Wegovy vs Ozempic: What’s the Difference and Which One Is Right for You?

Wegovy and Ozempic both contain semaglutide—but they’re approved for different uses.

Wegovy is FDA-approved for weight management, while Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk reduction. Both help with weight loss, but they differ in dosage, cost, and intended use.

Key Takeaways

• Wegovy: Higher doses (up to 2.4 mg weekly), approved for weight loss
• Ozempic: Lower doses (up to 2 mg), approved for diabetes and heart health
• You can’t take both together — they use the same active ingredient
• Effectiveness: Wegovy leads to greater weight loss in studies
• Side effects: Similar, including nausea, GI issues, and rare risks like thyroid tumors
• Cost: Wegovy averages $1,627/month; Ozempic around $907/month (without insurance)

What Are Wegovy and Ozempic Used for?

Wegovy is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, a hormone that regulates appetite and food intake. It sends signals that the stomach is complete to your brain, which makes people feel less hungry and eat less, helping individuals manage their weight.

Ozempic increases insulin secretion, reduces glucagon levels, and slows digestion and gastric emptying. It is often prescribed along with exercise and a healthy lifestyle. The active ingredient semaglutide binds with GLP-1 receptors, limiting how much sugar is released into the bloodstream. When blood sugar levels spike, it signals the pancreas to release insulin into the bloodstream.

Wegovy and Ozempic are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for different uses.

Wegovy is approved for chronic weight management in adults over 18 years old who are;

• Overweight: Body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or greater with at least one weight-related medical condition like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes.
• Obesity: Body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or greater.

Ozempic is approved for reduced risk of cardiovascular health problems like heart attack, stroke, and death in adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease. It is also for blood sugar control in people over 18 years old with type 2 diabetes. Healthcare professionals can sometimes prescribe Ozempic off-label for weight loss and chronic weight management.

Can You Take Wegovy and Ozempic Together?

Ozempic is developed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, and Wegovy is approved for chronic weight management. Both have the same active ingredient, semaglutide, which people use to lose body weight. Combining the two drugs is not recommended. The two medications were developed for different purposes. Their use should be guided based on individual health conditions and medical history. The drug interactions between Ozempic and Wegovy have yet to be studied extensively.

Dosage for Wegovy and Ozempic

Wegovy is in higher doses than Ozempic for a typical maintenance dose. Participants of the clinical trials who took 2.4 mg of Wegovy once a week reported more side effects than those who took 1 mg of Wegovy once a week. 

Ozempic is available in strengths of 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg, and 2 mg. 

Wegovy is available in 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg, 1.7 mg, and 2.4 mg single-use pens. 

Your healthcare professional will increase your dose if you tolerate your semaglutide medication.

A possible Wegovy vs. Ozempic dosage schedule:

Wegovy

• Week 1 to 4: 0.25 mg once a week
• Week 5 to 8: 0.50 mg once a week
• Week 9 to 12: 1 mg once a week
• Week 13 to 16: 1.7 mg once a week
• Week 17 and beyond: 2.4 mg once a week (typical maintenance dose and maximum dose).

Ozempic

• Week 1 to 4: 0.25 mg once a week
• Week 5 to 8: 0.50 mg once a week
• Week 9 to 12: 1 mg once a week (typical maintenance dose)
• Week 13 and beyond 2 mg once weekly (for additional blood sugar control and maximum dose).

These semaglutide medications are used as weight loss drugs and administered as a subcutaneous injection. It means it is injected under the skin. Injection can be received on the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. Dosage starts low, with gradually increasing dose to reduce gastrointestinal risk factors. They both come in a pen injector device that makes it easy to self-administer.

A few key differences between Wegovy and Ozempic is how you use their pens. Wegovy’s injection pen has a built-in needle designed for one-time use. You dispose of the pen once you receive the injectable. Ozempic comes with detachable needles that are attached before each dose. You dispose of the needle, and you use the pen several times.

Children dosage

The FDA approved Wegovy for weight management in children 12 years and older. Your child will receive the same recommended prescription dosage as the adult dose described above.

What Are the Side Effects of Wegovy and Ozempic?

Ozempic and Wegovy are both FDA-approved prescription medications for weight loss. As with any drug, they may have certain risk factors. Before starting a new medication, you should talk to a healthcare professional about your medical history.

Common side effects of Ozempic and Wegovy may include:

• Nausea
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Injection site pain or irritation
• It may reduce as your body adjusts to the medication.

Severe but rare side effects of Ozempic and Wegovy may include:

• Hypoglycemia (People with diabetes may have an increased risk of potential low blood sugar, mainly when used with other diabetes medication like glimepiride or glipizide).
• Kidney disease—there have been cases of acute kidney injury with GLP-1 receptor agonists.
• Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas or gallbladder disease)
• Severe allergic reactions
• Thyroid cancer—there is a potential risk of thyroid c-cell tumors associated with semaglutide medications.

How Effective is Wegovy and Ozempic

This clinical trial shows how semaglutide medications aid weight loss. Participants who received Wegovy also incorporated a healthy lifestyle to lose weight.

This trial consisted of several trials. Here are the reports for each STEP program:

• STEP 1: Wegovy participants lost over 15% of their body weight over 68 weeks.
• STEP 2: Participants in this trial with type 2 diabetes who took Wegovy achieved significant weight loss and glycemic control.
• STEP 3: Participants who do not have diabetes underwent a drug evaluation. They experienced substantial weight loss.

Ozempic was initially developed and approved for type 2 diabetes for glycemic control. Weight loss was recorded by a lot of people who use the medication. Further research on semaglutide was done to use it as a weight loss drug. People lose weight differently based on many other factors.

A review of studies has demonstrated the effectiveness of Ozempic and Wegovy for weight loss. The review showed that patients who took 2.4 mg of semaglutide (Wegovy) lost more weight than patients who took 1 mg of semaglutide (Ozempic). Wegovy can be more effective than Ozempic.

American Diabetes Association recommends semaglutide (Ozempic) as a treatment option for people with diabetes who want to lose weight.

American Gastroenterological Association recommends semaglutide (Wegovy) as a treatment option for people with obesity and overweight who want a drug for weight management.

Cost of Wegovy and Ozempic

The semaglutide medication may cost more than $15000 a year without insurance coverage. The average retail cost for one carton of Wegovy is $1,627 and $907, respectively.

However, spending on Wegovy or Ozempic depends on your treatment plan, insurance coverage, and hospital pharmacy.

Precautions When Using Wegovy and Ozempic

Depending on your medical history, Ozempic and Wegovy may not suit you. It would be best to speak to a doctor before using them. If you have any of the following health issues, you must tell your doctor.

• An allergic reaction to the drug.
• If you are breastfeeding.
• If you’re pregnant or planning to get pregnant.
• If you have a history of pancreatitis.
• If you have diabetic retinopathy.
• If you have kidney problems.
• If you have mental health issues.

If you stop using Ozempic and Wegovy, you may regain weight. You must combine this weight management method with a healthy lifestyle and exercise.

Can I Switch Between Wegovy and Ozempic?

It is possible to switch between Ozempic and Wegovy. You must consult your doctor before starting, changing, or stopping your prescription medication. Your doctor can recommend the best action based on your needs and situation.

When to Consult a Doctor

Semaglutide is a prescription medication. The doctor regulates your dosage and monitors your reaction. It is best to consult the doctor before taking weight loss medications. The doctor will tell you how your weight loss drug interacts with other medicines.

Frequently Asked Questions