How Ozempic Works: The Science Behind the Medication
Dr Ashwin Sharma
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Jun 19, 2024
How does ozempic work for weight loss? Our Levity clinical experts share everything you need to know.
Interested in weight loss medication but not sure what your options are? At Levity we understand that finding the right weight loss treatment for you can be difficult especially when you need to compare factors like price, availability and effectiveness. Here, our experts break down the key differences between the two main active ingredients in popular weight loss injections, tirzepatide and semaglutide.
Tirzepatide is the active ingredient in Mounjaro. It's a dual-action compound which means that it mimics two naturally occurring incretin hormones involved in blood sugar regulation and appetite control: GLP-1 and GIP.
GLP-1, which stands for glucagon-like peptide-1, promotes insulin release after eating, helping to lower blood sugar levels and curb cravings for sugary foods. It also slows down the rate of digestion and acts on the brain to suppress appetite. GIP, which stands for glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, also enhances insulin secretion and reduces appetite.
Semaglutide is the active ingredient in popular branded weight loss medications like Wegovy and Ozempic. It mimics the action of GLP-1 in the body, just as described above. Compounded Semaglutide,* an unbranded medication, is also available at a lesser cost and contains the same active ingredient as Wegovy and Ozempic.
The differences between semaglutide and tirzepatide are described below. The main difference is that while semaglutide mimics the hormone GLP-1, tirzepatide mimics both GLP-1 and GIP. This can result in enhanced overall weight loss.
Currently, semaglutide is approved for the treatment of obesity (sold under the name Wegovy) and for people with type 2 diabetes (sold under the name Ozempic). Tirzepatide (sold under the name Mounjaro) is currently approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes [1], but can be prescribed off-licence for the treatment of obesity**.
Tirzepatide (sold under the name Mounjaro) works out at $300 cheaper per month compared to semaglutide (sold under the name Wegovy). Compounded Semaglutide* is sold for $225 per month.
If managing your weight with lifestyle changes alone is proving challenging, these medications could provide an added effectiveness. Currently, semaglutide is more widely accessible for weight loss, while tirzepatide is approved to treat type 2 diabetes as it is pending approval for weight-loss. The choice may depend on your medical history, cost, availability and insurance coverage. You should only take GLP-1 agonists under the supervision of your medical provider.
Semaglutide is ideal for people who have not seen significant weight loss with diet and exercise alone.
If you have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or over, or a BMI of 27 or over in the presence of at least one other weight-related medical problems (such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes), you may be an ideal candidate for semaglutide. [4]
At the time of writing, tirzepatide might be more suitable for people with type 2 diabetes [1] or those seeking greater weight-loss benefits (though currently off-label**) for obesity.
In this case, you may be an ideal candidate for tirzepatide if you have a BMI of 30 or over, or 27 or over in the presence of one other weight-related condition.
Yes, you can [5], as long as this is done under the guidance of your healthcare provider. You may wish to switch your treatment due to side effects, availability or cost considerations. However, it’s important to remember that semaglutide and tirzepatide should not be used at the same time, so you should leave a break between switching.
At Levity we offer both tirzepatide and semaglutide as part of our weight loss program and we're committed to helping you achieve your weight loss goals. You can get started today by completing an online consultation to check your eligibility.
*Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved and do not undergo FDA review for safety, effectiveness or quality.
**Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes mellitus, but may be prescribed off-label for obesity at the discretion of the prescribing physician.
1) https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2022/215866s000lbl.pdf
2) Wilding JPH, Batterham RL, Calanna S, Davies M, Van Gaal LF, Lingvay I, McGowan BM, Rosenstock J, Tran MTD, Wadden TA, Wharton S, Yokote K, Zeuthen N, Kushner RF; STEP 1 Study Group. Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity. N Engl J Med. 2021 Mar 18;384(11):989-1002. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2032183. Epub 2021 Feb 10. PMID: 33567185.
3) Jastreboff AM, Aronne LJ, Ahmad NN, Wharton S, Connery L, Alves B, Kiyosue A, Zhang S, Liu B, Bunck MC, Stefanski A; SURMOUNT-1 Investigators. Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity. N Engl J Med. 2022 Jul 21;387(3):205-216. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2206038. Epub 2022 Jun 4. PMID: 35658024.
4) https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2023/215256s007lbl.pdf
5) Jain AB, Ali A, Gorgojo Martínez JJ, Hramiak I, Kavia K, Madsbad S, et al. Switching between GLP‐1 receptor agonists in clinical practice: Expert consensus and practical guidance. International Journal of Clinical Practice. 2020 Nov 3;75(2)
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