Semaglutide vs. Ozempic vs. Wegovy – What is the Difference?

There is a GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonist in both Ozempic and Wegovy. As needed, Semaglutide stimulates insulin release from the pancreas by binding to GLP-1 receptors. Slowing down the speed at which food travels through your digestive tract (called gastric emptying) contributes to weight loss. As a result, you may feel fuller for a longer period of time and consume less food.
 
Subcutaneous (under the skin) injections of Wegovy and Ozempic are administered weekly in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. These products are available as injector pens that can be used at home by the patient or caregiver. Other GLP-1 or GIP receptor agonists should not be used with these medicines.
 
Ozempic (Semaglutide) injection pens come in dosages of 0.5 mg, 1 mg, and 2 mg. Once a week, 0.25 mg is administered subcutaneously. Increase the dose to 0.5 mg once a week after 4 weeks. 2 mg of Ozempic per week is the maximum recommended dose.
 
Injection pens for Wegovy (Semaglutide) are available in doses of 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg, and 2.4 mg. The first dose should be 0.25 mg subcutaneously once a week for four weeks. The dose should be increased every four weeks until a maintenance dose of 2.4 mg is reached.
 
With Ozempic and Wegovy, the main difference is the amount of Semaglutide available per pen. The difference is that Wegovy is stronger than Ozempic once the final dosage level has been reached.

Wegovy is a brand-name version of Semaglutide that is FDA-approved for weight loss. Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist, reduces excess body fat and increases lean body mass in adults with obesity or who are overweight.
 
The risks associated with obesity are numerous, heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure, cancer, fatty liver disease, and diabetes can all be caused by excess abdominal fat, particularly visceral fat, which is fat around the abdominal organs. For this reason, Wegovy treatment could be life-changing and improve health outcomes for patients.

It is possible to improve insulin sensitivity and reduce your risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease by losing 5-10% of your initial body weight. Weight loss has been demonstrated to be very effective with both Wegovy and Ozempic.
 
Due to Ozempic’s intended use to treat diabetes, not to lose weight, it has been studied for its ability to improve blood sugars.
 
It is difficult to compare the efficacy of these two drugs since they are intended for different purposes. Depending on the patient a different drug may be recommended, staff at Sunset Hills Medspa will help determine which type of Semaglutide injection is right for you.

Wegovy tends to lead to more weight loss but due to the differences in medication purpose and each patient’s individual circumstances, it is an imperfect one-for-one comparison. Which Semaglutide injection is right for you will be determined by a physician. In clinical trials, Wegovy 2.4 mg resulted in an average weight loss of 15.8% after 68 weeks. Clinical trials with Ozempic showed an average 6% weight reduction after one year (adults who started at 197 pounds on 1.0 mg Semaglutide per week). Weight loss is sustained when GLP-1 medications are combined with intensive lifestyle changes.

Wegovy and Ozempic cannot be substituted for one another. As a result, you typically won’t switch between the two. You shouldn’t take Wegovy if you’re taking Ozempic for Type 2 diabetes, since it hasn’t been approved for that purpose.
 
Although Ozempic is off-label for weight loss, some healthcare providers prescribe it. It is possible for your provider to switch you from Ozempic to Wegovy in this situation.
 
Semaglutide for weight loss is available at Sunset Hills Medspa. For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 2510 Wigwam Parkway, Suite A-102, Henderson, NV 89074. We serve clients from Henderson NV, Midway NV, Gibson Springs NV, Paradise Hills NV, Winchester NV, Las Vegas NV, Boulder City NV, and surrounding areas.