Frome Type II Diabetes treatment to chronic weight management, Wegovy, and Ozempic are two Semaglutide-based drugs widely used throughout the US. But when there are two drugs in the market very similar in action, there automatically arises a question. Wegovy vs Ozempic, which one is the better option? We are going to exactly find that out today.
Wegovy: An Overview
Wegovy is a GLP-1 receptor agonist which is known to regulate blood glucose levels. The core working model of Wegovy revolves around stimulating insulin production via the pancreas and suppressing glucagon production simultaneously. This allows Wegovy to maintain the body’s blood glucose levels within a certain range as long as its dosage is continued.
But Wegovy is not limited to Type II Diabetes treatment alone. The drug has proven to be effective for weight loss management as well. Wegovy achieves such results by affecting the rate at which food leaves the stomach which eventually influences the appetite of an individual.
In the year 2021, Wegovy got its FDA approval to be used for weight management among people who fall under the ‘obese’ class with more weight-related disorders. These disorders include Type II Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Eating Disorders, etc. Clinical tests of the drug proved its ability to reduce waist circumference, and lower blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol levels.
It is important to note that Wegovy is prescribed for patients having more than 27 BMI ratings with one or more weight-related disorders. Patients having an overall BMI rating greater than 30 are generally eligible to get a Wegovy prescription with/without a weight-related disorder diagnosis.
Ozempic: An Overview
Ozempic is quite similar to Wegovy in action as the drug is responsible for inhibiting glucose production and stimulating Insulin production at the same time. Ozempic also acts as a GLP-1 agonist ensuring effective blood glucose levels management for patients who are suffering from Type II Diabetes.
Ozempic has FDA approval to be used for Type II Diabetes along with a strict diet and a physical exercise plan. It is important to note that Ozempic is not suitable to be used for Type I Diabetes. Being an immune disorder, the production of insulin within the body is not the only way to treat Type I Diabetes symptoms.
The intake of Wegovy per week involves injecting the semaglutide-based drug once a week, for four weeks continuously with a 0.25mg dosage. Once your body gets adapted to this level of dosage, the physicians can increase the dosage to 0.5mg per week.
In extremely rare and severe cases where a certain level of Insulin generation is required, doctors may advise increasing the weekly dosage of Ozempic up to 1 0r 2 mg. But doing something like that is only advisable with a doctor’s consent and recommendation.
Similarities Between Ozempic & Wegovy
Both Ozempic and Wegovy are quite similar to one another in so many ways. That’s one of the main reasons why some people and experts believe that Ozempic and Wegovy are interchangeable. However, deciding that is up to the medical practitioners who are working with a particular patient. Some core similarities between the two include the,
- Both medications are semaglutide based.
- Both medications are required to be injected through subcutaneous injections once a week with a certain dosage as prescribed by the doctor.
- You need to have a valid prescription from a certified physician for both medications.
- Both Wegovy and Ozempic increase the risk of thyroid C-cell tumors development within patients having a high risk of developing the tumors or having a family history of the disorder.
- Patients having a history of Multiple Neoplasia Syndrome Type II aren’t prescribed both medications.
- Both Wegovy and Ozempic pens must not be shared even if the needle is changed.
Differences Between Ozempic & Wegovy
Although there aren’t many differences between the two, there are certain aspects in which both Ozempic and Wegovy differ from one another. These aspects usually revolve around the intake and general use of both medications rather than their mode of action and effects on the body.
- Ozempic is approved by FDA to be used with Type II Diabetes patients to regulate blood glucose levels. The medication is widely prescribed off-label for weight management as well. Wegovy on the other hand is FDA approved for patients having weight-related disorders and the medication helps them with their weight-management journey. Similarly, Wegovy is prescribed off-label for better blood glucose level regulation.
- The maintenance dosage of Wegovy is around 2.4mg which is quite high as compared to the maintenance dosage of Ozempic.
- Wegovy has a higher rate of gastrointestinal side effects such as diarrhea and nausea as compared to Ozempic.
Which One Is The Better Choice?
Both medications have their distinct purposes and they aid in achieving the expected results quite effectively. However, we can’t come to a conclusion where we can label one of these two as the better choice.
As per the FDA’s approval, Ozempic is a Type II Diabetes blood glucose level-maintaining medication with weight-loss side effects. On the other hand, Wegovy is FDA-approved for chronic weight management with a reported effect on blood glucose level maintenance. This concludes that both medications are distinct and quite effective in their respective core categories.
How MY IV Doctors Can Help You On Your Weight Loss Journey?
Now let us come to the obvious debate. You have decided to embark on your semaglutide weight-loss journey. Well, that’s great! But you don’t have any idea regarding where to start and who’ll help you in the process. This is where My IV Doctors come to your aid.
With our years of experience in the field of semaglutide weight-loss programs, we are going to aid you from start to very end. Booking your evaluation with a certified doctor, finalizing your weight-loss plan, and delivering the required medications to your doorstep, we have a team of experts that are top-notch in managing all such matters for you.
Related Topics: