By now, most people interested in losing weight have heard of Ozempic, but many may not be familiar with Wegovy. In truth, it is the same drug Novo Nordisk manufactures under two different brand names. Wegovy (pronounced wee-GOH'-vee), however, is dosed differently, and this week a new clinical trial showed some positive side effects. To wit, a lower risk of heart attack and stroke was discovered. This has many interested in the drugs wondering which pharmaceutical is better to take or whether they should eschew both obesity drugs.
Obesity Reins Supreme
Obesity is a significant health problem in the US, affecting nearly 42% of adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And it’s getting worse. Between 2000 and 2017, the prevalence of carrying an unhealthy amount of weight increased from 4.7% to 9.2%, according to the CDC.
Drug companies put their shoulders to the wheel, and Novo Nordisk brought Ozempic on the market with great fanfare. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2017, analysts expect the sale of Ozempic to hit a high-water mark of $3.17 billion – yes, that’s a billion with a “b” – by the end of 2023. Meanwhile, Wegovy got its seal of approval from the FDA in 2021. If they are the same drug - namely semaglutide - why was additional permission sought?
The Battle of the Bulge
Novo Nordisk sought government approval for Wegovy because it is used for slightly different reasons. Ozempic focused on “improving blood sugar (glucose) levels,” in those with type 2 diabetes while Wegovy is primarily aimed at weight loss, according to GoodRX Health. It’s safe to assume that doctors were having trouble prescribing Ozempic to people who do not have diabetes but wanted it for weight loss. Then there is the issue of health insurance coverage that goes with paying for the off-label use of a drug.
However, it isn’t just about semantics. The amount and administration method of the two brands of semaglutide is different. The maximum amount of Ozempic weekly tops out at 2 mg; for Wegovy it’s 2.4 mg. The dosing schedule for Ozempic is not the same as Wegovy, but an injectable pen administers both.
As with most drugs, Ozempic has a long and frightening list of side effects that can be found on Drugs.com. Wegovy shares much of that list – but a recent trial of more than 17,000 overweight or obese adults aged 45 and older showed the weekly Wegovy injections cut the likelihood of heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular deaths by 20%.
Earlier this month, Jaclyn Bjorklund filed suit in the US District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, claiming she had stomach paralysis due to taking Ozempic. She listed several adverse reactions, including “severe vomiting, throwing up food hours after eating, stomach pain, gastrointestinal burning, hospitalizations for stomach issues and teeth falling out because of excessive vomiting,” according to legal documents filed with the court.
Still, Ozempic is a popular weight loss drug, and one would expect reports of negative side effects resulting from the sheer volume of prescriptions.
Liberty Nation spoke to someone taking Ozempic to get a first-hand assessment of their experience. Dan from Pennsylvania has type 2 diabetes and is entering his third month taking Ozempic. He’s lost 15 pounds, and except for his first injection – administered in the abdomen, which caused a bit of discomfort – he has not experienced any negative side effects. Dan says the medicine helps curb his appetite, and he is pleased with his results thus far. “I would absolutely take it again and maybe even do it sooner if given the opportunity,” he concluded.
Enter Eli Lilly with Mounjaro
There’s yet a third player in the race to find a pharmaceutical to help Americans shed those unwanted pounds. It’s called Mounjaro. Like Ozempic, it is FDA-approved for use in people with type 2 diabetes. However, its formulation is a bit different from semaglutide. Mounjaro – the brand name for terzepatide – “targets two hormones that have key metabolic roles,” according to Jamie Alan, PhD. A pharmacology associate professor at Michigan State University, Alan told Verywellhealth “patients might experience greater weight loss” with Mounjaro.
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Mounjaro “has led to the highest amount of weight loss seen in studies, about 21% to 22.5% at the highest dose, in investigational clinical trials evaluating its use for weight management, according to Drugs.com. Meanwhile, studies show Wegovy resulted in a weight loss of about 15% in adults. Ozempic came in third with a 6 to 7% weight loss.
Last but not least is the question of keeping the weight off. According to Healthline.com, there is an Ozempic rebound, meaning most people regain weight once they stop taking it. Similar reports on the internet can easily be found regarding Mounjaro.
Even though these three relatively new drugs help people lose weight, each one carries the directive that they must be taken in conjunction with – wait for it – a healthy diet and exercise. Thus, the war on obesity may have entered a new phase with all the drug options available; however, the old standbys of diet and exercise remain essential to achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight.
