Wegovy and Ozempic are two medications that have been making headlines recently. Both are injectable drugs that can help you lose weight, but they are approved for treating different medical conditions. While both drugs are very similar, it may be easier for you to get insurance coverage for one over the other. Also, there are slight differences in convenience. Here's our best info on how to decide which one is best for you.
Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, which means it mimics the hormone GLP-1. It helps to regulate appetite and food intake, making it easier for people to lose weight. Semaglutide works by slowing down gastric emptying, which makes you feel full sooner and helps reduce your appetite. This also reduces how much sugar gets released into your bloodstream, which helps keep your blood sugar stable.
If both drugs use the same active ingredient, then what is the real difference? You can think of Wegovy as a higher dose version of Ozempic. Other than that, the medications are the same. In terms of everyday usage, another small difference is that Ozempic comes in multi-dose pens, while Wegovy uses single dose pens. This means you'll only use 1 Ozempic pen per month, while Wegovy will require 4 pens: 1 for each week.
If you’re considering either Wegovy or Ozempic for weight loss and you already have diabetes, you should try getting Ozempic - it will be much easier for you to get coverage. Otherwise, your doctor will usually prescribe Wegovy first. If you have trouble getting coverage for Wegovy, then ask your doctor if you can try Ozempic, which may be still easier to get covered for.
Both Ozempic and Wegovy are great for helping people lose weight. In one study, people taking 1.0 mg of semaglutide (a common Ozempic dosage), along with diet and exercise, saw an average weight loss of 7% of their bodyweight over 68 weeks (Davies, 2021).
For now, studies seem to suggest that people with diabetes using these drugs will lose less weight on average than people without diabetes using these drugs (Jensterle, 2022). This is pretty normal for weight loss drugs — other studies have shown that losing weight is more difficult in general for people with diabetes than without (Franz, 2017). You should keep this in mind when reading comparisons of weight loss between Ozempic and Wegovy: Ozempic users might be reporting worse weight loss results compared to Wegovy users simply because Ozempic users are far more likely to have diabetes.
Wegovy and Ozempic share many of the same side effects because they both contain the active ingredient semaglutide. However, Wegovy may have more severe side effects due to its higher dosage.
While rare, serious side effects can occur with both medications. These include:
It's important to discuss potential side effects with your healthcare provider before starting treatment. Most side effects are mild and tend to resolve over time. However, if you experience severe or persistent side effects, consult your healthcare provider. They can help you decide whether to continue the medication or explore other options.
Ozempic is administered using a multi-dose pen. This means you will keep the same pen for an entire month, and you'll need to keep track of your remaining doses each week. On the other hand, Wegovy uses single dose pens, which means you'll use 4 Wegovy pens every 28 days (so 1 pen every 7 days). With Wegovy, it can be easier to keep track of doses, which some people find more convenient.
Both Wegovy and Ozempic should be stored in your fridge. Because Ozempic is at a lower concentration than Wegovy, it tends to be more stable, so it lasts for 56 days unrefrigerated vs 28 days for Wegovy. You can read our storage tips here for Ozempic and Wegovy.
Both medications require you to give yourself a subcutaneous injection in your abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. Your doctor or another healthcare professional can teach you how to use the injection pen. You'll also find instructions in the medication guide that comes with the injection pen.
When it comes to dosage, Ozempic and Wegovy have different schedules and strengths. Both Ozempic and Wegovy have the same starting dose of 0.25 mg per week, but notice that Wegovy tops out at 2.4 mg while Ozempic reaches a maximum weekly dose of 2 mg.
The initial dose is 0.25 mg once weekly for the first four weeks. After that, the dose increases to 0.5 mg once weekly. If additional glycemic control is needed, the dose can be increased to 1 mg once weekly. In some cases, the dose may be further increased to 2 mg once weekly.
The starting dose is also 0.25 mg once weekly for the first four weeks. The dose then increases to 0.5 mg once weekly for the next four weeks. After that, the dose is increased to 1 mg once weekly for another four weeks. The dose is then increased to 1.7 mg once weekly for four weeks, and finally, the maintenance dose is 2.4 mg once weekly.
Without insurance for Ozempic is around $1,000 per month, while Wegovy can cost around $1,300 out of pocket. That said, Novo Nordisk offers different savings cards which can save you $150 per month for Ozempic, or $225 per month on Wegovy.
We've helped patients obtain insurance coverage for both of these medications. Some of our customers have emailed us to say they now pay as little as a $25 monthly copay for their monthly supply, without needing a savings card.
Wegovy is specifically approved by the FDA for the treatment of obesity. It is intended for adults who have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, or for those with a BMI of 27 or higher who also have weight-related health issues, such as high blood pressure or heart disease.
Ozempic, on the other hand, is primarily approved for the management of type 2 diabetes.
In summary, while Wegovy and Ozempic share the same active ingredient, semaglutide, they are FDA approved for different groups of people. Wegovy is mainly used for weight management, while Ozempic is primarily prescribed for managing Type 2 diabetes. Both medications can also reduce the risk of serious heart problems.
Ozempic uses multi-dose pens, which means you'll need to keep track of your remaining doses. Wegovy uses single dose pens, which can make it a bit easier to use. Always consult your healthcare provider to determine which medication is best suited for your needs. Remember, a balanced diet and regular exercise are essential to achieving the best results with either medication.
Wegovy can be taken by adults and teens aged 12 and above who meet certain weight and health criteria. Ozempic is for adults with Type 2 diabetes and may also be prescribed off-label for weight loss.
Both medications are easy to use. Ozempic comes in multi-dose pens, which means you need to keep track of the doses remaining in your pens. Wegovy comes in single dose pens, which may be easier to keep track of. However, Ozempic is more stable than Wegovy at room temperature.
Wegovy is usually prescribed at a higher dose of 2.4 mg once a week, while Ozempic is prescribed at doses ranging from 0.5 mg to 2 mg once a week.
Both medications can cause similar side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. However, these side effects might be more common with Wegovy because of the higher dosage.
Wegovy and Ozempic both use the same active ingredient, but unfortunately most health insurance plans do not consider them interchangeable with one another. However, if Ozempic is being used off-label for weight loss, your doctor might switch you to Wegovy.
