Wegovy vs Ozempic: Dose, Side Effects & Similarities
In the UK, 1 in 4 adults are currently living with obesity. Obesity is a serious concern as it increases the risk of developing other serious health conditions. To reduce the risk of weight-related health conditions, those with obesity need to lose weight.
However, this can be a struggle for many people. While there are no quick fixes for weight loss, there are weight loss medications such as Wegovy that can be helpful.
Ozempic is not currently licensed for weight loss treatment but is an available treatment for adults with type-2 diabetes who cannot use metformin. While on this medication, people with type-2 diabetes can also lose weight, as the active ingredient is semaglutide, which is the same as Wegovy.
In this article, we discuss the differences between Wegovy vs Ozempic, helping you understand the differences between these two medications, the individuals they treat and which is best between Wegovy vs Ozempic for weight loss.
Wegovy overview: what is Wegovy?
Wegovy is a prescription medication available as a pre-filled injector pen. Its active ingredient is semaglutide, which belongs to a class of medications that cause incretin mimetics.
In the UK, Wegovy is licensed for long-term weight management in adults who are obese (BMI above 30), or those who are overweight (BMI greater than 27) and have at least one weight-related health condition. Wegovy is used in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise to help people lose weight.
Ozempic overview: what is Ozempic?
As of 2024, Ozempic (semaglutide) is only licensed in the UK for use by adults with type-2 diabetes. Instead, Wegovy, which contains the same active ingredient, has been approved for use in adults for weight loss management.
Ozempic is a prescription medication that is injected weekly to help lower blood glucose (sugar) levels. To get an Ozempic prescription in the UK, you will need to meet the following criteria:
- Have poorly managed type-2 diabetes
- Metformin is not a suitable treatment option for you
- Have a BMI of 30 or over
- Have no family history or a previous diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, thyroid cancer or pancreatitis
Although Ozempic has previously been prescribed for off-label use to treat weight loss, no clinical studies provide sufficient data to prove its safety.
Are Wegovy and Ozempic the same?
Wegovy vs Ozempic active ingredients
Wegovy
The active ingredient in Wegovy is semaglutide, which is very similar to the naturally occurring hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that’s released from the intestine after eating food. Wegovy works similarly to the effects of GLP-1 in the body, telling the brain it is full, leading to a reduced appetite and managing cravings.
Ozempic
Ozempic also contains the active ingredient semaglutide, which acts on the GLP-1 receptor. This helps regulate blood sugar levels when they are high, as well as preventing heart disease.
Who makes Wegovy and Ozempic?
Both Wegovy and Ozempic are brand-name medications made by Novo Nordisk.
What do Wegovy and Ozempic treat?
Wegovy
Wegovy is a prescription-only injectable medicine used to treat obesity and manage weight. This medication can be used by adults who have:
- A BMI of 27 kg/m2 and less than 30 kg/m2 with weight-related problems
- A BMI of 30 kg/m2 or greater (obesity)
Ozempic
Ozempic is a prescription medication used to reduce blood sugar levels when they are too high. Additionally, Ozempic can help prevent heart disease. This medication is used if blood sugar levels are not controlled in those who cannot use metformin or other medications for diabetes. Ozempic is not prescribed to treat weight loss in the UK.
How long do Wegovy and Ozempic take to work?
Wegovy
Wegovy starts working when you take your first dose. It will vary from person to person when weight loss is first noticed, with most people noticing changes after the first few doses or several weeks.
Ozempic
Ozempic takes 4-5 weeks of a once-weekly dose to reach a steady state in the body.
Wegovy vs Ozempic dose and usage recommendations
Wegovy
Wegovy is injected once weekly, meaning the dose increase will be moderate. The starting dose for Wegovy is 0.25mg, with 2.4mg being the optimal dose. A typical 16 week treatment schedule for Wegovy includes:
- Week 1-4 - 0.25mg
- Week 5-8 - 0.5mg
- Week 9-12 - 1mg
- Week 13-16 - 1.7mg
- Week 17+ - 2.4mg
Your doctor or pharmacist will assess your treatment on a regular basis and adjust the dosages as needed based on your progress and how well you tolerate the medication.
Wegovy is injected under the skin (subcutaneous injection) in either the upper arm, thigh or stomach area. Do not inject Wegovy into a vein or deep into a muscle. Before you use the pre-filled injection pen, read through the detailed instructions on the back of the Patient Information Leaflet.
Ozempic
Ozempic is available in 4 doses: 0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1mg and 2mg. The starting dose for patients is 0.25mg. The typical patient journey on Ozempic looks like this:
- Week 1 - Starting dose of 0.25mg
- Week 2 - 0.5mg can be increased to 1mg
- Week 3 - 1mg dose, which can be increased to 2mg
The typical maintenance dose of Ozempic for type-2 diabetes patients is 1.0mg; however, your doctor will advise you if you need to lower or increase this dose.
How does it feel after taking Wegovy vs Ozempic?
Wegovy
After taking your first dose of Wegovy, you may begin to experience some side effects, such as vomiting, dizziness, nausea, diarrhoea and constipation. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these symptoms persist and do not go away within a few days to a few weeks.
Ozempic
Unpleasant side effects, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, may occur after the first dose of Ozempic. Talk to your doctor if these side effects persist.
How are Wegovy and Ozempic different?
Wegovy and Ozempic both contain the active ingredient semaglutide. However, Wegovy is licensed for weight loss treatment, while Ozempic is only approved for use in patients with type-2 diabetes. Wegovy also has a higher maintenance dose of 2.4mg compared to Ozempic, which has a maintenance dose of 1.0mg.
Wegovy vs Ozempic efficacy & benefits
Studies suggest Wegovy results in more weight loss than Ozempic. This could be due to Wegovy being prescribed in higher doses than Ozempic. The review found that patients who took 2.4mg of semaglutide lost more weight than those who took 1.0mg of semaglutide. The general maintenance dose for Wegovy is 2.4mg, while Ozempic is 1.0mg.
Wegovy vs Ozempic side effects
As with any medication, there are known side effects for both Wegovy and Ozempic, although not everyone may get them. If you experience persistent common side effects when taking these medications, tell your pharmacist or doctor.
Wegovy
Common side effects of Wegovy include:
- Headache
- Feeling tired or weak
- Diarrhoea
- Dizziness
- Burping
- Hair loss
- Gallstones
- Low blood sugar
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Stomach pain
- Bloating of the stomach
- Gastritis (inflamed stomach)
- heartburn or reflux
- Injection site reactions
- Flatulence (gas)
Severe side effects of Wegovy include:
- Severe allergic reaction
- Bowel obstruction (severe form of constipation)
- Diabetic retinopathy (complications of diabetic eye disease)
- Inflamed pancreas (acute pancreatitis)
Ozempic
Common side effects of Ozempic include:
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Diarrhoea
- Low blood sugar
- Flatulence (gas)
- Constipation
- Gall stones
- Burping
- Tiredness
- Fast pulse
- Injection site reactions
- Dizziness
- Indigestion
- Gastritis (inflamed stomach)
- Stomach pain
Severe side effects of Ozempic include:
- Complications of diabetic eye disease
- Severe allergic reaction
- Inflamed pancreatitis (acute pancreatitis)
If you experience any severe side effects or an allergic reaction to either medication, seek immediate medical attention or phone 999. If you would like to know more about each medication's side effects, you can refer to each Patient Information Leaflet (PIL).
Wegovy vs Ozempic interactions with other medications
Wegovy
Before starting Wegovy, tell your pharmacist or doctor if you have any of the following:
- Diabetes
- Pancreas inflammation (acute pancreatitis)
- Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar)
- Diabetic eye disease (retinopathy)
It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any prescription medication, vitamins, herbal remedies or supplements.
If you are diabetic and using Wegovy in combination with insulin or sulfonylurea, low blood sugar can occur, which may cause other side effects. Talk to your doctor about how to treat or understand the warning signs of low blood sugar levels.
Ozempic
Tell your doctor or pharmacist about any prescription, herbal remedies, supplements or vitamins you take. It is important to tell your pharmacist or doctor if you take the following medications:
- Warfarin or other anticoagulants
- Insulin
What is the price difference between Ozempic and Wegovy?
Cloud Pharmacy, a UK-registered online prescribing service, stocks Wegovy with prices starting from £159.
Ozempic is not available for purchase from Cloud Pharmacy as a weight loss treatment.
Wegovy vs Ozempic customer reviews
Wegovy customer reviews
When used for weight loss, Wegovy generally has positive reviews, with users reporting the medication is effective and works well for them. Multiple users reported they experienced unpleasant side effects after the first injection, which left them feeling very sick and seeking medical attention.
Ozempic customer reviews
Ozempic customer reviews are mixed, with type-2 diabetes patients reporting that they were grateful Ozempic became available as metformin no longer works sufficiently for them. However, users reported that they experienced side effects (nausea, headache, fatigue and constipation) when they first began treatment.
Is Wegovy or Ozempic better for weight loss?
Wegovy is the better weight loss medication as Ozempic is not intended for weight management. Ozempic is only licensed for use in patients with uncontrolled type-2 diabetes who cannot take metformin.
What alternatives to Wegovy and Ozempic are there?
Saxenda
Saxenda is a prescription weight loss medication that has the active ingredient liraglutide. Liraglutide acts similarly to the hormone GLP-1, which is released from the intestines when you eat food. This medication reduces the feeling of hunger and regulates blood sugar levels while helping you manage cravings.
Saxenda is suitable for:
- Adults who have a BMI over 27 alongside weight-related health conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or type-2 diabetes.
- Adults who have a BMI over 30
Mounjaro
Mounjaro is a pre-filled injectable pen containing the active ingredient tirzepatide. Tirzepatide is both a GIP and GLP-1 receptor that acts on GIP and GLP-1. When used in adults with type-2 diabetes, it regulates blood sugar levels. Mounjaro works by controlling appetite, providing a feeling of fullness, making you feel less hungry and helping you control cravings.
You can buy Mounjaro online from Cloud Pharmacy.
Are Wegovy and Ozempic interchangeable?
No. While they both have the active ingredient, semaglutide, Wegovy and Ozempic aren’t the same. Only Wegovy is approved as a weight loss treatment in the UK.
When purchasing prescription medication, it is important to use a reputable and registered online pharmacy to ensure you get what you need.
Cloud Pharmacy is a UK-registered online prescribing service. After a short online assessment to determine eligibility, you will have a free online consultation with a pharmacist to determine if Wegovy is the correct medication for you. Your Wegovy prefilled injection pens are then dispensed in discreet packaging and sent with next-day delivery to your UK address.
