Mounjaro vs Ozempic for Weight Loss

With so many drugs for weight loss on the market, it can at times be hard to find the right one. Some of them are approved specifically for weight loss, and others are not. However, there are two diabetes drugs on the market that have the added benefit of weight loss.

Mounjaro, a diabetes drug released in 2022, has been proven effective in treating diabetes. However, Mounjaro is not the only diabetes drug that can cause weight loss. 

Ozempic, another drug approved to treat type 2 diabetes, has the added benefit of helping you lose weight. Both of these medications are very effective in treating type 2 diabetes and reducing the risk of certain events, such as cardiovascular problems. However, one question remains: Which one of these medications is better for weight loss?

Both of these medications are dispensed once per week by subcutaneous injection in the thigh, upper arm, or abdomen. Either you or a caregiver can give the injection. Ozempic and Mounjaro are in the same drug class. This drug class is called incretin mimetics. According to Drugs.com, incretin mimetics behave like incretin hormones, “such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1).” When they attach to GLP-1 receptors, incretin mimetics trigger glucose dependent insulin to be released. 

This class of drugs suppresses your appetite and helps keep glucagon from being secreted. The result is a drug that suppresses not only appetite, but also acts as antihyperglycemics. Ozempic or Semaglutide, its generic, is very effective in facilitating weight loss. However, Mounjaro is the clear winner for weight loss if you ask users and experts. According to studies, patients who took Mounjaro lost 22.5% more weight than those who took other diabetes medications for weight loss.   

According to the Food and Drug Administration, Mounjaro improves and controls blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. For Mounjaro to be effective in helping you lose weight and control blood sugar, it must be combined with exercise and a healthy diet. Clinical studies have found Mounjaro to be more effective than other diabetes medications. 

According to the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Mounjaro is an upgrade from other diabetes medications, because it effectively helps patients achieve their goals. According to PubMed, Mounjaro is a “single molecule” medication, which bonds dual agonism of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptors. 

GLP-1 and Native GIP stimulate the secretion of insulin, while working on energy and nutrient metabolism. This helps keep food in your system longer and suppresses appetite as a result. Mounjaro is being analyzed as a possible treatment to reduce the incidence of obesity-related deaths. Experts are also in the process of getting Mounjaro approved for the treatment of heart failure and sleep apnea. 

Although it may be a lengthy process, experts are also seeking to get Mounjaro approved for the treatment of obesity. This may broaden the number of weight loss options on the market. In May of 2022, Mounjaro received its first approval to promote “glycemic control” in adults with type 2 diabetes. Participants in one recent study had a body mass index of 32 to 34 when they first entered the study. 

Those who took Mounjaro lost 15 pounds more than participants who were given a placebo. However, no medication comes without the potential for side effects. According to WebMD, Mounjaro can cause swelling, itching, or redness at the injection site. It can also cause nausea, vomiting, constipation, and diarrhea. 

These side effects have the potential to get worse. If they do, you should contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately. Your doctor prescribed this medication, so you can get the maximum benefit from it. However, he or she needs to know about serious problems immediately, so you can get the proper treatment. 

Although serious side effects are rare, some people have rare side effects, such as a decreased urine output, vision changes, such as blurry vision, and other kidney problems. If you begin to vomit on this medication, you could potentially be experiencing gallbladder disease, a condition that causes inflammation, a blocked gallbladder, or gallbladder stones. Pancreatic cancer is another possible side effect of Mounjaro.

While Mounjaro is a great option for people who are looking to lose weight, it’s important to remember that Ozempic is also an effective weight loss option. According to experts, roughly one third of people who take Ozempic for weight loss lose a minimum of 10 percent of their body weight. At the very least, users will see at least a five percent loss of body weight. Ozempic is taken once per week by injection. 

But how exactly does Ozempic work? Ozempic “mimics” GLP-1, which is a hormone that exists naturally in the body. Your digestive system produces this hormone when you eat food. It manipulates both the digestive system and your brain, and helps you feel full after you have eaten a meal. It also slows down the pace at which your body digests your food. Because of this, you feel full for a longer period of time. 

You may find that you lose more weight on this medication if you eat foods that are high in protein. High protein foods are generally beneficial for those who want to lose weight.

Your food moves more slowly through your intestines when you take Ozempic. Your blood sugar levels are stabilized on this medication, making it very effective. This is especially true if you are hoping to lose weight. Many people who take this medication find that they lose some weight after starting this medication. Because this medication stabilizes your blood sugar levels, you are more likely to lose weight and less likely to eat too much. 

If you want to lose weight by taking Ozempic, you should follow a process. You should start on the lowest dose of this medication, which is 0.25 milligrams. You should gradually increase your dose over a period of eight weeks. After eight weeks, you should increase your dose to 1 milligram. This allows your body to adjust to this medication, thus reducing the severity of any side effects, such as nausea, that you may experience.  

Ozempic comes in a “pre-filled injection pen.” The needle itself looks like a pen. It only takes two minutes to use and is easily injected. You need to put a new needle in the pen every time you take a dose. The needle should be pressed tightly against the skin on the thigh, stomach, or arm. It currently is the most effective diabetes drug for weight loss in the United Kingdom.  

Many companies in the UK use Ozempic off-label to treat obesity, even though the drug was not originally designed for that purpose. Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, is approved at a higher dose for the treatment of obesity. It is also approved for “other weight-related medical problems.”

Because Ozempic is intended for people with type 2 diabetes, many people with type 1 diabetes are taking it off-label to reap the benefits of weight loss. However, it’s important to get a prescription from a doctor, if you want to treat your condition correctly. But what is Ozempic exactly?

Ozempic is a diabetes drug that helps improve blood sugar and lowers hemoglobin A1C. Hemoglobin A1C is a measure of blood glucose over an extended period of time. It is also effective in helping diabetics with known cardiovascular problems from developing a stroke, heart attack, or other cardiovascular problem. The active ingredient in Ozempic activates GLP-1 receptors in the body and improves the natural GLP-1 hormone that exists in your body.

If you are taking Ozempic for weight loss, it is important to understand that Ozempic does not cause low blood sugar. Insulin in itself has the ability to cause low blood sugar. Ozempic is designed by Novo Nordisk. Semaglutide was approved under the name Wegovy in 2021 to promote weight loss. Ozempic manipulates the hunger centers in the brain. 

Ozempic specifically affects the hypothalamus in the brain, which reduces hunger, appetite, and cravings for food. Because obesity is a risk factor for death around the world, Ozempic is particularly helpful. It is available in countries around the world and consequently benefits millions of people. The ventromedial nuclei, the lateral hypothalamic area, and the arcuate nucleus all exist in the hypothalamus and work in tandem to promote satiety and “feelings of fullness.”

The overall benefit of Ozempic is three-fold. First of all, it treats type 2 diabetes. It can also lower the risk of heart problems. And best of all, it helps fight one of the world’s biggest epidemics—obesity. While there are many weight loss medications on the market, Ozempic may be an attractive option for those with a multitude of health issues. 

However, be aware that Ozempic comes with side effects. Ozempic have the potential to cause hair loss, loss of appetite, stomach pain, and constipation. It is also known to cause serious allergic reactions. Be aware that Ozempic's side effects can be worsened if you continue eating after you feel full. Your Ozempic dosage should be increased if you find that this is a problem. 

17 Sources

Nu Image Medical has strict sourcing guidelines to ensure our content is accurate and current. We rely on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We strive to use primary sources and refrain from using tertiary references.

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This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your physician about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Nu Image Medical may not offer the medications or services mentioned in this article.