Ozempic and Wegovy both have the same active ingredient, Semaglutide. However both have been approved for different health conditions and consist of different dosages.
What is Semaglutide?
Semaglutide is a medication known as a GLP-1 receptor agonist. It mimics a hormone called GLP-1 which is normally produced by your body. The hormone helps to regulate blood sugar levels and slows down the movement of food from the stomach into the intestine. Semaglutide can help lower blood sugar and contribute to weight loss.
Wegovy
The semaglutide in Wegovy is formulated differently which allows it to be more effective for weight management when compared to other medicines with the same ingredient. The dosage of Wegovy differs from other formulations. It is administered at a higher dose than Ozempic, with starting dose being 0.25mg weekly and gradually increased to 2.4mg weekly.
Ozempic
The semaglutide of Ozempic is formulated at lower doses prescribed for managing type 2 diabetes with weight loss being a secondary benefit. Ozempic doses are max at 1mg or 2mg per week depending on blood sugar control.
Dosage
Wegovy and Ozempic are both injectables but dosing pens and concentration of the medication differ.
Ozempic
Ozempic injection pen comes with disposable single use needles and at each weekly dose a new needle needs to be attached. A dose selector on the pen is used to select the dose needed. Each pen has 4 to 8 doses depending on the strength taken.
Wegovy
Wegovy, on the other hand, has individual dosage pens for a specific dose to last a month, or 4 weekly doses. At the time of a dose step up, a new pen is needed. Each pen comes with disposable single use needles for each weekly dose.
Side effects
Wegovy and Ozempic have potential side effects that should be considered by patients using these medicines.
Wegovy
The common side effects of Wegovy is belching as well as nausea, vomiting and gastrointestinal discomfort. It has certain serious side effects including the possibility of thyroid tumors or certain cancers. Individuals using Wegovy should consult a doctor if they notice a neck lump, hoarseness or swallowing issues which could indicate thyroid cancer. Wegovy should not be used in people with a family history of MTC or a condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
Ozempic
The common side effects of Ozempic are nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation. Others can include abdominal pain, headache and fatigue. Ozempic can have serious side effects like pancreas inflammation or pancreatitis. If there is severe abdominal pain with or without vomiting, a doctor should be contacted.
Other side effects for Ozempic are vision changes or low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Signs of low blood sugar include dizziness, blurred vision, sweating, confusion and weakness. Ozempic is also linked to gallbladder problems and kidney issues, individuals using Ozempic should be cautious.
Effectiveness
Ozempic
Ozempic, on the other hand, approved for diabetes, can also promote weight loss however at a much less substantial rate than Wegovy. The clinical trials observed an average of 6% reduction in weight after a year of treatment.
Wegovy
Wegovy, in clinical trials, has shown an average of 15.8% of weight loss after a 68 week of treatment. It is associated with a substantial and sustained reduction in body weight. The weight loss on Wegovy varies individual to individual and the duration they have used the medication for. It is crucial to note that sustained weight loss may require ongoing dietary and lifestyle changes.
Wegovy vs Ozempic
Individuals wanting to discuss their health conditions such as diabetes or chronic weight management should begin with a discussion to their doctor. A healthcare professional can assess which medication is most suited for your health needs.
