Comparing Wegovy vs. Ozempic

Prescription medicine is an effective method for treating and managing type 2 diabetes, as well as for accelerating weight loss in those who also suffer from hypertension (high blood pressure) or high cholesterol.

Wegovy (semaglutide) and Ozempic (semaglutide) may be prescribed by doctors for this reason. Both of these drugs are well-known brand names in the field of obesity treatment.

You or someone you care about may have been prescribed Wegovy or Ozempic, but you may still have questions about which drug is best.

This article compares and contrasts Wegovy and Ozempic, two similar but not identical drugs, focusing on their approved indications (conditions for which a medicine can be used) and off-label applications, in an effort to answer these questions.

Overview of Wegovy and Ozempic

Both Wegovy and Ozempic belong to the class of drugs known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists, and are available only with a doctor's prescription. GLP-1 is a hormone that increases insulin production and satiety. The same active ingredient, semaglutide, is found in each of these medicines.

MedlinePlus. Injection of semaglutide.

The FDA has approved both Wegovy and Ozempic, albeit for distinct uses and at different doses.

Clinical trials showing that semaglutide, then known under the brand name Ozempic, efficiently controlled blood sugar in individuals with type 2 diabetes led to the drug's initial FDA approval in 2017. Semaglutide's weight-loss benefits have also been demonstrated.

Differences: Wegovy vs. Ozempic

Both Ozempic and Wegovy have certain commonalities and have some significant distinctions. The primary areas of distinction are the recognized uses and average doses recommended by the FDA.

Which Is More Effective?

Separate clinical trials have examined both Wegovy and Ozempic in depth, with findings reflecting the following:

Wegovy helped adults without diabetes lose 12.4% more weight than those who took a placebo during the study's trial period.

In a separate research, persons with diabetes who took Wegovy saw a 6.2% reduction in their starting body weight compared to those who took a placebo.9

Ozempic's efficacy and safety in treating type 2 diabetes were studied in clinical studies, and the drug's ability to cause weight loss was a welcome side effect.

Side Effects & Safety

Since the active element in both Wegovy and Ozempic is the same, using both at the same time can have dangerous consequences.

\Both Wegovy and Ozempic come with a boxed warning, the FDA's strongest warning for potentially life-threatening adverse effects, due to the extremely high risk of thyroid C-cell tumors.

Thyroid C-cell malignancies were observed in rodent investigations using both drugs. The link between semaglutide and human C-cell thyroid cancers, such as medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), has not been established.

What Medications Interact With Wegovy or Ozempic?

The following drugs may interact negatively with both Wegovy and Ozempic, as is the case with most medications:

You shouldn't take both Wegovy and Ozempic at once because taking two GLP-1 agonists at once can be dangerous. Rybelsus (semaglutide) and Victoza (liraglutide)12 are two further examples of GLP-1 agonists.

Combining either Ozempic or Wegovy with Glyset (miglitol) or insulin can cause dangerously low blood sugar levels.5 If your healthcare practitioner recommends these drugs for you, they will teach you on monitoring your blood sugar often until you observe how the treatments effect you.

Both Wegovy and Ozempic slow gastric emptying (how quickly food moves through your digestive system), which can affect how well other drugs work.These interactions highlight the need of discussing all of your existing medications with your healthcare physician prior to beginning treatment with Wegovy or Ozempic.