Comparing Wegovy, Ozempic, Rybelsus: Understanding the Key Differences

The drug’s interaction with GIP might underlie the impressive results, or it may activate a different pathway than natural GLP-1 when it is bound to the GLP-1 receptor, Papamargaritis says. Ozempic is approved for diabetes, and Wegovy is for people with obesity who also have weight-related conditions such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol that put them at risk of heart disease. In clinical trials, Ozempic has demonstrated significant reductions in A1C levels when compared to placebo or other diabetes medications.

• We’re in new territory where obesity and type 2 diabetes medications treat an underlying cause instead of merely treating the symptoms to support better management.
• Additionally, the injectable nature of Ozempic means you don’t have to remember to take a daily medication, and you can plan your activities or travel around your injections.
• In clinical trials, people taking Wegovy lost an average of almost twice the weight of those taking Saxenda.

In comparison, research suggests 14 mg of Rybelsus supports an average weight loss of around 4.5% after 26 weeks, ~6.5% less than Wegovy. Research has shown that 2.4 mg of Wegovy can support an average weight loss of around 11% after 26 weeks and 16% after one year. Semaglutide is a long-acting medication, so it can take up to 4-5 weeks to reach what’s known as a ‘steady state’ where the levels of the drug maintain higher levels in the blood rather than rising and falling. Wegovy and Rybelsus (semaglutide) mimic the actions of the hormone GLP-1 and are known as GLP-1 receptor agonists or GLP-1s.

Which Medication Is Right For You?

To determine whether Wegovy is covered by insurance, it is important to consider the specific details of your insurance plan. Insurance coverage can vary widely depending on factors such as the type of plan you have, the insurance provider, and the specific policy you hold. A healthcare provider can help determine which option may be right for you.

Both drugs have a boxed warning for thyroid cancer, the highest safety warning issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In animal studies, semaglutide (the active ingredient in Rybelsus and Ozempic) caused thyroid cancer cell tumors in rodents. GLP-1 is a hormone naturally produced in the intestines, says Leon I. Igel, M.D., a board-certified obesity medicine specialist, endocrinologist and chief medical officer for Intellihealth. “Semaglutide (the active ingredient in Rybelsus) mimics this hormone and increases its level in the body, which slows the process of gastric emptying so you feel full earlier during a meal and stay full longer after a meal,” he explains.

What Is Rybelsus?

Plus, you can inject a missed dose of Ozempic within five days if necessary. So, based on the currently available doses, Wegovy is generally a more effective medication for weight loss than Rybelsus. These results suggest that higher doses of Rybelsus can support weight loss similar to Wegovy 2.4 mg. However, Rybelsus is only approved in doses up to 14mg in rybelsus 3mg the UK and only as a type 2 diabetes medication. Interestingly, researchers have been investigating higher doses of Rybelsus, up to 50mg per day, and found it can support weight loss of over 20% after 68 weeks. For the drug to be properly absorbed, it must be taken on an empty stomach, an hour before taking other medications and half an hour before eating.

• „Nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting in some people, or heartburn,” Kushner says.
• A large trial compared different types of diabetes drugs with respect to the risk of kidney stones (JAMA Internal Medicine, Jan. 29, 2024).
• A new player called tirzepatide joined the GLP-1 receptor agonist game in 2022.
• Occasionally a reader experiences a very serious medical problem and attributes it to a medication.
• Wegovy and Ozempic are quite similar, except that Wegovy is approved to treat obesity, and Ozempic is intended for type 2 diabetes.