Obesity is implicated as one of the most common risk factors associated with several acute and chronic medical conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, heart diseases, and cancer. The findings of recent studies demonstrating the weight loss benefits of Semaglutide have provided hope to millions of patients across the world struggling with obesity and its complications.
Semaglutide and other compounds in the same class of drugs are available under brand names, including Ozempic, Saxenda, and Wegovy. In addition, some pharmacies are offering compounded Semaglutide.
Although these medications have similar benefits, it is important to be aware of the differences between them.
This article discusses the key differences between compounded Semaglutide, Ozempic, Saxenda, and Wegovy and compares them on parameters, including their dosage, effectiveness, side effects, and costs.
Understanding Semaglutide
Semaglutide is used to treat obesity and diabetes. It belongs to the class of drugs called GLP-1 (glucagon-like-peptide-1) agonists. [1]
Semaglutide acts on GLP-1 receptors in the brain and regulates the activity of a group of hormones known as incretins. These hormones play a key role in controlling the secretion of insulin in the pancreas to lower blood sugar levels. Incretins also help increase the sensation of fullness in the stomach by acting on the appetite center in the brain. This results in delayed gastric emptying, inducing a prolonged feeling of satiety. [2]
This mechanism of action of Semaglutide is primarily responsible for its weight loss effect.
Semaglutide and other GLP-1 agonists are available under brand names, such as Ozempic, Saxenda, and Wegovy. In addition, Semaglutide is also available in its compounded form.
Here is a comparison of these GLP-1 agonists based on their mode of administration, dosages, effectiveness, safety profiles, side effects, and costs.
What is Ozempic?
Ozempic is one of the most popular brands of Semaglutide available in injectable form. Ozempic is FDA-approved for diabetes management, although it is commonly prescribed off-label for weight loss. [3]
The available dosage strengths of Ozempic include 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, and 2 mg. These dosages are available as prefilled pens, offering convenience in taking injections.
The recommended starting dosage of Ozempic is 0.25 mg. The doses are administered subcutaneously (just under the skin) once a week. The dose may be increased to 0.5 mg once weekly after 4 weeks and then to 1 mg once weekly if needed to improve weight loss and glycemic control.
Your healthcare provider might advise you to increase the dose to 2 mg once a week if further weight loss or blood glucose control is desired. This is the maximum recommended dose of injectable Semaglutide.
The recommended injection sites for Ozempic include the upper arm, thigh, and abdomen. Injections can be taken at any time of the day without regard to meals. However, it is advisable to take the doses on the same day of the week throughout the treatment regime.
Some common side effects of Ozempic include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Abdominal pain
- Pancreatitis
If you notice these side effects, you must contact your health provider immediately. Your doctor might advise you to stop using the medication and prescribe an alternative drug for weight loss or diabetes control.
In addition, the FDA has issued a black box warning for Ozempic and other Semaglutide brands about the potential risk for patients with a medical or family history of multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 or medullary thyroid carcinoma. The warning cautions patients with these conditions against using these drugs.
What is Wegovy?
Wegovy shares the same ingredient as Ozempic, Semaglutide. However, this brand is FDA-approved for weight loss. Clinical research has demonstrated that adults taking Wegovy lose nearly 15% of their body weight or approximately 35 pounds, on average, within 18 months of starting treatment. [4] [5]
Wegovy is prescribed to adults who are obese and have a BMI of 30 or higher. It is also suitable for overweight patients with a BMI of 27 or higher when they have a health condition associated with weight gain. In some cases, Wegovy can be prescribed to children above 12 years of age if certain BMI conditions for their age and gender are met. [6]
The available dosage strengths of Wegovy for weight loss include 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg, and 2.4 mg. This drug is available as prefilled pens, each containing the specified quality of Semaglutide.
The recommended dosing schedule of Wegovy is as follows:
- Weeks 1 to 4: 0.25 mg, once weekly
- Weeks 5 to 8: 0.5 mg, once weekly
- Weeks 9 to 12: 1 mg, once weekly
- Weeks 13 to 16: 1.7 mg, once weekly
From week 17 onwards, patients may be advised to continue the treatment in a maintenance dose of 2.4 mg once a week.
Some common side effects of Wegovy include:
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Upset stomach
- Flatulence
- Stomach flu
- Runny nose or sore throat
- Acute pancreatitis
- Acute gallbladder disease
- Suicidal behavior or ideation
If you experience these side effects, contact your healthcare provider immediately. Your doctors might advise you to stop using Wegovy and recommend an alternative medication.
In addition, just like Ozempic, Wegovy is not indicated by patients with a medical or family history of certain forms of thyroid carcinoma, including multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 and medullary thyroid carcinoma.
What is Saxenda?
Saxenda is another FDA-approved medication for chronic weight management. However, it contains a different ingredient: Liraglutide. Another key difference between Saxenda, Ozempic, and Wegovy is that Saxenda needs to be administered as daily injections for weight management.
Saxenda can be prescribed to adults with a BMI of 30 or higher, and those who have a BMI of 27 or higher with a weight-related condition. Trials have revealed that adults using Saxenda lost nearly 9.2% of their body weight on average in 12 months when it was paired with a low-calorie diet. [7] [8]
Saxenda is available as prefilled pens, each containing 3 mL of solution. The prefilled pens are designed to deliver doses of 0.6 mg, 1.2 mg, 1.8 mg, 2.4 mg, or 3 mg. The usual starting dosage is 0.6 mg per day. The dose may be increased gradually until the maintenance dosage of 3 mg per day is attained.
Some common side effects of Saxenda include:
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Upset stomach
- Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar level)
- Fatigue
- Abdominal painStomach flu
- Injection site reactions (due to daily dosing schedule)
- Acute pancreatitis
- Acute gallbladder disease
If you experience these side effects, contact your healthcare provider immediately. Also, Saxenda is not recommended for pregnant women and those with a medical or family history of certain forms of thyroid cancer.
What is Compounded Semaglutide?
Compounded Semaglutide is a form of Semaglutide prepared by altering and mixing the medication. The purpose of compounding Semaglutide is to customize the drug to address the specific needs of patients and help them get better results.
Compounded Semaglutide works similarly to the available brands of Semaglutide and Liraglutide. It supports weight loss by creating a sense of fullness in the stomach. This can keep you from overeating and reduce your total food intake. [9]
Compounded Semaglutide allows patients to titrate the dose of their medication more efficiently, thus accelerating their weight loss results while lowering the risk of side effects. This can offer you additional advantages as the compounded version has the same active ingredient in Ozempic or Wegovy but in a customized dosage suitable for you. The dosage can be determined based on parameters, such as your age, medical conditions, and weight loss goals.
However, it is important that you get compounded Semaglutide from a reputable pharmacy that complies with FDA requirements. This will ensure that the medication you use helps you achieve your weight loss results without the risk of serious side effects.
Our healthcare experts at Amp Health will prescribe the most suitable dose of compounded Semaglutide to help you get optimum results. Our doctors will also recommend a personalized obesity management plan for sustainable weight loss.
Compounded Semaglutide vs. Saxenda vs. Wegovy vs. Ozempic
Ozempic, Saxenda, and Wegovy share many similarities. However, they also have some differences in their ingredients, dosage schedules, safety, effectiveness, and side effects.
Here’s a brief discussion of the differences between these drugs.
Ozempic was approved by the FDA for type 2 diabetes in 2017. Further research discovered that this medication produced significant weight loss. Consequently, in 2021, the same ingredient was approved by the FDA to specifically treat weight gain under the brand name Wegovy. [10]
So, Wegovy is another injectable form of Semaglutide having a higher dosage strength compared to Ozempic. Saxenda, on the other hand, has a different ingredient, Liraglutide.
Moreover, Ozempic is approved for the treatment of diabetes, not weight loss. However, the significant weight loss results achieved with Ozempic are significant enough to prompt healthcare providers to prescribe it off-label.
What Are The Key Differences Between Ozempic Vs. Wegovy Vs. Saxenda Vs. Compounded Semaglutide
| Medication | Ozempic | Wegovy | Saxenda | Compounded Semaglutide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ingredient | Semaglutide | Semaglutide | Liraglutide | Semaglutide |
| Form | Injectable | Injectable | Injectable | Injectable |
| Dosage Frequency | Weekly | Weekly | Daily | Customized |
| Dosage Strengths | 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, and 2 mg | 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg, and 2.4 mg | 0.6 mg, 1.2 mg, 1.8 mg, 2.4 mg, and 3 mg | Customized |
| Side Effects | Mainly digestive side effects | Mainly digestive side effects | Mainly digestive and local side effects | Mainly digestive side effects, although with a lower comparative risk |
| Effectiveness | Lower compared to Wegovy and Saxenda | Highest among brands | Higher than Ozempic | High when prescribed by an expert medical professional after careful evaluation of medical history |
| Cost | Expensive | Expensive | Expensive | Cost-effective |
| FDA Approval Status | Approved for type 2 diabetes | Approved for weight loss and diabetes | Approved for chronic weight management | Not regulated by the FDA |
Dosage
Ozempic, Wegovy, Saxenda, and compounded Semaglutide are administered as subcutaneous injections. These injections can be taken at any time of the day, without regard to meals. However, Ozempic and Wegovy are weekly injections that need to be administered on the same day every week, while Saxenda is a daily injection that must be administered daily.
The dosage of compounded Semaglutide, on the other hand, can be customized depending on your specific needs.
Wegovy is available as a single-use pen, which means each pen contains a single dose of the drug. Saxenda and Ozempic, on the other hand, come in prefilled pens with multiple doses of the drug.
All four medications are injected subcutaneously under the skin of the thigh, abdomen, or upper arm. Also, these medications are typically prescribed in a ramp-up dosage schedule, where you increase your dosage gradually over a period of weeks to minimize side effects.
Effectiveness
All four medications produce significant weight loss results. However, when it comes to a clear winner between the brands, it is Wegovy.
Studies have shown that Wegovy produces more weight loss compared to Saxenda, which, in turn, produces better results than Ozempic. On average, patients taking Wegovy lose about 27.5 pounds, while people taking Saxenda lose about 11.5 pounds, and those using Ozempic lose 8.2 pounds in about a year’s time. [11]
However, the effectiveness of compounded Semaglutide depends on the source of the drug, as different compounding pharmacies use different processes and formulae to prepare the medication. This is why getting your compounded Semaglutide from a reputable source is critical.
You can contact our healthcare providers at Amp Health to get a valid prescription for compounded Semaglutide. Our doctors will analyze your medical history and discuss your weight loss goals to recommend the most suitable dose of compounded Semaglutide to help you get optimum results.
Side Effects
All four medications produce significant weight loss results. However, when it comes to a clear winner between the brands, it is Wegovy.
Studies have shown that Wegovy produces more weight loss compared to Saxenda, which, in turn, produces better results than Ozempic. On average, patients taking Wegovy lose about 27.5 pounds, while people taking Saxenda lose about 11.5 pounds, and those using Ozempic lose 8.2 pounds in about a year’s time. [11]
However, the effectiveness of compounded Semaglutide depends on the source of the drug, as different compounding pharmacies use different processes and formulae to prepare the medication. This is why getting your compounded Semaglutide from a reputable source is critical.
You can contact our healthcare providers at Amp Health to get a valid prescription for compounded Semaglutide. Our doctors will analyze your medical history and discuss your weight loss goals to recommend the most suitable dose of compounded Semaglutide to help you get optimum results.
Cost
The brands of weight loss medications, including Ozempic, Wegovy, and Saxenda, are expensive. In addition, there is also a shortage of these drugs due to the sudden and drastic rise in their use worldwide, specifically for weight loss.
Compounded Semaglutide, on the other hand, offers a low-cost alternative to these weight-loss medications. Since compounded drugs are prepared in pharmacies approved by the FDA, they can offer the medication at a lower cost while also addressing the issue of shortage.
If you are looking for a cheaper version of Semaglutide, you can make a telehealth appointment with our weight loss experts. Our doctors will analyze your case and prescribe the most suitable strength of compounded Semaglutide. This will help you achieve your weight loss goals without having to invest heavily in your treatment.
Which Medication Is Best For Me: Semaglutide Vs. Ozempic Vs. Wegovy Vs. Saxenda?
Ozempic, Saxenda, and Wegovy are prescription medications that can help with weight management. These are brand names that belong to the same class called GLP-1 agonists.
Compounded Semaglutide is prescribed in customized dosages that meet your specific needs based on your weight loss goals, offering a personalized approach to safe and sustained weight loss.
If you prefer weekly injections, you can choose Ozempic or Wegovy. However, the effectiveness of these two medications is comparatively lower than Saxenda. Saxenda offers higher effectiveness. It can be a great choice if you are fine with taking daily injections. However, this might result in more local side effects, in addition to the digestive side effects associated with all these drugs.
Also, it is important to remember that these brands are available in specific dosages. The dosages typically need to be increased over a period of time. This may increase the risk of adverse effects, especially during the phase of transition to a higher dose.
In addition, Ozempic, Saxenda, and Wegovy are expensive and face frequent shortages.
These issues can be addressed by using compounded Semaglutide. The dosage of compounded Semaglutide can be customized, which means the increment in the dosage is not too steep, allowing for a smoother transition. This can lower the risk of adverse effects.
Most importantly, compounded Semaglutide is cheaper than Ozempic, Saxenda, and Wegovy and has a significantly lower chance of facing shortages.
You can consider these parameters to determine the best medication to lose weight.
Conclusion
Knowing the key differences between compounded Semaglutide, Ozempic, Saxenda, and Wegovy is essential for choosing the right medicine for weight loss. You can contact us at Amp Health to learn more about the differences between compounded Semaglutide, Ozempic, Saxenda, and Wegovy and get help with making the right choice.
References:
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- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34706925/
- https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2022/215256s005lbl.pdf
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