¹Davies, Melanie, et al. “Semaglutide 2·4 mg Once A Week in Adults with Overweight or Obesity, and Type 2 Diabetes (STEP 2): a Randomised, Double-blind, Double-dummy, Placebo-controlled, Phase 3 trial.” The Lancet, vol. 397, issue 10278, 2021:971-984 https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00213-0/abstract.
Have you ever confused Wegovy for Ozempic, or vice versa? It’s easily done. After all, both are weekly injections that are made from the same active ingredient (semaglutide). And they can both help with weight loss.
Yet Ozempic and Wegovy are licensed as treatments for different conditions. That means they are prescribed and used in their own ways. If you still feel a bit puzzled, don’t worry: we’re here to explain what sets them apart.
Is Wegovy the same as Ozempic?
Here’s the part that tends to mix people up. Ozempic and Wegovy are two separate brand names for the same medicine: semaglutide. Semaglutide works by acting like the natural hunger hormone GLP-1 to make you feel full, so you lose weight (though semaglutide has other potential benefits, too).
But while they are made from the same active ingredient, Ozempic and Wegovy are different products. And they’re meant for different conditions.
Ozempic is licensed as a treatment for type 2 diabetes. Though it’s sometimes used off-label for weight, all the guidance around how it should be taken (including safety and dosing, for example) is geared towards people with type 2 diabetes.
Whereas Wegovy is approved for use as a weight loss treatment. Public debate has added to the confusion. US President Donald Trump recently referred to Ozempic as a “fat pill,” but Ozempic is an injection. If you are thinking of a semaglutide pill, that product is Rybelsus. We explain the facts in Trump calls Ozempic a ‘fat pill’: what it is and does it work?
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Wegovy vs Ozempic: dose and frequency
Ozempic comes in four doses: 0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1mg, and 2mg. Whereas there are six Wegovy doses for weight loss—0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1mg, 1.7mg, 2.4mg, and 7.2mg. Clinical research found people on the 7.2mg dose lost 20.7% of their body weight on average.
With both medicines, you start on the lowest dose and then gradually move up every four weeks, until you reach your stable dose. This is the strength of the medicine where it has the effect we want it to without causing unmanageable side effects.
FYI: Ozempic and Wegovy are each taken as weekly injections.
Which is more effective for weight loss?
Scientific research shows that higher doses of semaglutide lead to better results. So, because Wegovy is available in higher strengths, that means it’s more effective for weight loss.
Wegovy can also drive better results than Saxenda weight loss injections, (Saxenda contains the ingredient liraglutide). After using Saxenda for over a year, the average loss is 7.4% of starting weight.
Ozempic vs Wegovy cost
If you’re getting your medicine via private prescription, costs can vary per provider.
At Voy, we offer Wegovy as part of a science-backed treatment. Find out if you’re eligible by taking this short quiz.
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Ozempic and Wegovy side effects
But when it comes to side effects, is Ozempic the same as Wegovy? Mostly, yes. Though certain symptoms might be more common on Wegovy. Again, this is likely because it’s prescribed in higher doses.
Let’s take a look at the most common side effects for both Ozempic and Wegovy weight loss injections:
Wegovy (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Stomach pain
- Fatigue
Ozempic (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)
- Nausea
- Diarrhoea
- Low blood sugar (when Ozempic is used alongside certain other diabetes medications—check with your provider if you aren’t sure)
Note: Constipation, stomach pain, vomiting, and fatigue are also side effects of Ozempic, but are considered “common” rather than “very common”.
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."
With either medicine, side effects are usually mild and tend to clear up on their own. Though in rare cases (up to 0.5% of people), both Ozempic and Wegovy can cause pancreatitis, which is when your pancreas becomes inflamed. If you get severe pain in your stomach and back that doesn’t go away, see your provider asap. Pancreatitis may be caused due to rapid weight loss rather than a side effect of the medication itself.
By the way: you might have heard the terms “Ozempic mouth” or “Ozempic face”. These are non-clinical, blanket terms people use to describe different types of oral and facial symptoms, like having a more gaunt appearance, when using weight loss medicines. But these symptoms are caused by rapid weight loss, rather than being official side effects of the medication.
Is Ozempic or Wegovy available in the UK?
Yep, you can get Ozempic and Wegovy in the UK. But because it’s licensed as a treatment for type 2 diabetes, Ozempic isn’t available as a weight loss treatment on the NHS.
It is possible to get Wegovy for weight loss on the NHS, though it can be difficult. For one, you need to be referred to a specialist weight management service. You also need to have existing health problems related to your weight plus a BMI of 35 or above (though if you have an Asian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Black African, or African-Caribbean ethnic background, your BMI can be as low as 27.5).
With the NHS, you'll have a review after taking semaglutide for six months. You'll then usually only carry on taking the medicine if you've lost at least 5% of your body weight. And the NHS can only prescribe semaglutide for obesity for a maximum of two years.
You can get both Ozempic and Wegovy via private prescription, though. At Voy, we offer Wegovy as part of our science-backed treatment. Once you’ve reached your target weight, we’ll map out a maintenance plan to help you achieve weight loss that lasts.
At Voy, you can:
- Stay on treatment as long as your BMI remains above 19.
- Take a break and restart if your BMI is above 22. You don’t need to return to your starting weight to access support.
- Take things at your own pace to make sure you feel confident and in control.
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Your weight loss journey
Curious about trying weight loss medication such as Wegovy? At Voy, you’ll get monthly medication plus one-to-one support from our team of clinicians and treatment specialists as part of our weight loss treatment plan. We’ll work with you to transform your lifestyle—and will be there to cheer you on at every step.
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