Ozempic and Wegovy contain the same medicine, semaglutide, and are made by the same company, Novo Nordisk. The difference is what they're licensed for. In the UK, Ozempic is licensed to treat type 2 diabetes, while Wegovy is licensed for weight management. They also come in different doses and pens. Here's how they compare and what that means if you're considering treatment.
Ozempic vs Wegovy at a glance
| Ozempic | Wegovy | |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | Semaglutide | Semaglutide |
| Licensed for | Type 2 diabetes (blood sugar control) | Weight management in adults (and, for some people, reducing heart risk) |
| How it's taken | Once-weekly injection | Once-weekly injection (a daily tablet version is also available) |
| Doses | 0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1mg, 2mg | 0.25mg rising to 2.4mg; a higher 7.2mg dose for some adults |
| Who it's for | Adults with type 2 diabetes | Adults with a BMI of 30+, or 27+ with a weight-related condition |
| Prescription | Yes | Yes |
Same medicine, different licence
Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. It copies a natural gut hormone that tells your brain you're full, slows down how quickly your stomach empties, and helps your body release insulin when blood sugar rises.
- For type 2 diabetes, those effects lower blood sugar. Ozempic was developed and licensed for this.
- For weight management, the reduced appetite and feeling full sooner help people eat less. Wegovy was studied and licensed for this, at higher doses than Ozempic.
Because Ozempic often led to weight loss in people with diabetes, it became widely talked about as a "weight-loss injection". In the UK, using Ozempic for weight loss is off-label. Wegovy is the semaglutide product licensed for it, but prescribers can prescribe Ozempic off-label for weight management when they judge it appropriate. Using Ozempic for weight loss has also contributed to shortages for people with diabetes who need it.
Doses compared
Wegovy starts low and goes up every 4 weeks, to give your body time to adjust and reduce side effects: 0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1mg, 1.7mg, then the usual maintenance dose of 2.4mg. A higher 7.2mg dose is now licensed for some adults.
Ozempic also starts at 0.25mg and goes up gradually, usually to 0.5mg or 1mg, and up to 2mg if needed for blood sugar control.
The pens aren't interchangeable, and the doses aren't designed to be swapped between the two.
Is Wegovy better than Ozempic for weight loss?
For weight management, Wegovy is the one designed and licensed for the job. It reaches higher doses than Ozempic, and the weight-loss studies were done with Wegovy. Results vary from person to person and depend on keeping up a reduced-calorie diet and activity alongside the injections.
If you have type 2 diabetes and need to lose weight, your GP or diabetes team will decide which medicine suits you, as it affects your diabetes treatment too.
Side effects
Ozempic and Wegovy have the same kinds of side effects, because they're the same medicine:
- Very common: feeling sick, diarrhoea, constipation, vomiting, stomach pain, especially when starting or increasing the dose.
- Common: indigestion, burping, bloating, tiredness, dizziness, headache.
- Get medical help for severe, ongoing stomach pain that may spread to your back (possible pancreatitis), pain in the upper right of your tummy or yellow skin (gallbladder problems), or signs of an allergic reaction.
Eating smaller meals, stopping when you feel full, and avoiding fatty food can help with sickness.
Who shouldn't use semaglutide?
Semaglutide isn't suitable if you:
- are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to get pregnant (use effective contraception; stop at least 2 months before trying to conceive);
- have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN2;
- have had pancreatitis, or have certain stomach or bowel conditions;
- have type 1 diabetes (it isn't a replacement for insulin).
Tell the prescriber about any other medicines you take, especially insulin or other diabetes medicines.
Buying semaglutide safely
Only get Ozempic or Wegovy with a prescription from a UK-registered pharmacy or prescriber. The MHRA has warned about fake semaglutide pens sold online and through social media, which can contain the wrong medicine or none at all. Genuine UK online pharmacies have to check you're suitable, which for weight management includes checking your weight. You can check a pharmacy is registered on the GPhC register.
At MedsRus, a UK prescriber reviews a confidential online consultation, including weight verification, before recommending any weight-management treatment. See weight loss treatments.
Ozempic vs Wegovy FAQs
Are Ozempic and Wegovy the same thing?
They contain the same active ingredient, semaglutide, but they're licensed for different conditions and come in different doses. Ozempic is for type 2 diabetes; Wegovy is for weight management.
Can I get Ozempic for weight loss in the UK?
Ozempic isn't licensed for weight loss in the UK, but a prescriber can prescribe it off-label for weight management if they judge it suitable. Wegovy is the licensed option.
Which is stronger, Ozempic or Wegovy?
Wegovy goes up to higher doses: 2.4mg, and 7.2mg for some adults, compared with Ozempic's maximum of 2mg.
Can I switch from Ozempic to Wegovy?
Possibly, but only with your prescriber's advice. The doses and pens are different, so you may need to restart at a lower dose.
How does Wegovy compare with Mounjaro?
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) works on two hormones rather than one. Read our comparison Ozempic vs Mounjaro.
Further reading
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