Wegovy vs Ozempic: What's the difference?

Ozempic has been wildly utilised for weight loss treatment in recent years and its success has led to the advent of other weight loss medications like Wegovy and Mounjaro.

Both Ozempic and Wegovy contain the same active ingredient, called semaglutide. But, despite containing the same ingredient, Wegovy and Ozempic aren't interchangeable. There are a few key differences between the medications, which have implications for how it is used and for who.

To help demystify these medications, we've created a handy guide on the differences between Wegovy and Ozempic and how each should be used. Let's get started.

What is Ozempic?

Ozempic is a prescription medication that is designed to regulate blood sugar levels to treat type 2 diabetes and has also been found to lower the risk of a stroke or heart attack. For the latter reason, it is also useful in the treatment of patients with heart disease [2].

Ozempic was designed as a type 2 diabetes treatment, but in recent years, it's been used as a tool for weight loss and chronic weight management. While Ozempic is licensed to be prescribed for diabetes treatment in the UK, it has often been prescribed off-label for obesity treatment.

The guidance is that "Ozempic should only be prescribed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes to protect supply for diabetes patients. It should not be prescribed solely for weight loss" [3].

What is Wegovy?

Wegovy is also an injectable medication containing semaglutide. While Ozempic is licensed for diabetes treatment but has been previously used for weight loss, Wegovy is only licensed for weight loss and weight management in the UK and it's a medication we prescribe in our Weight Reset Programme.

As both of these medications contain the same active ingredient — semaglutide — they work similarly but Wegovy is often prescribed in higher doses, which can make it more effective for weight loss.

To be eligible for Wegovy, you must have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or greater (which indicates obesity). This criterion can be lowered slightly to 27kg/m2 (which indicates being overweight) if you also have a weight-related comorbid condition, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, PCOS, asthma or sleep apnoea [4].

What is the difference between Ozempic and Wegovy?

Ozempic and Wegovy are similar in a lot of ways. For starters, they both contain semaglutide and are used for body weight management. And, both are delivered via injection.

When it comes to differences between these medications, the first is that Wegovy was researched and trialled as a weight-loss drug, while Ozempic was initially studied as a treatment for diabetes. And, this medication remains primarily a drug used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease.

Another difference is that Wegovy can be supplied in higher doses — the maximum dose of Wegovy is 2.4mg versus 1.0mg for Ozempic.

How do Ozempic and Wegovy work for weight loss?

These drugs largely work by suppressing your appetite. Semaglutide — the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy — mimics the hormone responsible for regulating your appetite (GLP-1).

It targets the brain receptors that make you feel hungry, lessens your appetite and helps you feel full for longer. In turn, this should encourage you to consume less and, ultimately, reduce your body weight. It also stimulates the rate of insulin secretion and slows down gastric emptying, helping to control your blood sugar.

Semaglutide should be used in conjunction with lifestyle changes, including a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity [4]. In fact, clinical trials have shown that people lose more weight with semaglutide medications in conjunction with weight loss coaching than alone [5].

That's why we combine weight loss injections with health coaching and community support in our Weight Reset Programme. Our programme focuses on these 3 key areas to support you in losing weight sustainably and with the knowledge that you'll be able to keep it off in the long term.

Juniper's Weight Reset Programme can be broken down into the following areas:

• A biological reset: We prescribe weight loss medication that targets the receptors in the brain that control your appetite. The medication works to lower your body’s ‘set point’, which is the weight it fights to maintain at a biological level. This helps you to lose weight.
• A behavioural reset: Our clinicians, health coaches and community supports you every step of the way. In our programme, you’ll learn sustainable nutritional, exercise and lifestyle choices, tracking your progress to help you form long-term habits that stick. This will not only help you lose weight but keep it off for good.
• Our community: Numerous studies have shown that people in group communities achieve greater weight loss than those who do it alone [6]. That’s why we’re here. We’re dedicated to helping women make lifestyle changes that are often difficult to achieve on their own.

How effective is Wegovy for weight loss?

While both Wegovy and Ozempic are effective for weight loss and contain the same active ingredient, Wegovy can be prescribed in higher doses and has been shown in clinical trials to be more effective for weight loss than some of its alternatives [1].

A study from 2021 looked at 1,961 obese and overweight adults who were randomly assigned Wegovy injections or a placebo [2]. After 68 weeks, those taking Wegovy lost an average of 15.3 kg, whereas the placebo group lost an average of 2.6 kg.

It's important to mention that the participants also implemented lifestyle changes, particularly in their diet and exercise habits, which helped enhance the impact of Wegovy as a weight loss drug.

Wegovy vs Ozempic: dosing schedules

Both Wegovy and Ozempic are prescribed as pre-filled injectable pens, which are to be self-administered once a week.

Those prescribed Wegovy will start on a dose of 0.25 mg for at least 4 weeks, then cycle through the other dose strengths in 4-week minimum blocks until reaching the maximum dose of 2.4mg (a maintenance dose).

Although, some people may not tolerate the highest dose of Wegovy and in such cases, your healthcare provider will guide you on a comfortable maintenance dose personalised to you.

This is similar to Ozempic, however, the highest available dose is 1mg [7].

For Wegovy, the doses are:

• 0.25mg (first month)
• 0.5mg (second month)
• 1.0mg (third month)
• 1.7mg (fourth month), and
• 2.4mg (from the fifth month onwards)

For Ozempic, doses are:

• 0.25mg (first month)
• 0.5mg (second month), and
• 1.0mg (from the third month onwards)

Are Wegovy and Ozempic available on the NHS?

Ozempic is available on the NHS but is only prescribed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and not for weight loss treatment purposes.

Wegovy, on the other hand, is available on the NHS for weight loss treatment (along with another GLP-1 medication called Saxenda).

According to the NHS England, you'll be eligible for Wegovy is you have a BMI of either:

• 35 or more, or 32.5 or more if you're of Asian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean origin
• 30 to 34.9, or 27.5 to 32.4 if you're of Asian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean origin, and you meet other criteria to be treated by a specialist weight management service [8].

What are the side effects of Wegovy and Ozempic?

Side effects can occur with any medication. Generally, side effects associated with Wegovy and Ozempic are temporary and tend to reduce as your body adjusts to the medication.

Common side effects of Ozempic and Wegovy include:

• Changes to your sense of taste
• Diarrhoea
• Gas
• Heartburn/acid reflux
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Constipation
• Fatigue
• Light-headedness or headaches

There are also rare but serious side effects, such as pancreatitis or retinopathy [9]. Semaglutide medications should also not be prescribed to anyone with a history of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) as this has been a side effect shown in rats but not in humans [9].

To explore side effects further, we've created a handy guide on all of the side effects associated with Ozempic as well as advice on how to deal with them.

As with all medications, the probability and risk of side effects vary between individual patients. Before you start any new treatment, consider a thorough consultation with your GP or one of our Juniper clinicians to answer any questions you may have.

Can you switch from Ozempic to Wegovy?

Yes you can, as long as you have the guidance of your healthcare provider. They can help you navigate the transition with safety and deal with potential side effects.