Wegovy versus Ozempic for Better Weight Loss
Both Wegovy and Ozempic belong to the same class of drugs, GLP-1 receptor antagonists. They both contain the same active ingredient, semaglutide. They both work the same way as all GLP-1 receptor agonists. These drugs work by mimicking – the action of hormones related to hunger, feeling full, and sugar metabolism.
While there are many similarities between Wegovy and Ozempic, they are not the same thing, nor are they interchangeable. While both drugs have raised excitement for their potential to and in weight loss, only one Wegovy is actually prescribed for weight loss, and the drugs are also distinct in their applications and potential benefits.
Main Differences Between Ozempic and Wegovy
Wegovy and Ozempic are both made by the same pharmaceutical company, Novo Nordisk. While they both contain the same active ingredient, semaglutide, they each contain different dosages. Ozempic is approved to treat Type 2 diabetes, trials show that Ozempic use as a diabetes treatment helped patients to lose weight. Wegovy is a higher-dose version that’s approved for weight loss.
Here are some more details of the main differences between Ozempic and Wegovy.
Mechanism of Action
Wegovy works by mimicking the effects of GLP-1 in the body, which leads to increased feelings of fullness, reduced appetite, and slowed digestion. This, in turn, can result in decreased food intake and weight loss.
Similar to Wegovy, Ozempic is also a GLP-1 receptor agonist that contains semaglutide. It operates by increasing insulin secretion in response to food consumption and reducing the production of glucagon, a hormone that raises blood sugar levels.
Target Audience
Wegovyp is primarily recommended for individuals with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 27 or higher, who have at least one weight-related condition, or those with a BMI of 30 or higher. Wegovy is also approved for weight management in adolescents ages 12 and older. In order to be eligible, adolescents must have a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for their age and sex.
Ozempic is originally designed for people with type 2 diabetes. Adults with Type 2 diabetes may be prescribed Ozempic to help balance blood glucose levels. If you’ve been prescribed Ozempic and don’t have diabetes, this is considered “off-label” use. Unlike Wegovy, Ozempic is not approved for use of any kind for people less than 18 years of age – another distinction between the two medications.
Effectiveness for Weight Loss
Wegovy has undergone drug trials involving participants both with and without diabetes. During clinical trials, adults taking Wegovy lost as much as 15% of their total body weight. In a separate trial, adolescents lost about 16% of their starting body weight on average.In a clinical trial comparing the maximum weekly dose of Ozempic vs. Wegovy, Wegovy caused more weight loss than Ozempic.
Again, Ozempic is usually not prescribed for weight loss. Ozempic’s weight loss benefits make it a good drug of choice for patients with type 2 diabetes who are also overweight. However, for non-diabetics who are struggling with obesity, Wegovy is the better choice as its dosage of semaglutide has been optimized for weight management, and this is what the drug has been studied and approved for.
As you can see from the above list of significant differences, Wegovy and Ozempic are not merely “appetite suppressants” or any kind of “diet pills” but serious prescription drugs researched and developed for two distinct purposes and quite specific target populations.
Legality of Use
Wegovy and Ozempic are both FDA-approved but for different purposes. While you can take either drug with or without having diabetes, Wegovy is specifically approved for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or those who are overweight and have at least one weight-related condition (e.g., high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes). It is also approved for adolescents and teens over 12 who have a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for their age and sex.
Ozempic was initially approved as a treatment for type 2 diabetes, as it helps regulate blood sugar levels. During Ozempic’s clinical trials, participants lowered their A1C by over 1%. A1C is your average blood glucose level over three months.
FDA has approved the prescription of Ozempic for controlling blood sugar in adults over 18 years old with type 2 diabetes mellitus and for reducing the risk of cardiovascular incidents such as heart attack and stroke in adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
While it is legal to use Ozempic for weight loss, the more effective drug is Wegovy, and since it is prescribed for this purpose, it is often easier to get Wegovy for weight loss than Ozempic.
Usage
Wegovy is prescribed for adults and adolescents over 12 for weight loss who meet certain criteria, as mentioned above.
Ozempic is prescribed for the control of type 2 diabetes and is only recommended for weight loss in people with diabetes who are also struggling with obesity.
Dosage
Ozempic and Wegovy are both taken as a once-weekly subcutaneous injection. They come in a premeasured injectable pen device, so it is very easy for you to give yourself your injections at home.
A subcutaneous injection means that the drug is injected just below the surface of the skin, usually in a fatty area of the body, such as the upper thigh or abdomen. The injection is very shallow, and the needle in the injector is quite small and thin, so the injection is painless for most patients.
In giving the subcutaneous injection of either drug, you start by making sure your injection site is completely sterile by rubbing it down with an alcohol swab.
Wait for the area to dry completely, then remove the cap from your Wegovy or Ozempic pen and pinch a fold of skin at the injection site to create a small area of tissue.
Insert the needle into the fold of the skin at a 90-degree angle or as directed by your healthcare provider. Push the plunger down to inject the medication.
Either drug can be taken any time of day or night with or without food. The key is that you take your injection at the same time of day or night consistently.
While Ozempic and Wegovy are given the same way, the dosages are quite different. Each drug is titrated, which means you start out at the least effective dose and slowly increase your dosage over time.
A typical Wegovy dosage schedule is:
- First Month: 0.25 mg once weekly (starting dosage)
- Second Month: 0.5 mg once weekly
- Third Month: 1 mg once weekly
- Fourth Month: 1.7 mg once weekly
- Fifth Month: 2.4 mg once weekly (target dosage)
A typical Ozempic dosage schedule is:
- First Month: 0.25 mg once weekly (starting dosage)
- Second Month: 0.5 mg once weekly
If needed, your Ozempic dosage may be increased up to the maximum dosage, which is 2.5 mg once weekly.
Costs
The cost of either medication will vary based on factors such as location, insurance coverage, and the specific pharmacy where your prescription is filled. Since it contains a lower dose of semaglutide, Ozempic costs less than Wegovy. The average monthly cost of Ozempic is about $900, with Wegovy being around $1600.
Insurance Coverage
Wegovy and Ozempic may be covered differently under your insurance plan. Wegovy for weight loss may or may not be covered by insurance.
Before providing coverage for Wegovy, your insurance company may ask that you prove you have tried other weight management methods and failed before being prescribed Wegovy.
Your insurer may also require that Wegovy is prescribed as part of some kind of overall “medical weight loss program” before providing any coverage.
When Ozempic is prescribed as approved for patients with diabetes, it is almost always covered by insurance. However, since prescribing Ozempic for weight loss is an “off-label” use, it is unlikely to be covered by insurance.
Therefore, if your goal is to have your weight loss medication covered in whole or in part by health insurance, then you are more likely to be covered if you are prescribed Wegovy.
If you have commercial insurance, you may be able to save on your prescription for either medication with a savings card from the manufacturer. That means you could pay as little as $25 for Wegovy and as little as $25 for Ozempic.
Patient assistance programs are also available from Novo Nordisk for both medications.
Results
Users need to understand that it takes time to see the full results that can be achieved on either Wegovy or Ozempic.
Wegovy is most effective at its maximum dose. However, it can take up to five months before you are prescribed the maximum dose of Wegovy. The starting dosage of Ozempic of 0.25 mg weekly is also quite very low, and it takes even longer for you to see results on Ozempic, even of glucose control, let alone weight loss.
Comparing the results of the two, you will always achieve greater weight loss on Wegovy because it is indicated for weight loss, and it has a higher dose of semaglutide.
Side Effects
Both Wegovy and Ozempic have similar side effects, the most common of which are gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, bloating, gas, indigestion, vomiting, stomach pain, or diarrhea. Since Wegovy contains a higher dose of the active ingredient, the risk of these and other potential side effects is higher with Wegovy than with Ozempic.
*Dosing, administration instructions, warnings, and other product information are provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as any kind of medical guidance or instructions for use. Consult your physician, pharmacist, or full prescribing information for guidance regarding your particular prescription for Wegovy or Ozempic.
