Retatrutide and Ozempic are both weekly injections that can help people manage their weight. However, they have a few important differences.
Ozempic is a medication originally developed to help manage blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Some doctors also prescribe it off-label for weight loss because it can reduce appetite and support weight management.
However, Wegovy—which contains the same active ingredient as Ozempic (semaglutide)—is specifically approved and licensed for weight loss.
Retatrutide is a new type of weight-loss injection that doctors can’t prescribe to you just yet because it’s still being tested in clinical trials.
Is retatrutide better than Ozempic?
Not necessarily. Some people say retatrutide is ‘better’ than Ozempic because results from early trials show people tend to lose more weight on retatrutide compared to other weight-loss injections.
For example, Wegovy, which has the same main ingredient as Ozempic (semaglutide), has been shown to help people lose, on average, 17.5% of their body weight over 72 weeks. Soon, a higher 7.2mg Wegovy dose will be available, which might increase this to 20.7%.
In comparison, trials show retatrutide might lead to somebody losing an average of 24.2% of their bodyweight in 48 weeks.
However, weight loss is a personal journey, and the type of drug that is right for you will depend on lots of different factors. At Voy, a clinician can choose the right plan for you, which might be injections like Mounjaro or Wegovy, or weight loss pills like orlistat.
You can also check out how we compare Retatrutide with Wegovy.
GLP-1 vs “triple G”
Weight-loss injections work by mimicking the effects of certain hormones.
GLP-1 is a hormone that regulates your blood sugar, reduces your appetite, and slows down your digestion. Mimicking GLP-1 is the main way that Ozempic and Wegovy work. You might hear weight-loss injections called “GLP-1s” for short, or weight loss peptides.
Mounjaro is another type of weight-loss injection available in the UK. As well as GLP-1, Mounjaro also mimics a hormone called GIP. This hormone also works to regulate blood sugar and reduce your appetite.
Retatrutide is the only weight loss medication that acts like three hormones. As well as GLP-1 and GIP, it also mimics glucagon, which regulates blood sugar, reduces your appetite, slows down your digestion, and helps your body burn fat.
For this reason, retatrutide is sometimes called “triple G”.
Retatrutide vs Ozempic: Key differences
Although retatrutide and Ozempic are both weekly injections that can help people lose weight, there are some key differences between the two.
Ozempic vs retatrutide: Side effects
All medications come with side effects. Retatrutide hasn’t been fully tested yet, so we don’t know for sure all of the side effects it might cause. But, from the research we have so far, it seems the side effects are similar to other weight-loss injections.
Common symptoms of both Ozempic and retatrutide include feeling sick, being sick, constipation and diarrhoea. Ozempic can also cause burping, stomach discomfort, and tiredness.
From the evidence we have, it seems that most people find the side effects of weight-loss medications manageable, and they often get better over time. For some people, increasing their dosage slowly helps them manage their symptoms.
Side effects support at Voy
"If you're using Voy and you experience any side effects, rest assured that our expert clinicians are just a message or phone call away. They can adjust your dose, prescribe medication to ease your symptoms, or simply offer reassurance.
Everyone responds differently to weight loss treatment and we'll help you find what feels right for you."
Can you buy Ozempic and retatrutide in the UK?
No. Ozempic is only available on prescription for people who have type 2 diabetes.
If you’re interested in Ozempic because you want help managing your weight, you could consider Wegovy. Wegovy has the same main ingredient as Ozempic, but it’s prescribed for weight loss.
Retatrutide isn’t available to anybody yet. This is because it’s still being tested to see if it’s safe. If it is approved for use, you’ll probably be able to access it in the same way as Wegovy or Mounjaro.
There are some sites that claim to be selling retatrutide already. There is no way to know what these products contain or how they have been made.
Taking anything that claims to be retatrutide at the moment, before it has been approved, is very dangerous and could make you seriously ill.
Wondering if weight loss medication could help you? Take the first step towards your health goals by filling in our quick quiz to check your eligibility for one of our science-backed programmes.
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