Ozempic (semaglutide) and Wegovy (semaglutide) are brand-name injections. Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabetes, but sometimes, doctors may prescribe it off-label for weight loss and management. Wegovy is approved for weight loss and management.
This article explains the main similarities and differences between Ozempic and Wegovy. If you are considering taking one of these drugs, discussing this information with your doctor can help you decide if one of these treatments is suitable for you.
Note: For more comprehensive information about these two drugs, you can refer to our Ozempic and Wegovy articles.
Key differences between Ozempic and Wegovy
The main differences between Ozempic and Wegovy are:
- Dosage and dose forms: Doctors typically prescribe Wegovy at a slightly higher dosage than Ozempic. Both drugs come as prefilled injection pens. But Ozempic pens contain multiple doses of the medication, while Wegovy pens contain a single dose. (See the “Dosages, forms, and administration” section.)
- Conditions treated: Doctors prescribe Ozempic and Wegovy for weight loss and long-term weight management. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has only approved Wegovy for this use. Doctors may prescribe Ozempic off-label* for weight loss. Ozempic is FDA-approved to help manage blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. It’s also approved for lowering the risk of heart problems in certain adults with type 2 diabetes. (See the “Uses of Ozempic vs. Wegovy” section.)
* With off-label use, a drug is prescribed for a use other than that approved by the FDA.
Here’s information about the generic status of Ozempic and Wegovy and details on their active ingredient.
| Ozempic | Wegovy | |
| Generic available | no | no |
| Active ingredient | semaglutide | semaglutide |
| Drug class | glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist | GLP-1 agonist |
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Ozempic and Wegovy for the following uses.
- Ozempic is FDA-approved to:
- help manage blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes, along with diet and exercise
- help lower the risk of serious cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) problems in adults with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease
- Wegovy is FDA-approved to:
- help with weight loss and long-term weight management, along with diet and exercise, in:
- adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher (obesity)
- adults with a BMI of 27 or higher (overweight) and at least one weight-related health condition, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes
- children ages 12 years and older with a BMI in the 95th percentile or higher (obesity)
- help with weight loss and long-term weight management, along with diet and exercise, in:
Doctors sometimes prescribe Ozempic off-label to help with weight loss and long-term weight management, along with diet and exercise. With off-label use, doctors prescribe a drug for a use that has not been approved by the FDA.
Ozempic or Wegovy and children
Wegovy is FDA-approved to help weight loss and long-term weight management in children ages 12 years and older with obesity (see above).
Ozempic isn’t approved for any uses in children under age 18 years. But doctors may sometimes prescribe Ozempic off-label to help with weight loss and long-term weight management in certain children. With off-label use, doctors prescribe a drug for a use that has not been approved by the FDA.
Note: For more information about the drugs’ uses, see our articles about Ozempic and Wegovy.
The table below lists the form, dosage, and frequency of administration of Ozempic and Wegovy according to the conditions they treat.
Dosage for adults
Here are the recommended doses of Ozempic and Wegovy for type 2 diabetes and weight management in adults. Doses are in milligrams per milliliter (mg/mL) of solution.
| Ozempic for type 2 diabetes (and off-label* for weight management) | Wegovy for weight management | |
| Form | subcutaneous injection | subcutaneous injection |
| Strengths | prefilled multi-dose injection pen: • 2 mg/1.5 mL • 2 mg/ 3 mL • 4 mg/3 mL • 8 mg/3 mL | prefilled single-dose injection pen: • 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 onward (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 onward: 2.4 mg |
| Frequency | once per week | once per week |
| Given by | self (see below) | self (see below) |
Ozempic injection pens come with disposable single-use needles. You will need to attach a new needle to the pen each time you take a dose. You will turn the dose selector on the pen to select your dose. You can use each pen for 4 or 8 doses, depending on the strength and dose your doctor has prescribed.
Wegovy injection pens come with a needle attached. Each pen is for single use only. It delivers one dose of medication. You’ll use a new pen each time you take a dose.
Ozempic and Wegovy require you to give yourself a subcutaneous injection in your abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. Your doctor or other healthcare professional can teach you how to use the injection pen. You’ll also find instructions in the medication guide that comes with the injection pen.
* With off-label use, a drug is prescribed for a use other than that approved by the FDA.
Children’s dosage
Wegovy is FDA-approved for weight management in certain children ages 12 years and older. The recommended dosage is the same as the adult dose described above.
Sometimes, doctors prescribe Ozempic off-label* to aid weight loss in certain children. In this case, the child’s doctor will prescribe the dose that’s right for your child.
Note: For more information about dosage, see our dosage articles about Ozempic and Wegovy.
* With off-label use, a drug is prescribed for a use other than that approved by the FDA.
Both Ozempic and Wegovy contain semaglutide. These drugs can cause the same and different side effects. Side effects may be more common with Wegovy because doctors typically prescribe it at a slightly higher dosage than Ozempic. The table below lists some of the side effects reported in clinical trials of these drugs.
For more details about side effects of the two drugs, see our side effect articles about Ozempic and Wegovy. You can also refer to the Ozempic prescribing information and Wegovy prescribing information.
Mild side effects
The following table lists some of the more commonly reported mild side effects of Ozempic and Wegovy. The table may also include mild side effects that are less common but that you might have concerns about in some cases.
| Mild side effects | Ozempic | Wegovy |
| nausea | ✓ | ✓ |
| vomiting | ✓ | ✓ |
| diarrhea | ✓ | ✓ |
| abdominal pain or bloating | ✓ | ✓ |
| constipation | ✓ | ✓ |
| headache | ✓ | |
| fatigue | ✓ | ✓ |
| indigestion | ✓ | ✓ |
| dizziness | ✓ | ✓ |
| gas or burping | ✓ | ✓ |
| mild allergic reaction | ✓ | ✓ |
These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. If the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Serious side effects
The following table lists the reported serious side effects of Ozempic and Wegovy.
| Serious side effects | Ozempic | Wegovy |
| risk of thyroid cancer* | ✓ | ✓ |
| pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) | ✓ | ✓ |
| hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) | ✓ | ✓ |
| gallbladder disease | ✓ | ✓ |
| acute (sudden) kidney failure | ✓ | ✓ |
| increased heart rate | ✓ | |
| severe allergic reaction† | ✓ | ✓ |
If you have serious side effects while using Ozempic or Wegovy, call your doctor immediately. If the side effects feel life threatening or you believe you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number right away.
* Ozempic and Wegovy have a
Ozempic has not been directly compared with Wegovy for helping weight loss. But based on a review of studies, Wegovy may lead to more weight loss than Ozempic. This is likely because doctors typically prescribe Wegovy at a higher maintenance (long-term) dosage than Ozempic.
The review found that people who took 2.4 milligrams (mg) of semaglutide lost more weight than those who took 1 mg of semaglutide. Semaglutide is the active drug in both Wegovy and Ozempic. The typical maintenance dose of Wegovy is 2.4 mg. The typical maintenance dose of Ozempic is 1 mg (maximum 2 mg).
Prescribing information. For details about how these drugs performed in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Ozempic and Wegovy. Keep in mind that trial results may not apply to your individual health situation.
Treatment guidelines. Another way to see whether a drug is considered effective is to look at treatment guidelines. When an organization includes certain drugs in treatment guidelines, this means that research has shown the drug to be safe and effective.
Guidelines from the American Diabetes Association recommend semaglutide (the active drug in Ozempic) as a treatment option for people with type 2 diabetes. It’s recommended for those who can benefit from help with weight management.
Guidelines from the American Gastroenterological Association recommend semaglutide (the active drug in Wegovy) as a treatment option for people with overweight or obesity.
How much Ozempic or Wegovy costs depends on the treatment plan your doctor prescribes, your insurance plan, and your pharmacy. You can visit Optum Perks* for price estimates of Ozempic and Wegovy.
Both Ozempic and Wegovy are brand-name drugs. They are not currently available in generic form.
* Optum Perks is a sister site of Medical News Today.
Ozempic and Wegovy may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. The two drugs share some of the same precautions, but they also have different ones. Some of these precautions are mentioned below.
Boxed warning: Risk of thyroid cancer
Semaglutide (the active drug in Ozempic and Wegovy) has a
Semaglutide can cause thyroid cancer in rats and mice. It’s not known if the drug can cause thyroid cancer in humans. Due to the possible risk, doctors typically will not prescribe Ozempic or Wegovy if:
- you or an immediate family member have had medullary thyroid cancer (MTC)
- you have a rare inherited condition that raises your risk of thyroid cancer, called multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2
If you take Ozempic or Wegovy, talk with your doctor if you develop possible symptoms of thyroid cancer. These may include a hoarse voice that does not get better, trouble swallowing or breathing, or a lump in your neck.
Precautions
In addition to boxed warnings, Ozempic and Wegovy have other warnings.
If any of the following medical conditions or other health factors are relevant to you, talk with your doctor before using Ozempic or Wegovy for weight loss or management purposes.
| Precaution | Ozempic | Wegovy |
| if you’ve had an allergic reaction to either drug or any of its ingredients | ✓ | ✓ |
| if you’re pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant | ✓ | ✓ |
| if you’re breastfeeding or thinking about breastfeeding | ✓ | ✓ |
| if you have a history of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) | ✓ | ✓ |
| if you have a history of diabetic retinopathy | ✓ | ✓ |
| if you have kidney problems | ✓ | ✓ |
| if you have depression, suicidal thoughts, or other mental health conditions | ✓ | ✓ |
Note: For more comprehensive information about these two drugs, you can refer to our Ozempic and Wegovy articles.
It might be possible to switch between Ozempic and Wegovy.
If you’d like to know more about switching between Ozempic and Wegovy, talk with your doctor. They can give you additional details and help determine the best course of action for your personal situation. Even if two drugs treat the same condition or are in the same drug class, your body can still respond differently.
It is important that you do not stop, start, or switch any of your drug treatments without your doctor’s recommendation.
Some key points to remember when comparing Ozempic and Wegovy include:
- Doctors prescribe Ozempic and Wegovy for weight loss and long-term weight management, but only Wegovy is FDA-approved for this use. Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabetes.
- Wegovy is typically prescribed at a slightly higher dosage than Ozempic.
- Both drugs can cause similar side effects, but these may be more common with Wegovy due to the higher dosage prescribed.
- Ozempic comes as multi-dose injection pens. Wegovy injection pens are single-dose.
If you’d like to learn more about Ozempic or Wegovy, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about the drugs’ similarities and differences. They can also help determine whether one drug or the other might work well for you.
Note: For more information about weight loss and long-term weight management, see our weight management hub.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today 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.