Mounjaro vs Wegovy

Is Mounjaro the same as Wegovy? They are both weight loss drugs, however, they are not the same. They contain different active ingredients but have similar characteristics with the potential to achieve similar goals when it comes to your weight loss journey.

There has been a lot of media attention around weight loss drugs recently, and they are usually able to help with both diabetes and obesity. If you are looking to lose weight and you fit the criteria for weight loss medication, you might be left wondering what the best option is.

Should you look at Wegovy or Mounjaro to help you achieve your goals? Your healthcare provider will be able to talk you through what treatment is best suited for you.

Both medications are only available to obtain via a prescription. Usually, they are prescribed to people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above, or to those with a BMI of 27 and above who have weight-related health conditions. Both medications have similar side effects, but they do differ slightly.

This guide will look at Wegovy vs Mounjaro for weight loss, talking you through the similarities and differences between the two treatments.

The differences

Active ingredients

When you look at Mounjaro vs Wegovy, the medications work in a similar way they both contain different active ingredients.

The active ingredient in Wegovy is semaglutide. Semaglutide is commonly found in medications designed to improve glycemic control in people with type 2 diabetes, like Ozempic.
The active ingredient in Mounjaro is tirzepatide. Tirzepatide is an anti-diabetic medication that is used to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes. As of 2023, it’s also been approved by the MHRA to tackle obesity.^[1]

Dosages

Wegovy doses

Wegovy doses come in 5 different strengths. Each dose is to be taken once a week. The doses are increased every 4 weeks until you reach your maintenance dose. Your maintenance dose will be selected by your prescriber, and it usually ranges between 1.7mg or 2.4mg.

All Wegovy doses include:

• 0.25mg
• 0.5mg
• 1mg
• 1.7mg
• 2.4mg

Mounjaro doses

Meanwhile, Mounjaro comes in 6 different strengths with a dosing schedule you have to follow during your treatment plan. Just like Wegovy, you take each dose for 4 weeks before increasing it.

It will be decided by your prescriber if and when you are going to increase the dose. Your prescriber will continue to increase your dose until they find one that works for you. They will try to keep you on the lowest dose possible, as long as it is showing results.

All Mounjaro doses include:

• 2.5mg
• 5mg
• 7.5mg
• 10mg
• 12.5mg
• 15mg

GIP receptor agonists

Wegovy (semaglutide) is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. It mimics the GLP-1 hormone that is released into the gastrointestinal tract in response to eating. It prompts the body to produce more insulin, which reduces blood glucose.

Wegovy is a GLP-1 receptor agonist only and does not mimic GIP as well, like Mounjaro.

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist. It is formulated as a synthetic peptide containing 39 amino acids. Clinical trials have indicated that tirzepatide has the ability to lower blood glucose levels and can help patients to lose weight.

Receptor agonists have the ability to treat both type 2 diabetes and obesity, however, they might not be the right choice for everyone.

The manufacturers

Wegovy is manufactured by Novo Nordisk. The manufacturer specialises in diabetes and weight loss treatments. Semaglutide is one of the main medicines produced by this pharmaceutical company.

Mounjaro is manufactured by Eli Lilly. They understand that for some people, it can be difficult to maintain healthy lifestyle choices in the long term to keep weight off.^[2]

Licence to treat type 2 diabetes

Wegovy and Ozempic are the two brand names that are used to market semaglutide.

Ozempic can be used alongside diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with poorly managed type 2 diabetes. This only has a licence to treat type 2 diabetes.

Wegovy is not licensed for type 2 diabetes. It only has a licence for weight loss, used in addition to a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management.

Mounjaro is one treatment that is licensed for both obesity and type 2 diabetes. It is used alongside diet and exercise to help manage blood sugar.

Ozempic or Mounjaro may not be suitable for everyone with type 2 diabetes. There is still a certain criteria you need to meet to be eligible to use it.

The results

A 68-week study was conducted on Wegovy. The study discovered that 83% of the adults using the medication lost 5% or more of their weight compared to 31% taking the placebo.

66% lost 10% or more of their weight compared to 12% in those taking the placebo. Finally, 48% of adults lost 15% or more of their weight compared to 5% in those taking the placebo.^[3]

Researchers carried out a study on Mounjaro with people weighing on average 241lb. By the end of the study, those people lost almost 27% of their total body weight which is roughly 64 pounds.^[4]

These clinical trials concluded that both medications are an effective way to manage weight loss. They also show that on average, people who use Mounjaro lose more of their body weight than those who use Wegovy.

Remember that these trials have no reflection of your own health situation when it comes to Mounjaro vs Wegovy. You should always talk to your healthcare provider first. Your weight loss journey is your own and you might see different results in comparison to other people

The similarities

Administration method

Both Wegovy and Mounjaro are administered via injections. The injections are self-administered in either the abdomen, thigh or upper arm.

Although they are both injections, Wegovy uses FlexTouch pens. Each pen is pre-filled with enough doses to last a month and 4 disposable needles.

On the other hand, the Mounjaro KwikPen is a disposable, multi-dose, single-patient-use, pre-filled pen. The pen contains 4 doses, meaning 1 pen will be needed per month.

Once weekly injections

For the best results, whether you are using Wegovy or Mounjaro, you should be injecting yourself once a week. They both come as a pre-filled pen. You should inject yourself on the same day each week.

It is recommended that you use the injections at the same time each week. Sticking to the same time will help you to remember to inject.

When it comes to Mounjaro, it is also recommended that you inject at the same time each day. You can also choose to take the medication at any time of the day. If you change the day of the week then you must make sure the time between doses is at least 3 days (72 hours) apart.

Titration

When it comes to increasing your dose of either Wegovy or Mounjaro, the same pattern is followed - this is known as titration. Gradually increasing your doses over a period of time allows your body to adjust to the medicine, reducing the chances of you experiencing side effects.

You will remain on your current dose of Wegovy or Mounjaro for 4 weeks. If your prescriber thinks that you should increase the dose, they will make this decision after each 4-week period, taking into consideration if you’re experiencing any side effects, how much weight you’ve lost, your age and your medical history.

GLP-1 receptor agonists

Wegovy and Mounjaro both act as GLP1 receptor agonists. They work by slowing down the movement of food from the stomach to the small intestine.

GLP1 receptor agonists also act on the brain to reduce hunger. Over time, these drugs should decrease your appetite. You may feel less hungry and eat less. Your cravings for food may also be reduced.

Can you switch from one treatment to the other?

When you are on your weight loss journey, it is possible for you to switch treatments. It is something that you will need to discuss with your prescriber as they will be able to advise if it is suitable for you. They will look at Mounjaro vs Wegovy and establish which one is the best for you. Even though the two drugs are in the same medicine class, your body can still respond to each one differently.

You can switch to Wegovy from Mounjaro and vice versa. Changing your treatment might be advised if you are not seeing results on the one you are currently prescribed. It might also be recommended if you are having issues with your current weight loss medication.

You must not stop, start or switch any of these medications without discussing it with your prescriber first.

It is important to remember that if you are considering a weight loss treatment you must fit the criteria. If you fit the criteria you can talk through your options with a healthcare provider. By completing a quick and easy consultation with us, they will be able to tell you which treatment is suitable for you.

When it comes to Mounjaro vs Wegovy, both work in similar ways with the goal of providing you with weight loss. Don’t forget, your weight loss journey is your own, and what works for you is individual.