Wegovy vs Ozempic

Wegovy and Ozempic share many characteristics. Here’s a closer look at the similarities between these semaglutide drugs. 

Semaglutide as active ingredient

Semaglutide is the active ingredient in both Ozempic and Wegovy. This ingredient is a glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist that mimics the naturally occurring GLP-1 hormone to regulate glucose levels. It is approved for use (in different drugs) for long-term weight management or type 2 diabetes.

Semaglutide medicines regulate blood sugar levels and reduce appetite. When you eat, semaglutide slows digestion rates. It interacts with the receptors in your brain that signal fullness for longer periods. It also suppresses your hunger, so you consume less food and fewer calories.
Together, these effects often lead to weight loss while taking semaglutide. 

Using semaglutide

Both Wegovy and Ozempic require weekly injections using a pre-filled disposable pen. Rybelsus® — another semaglutide drug — uses a daily oral tablet instead of a weekly injection.

Both Ozempic and Wegovy labels recommend starting with 0.25 mg doses, which may increase over time. Patients can inject Wegovy or Ozempic into their upper arm, abdomen or thigh. Drug makers recommend taking the drugs on the same day each week, with or without meals. It’s not required to take semaglutide injection at the same time of day. 

Side effects

The common side effects of Ozempic or Wegovy can include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and constipation. More serious side effects on the drugs’ labels include acute pancreatitis, acute kidney injury, bile duct blockages and gallstone attacks.

However, the Wegovy and Ozempic warning labels don’t include several concerning side effects. Patients taking these semaglutide medications have reported:

• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• Gastrointestinal issues, including paralyzed stomach (gastroparesis) and gastroenteritis
• Gallbladder disease
• Ileus
• Intestinal blockages
• Pulmonary aspiration
• Vision loss and vision changes, including an eye-rotting injury called NAION

All of these are among the more than 37,000 FDA adverse event reports for semaglutide drugs. Some of these adverse reactions may have long-term implications even after stopping the drug. 

The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) is intended to help identify safety concerns related to marketed products, but it does not prove any product or drug is linked or caused a particular side effect or injury. Reports by themselves are not an indicator of a drug’s safety profile. In addition, FAERS may include duplicate reports or may significantly undercount injuries.

People experiencing unexpected side effects are taking action against Ozempic and Wegovy manufacturers by filing semaglutide lawsuits or other diabetes lawsuits. They want to see Novo Nordisk held accountable for aggressively marketing their products as safe and failing to warn about the associated risks of taking Ozempic or Wegovy.

Approved uses

Ozempic and Wegovy have multiple approved uses. The FDA has approved Wegovy for chronic weight loss management to treat obesity and reduce the risk of certain cardiovascular events. Ozempic is also approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Wegovy FDA approvals: In June 2021, the FDA approved Wegovy to combat obesity and promote weight loss in adults who are obese or overweight with at least one weight-related health condition. Approved uses for Wegovy include:

• Improve Body Mass Index (BMI)
• Maintain weight loss on a long-term basis
• Reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and heart disease
• Reduce the risk of heart attack
• Reduce the risk of stroke

Wegovy was the first semaglutide drug approved for body weight loss. 

Ozempic FDA approvals: The FDA first approved Ozempic to reduce cardiovascular risk and manage blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes in December 2017. It’s generally administered as a weekly injection. Approved uses include:

• Improving glycemic control in patients with Type 2 diabetes
• Reducing the risk of heart disease
• Reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes

Despite the limited FDA-approved uses of Ozempic, many physicians have also been prescribing this semaglutide drug as a weight loss drug.

Dosage

There are some differences between the doses for Ozempic and Wegovy.

Ozempic doses and method

• Ozempic is usually injected with a pre-filled single-use pen at 0.25 mg – 2 mg per injection.
• Treatment may continue with doctors increasing the dosage by 0.5 mg each week. The dosage maximum is 2.0 mg. 

Wegovy doses and method

• Wegovy is usually injected with a pre-filled, single-use pen at 0.25 mg, increasing on a set schedule to the maximum injection dosage of 2.4 mg.
• After four weeks, doctors may increase the dosage to 0.5 mg on weeks 5 – 8, 1.0 mg on weeks 9 – 12, 1.7 mg on weeks 13 – 16 and 2.4 mg on week 17 and every week after.

Cost and insurance coverage for Wegovy and Ozempic

During U.S. Senate committee meetings held in September 2024, federal lawmakers explained that Wegovy could cost as much as $1,349 per month, with Ozempic listed at $969 per month. 

Some insurance plans and other programs might reduce these costs. But the actual costs can get complicated, especially for off-label uses. For example, Medicare covers Ozempic for use as a diabetes treatment but not for weight loss.

Is Wegovy the same as Ozempic?

No, Wegovy is not the same as Ozempic. Although they contain the same active ingredient, the primary differences between Ozempic and Wegovy are the dose of semaglutide in each pen and what each is approved to treat. 

• Wegovy treats obesity at a higher dose of semaglutide.
• Ozempic treats type 2 diabetes at a lower dose.

Can you take Wegovy and Ozempic at the same time?

No, you shouldn’t take Ozempic and Wegovy at the same time. You should also never take other GLP-1 agonist medications while taking semaglutide. Taking more than the prescribed dosage could result in accidental overdose and severe gastrointestinal issues. 

If you accidentally take more than your prescribed dose of Ozempic or Wegovy or take both at the same time, contact your healthcare provider immediately or go to a hospital. You can also call the nationwide poison control hotline at 800-222-1222.

Are Wegovy and Ozempic the same as Mounjaro and Rybelsus?

Wegovy and Ozempic aren’t the same as other GLP-1 medications, like Mounjaro and Rybelsus®. Wegovy, Ozempic and Rybelsus use semaglutide as the active ingredient; Mounjaro and Zepbound use tirzepatide. Mounjaro, Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound are taken as weekly injections; Rybelsus is taken daily as an oral tablet or shot.

Are there Wegovy and Ozempic lawsuits?

Yes, there are Wegovy and Ozempic lawsuits. People who are suing the makers of semaglutide drugs say they weren’t warned sufficiently about side effects such as vision loss and intestinal blockages. As of January 2025, more than 1,300 plaintiffs had filed suit in federal court as part of In Re: Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1 RAs) Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 3094.  
 

Motley Rice lawyers have advocated for thousands of individuals who suffer serious injuries and medical conditions as a result of dangerous over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medication.

If you suspect your use of prescription Wegovy or Ozempic may be responsible for your intestinal blockages, gastroparesis or the death of someone you love, do not hesitate to contact our legal team to discuss your options. We may be able to help by:

• Gathering valuable evidence to prove the manufacturers’ failure to warn
• Investigating whether Ozempic or Wegovy is responsible for your symptoms
• Demonstrating how Novo Nordisk may have failed to comply with FDA regulations
• Identifying potential problems that could impact your case

Learn more about our medical drug experience here.

Do not stop taking a prescribed medication without first consulting with your doctor. Discontinuing a prescribed medication without your doctor's advice can result in injury or death.

Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Rybelsus and Zepbound remain approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).