| Obesity
Qsymia vs Wegovy
Side-by-side clinical, coverage, and cost comparison for obesity.Deep comparison between: Qsymia vs Wegovy 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 signalsWegovy has a higher rate of injection site reactions vs Qsymia based on FDA-approved prescribing information
Coverage gaps3 major payers require step therapy for Wegovy but not Qsymia, including UnitedHealthcare
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Category
Qsymia
Wegovy
At A Glance
Oral
Once daily
Sympathomimetic amine anorectic combination
SC injection
Once weekly
GLP-1 receptor agonist
Indications
- Obesity
- Obesity
- Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis
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 Adults: maintenance 2.4 mg (or 1.7 mg) SC injection once weekly after escalation from 0.25 mg, or 25 mg tablet orally once daily after escalation from 1.5 mg; pediatric patients aged 12 years and older: 2.4 mg (or 1.7 mg) SC injection once weekly.
Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis 2.4 mg SC injection once weekly (maintenance) after escalation from 0.25 mg; may reduce to 1.7 mg once weekly if 2.4 mg not tolerated.
Cardiovascular risk reduction Maintenance 2.4 mg (or 1.7 mg) SC injection once weekly after escalation from 0.25 mg, or 25 mg tablet orally once daily after escalation from 1.5 mg.
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)
- Prior serious hypersensitivity reaction to semaglutide or to any excipient in WEGOVY injection or WEGOVY tablet
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, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, headache, fatigue, dyspepsia, dizziness, abdominal distension, eructation, flatulence, gastroenteritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastritis, hair loss, dysesthesia
Serious Risk of thyroid C-cell tumors, acute pancreatitis, acute gallbladder disease, hypoglycemia, acute kidney injury, severe gastrointestinal reactions, hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis and angioedema, diabetic retinopathy complications, heart rate increase, pulmonary aspiration during anesthesia
Postmarketing Acute pancreatitis and necrotizing pancreatitis, ileus, intestinal obstruction, severe constipation including fecal impaction, anaphylaxis, angioedema, rash, urticaria, pulmonary aspiration, acute kidney injury
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.
Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist with 94% sequence homology to human GLP-1 that selectively binds and activates the GLP-1 receptor, regulating appetite and caloric intake, stimulating glucose-dependent insulin secretion, reducing glucagon secretion, and delaying gastric emptying.
Enter your patient's insuranceCheck specific coverage details for your patient.
Most Common Insurance
Anthem BCBS
Qsymia
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (10/12) · Step Therapy (0/12) · Qty limit (6/12)
Wegovy
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (10/12) · Step Therapy (0/12) · Qty limit (9/12)
UnitedHealthcare
Qsymia
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (4/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
Wegovy
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (5/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (1/8)
Humana
Qsymia
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (0/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · Qty limit (0/3)
Wegovy
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (3/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · Qty limit (1/3)
Coverage data sourced from MMIT. Updated monthly.
Savings
No savings programs available for Qsymia.
$349/momo
Wegovy Self-Pay Program - InjectableCommercial or private insurance
Medicare, Medicaid, VA, TRICARE
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Clinical data sourced from FDA-approved labeling. Coverage data via MMIT. Updated monthly.