Wegovy vs Ozempic: what's the difference?
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It's a common misconception that Wegovy and Ozempic are the same. Learn the differences in our guide.
You may have heard about people using the injectable drug Ozempic to lose weight.
You might also have heard about Wegovy. Like Ozempic, this is taken as an injection and helps people living with obesity to lose weight.
Both these drugs use the same active ingredient: a substance called 'semaglutide'.
Does this mean that Ozempic and Wegovy are the same drug?
No – far from it. Here's why.
Is Ozempic the same as Wegovy?
Ozempic was approved in the UK in 2019. Since then, it's been available to patients as a treatment for type 2 diabetes.
Wegovy was approved in 2023 as a treatment for obesity.
This is the key difference between the two medications. Ozempic was designed as a treatment for diabetes – and this remains the only approved use for the drug in the UK. Wegovy, meanwhile, was designed for weight loss.
So, although Wegovy and Ozempic have the same active ingredient, they differ in several important ways. These differences include:
- The patient information leaflet: with Wegovy, the information provided is tailored for weight loss. Ozempic, however, provides advice that's tailored to diabetes treatment.
- The doses available: semaglutide works best for weight loss at high doses. That's why Wegovy is available in a higher maximum dose than Ozempic.
- Who can take the drug: Ozempic is only supposed to be offered as a treatment for type 2 diabetes. If a doctor wants to prescribe semaglutide for weight loss, they should offer Wegovy instead.
This hasn't stopped doctors from prescribing Ozempic as a weight loss treatment. However, this is considered an 'off-label' usage because the medication is not licensed for this type of treatment.
Who makes Ozempic and Wegovy?
Ozempic and Wegovy are both manufactured by Novo Nordisk, a Denmark-based pharmaceutical company.
On its US website, Novo Nordisk states the following about Wegovy and Ozempic:
"Although Wegovy and Ozempic both contain semaglutide, they are different products with different indications, dosages, prescribing information, and titration schedules […]. Each medication has a unique safety and efficacy profile, which is detailed in its respective product label."
Wegovy vs Ozempic dosing
Wegovy and Ozempic differ in the dosages available and their titration schedule (how often the dose is increased and by how much).
As you can see in the table below, both drugs start at the same dosage. However, Wegovy patients who take the drug for weight loss have a higher maintenance dose (maximum dose) than Ozempic patients who are treated for diabetes. That's because this high dose is most effective for weight loss.
| Ozempic dose (for type 2 diabetes) | Wegovy dose (for weight loss) | |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1 to 4 | 0.25mg | 0.25mg |
| Weeks 2 to 8 | 0.5mg | 0.5mg |
| Weeks 9 to 12 | 0.5mg or 1mg (if required) | 1mg |
| Weeks 13 to 16 | 0.5mg Or 1mg (if required) Or 2mg (if required, after at least 4 weeks on the 1mg dose) | 1mg |
| Weeks 17+ | 0.5mg Or 1mg (if required) Or 2mg (if required, after at least 4 weeks on the 1mg dose) | 2.4mg |
Which is better: Wegovy or Ozempic?
We know that Wegovy's higher maximum dose gets results. The STEP 1 trial, published in 2021, found that patients on a 2.4mg dose of semaglutide lost 15% of their body weight, on average.²
We also know that higher doses are more effective than lower doses. This was demonstrated in another trial from 2021, which compared the effects of 2mg and 1mg doses of semaglutide on patients with type 2 diabetes. Those taking the 2mg dose lost an average of 6.9kg, while those on the 1mg dose lost 6kg.³
But results only tell part of the story. You could argue that Wegovy is better than Ozempic for weight loss simply because that's what Wegovy was designed for.
Taking Wegovy means getting the right information and the right support. This information and support is designed to keep you safe and maximise your chances of success.
When your health and well-being are in the picture, that kind of support is priceless.
Are you considering accessing
Wegovy on private prescription? Feel free to
get in touch with SemaPen – we're happy to answer any questions you might have.
Sources
1.
https://www.novonordisk-us.com/supply-update.html
2. Wilding, J.P.H. et al. (2021) "Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity" New England Journal of Medicine, 384(11)
https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183
3. Frias, J.P. et al. (2021) "Efficacy and safety of once-weekly semaglutide 2·0 mg versus 1·0 mg in patients with type 2 diabetes (SUSTAIN FORTE): a double-blind, randomised, phase 3B trial" The Lancet, 9(9)
https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(21)00174-1
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