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Wegovy and Mounjaro are two injectable prescription medications used to help lower blood sugar, A1C levels, and aid in weight loss.
However, these medications have different active ingredients and recommended dosages. They are also approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat different conditions.
So, what is the best option for you?
This guide will help you decide whether you should take Wegovy or Mounjaro.
What are the active ingredients in Wegovy versus Mounjaro?
The active ingredient in Wegovy is semaglutide and the active ingredient in Mounjaro is tirzepatide. Their mechanisms of action will differ slightly.
Semaglutide mimics the glucose-like peptide (GLP)-1 hormones in the body.
Tirzepatide mimics both the GLP-1 and the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) hormones in the body.
GIP hormones aid GLP-1 hormones in their digestive and metabolic action. This enhances their ability to regulate appetite and prevent overeating.
Wegovy and Mounjaro are similar drugs, but they cannot be combined or used at the same time.
Why do people take Wegovy or Mounjaro?
Wegovy is FDA-approved for the treatment of obesity and to aid in weight loss.
Mounjaro is FDA-approved as a treatment to help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels.
They are both liquid, injectable medications that help lower blood sugars and A1C levels that are taken subcutaneously (just under the skin.)
People struggling with insulin resistance and weight gain may be prescribed one of these medications. This is because, in addition to blood sugar management, they also slow digestion and suppress appetite.
Finally, Wegovy and Mounjaro both lower the risk of heart attack and stroke.
How are Wegovy and Mounjaro similar?
The following are the effects of both medications:
Lower blood sugar and A1C levels
Both Wegovy and Mounjaro have been proven to lower blood sugar and A1C levels.
The average person who takes the maximum dose of Mounjaro (15 mg per week) has been reported to lower their A1C by 2.3%.
The STEP 2 trial looked at Wegovy’s effects on blood sugars and A1Cs in people who have type 2 diabetes.
The researchers found that participants taking the medication not only lost weight but saw statistically significant improvements in their blood sugars and A1C levels.
These medications do this by increasing insulin secretion.
This action prohibits the liver from releasing glucose into the bloodstream, preventing low blood sugars while increasing insulin sensitivity.
May cause weight loss
In studies, both Wegovy and Mounjaro cause weight loss in patients by suppressing appetite and inhibiting the liver from releasing glucagon.
In one study, adult participants taking Wegovy lost 15% of their starting weight on average.
A separate study noted that adolescents taking Wegovy lost 16% of their starting weight on average.
Mounjaro can also aid in weight loss, although it is not FDA-approved as a standalone weight loss drug.
In studies, Mounjaro helped people lose 12–15 lbs on the 5 mg weekly dose, between 15–21 lbs while on the 10 mg weekly dose, and between 17–25 lbs while taking the 15 mg weekly dose.
There is no recommended dose to take for weight loss since these medications aren’t approved for weight loss by the FDA.
Talk with your doctor if you’re interested in losing weight.
Protect heart health
These medications both lower heart disease risk, which is important for people living with diabetes.
Studies report that after 52 weeks of use, people on the maximum dose of Mounjaro (15 mg per week):
- Lowered their total cholesterol by about 5.6 percent
- Lowered their triglycerides by 22.5 percent
- Lowered their LDL cholesterol by 7.9 percent
- Lowered their VLDL by 21.8 percent
- Increased their HDL by 10.8 percent
Additionally, a meta-analysis from The Lancet found that glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist medications, including semaglutide (the active ingredient in Wegovy), lowered cardiovascular risk.
They even decreased the risk of death in people with diabetes and heart disease.
The American Diabetes Association recommends GLP-1 agonists, like Wegovy or Mounjaro, for people who have type 2 diabetes and heart disease to lower the risk of heart attack and stroke.
In addition to medications, eating a healthy diet and increasing the amount of physical activity you routinely get will go a long way to improving your heart health.
May cause adverse side effects
People experience similar side effects while taking Wegovy or Mounjaro.
They may both cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, suppressed appetite, and low blood sugar (if you take insulin.)
Side effects will be more severe when you first start taking the medication until your body adjusts to it.
Contact your doctor if you’re experiencing debilitating side effects that are negatively affecting your quality of life.
Your doctor can either lower your dose or find an alternative medication for you.
Read more about Wegovy side effects and Mounjaro side effects
They do not replace insulin
While these medications lower blood sugar levels, they do not replace the need for insulin.
They may, over time, reduce the amount of insulin you require, but they are not insulin nor are they replacements for insulin.
Talk with your doctor if you’re experiencing frequent low blood sugar.
They can help you recalibrate your insulin doses so you can experience fewer lows.
They are taken once weekly
Unlike other GLP-1 medications like Victoza, both Wegovy and Mounjaro are only taken once weekly.
Never take more than one dose within a single week.
They can be taken with or without food
These medications do not cause acute low blood sugar and can be taken both with or without food.
The important thing is that they’re taken on the same day each week (ideally around the same time, so you always remember.)
Sometimes people will pair taking their injectable medication with a meal, like breakfast, but it is not required.
If you experience acute nausea immediately after taking your medication, you may want to eat something bland like oatmeal or toast to help curb nausea.
They may cause changes to your vision
These medications may cause or worsen diabetic retinopathy, especially when you first start taking them.
Studies show that semaglutide (the active ingredient in Wegovy) is associated with the early worsening of diabetic retinopathy.
Similarly, the active ingredient in Mounjaro (tirzepatide) can make diabetic retinopathy worse.
Although this does not happen in all patients who take these medications, they do come with an increased risk of vision changes and worsening vision.
Talk with your doctor if you have early-stage diabetic retinopathy or are worried that taking Wegovy or Mounjaro may threaten your eye health.
How are Wegovy and Mounjaro different?
Wegovy and Moujaro, while being remarkably similar, are different drugs.
The following are the ways in which these medications differ:
They have different doses
The doses for Mounjaro are the following:
- New to treatment: 2.5 mg once per week for the first four weeks.
- Ongoing treatment: 5 mg once per week starting on week five. If your doctor thinks you require more, there are doses available in 7.5mg, 10mg, 12.5mg, and 15mg pens.
The doses for Wegovy are the following:
- New to treatment: 0.25 mg once per week for the first four weeks.
- Ongoing treatment: 0.5 mg once per week starting on week five. If your doctor thinks you require more, there are doses available in 1mg, 1.7 mg, and 2.4mg pens.
Since the active ingredients are different, these medications are not interchangeable.
It can be very dangerous if you attempt to do so.
They have different active ingredients
The active ingredient in Wegovy is semaglutide (the same as in Ozempic), and the active ingredient in Mounjaro is tirzepatide.
Talk with your doctor if you are allergic to one or the other’s active ingredient so that they can prescribe you an alternative.
They are FDA-approved for different reasons
Wegovy is intended to be used as a weight loss and/or weight maintenance drug. It is not an approved drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
However, many people who take Wegovy for weight loss or weight maintenance can also experience the improved blood sugar effects of taking the medication.
Mounjaro, on the other hand, is an FDA-approved medication for the treatment of blood sugars in people with type 2 diabetes.
It also aids in weight loss, even though it is not FDA-approved as a weight loss drug.
Since many people with type 2 diabetes also struggle with their weight, taking Mounjaro for improved blood sugar control can also help with weight loss.
Can I switch between the two drugs?
In some cases, yes.
As long as you do not have any allergies to the ingredients of the other medication, it may be possible.
If you’re experiencing severe adverse side effects on one drug, you may wish to try another to see if your body will adjust better to it.
You’re more likely to be able to switch between these two medications if you fall under the eligibility criteria for both. Namely, obesity and type 2 diabetes.
If you only have type 2 diabetes, your insurance may only cover Mounjaro for you.
However, if you have obesity but not type 2 diabetes, you may only qualify for Wegovy.
Only switch medications under the guidance of your doctor.
The dosing is completely different between the two medications and overdosing on these medications can cause severe side effects.
These side effects include nausea, vomiting, and low blood sugar levels—which can be fatal if not treated quickly.
Can I get off my other diabetes medications if I lose enough weight on Wegovy or Mounjaro?
This may be possible, but it is not probable.
Losing weight can help improve both insulin resistance and blood sugar levels. Sometimes this makes your insulin or other diabetes medications unnecessary.
However, neither Wegovy nor Mounjaro will cure diabetes.
You may be able to lower your insulin needs or stop taking insulin completely if you’ve lost a significant amount of weight and your blood sugars are in great control.
This will only apply to people who have type 2 diabetes, as people with type 1 diabetes are insulin-dependent for life.
Check with your doctor if you have questions about taking your other diabetes medications while on Wegovy or Mounjaro.
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