Ozempic (semaglutide) and Wegovy (semaglutide) are prescription drugs that may be used to help with long-term weight loss. But only Wegovy is FDA approved for this use. Both drugs are approved for lowering cardiovascular risks, and Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabetes.
This article explains how Ozempic and Wegovy are alike and different. For more information about these drugs, including details about their uses, see the in-depth articles on Ozempic and Wegovy.
Ozempic and Wegovy contain the active ingredient semaglutide. Neither drug is available as a generic. (A generic drug is an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication.)
Whether you have health insurance or not, cost may be a factor when you’re considering these drugs. Visit Optum Perks* to get price estimates for Ozempic and Wegovy when you use coupons from the site. It’s important to note that Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.
Keep in mind that what you’ll pay for either drug will depend on your treatment plan, health insurance, and the pharmacy you use.
Ozempic and Wegovy are both brand-name drugs. They’re not currently available in generic forms.
* Optum Perks is a sister site of Healthline.
Wegovy is approved to help with weight loss and long-term weight management in certain adults and children. In studies, most people who took Wegovy lost at least 5% of their body weight over 68 weeks. And almost half of the people who took Wegovy lost at least 15% of their body weight in that time.
Ozempic is not approved for weight loss or weight management, but doctors may prescribe it off-label for weight management. (With off-label use, a drug that’s approved for certain conditions is prescribed for another purpose.) Some people using Ozempic in clinical studies reported weight loss.
Ozempic and Wegovy may be prescribed along with a healthy diet and exercise, which can help you lose weight. If you’re interested in weight loss, be sure to discuss your options with your doctor.
The following table highlights the dosage and how you’ll take Ozempic and Wegovy for the conditions they both treat. All strengths are listed in milligrams per milliliter (mg/mL).
Dosage for adults
| Ozempic for type 2 diabetes (and its off-label use for weight loss) | Wegovy for weight loss | |
|---|---|---|
| Form | prefilled multidose injection pen | prefilled single-dose injection pen |
| Strengths | • 2 mg/3 mL • 4 mg/3 mL • 8 mg/3 mL | • 0.25 mg/0.5 mL • 0.5 mg/0.5 mL • 1 mg/0.5 mL • 1.7 mg/0.75 mL • 2.4 mg/0.75 mL |
| Dose | • Weeks 1 to 4: 0.25 mg • Weeks 5 to 8: 0.5 mg • Weeks 9 to 12 (if needed): 1 mg • Week 13 and after (if needed): 2 mg | • Weeks 1 to 4: 0.25 mg • Weeks 5 to 8: 0.5 mg • Weeks 9 to 12: 1 mg • Weeks 13 to 16: 1.7 mg • Week 17 and after: 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg |
| How often to inject | once per week | once per week |
Ozempic and Wegovy are given as an injection under the skin of your abdomen, upper arm, or thigh. Your doctor will teach you how to use the injection pen. The medication will also come with instructions for use.
With Ozempic, your pen may contain four or eight doses, depending on the strength and dose used. You’ll need to attach a new needle to the pen each time you take a dose.
With Wegovy, each pen comes with a needle already attached. Each pen contains a single dose. You’ll use a new pen for each dose.
Ozempic and Wegovy may cause side effects ranging from mild to serious.
Mild side effects
Ozempic and Wegovy may cause mild side effects. The following table lists examples of mild side effects that people receiving these drugs have reported.
| Ozempic | Wegovy | |
|---|---|---|
| nausea and vomiting | ✓ | ✓ |
| abdominal pain or bloating | ✓ | ✓ |
| diarrhea | ✓ | ✓ |
| constipation | ✓ | ✓ |
| indigestion (upset stomach) | ✓ | ✓ |
| burping or gas | ✓ | ✓ |
| fatigue (low energy) | ✓ | ✓ |
| dizziness | ✓ | ✓ |
| headache | — | ✓ |
| mild allergic reaction | ✓ | ✓ |
This table may not include all mild side effects of these drugs. For more information on mild side effects of the two drugs, see the Ozempic prescribing information and Wegovy prescribing information.
Serious side effects
In addition to the mild side effects described above, serious side effects may occur in people using Ozempic or Wegovy. See the following table for a list of side effects that people using these drugs have reported.
| Ozempic | Wegovy | |
| possible risk of thyroid cancer* | ✓ | ✓ |
| pancreatitis (swelling in the pancreas) | ✓ | ✓ |
| kidney injury or failure due to dehydration | ✓ | ✓ |
| gallbladder problems, such as gallstones | ✓ | ✓ |
| low blood sugar | ✓ | ✓ |
| increased heart rate | ✓ | ✓ |
| severe allergic reaction | ✓ | ✓ |
To learn about your specific risk for serious side effects from Ozempic or Wegovy, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
* Ozempic and Wegovy have a boxed warning for this side effect. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To learn more, see the “What are the warnings of Ozempic and Wegovy?” section.
Ozempic and Wegovy are both prescribed to help with long-term weight loss in certain people, along with diet and exercise. Wegovy is FDA approved for this use, but this is an off-label use for Ozempic. (With off-label use, doctors prescribe a drug for a purpose other than what it’s approved for.)
The drugs also have other uses. See the following table for details.
| Condition | Ozempic | Wegovy |
|---|---|---|
| Long-term weight loss in adults with obesity and adults who are overweight and have weight-related conditions such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes | ✓ (off-label use) | ✓ |
| Long-term weight loss in children 12 years and older who have obesity | — | ✓ |
| Managing blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes | ✓ | — |
| Lower risk of serious cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) problems in certain adults | ✓ (in adults with cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes) | ✓ (in adults with cardiovascular disease who have obesity or are overweight) |
| Help prevent kidney disease progression in adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease | ✓ | — |
You should only take Ozempic or Wegovy for the use prescribed by your doctor. To learn more about using either of these drugs for your condition, talk with your doctor.
Ozempic or Wegovy and children
Wegovy can be prescribed to help with long-term weight loss, along with diet and exercise, in children ages 12 years and older with obesity. Ozempic is not prescribed off-label for this use.
For more information about the use of Wegovy or Ozempic in children, talk with your child’s doctor.
Studies of Ozempic have shown that the drug is effective in helping to manage blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. The American Diabetes Association includes Ozempic in its treatment recommendations for type 2 diabetes. It notes it could be especially useful for people with this condition who may benefit from weight loss.
Ozempic is not approved for weight loss or weight management. But in studies, some people taking Ozempic reported weight loss.
Studies of Wegovy have shown that the drug is effective for long-term weight loss. In addition, the American Gastroenterological Association includes Wegovy in its treatment recommendations for obesity.
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Also, treatment guidelines from the American Diabetes Association recommend GLP-1 agonists as a treatment option for adults with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Ozempic and Wegovy may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. These may be referred to as warnings.
The two drugs share some of the same warnings, but they also have different ones. Before you start using Ozempic or Wegovy, be sure to talk with your doctor to see if these warnings apply to you. These warnings include:
Boxed warning: Risk of thyroid tumors and thyroid cancer
Both Ozempic and Wegovy have a boxed warning about the risk of thyroid tumors and thyroid cancer. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It alerts doctors and patients about potentially dangerous drug effects.
In animal studies, semaglutide (the active drug in Ozempic and Wegovy) has been shown to cause thyroid tumors and thyroid cancer. Doctors don’t know if it can cause thyroid cancers in people.
Due to the possible risk, your doctor will likely not prescribe Ozempic or Wegovy if you have a higher risk of thyroid cancer. This could be because you or a family member have had thyroid cancer before. Or it could be that you have a genetic condition called multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2), which raises your risk of thyroid cancer.
If you’re prescribed Ozempic or Wegovy, tell your doctor right away if you develop a lump in your neck, hoarseness that doesn’t go away, or have trouble swallowing or breathing. These could be signs of thyroid cancer.
Other warnings
In addition to boxed warnings, Ozempic and Wegovy have other warnings. Before starting treatment, talk with your doctor if any of the following conditions or health factors apply to you:
- if you’ve had an allergic reaction to either drug or any of its ingredients
- if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant
- if you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed
- if you’ve had pancreatitis or another problem with your pancreas
- if you have a history of diabetic retinopathy
- if you have a kidney problem (Wegovy)
- if you have gastroparesis or another condition that may slow digestion
- if you have a planned surgery that will require sedation or general anesthesia
- if you have depression, suicidal thoughts, or other mental health conditions
Help is out there
If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:
- Call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. Caring counselors are available to listen and provide free and confidential support 24/7.
- Text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 to connect with a volunteer crisis counselor for free and confidential support 24/7.
- Not in the United States? Find a helpline in your country with Befrienders Worldwide.
- Call 911 or your local emergency services number if you feel safe to do so.
If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.
If you’re not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.
The short answer: It’s possible.
Details: To find out more about switching between Ozempic and Wegovy, talk with your doctor. They can recommend the best treatment plan for your personal situation. For weight loss, Ozempic and Wegovy are used at slightly different doses, and your body may respond differently to the two drugs.
Reminder: You should not switch drugs or stop your current treatment unless your doctor recommends it.
Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.