitting GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon receptors. The glucagon component is the difference-maker: it increases basal metabolic rate and fat oxidation, meaning you burn more stored fat even at rest. It's in Phase 3 TRIUMPH trials with potential FDA approval around 2027-2028.

• Who it's for: Currently trial participants only. Compounded research-line retatrutide is available through some specialty pharmacies, used off-label by people tracking the space closely.
• Dose schedule: Weekly injection, escalating through 2 mg, 4 mg, 8 mg, 12 mg, up to 12 or 16 mg target in trials.
• Average weight loss: 24.2% at 48 weeks in Phase 2. TRIUMPH-4 reported 28.7% at 68 weeks, the highest weight loss ever seen from an injection.
• Common side effects: Class GI effects plus increased heart rate (3 to 7 bpm average), a glucagon-driven signature. Nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting rates are in the same range as tirzepatide.
• Cost: No list price yet. Compounded retatrutide runs $200 to $600/month depending on dose and pharmacy.

If you want the full picture, the retatrutide page, the retatrutide dosing schedule, and retatrutide side effects cover it in depth.

CagriSema (investigational)

Novo Nordisk's answer to tirzepatide.

CagriSema is a fixed-dose combination of semaglutide plus cagrilintide, an amylin analog. Amylin is a second hunger hormone that works in parallel to GLP-1. Combining the two produces stronger appetite suppression than semaglutide alone.

• Who it's for: Trial participants only. Expected FDA submission late 2026, approval potentially 2027.
• Dose schedule: Once-weekly injection. Target doses in Phase 3 are 2.4 mg semaglutide plus 2.4 mg cagrilintide.
• Average weight loss: 22.7% at 68 weeks in REDEFINE-1. Slightly below initial expectations but still stronger than semaglutide alone.
• Common side effects: Semaglutide-like GI effects plus amylin-specific nausea and decreased appetite that can be more intense than semaglutide alone during titration.

Survodutide (investigational)

A dual GLP-1/glucagon agonist from Boehringer Ingelheim and Zealand Pharma. Phase 3 SYNCHRONIZE trials underway. Phase 2 showed 18.7% weight loss at 46 weeks. The glucagon component is designed to increase energy expenditure. Being developed with a parallel indication for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), the liver condition that frequently accompanies obesity.

MariTide (maridebart cafraglutide, investigational)

Amgen's once-monthly injection. MariTide is a GLP-1 agonist combined with a GIP receptor antagonist (blocking GIP rather than activating it, the opposite of tirzepatide). Phase 2 data showed about 20% weight loss at 52 weeks with monthly dosing. If approved, it would be the first monthly weight loss injection, removing a major adherence friction.

Compounded Semaglutide and Tirzepatide

The low-cost path, with caveats.

Compounded versions of semaglutide and tirzepatide are made by 503A and 503B compounding pharmacies. The active molecule is the same. The difference is the delivery device (vial plus syringe rather than pre-filled pen) and the regulatory pathway.

The FDA officially declared the semaglutide and tirzepatide shortages resolved in 2025, which narrowed the legal pathway for mass compounding. Compounded GLP-1s are still available through personalized prescriptions, but pharmacies offering bulk off-the-shelf compounded product are in a gray zone. The FDA has also flagged concerns about salt-form semaglutide (semaglutide sodium, acetate) sold as "research peptides," which are not the same molecule as approved semaglutide and have resulted in adverse event reports.

• Who it's for: Uninsured or underinsured adults. People priced out of brand-name injections who still want the active molecule.
• Dose schedule: Usually mirrors the brand titration. Administered via vial and syringe at home or at a telehealth-affiliated pharmacy.
• Cost: Compounded semaglutide runs $99 to $269/month. Compounded tirzepatide runs $150 to $399/month. Both vary with dose and pharmacy.
• Quality check: Source only from a pharmacy with independent third-party testing, USP 797 sterile compounding certification, and verifiable state board licensure. Avoid anything marketed with lab-only disclaimers, or salt-form semaglutide (semaglutide sodium, semaglutide acetate) which is a different molecule with adverse event reports.

See compounded tirzepatide sourcing for the detailed sourcing checklist.

Weight Loss Injections Comparison Chart

The short version: pick by what you're optimizing for.

How Weight Loss Injections Work

They change your brain, not just your appetite.

Every current weight loss injection medication works through GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor activation. GLP-1 is a hormone your gut naturally releases after eating. When a drug activates these receptors at sustained therapeutic levels, three things happen:

• Appetite suppression: GLP-1 receptors in the hypothalamus reduce hunger signals. Most people describe it as "food noise" disappearing, the constant mental chatter about what to eat next simply goes quiet.
• Slowed gastric emptying: Food moves through your stomach more slowly, extending the feeling of fullness after meals. This is also why nausea is the most common side effect.
• Insulin and blood sugar regulation: GLP-1 stimulates glucose-dependent insulin secretion and suppresses glucagon, improving blood sugar control independent of weight loss.

Newer weight loss shots add additional receptors. Tirzepatide adds GIP, which directly enhances fat tissue metabolism and appears to preserve muscle during weight loss. Retatrutide adds both GIP and glucagon, where the glucagon component increases basal metabolic rate and fat oxidation, meaning you burn more stored fat even at rest. MariTide takes the opposite approach and antagonizes GIP while activating GLP-1, producing similar results through a different receptor logic.

Weight Loss Injections Side Effects

Mostly GI, mostly temporary.

The side effects of weight loss injections are remarkably consistent across the class because they all stem from the same GLP-1 mechanism. Slowed gastric emptying causes nausea. Changed gut motility causes diarrhea or constipation. These effects are worst during dose escalation and fade for most people within 4 to 8 weeks at a stable dose.

The single most effective strategy for managing weight loss injections side effects is slow dose escalation. There is no medical rule requiring you to increase on the standard 4-week schedule. Holding at a lower dose for an extra 4 weeks when GI symptoms are significant makes a bigger difference than any dietary change.

Who Should Not Use Weight Loss Injections

The contraindication list is short but firm.

For people with a history of gallbladder disease, use is possible but requires monitoring. Rapid weight loss increases gallstone formation, and GLP-1s may independently raise gallbladder disease risk. Most physicians will proceed carefully rather than refuse outright.

Drug Interactions with GLP-1 Injections

There are a few that matter.

Most weight loss injections have a relatively clean interaction profile, but a handful of combinations need attention:

• Insulin and sulfonylureas: Both lower blood sugar. Stacking them with a GLP-1 raises hypoglycemia risk substantially. Insulin or sulfonylurea doses usually need to be reduced when starting the injection. This is a required physician conversation, not a DIY adjustment.
• Oral contraceptives: GLP-1s slow gastric emptying, which can delay and reduce absorption of oral birth control pills, particularly during the first 4 weeks at each new dose. Backup contraception (condoms, IUD, ring) is recommended during titration.
• Oral medications in general: Any medication that depends on timed absorption (some thyroid medications, certain antibiotics, anti-seizure drugs) may need dose or timing adjustments. Tell your prescriber every oral medication you take before starting.
• Warfarin: Not a direct interaction, but weight loss itself and changes in diet can shift INR. More frequent INR monitoring during the first 3 months is standard.
• Alcohol: Not a direct drug interaction, but most people on GLP-1s report tolerating alcohol much less well. Some also report reduced alcohol cravings, which is under active research as a possible treatment application for alcohol use disorder.

Weight Loss Shots for Women

Top Pick Semaglutide S-5 (5mg) GLP-1 agonist peptide for weight management. Same compound as Ozempic/Wegovy, available as a compounded peptide. Exclusive 50% off — use code PEPTIDEDECK

Buy Semaglutide S-5 (5mg)

Same drugs, a few differences worth knowing.

Weight loss shots for women use the same medications at the same doses. The mechanism is identical. But there are specific considerations:

• Nausea may be more pronounced: Women report higher rates of GI side effects across GLP-1 trials, likely related to hormonal interactions with gut motility. Slower titration helps.
• Pregnancy: Stop any GLP-1 weight loss injection at least 2 months before attempting to conceive. Semaglutide and tirzepatide are not approved for use during pregnancy. The drugs take about 5 weeks to fully clear after the last dose.
• Oral contraceptives: GLP-1 drugs slow gastric emptying, which can reduce absorption of oral birth control pills. Use backup contraception during the first 4 weeks at each new dose level.
• Menstrual changes: Some women report irregular periods during rapid weight loss on GLP-1 medications. This is related to the weight loss itself (fat tissue produces estrogen), not a direct drug effect.
• PCOS: Weight loss injections are particularly effective for women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Even modest weight loss (5 to 10%) can improve insulin resistance, restore ovulation, and reduce androgen levels.
• Menopause: Weight gain during perimenopause and menopause is one of the fastest-growing use cases. The drugs work equally well in this population, though slower titration is often better tolerated.

For a broader look at peptides for weight loss beyond GLP-1 injections, including non-injectable options, that page covers the full landscape.

Do Weight Loss Injections Cause Cancer?

The short answer is no, with one specific exception.

There is no credible evidence that weight loss injections cause cancer in humans. The concern traces to an early high-dose safety signal for thyroid C-cell tumors that has never been replicated in humans despite hundreds of thousands of patients and years of post-marketing surveillance.

Because the original signal exists, every GLP-1 injection carries a boxed warning against use in anyone with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 2 (MEN2). That is a precaution, not a demonstrated risk.

On the other side of the equation, obesity itself is a known risk factor for at least 13 cancers, including endometrial, esophageal, kidney, liver, and postmenopausal breast cancer. Large population studies of semaglutide and liraglutide users show lower rates of several obesity-associated cancers compared to untreated peers, consistent with the broader benefits of sustained weight loss.

The honest framing: avoid GLP-1s if you or a first-degree relative has MTC or MEN2. Otherwise, the cancer question is a non-issue relative to the cancer risk of untreated obesity.

What Happens When You Stop Weight Loss Injections

Most of the weight comes back.

This is the hardest truth about the class. The STEP 4 extension trial followed people who stopped semaglutide after 68 weeks on the drug. Within one year off the drug, participants regained about two-thirds of the weight they had lost. Cardiometabolic improvements (blood pressure, cholesterol, A1c) also reverted.

The reason is mechanical: GLP-1 drugs work by directly activating a receptor system that regulates hunger and metabolic setpoint. When the drug leaves your body, the receptor activation stops. Hunger returns. Food noise returns. The biological pull back to your pre-drug weight is real and durable.

This has reshaped how the medical community frames obesity treatment. Most physicians now treat it as a chronic condition, similar to how blood pressure or cholesterol is managed: ongoing medication for as long as the benefit outweighs the cost and side effects. Stopping is an option, but it should be a considered decision with a plan for weight maintenance, not a reflex "I've hit my goal, I'm done."

For people who want to stop, a slow taper (reducing dose over 2 to 3 months) combined with aggressive protein intake, strength training, and CGM-based eating patterns gives the best chance of partial maintenance. Most people still regain some weight. Some people transition to a lower maintenance dose (e.g., semaglutide 1 mg weekly) rather than stopping completely, which preserves much of the effect at lower cost.

Cost: What Weight Loss Injections Actually Cost in 2026

The price gap is enormous.

What you pay depends far more on your insurance status and the pay path you choose than on the drug itself.

For people without insurance coverage, NovoCare cash and LillyDirect vials are the biggest 2026 improvements for brand-name access. Compounded semaglutide remains the cheapest GLP-1 path if you're comfortable with vial-and-syringe administration and have a reputable pharmacy. The GLP-1 without insurance page covers all the options in detail.

How to Get Insurance to Cover Weight Loss Injections

Most commercial plans require prior authorization.

Prior authorization (PA) is the process where your insurer decides whether to cover the drug before you can fill it. The approval rate for GLP-1 weight loss injections has improved significantly since 2023, but it is still common to get denied on the first attempt.

If your first PA is denied, the appeal process is often successful. Your physician can submit a letter of medical necessity with trial data, clinical guidelines (AACE/ACE, Endocrine Society), and your specific clinical picture. Persistence wins a meaningful share of these cases.

Medicare changed the picture in 2026. The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Program, starting July 1, 2026, covers all formulations of Foundayo, all formulations of Wegovy, and the Zepbound KwikPen for eligible beneficiaries at roughly $50/month. Medicaid coverage remains state-dependent, with some states covering GLP-1s for obesity and others restricting coverage to type 2 diabetes only.

Weight Loss Injections in the UK, Australia, and Canada

Availability and pricing differ by country.

United Kingdom (NHS): Wegovy and Mounjaro are available through the NHS for people meeting strict eligibility (typically BMI 35+ with comorbidity). Access through specialist weight management services is the standard pathway. Private prescription through telehealth (Boots, Numan, Voy) is the faster route, running £150 to £300 per month.

Australia: Saxenda is available. Wegovy and Mounjaro are approved but not yet on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), so they are paid out-of-pocket at roughly AU$400 to AU$500 per month. Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide have been widely available through Australian compounding pharmacies, though TGA regulations tightened in 2024.

Canada: Wegovy, Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Saxenda are all approved. Coverage varies by province. Private insurance frequently covers these with PA. Cash prices are comparable to US prices through retail pharmacies. Compounding was restricted by Health Canada in 2024, narrowing compounded options significantly.

Newest Weight Loss Injections in 2026

The pipeline keeps getting stronger.

Retatrutide: Eli Lilly's triple agonist (GLP-1 + GIP + Glucagon) is in Phase 3 TRIUMPH trials. Phase 2 showed 24.2% average weight loss. TRIUMPH-4 reported 28.7% at 68 weeks, the highest weight loss ever seen from an injection. Potential FDA approval around 2027-2028. See the full retatrutide guide.

CagriSema: Novo Nordisk's combination of semaglutide plus cagrilintide (amylin analog). REDEFINE-1 showed 22.7% weight loss at 68 weeks. FDA submission expected late 2026.

Survodutide: Boehringer Ingelheim's GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist. Phase 3 SYNCHRONIZE trials underway. Being developed with a parallel MASH liver disease indication.

MariTide: Amgen's once-monthly injection. Phase 2 showed about 20% weight loss at 52 weeks with monthly dosing. If approved, it would be the first monthly weight loss injection.

Foundayo (orforglipron): Approved December 2025 as the first oral GLP-1 receptor agonist that does not require fasting before dosing. It is a tablet, not an injection, but it is the most notable non-injectable 2026 entry and often comes up in the same conversation. Will be covered under the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge starting July 2026.

Oral Wegovy 25 mg tablet: Approved late 2025. A high-dose oral semaglutide tablet for weight management, offering a non-injection path for people who want the semaglutide molecule without the needle.

How to Choose the Right Weight Loss Injection

Start with what you're trying to solve.

If you need 10 to 15% weight loss and cost matters most, start with compounded semaglutide or Wegovy via NovoCare. If you need maximum weight loss and can afford the brand, tirzepatide (Zepbound) is the strongest approved option. If you have type 2 diabetes, tirzepatide offers the best A1c reduction alongside weight loss. If you have cardiovascular disease, semaglutide has the strongest heart outcome data. If you have obstructive sleep apnea, Zepbound is the only injection with a specific FDA approval for that.

For most people, the decision is practical rather than clinical: which one can you access, afford, and sustain long enough to reach your goal weight? A $99/month injection you take every week beats a $1,350/month injection you can't afford past month three.

Frequently Asked Questions