Ozempic vs. Wegovy: Which One is Right For You?

What are Ozempic and Wegovy used for?

Ozempic and Wegovy are both prescribed to help with long-term weight loss in certain people, along with diet and exercise. Wegovy is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for this use, but this is an off-label use for Ozempic. With off-label use, doctors prescribe a drug for a purpose other than what it’s approved for.

The drugs also have other uses, as this table shows:

Weight loss with Ozempic or Wegovy

Wegovy is approved for long-term weight management in certain adults and children. In studies, most people who took Wegovy lost at least 5% of their body weight over 68 weeks. Almost half of the people who took Wegovy lost at least 15% of their body weight in that time.

Ozempic is not approved for weight loss or weight management, but doctors may prescribe it off-label for this purpose. Some people using Ozempic in clinical studies reported weight loss, but its primary indication is to help with blood sugar control.

How to take Ozempic and Wegovy

Ozempic and Wegovy are primarily known as once-weekly subcutaneous injections, but both now also have oral tablet versions.

Injections

You inject Ozempic and Wegovy under the skin of the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm once weekly.

Ozempic uses a multidose pen where you attach a new needle for each dose. Ozempic dosages start at 0.25 mg weekly, increasing every 4 weeks to 0.5 mg, then 1 mg, and up to a maximum of 2 mg if needed for blood sugar management.

Wegovy typically uses single-dose pens with integrated needles. However, a “FlexTouch” multidose pen is also available in some countries.

Wegovy dosages start at 0.25 milligrams (mg) weekly, increasing every 4 weeks through 0.5 mg, 1 mg, and 1.7 mg, to a maintenance dose of 2.4 mg. For certain adults, it may be escalated further to 7.2 mg.

Tablets

You take Ozempic and Wegovy tablets by mouth on an empty stomach in the morning with no more than 4 ounces of plain water. You must wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking, or taking other oral medications.

Ozempic tablets are available in 1.5 mg, 4 mg, and 9 mg strengths. Wegovy tablets are available in 1.5 mg, 4 mg, 9 mg, and 25 mg strengths.

Side effects of Ozempic and Wegovy

Ozempic and Wegovy may cause side effects ranging from mild to serious.

Mild side effects

Mild side effects include:

• nausea and vomiting
• abdominal pain or bloating
• diarrhea
• constipation
• indigestion
• burping or gas
• fatigue (low energy)
• dizziness
• headache
• mild injection site reaction

Serious side effects

The following serious side effects are rare but possible with Ozempic and Wegovy:

• possible risk of thyroid cancer (boxed warning)
• pancreatitis (swelling in the pancreas)
• kidney injury or failure due to dehydration
• gallbladder problems, such as gallstones
• low blood sugar
• increased heart rate
• severe allergic reaction

To learn about your risk for serious side effects from Ozempic or Wegovy, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

What do Ozempic and Wegovy cost?

Ozempic and Wegovy are not currently available as generics. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. Generic drugs tend to cost significantly less than the brand-name drug they are modeled on.

What you’ll pay for Ozempic and Wegovy may depend on several things, including:

• your treatment plan
• whether you have health insurance
• whether your insurance covers the drugs
• the pharmacy you use

You may be able to find drug coupons on prescription discount websites that can reduce the cost of your medication. These coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits, but the discounted price may be lower than what you would pay through insurance.

What are the warnings for Ozempic and Wegovy?

Ozempic and Wegovy may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health.

Boxed warning

Both Ozempic and Wegovy have a boxed warning about the risk of thyroid tumors and thyroid cancer. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

In animal studies, semaglutide (the active drug in Ozempic and Wegovy) has been shown to cause thyroid tumors and thyroid cancer. Doctors don’t know if it can cause thyroid cancers in people.

Due to the possible risk, your doctor will likely not prescribe Ozempic or Wegovy if you have a higher risk of thyroid cancer. This could be because you or a family member has had thyroid cancer before. Or it could be that you have a genetic condition called multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2), which raises your risk of thyroid cancer.

If you’re prescribed Ozempic or Wegovy, tell your doctor right away if you develop a lump in your neck, hoarseness that doesn’t go away, or have trouble swallowing or breathing. These could be signs of thyroid cancer.

Other warnings

In addition to boxed warnings, Ozempic and Wegovy have other warnings. Before starting treatment, talk with your doctor if any of the following conditions or health factors apply to you:

• previous allergic reaction to either drug or any of its ingredients
• pregnant or planning to become pregnant
• breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed
• previous pancreatitis or another problem with your pancreas
• history of diabetic retinopathy
• kidney problem
• gastroparesis or another condition that may slow digestion
• planned surgery that will require sedation or general anesthesia
• depression or other mental health conditions

Can I switch between Ozempic and Wegovy?

It’s possible to switch between Ozempic and Wegovy, or between injection and tablet forms, but you must do this as directed by a doctor.

For weight loss, Ozempic and Wegovy are used at slightly different doses, and your body may respond differently to the two drugs.

Don’t switch drugs or stop your current treatment unless your doctor recommends it.

Takeaway

Ozempic and Wegovy both contain semaglutide but are approved for different purposes. Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabetes and related cardiovascular or kidney risks. Wegovy is approved for chronic weight management and cardiovascular risk reduction in overweight or obese adults.

Both medications are available as weekly injections or daily tablets, but Wegovy is typically prescribed at significantly higher doses than Ozempic to achieve weight loss.