Key takeaways
Wegovy and Ozempic both contain the same active ingredient: semaglutide.
Wegovy is FDA-approved for weight loss and available in two forms: a daily oral pill and a weekly injection.
Ozempic is FDA-approved to treat type 2 diabetes, though some healthcare provider may prescribe Ozempic off-label for weight management.
Some of the available dosages of each medication are different. Also each Wegovy injection pen has a built-in needle, while Ozempic pens come with needles that you’ll attach to the pen before each dose.
Here's what we'll cover
Key takeaways
Wegovy and Ozempic both contain the same active ingredient: semaglutide.
Wegovy is FDA-approved for weight loss and available in two forms: a daily oral pill and a weekly injection.
Ozempic is FDA-approved to treat type 2 diabetes, though some healthcare provider may prescribe Ozempic off-label for weight management.
Some of the available dosages of each medication are different. Also each Wegovy injection pen has a built-in needle, while Ozempic pens come with needles that you’ll attach to the pen before each dose.
If you are struggling with overweight and obesity or are living with type 2 diabetes, you’ve likely heard of Wegovy and Ozempic. Both medications are GLP-1s (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists) and contain the same active ingredient (semaglutide). Since the two drugs have the same active ingredient, it is fair to ask: is Wegovy the same as Ozempic?
The answer is yes…and no. Wegovy and Ozempic are the same drugs, sold under different brand names and, sometimes, in different formulations. The main differences are the amount of semaglutide in each pen, what they’ve been approved for, and they’re available forms.
Semaglutide was first approved under the brand name Ozempic in 2017 as a treatment for type 2 diabetes. In 2021, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the drug under the brand name Wegovy as a weight loss medication. And in 2025, FDA gave the green light to the Wegovy pill as the first oral GLP-1 specifically for weight loss.
Healthcare providers often prescribe both for weight loss, but there are a few key differences between them.
Wegovy vs. Ozempic: are they the same?
Wegovy and Ozempic are brand-name prescription drugs containing the same active ingredient: semaglutide. Both belong to a class of drugs known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 agonists or GLP-1s). Other drugs in this class include Rybelsus (which is an oral medication), Saxenda, Trulicity, and Victoza.
Although Ozempic and Wegovy share many similarities, the FDA has approved Ozempic and Wegovy for different uses. Plus, Wegovy comes as a weekly injection and daily oral tablet.
Ozempic is FDA-approved for:
Controlling blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Reducing the risk of major cardiovascular health problems, such as heart attack, stroke, and death in adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease
Reducing the risk of kidney decline in adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease
Wegovy (injection) is FDA-approved, alongside a reduced calorie diet and exercise, for:
Weight loss and management in adults and pediatric patients aged 12 years and older with obesity
Weight loss and management in adults with overweight and at least one weight-related health condition (e.g. diabetes)
Cardiovascular risk reduction in adults with cardiovascular disease and either obesity or overweight
Treatment of fatty liver disease in adults
The Wegovy pill is FDA-approved, alongside a reduced calorie diet and exercise, for:
Weight loss and management in adults with obesity or overweight and at least one weight-related health condition (e.g. diabetes)
Cardiovascular risk reduction in adults with cardiovascular disease and either obesity or overweight
Another notable difference between the two drugs is how you use Ozempic and Wegovy pens.
Wegovy: Each pen has a built-in needle. After you use the pen once, you’ll dispose of it in a sharps container.
Ozempic: Each pen comes with needles that you’ll attach to the injector pen before each dose. Then you’ll dispose of the needle in a sharps container, but continue using the same pen several times.
Wegovy vs. Ozempic: key points
All of the details that differentiate Wegovy vs. Ozempic might be overwhelming. Here are some highlights of several key differences and similarities between these medications:
| Wegovy | Ozempic |
|---|---|---|
Active ingredient | Semaglutide | Semaglutide |
Dosing and forms | - Weekly injection - Daily oral tablet (Wegovy pill) | Weekly injection |
FDA-approved use | Wegovy: - Weight loss in adults with obesity and overweight - Reduce cardiovascular risk in adults with heart disease and obesity or overweight - Fatty liver disease Wegovy pill: - Weight loss in adults with obesity and overweight - Cardiovascular risk reduction in adults with cardiovascular disease and obesity or overweight | - Control blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) - Cardiovascular risk in adults with T2D and heart disease - Kidney decline in adults with T2D and chronic kidney disease |
Most common side effects | Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or constipation | Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or constipation |
Maximum dose | Wegovy: 2.4 mg per week Wegovy pill: 25 mg per day | 2 mg per week |
Cost without insurance* | Wegovy: $1,349.02 (list price) or $199–$349 (cash price) Wegovy pill: $1,349.02 (list price) or $149–$299 (cash price) | $997.58 (list price) |
*List price for one carton, according to Novo Nordisk. Your actual cost may vary depending on your location, pharmacy, insurance coverage, and eligibility for savings programs.
Whether you’re interested in Wegovy and Ozempic for managing type 2 diabetes, weight loss, or both, speak to your healthcare provider. They can help you determine which medication is right for you and create a safe and effective treatment plan.
How does Ozempic work?
As a GLP-1, Ozempic acts the same way as the natural hormone GLP-1: It binds to GLP-1 receptors, and tells the pancreas to release insulin into the bloodstream when blood sugar levels spike. Increased insulin in the body brings blood sugar levels back down.
Since Ozempic mimics the GLP-1 hormone, it is highly effective at stabilizing blood glucose in people with type 2 diabetes.
Another way Ozempic keeps blood sugar stable is by slowing down digestion and keeping food in the stomach for longer. This limits how much sugar gets released into the bloodstream and also lowers food intake by decreasing appetite.
Finally, GLP-1 receptor agonists such as Ozempic tell the brain you’re full after eating. This adds another layer of appetite regulation.
Because of these effects on appetite and food intake, Ozempic is often prescribed off-label for weight loss.
How does Wegovy work?
Semaglutide is the active ingredient in both Ozempic and Wegovy, so Wegovy works the same way as Ozempic does.
By ramping up the body’s levels of GLP-1, Wegovy keeps food in the stomach for longer and also sends signals to the brain, letting it know you’re full. All of that helps regulate your appetite and leads to significant weight loss.
In one clinical trial, participants who took the 2.4 mg of injectable Wegovy lost an average weight loss of 15% of body weight after 68 weeks.
In another clinical trial, participants who took 25 mg of Wegovy pill daily lost an average of 14% of boday weight after 64 weeks.
Risks and side effects of Ozempic and Wegovy
Since Ozempic and Wegovy contain the same active ingredient, semaglutide, side effects are very similar for the drugs. In general, side effects are most common when you start using Ozempic or Wegovy and as you increase your dose.
Higher doses of Wegovy and Ozempic can have a higher risk of side effects.
Common side effects of Ozempic and Wegovy include:
Nausea
Vomiting
Abdominal pain
Diarrhea or constipation
Injection site reactions, such as pain or skin irritation
Serious side effects are possible with Ozempic and Wegovy but rare. They can include:
Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) or gallbladder problems
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) when taken along with insulin or certain diabetes pills like glimepiride or glipizide
Kidney injury
Diabetic retinopathy
Severe allergic reaction
When deciding between Wegovy and Ozempic injections, it’s important to consider that side effects may be more likely with Wegovy (depending on your prescribed dosage) as Wegovy is available in a higher dose than Ozempic.
In clinical trials of participants taking 1 mg of Wegovy once a week vs. 2.4 mg of Wegovy once a week, participants who took a 2.4 mg dose reported more side effects.
If you have concerns about potential side effects, speak with your healthcare provider about which drug might be right for you.
Ozempic vs. Wegovy: is one stronger?
When talking injections, the typical maintenance dose of Wegovy is higher than Ozempic because it comes in higher doses of semaglutide.
Ozempic is available in 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, and 1.0 mg, and 2 mg strengths.
Wegovy is available in 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg, 1.7 mg, and 2.4 mg single-use pens.
This means Wegovy (injections) can be taken at a higher dose than Ozempic, though you do have to ramp up over five months. If appropriate, your healthcare provider can increase your Ozempic dosage to 2 mg once weekly for blood sugar control (the maximum dosage).
A typical Wegovy vs. Ozempic dosage schedule may be as follows, though depending on your response and side effect profile, your breakdown may be different:
| Wegovy | Ozempic |
|---|---|---|
Month 1 | 0.25 mg weekly | 0.25 mg weekly |
Month 2 | 0.50 mg weekly | 0.50 mg once a week |
Month 3 | 1 mg weekly | 1 mg weekly (typical maintenance dose) |
Month 4 | 1.7 mg weekly | 2 mg weekly (for additional blood sugar control) |
Month 5 and beyond (typical maintenance dose) | 2.4 mg weekly | 2 mg weekly (for additional blood sugar control) |
The Wegovy pill, on the other hand, is available in 1.5 mg, 4 mg, 9 mg, and 25 mg strengths.
Since it’s a daily treatment, here’s what titration of the Wegovy pill might look like:
| Wegovy pill |
|---|---|
Days 1–30 | 1.5 mg daily |
Days 31–60 | 4 mg daily |
Days 61+ | 9 mg or 25 mg daily |
Wegovy vs. Ozempic costs
Without insurance, Ozempic canc ost $997.58 for a 28-day supply, Wegovy can cost $1,349.02 per 28-day supply, and the Wegovy pill can cost $1,349.02 per 30-day supply.
If you don’t have insurance or just prefer to pay cash, you can get Wegovy for the following cash prices through Ro:
Wegovy (pens):
$199 per month for the first two months (applicable to 0.25 mg and 0.5 mg doses and valid only until March 31, 2026)
$349 per month thereafter
Wegovy pill:
$149 per month for 1.5 mg dose
$149 per month for 4 mg dose (through April 15, 2026) then $199 per month
$299 per month for 9 mg and 25 mg doses
Novo Nordisk offers a savings card program for the medications, which may bring the cost down significantly if you have private or commercial insurance.
Ozempic: With the Ozempic Savings Card, you can pay as little as $25 for a one-, two-, or three-month supply if you have insurance coverage for Ozempic and meet additional eligibility requirements.
Wegovy pill: With the manufacturer’s savings offer, you may qualify to pay as low as $25 per month (up to a maximum savings of $100 per month) if you have commercial insurance with coverage of the Wegovy pill and meet additional eligibility requirements.
Wegovy: With the Wegovy Savings Card, you can get Wegovy completely for free if you have insurance coverage for Wegovy. If you’re uninsured or pay cash for your prescriptions, the manufacturer offer caps the monthly cost of the drug at $349 per refill.
If you have insurance through a state or federal program, such as Medicare, Medicaid, or the VA, you are not eligible for either offer. However, you may still be able to save on Wegovy or Ozempic by using free pharmacy discount cards, such as those offered by GoodRx, Optum Perks, and others.
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Wegovy vs. Ozempic for weight loss: which is better?
Injectable Wegovy is generally considered more effective for weight loss than Ozempic and the Wegovy pill.
Here’s what the research shows:
In a clinical trial, people without diabetes who took 2.4 mg of injectable semaglutide (Wegovy) lost an average of 15% of their body weight after 68 weeks.
In a different study, people with diabetes who took 1 mg of injectable semaglutide (Ozempic) lost an average of 7% of their body weight after 68 weeks. (FYI, research suggests people with diabetes tend to lose less weight on GLP-1s than those without the condition.)
And in another clinical trial, people without diabetes who took 25 mg of oral semaglutide (Wegovy pill) lost an average of 14% of their body weight after 64 weeks.
It’s worth noting that this research doesn’t directly compare injectable Wegovy to Ozempic to oral Wegovy. Plus, every person is different. So, a healthcare provider can help you determine if one of these medications is right for you. Ro Body, for example, combines access to GLP-1 treatment with personal coaching to help people lose weight and keep it off.
Is Wegovy or Ozempic right for me?
Whether Wegovy or Ozempic is right for you is a personal decision best made by you with your healthcare provider. There are a number of things to consider when choosing between Wegovy vs. Ozempic, from your current health situation to your insurance coverage and budget.
If you are looking into GLP-1 drugs to manage your type 2 diabetes, Ozempic may be the better option, as it is FDA-approved specifically to treat type 2 diabetes.
If you’re looking to lose weight, however, Wegovy pill or injection might be a better fit for you given they’re both FDA approved for weight loss. Both forms of Wegovy have also been shown to drive more weight loss than Ozempic, though this information comes from separate studies (not head-to-head research).
Other factors that might influence your decision of Wegovy vs. Ozempic (or vice versa) include:
Your tolerance for certain side effects. While the medications share many side effects, the list of common side effects for Wegovy is longer than that for Ozempic and includes additional, non-digestive symptoms, such as headache, fatigue, and dizziness. What’s more, among the side effects they share — including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and constipation — they are more commonly reported among people taking Wegovy vs. Ozempic.
Insurance coverage (if any) and budget. Wegovy (tablets and pens) both have a list price of $1,349.02 but are available at lower cash prices through Ro. Ozempic, on the other hand, has a lower list price: $997.58. And even with insurance, Wegovy may be more expensive as many plans — including Medicare — do not consider weight loss treatment “medically necessary” (at least not yet).
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Bottom line
Ozempic and Wegovy are both brand-name versions of semaglutide. But they’re are a few key distinguishers when comparing these drugs. Here’s what to keep in mind:
Ozempic and Wegovy work the same way. They contain semaglutide, which mimics the GLP-1 hormone to help control blood sugar, slow digestion, and reduce appetite.
They have different FDA-approved uses. Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabetes (and certain risk-reduction benefits in people with diabetes); Wegovy is approved for weight management (and cardiovascular risk reduction in certain people).
They come in different forms. Ozempic is only available as a weekly injection while Wegovy comes as a weekly injection and a daily oral tablet (which is known as the Wegovy pill).
Dosage strengths differ. Each semaglutide drug comes in different dosage strengths, but they’re all increased gradually until you find an effective maintenance dosage.
Ozempic and Wegovy share similar side effects. Gastrointestinal side effects are common for the medications, though Wegovy has a longer list of side effects overall.
At the end of the day, the decision of Wegovy vs. Ozempic should be made alongside your healthcare provider. They’re best equipped to determine which medication may be a fit for you based on your health goals, medical history, and other personal factors.
DISCLAIMER
If you have any medical questions or concerns, please talk to your healthcare provider. The articles on Health Guide are underpinned by peer-reviewed research and information drawn from medical societies and governmental agencies. However, they are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Wegovy Important Safety Information: Read more about serious warnings and safety info.
Ozempic Important Safety Information: Read more about serious warnings and safety info.
Saxenda Important Safety Information: Read more about serious warnings and safety info.
References
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