Ozempic and Wegovy: What Are They and Who are They For?

You may have heard of Ozempic and Wegovy as both have made headline news recently as the newest weight loss prescription drugs with much talk about their results.

Both Ozempic and Wegovy are brand names of the drug Semaglutide which is a GLP-1 analogue designed to mimic the hormone that makes you feel full through the release of insulin. Despite this, they are not the same and vary in dosage and who they are intended for.

What is Ozempic and who is it for?

Ozempic is an injectable medication prescribed for people with type 2 diabetes to manage blood glucose levels. It is only to be prescribed and administered following a professional healthcheck and is not for people who do not have type 2 diabetes.

Ozempic is administered once weekly using an injectable pen with a dosage that increases over time, starting at 0.25mg and increasing to 1mg or 2mg from 12 weeks onwards.

What is Wegovy and who is it for?

Wegovy is prescribed according to NICE guidelines as a weight loss medication, as part of a weight loss management program. It’s available following a health check for people with a BMI of 27.5 for certain ethnic minority groups or 30+ and for those with a weight related comorbidity including hypertension or cardiovascular disease..

Wegovy is also administered using an injectable pen once a week but dosage is higher than Ozempic, starting at 0.25mg and gradually increasing to 2.4mg within 5 months.

How do I get Ozempic and Wegovy?

Ozempic and Wegovy are available on prescription from the NHS via referral from a weight management specialist, or through private prescription. According to NICE guidelines, Ozempic is only prescribed to people with type 2 diabetes and is not available for patients looking to lose weight who do not meet this criteria. Those with a weight related health condition and a BMI of 30+ but without type 2 diabetes, are more suited to Wegovy.

Weight loss results

Both Ozempic and Wegovy have been shown to reduce weight in patients when combined with a weight management program focusing on healthy eating and exercise. Studies show that over a period of one year, people taking Wegovy lost an average of 15% body weight, and those taking Ozempic lost an average of 5% body weight after 3 months.

Side effects of Ozempic and Wegovy

As with any medication, semaglutide can cause side effects and these vary from person to person. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, fatigue, headaches, with less common side effects being changes to taste and smell. More serious side effects include acute pancreatitis, retinopathy and gallbladder disease.

It’s important to speak to your consultant if you experience any serious side effects during your monthly monitoring meeting.