Semaglutide vs Liraglutide half-life
Semaglutide has an elimination half-life of about 6.9 days; Liraglutide has about 13 h. Both are GLP-1 receptor agonists from the same manufacturer. Liraglutide's half-life of about 13 hours suits daily injections, while semaglutide's fatty-acid side chain binds albumin and stretches its half-life to about a week.
Side by side
| Semaglutide | Liraglutide | |
|---|---|---|
| Half-life | 6.9 days (range 6–7 days) | 13 h |
| Route | SC weekly / oral daily | SC daily |
| Category | GLP-1 & incretins | GLP-1 & incretins |
| Evidence | Clinical | Clinical |
| Remaining after 24 hours | 90.4% | 27.8% |
| Remaining after 7 days | 49.4% | 0.01% |
| ~97% cleared (5 half-lives) | 34.4 days | 2.7 days |
| Steady state (4-5 half-lives) | 27.5 days to 34.4 days | 2.2 days to 2.7 days |
Single-dose decay
Share of one dose remaining over time, assuming first-order elimination. Dashed lines mark each half-life.
Semaglutide (t½ 6.9 days) Liraglutide (t½ 13 h)
Semaglutide: FDA label: elimination half-life of about 1 week. Liraglutide: FDA label: about 13 hours.
FAQ
Which lasts longer, Semaglutide or Liraglutide?
Semaglutide lasts longer. Its half-life is about 6.9 days, versus 13 h for Liraglutide, roughly 13 times longer.
How long do Semaglutide and Liraglutide stay in your system?
With first-order elimination, about 97% of a single dose is cleared after five half-lives: roughly 34.4 days for Semaglutide and 2.7 days for Liraglutide. Individual clearance varies.
How long until Semaglutide and Liraglutide reach steady state?
With consistent repeated dosing, levels approach steady state after 4 to 5 half-lives: about 27.5 days to 34.4 days for Semaglutide, and 2.2 days to 2.7 days for Liraglutide.
How reliable are these half-lives?
Semaglutide: Clinical evidence. Liraglutide: Clinical evidence. Anecdotal values are community estimates and may be far off.