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Wegovy vs Ozempic

Wegovy and Ozempic contain semaglutide, but their approved uses and dose schedules differ. The table compares their weekly injections and notes the separate tablet forms.

Source for this answer

Source: Read from both FDA labels on DailyMed

Source: Read from both FDA labels on DailyMed

Medically reviewed by Jennifer Montecillo, MD · non-practicing medical reviewerReviewed 2026-08-12every number here is sourced

Wegovy and Ozempic, line by line

4 of 11 details match; 7 differ. Compare the approved uses, injection doses and other label details below.

Wegovy and Ozempic compared line by line, from both FDA labels
QuestionWegovyOzempic
What is in itSame on both labelsSemaglutideSemaglutide
Who makes itSame on both labelsNovo NordiskNovo Nordisk
How oftenSame on both labelsOnce a weekOnce a week
Approved usesWeight management in eligible adults and adolescents aged 12 and older; heart-risk reduction and certain MASH liver disease in eligible adultsBlood sugar in type 2 diabetes, heart risk reduction in type 2 diabetes, and kidney decline in type 2 diabetes
Starting doseSame on both labels0.25 mg once a week0.25 mg once a week
Highest dose2.4 mg, or 7.2 mg for weight reduction in adults2 mg
Maintenance doses1.7, 2.4 or 7.2 mg0.5, 1 or 2 mg
How a missed week is handledTake it if the next dose is more than 2 days off, otherwise skipTake it within 5 days, otherwise skip
Youngest patient coveredAge 12Adults only
Is there a pillYes, a tablet at 1.5, 4, 9 and 25 mg, under a separate applicationYes. Ozempic tablets have a separate label and dose schedule, shared with Rybelsus
What the label reports for nausea44 in 100 at 2.4 mg, against 16 on placebo20.3 in 100 at 1 mg, against 6.1 on placebo

Product comparison at a glance

Wegovy
Semaglutide
Ozempic
Semaglutide
Label differences
7 of 11 comparison rows differ
Direct trial
None published

Has anyone tested Wegovy against Ozempic directly?

No direct trial is included in the sources below. The two products contain the same ingredient, but their doses and approved uses can differ.

Both labels draw on trials of semaglutide. Those separate results cannot show which brand works better or causes fewer side effects. Sharing an active drug does not mean the doses or forms can be swapped.

5Comparison detailsWhat the differences mean and where to find more detail

Why the nausea figures look so far apart

The labels report nausea in 44 of 100 people taking Wegovy 2.4 mg and 20.3 of 100 taking Ozempic 1 mg. Those figures come from separate trials.

The trials used different doses and enrolled different people. Wegovy’s table reports weight-management trials at 2.4 mg; Ozempic’s table reports diabetes trials at up to 1 mg. These figures cannot show which product causes more nausea at a comparable dose.

Both labels open their tables with the warning that rates from one drug’s trials cannot be set against another’s. It applies to this pair even though the drug is the same.

How the injection doses differ

Ozempic stops at 2 mg a week. Wegovy runs to 2.4 mg, and since March 2026 to 7.2 mg for weight reduction in adults.

Wegovy also allows a 1.7 mg maintenance dose for some uses. Ozempic’s 2 mg maximum therefore falls between two Wegovy maintenance doses; it is not a dose-equivalence or switching rule.

Using or switching between the products

The Wegovy label does not recommend using it with another semaglutide product or another GLP-1 receptor agonist. Ozempic contains semaglutide.

The labels do not provide a dose conversion between Wegovy and Ozempic injections. A prescriber needs to plan any switch; the dose difference alone does not establish a starting dose.

What about “Ozempic vs Wegovy”?

Reversing the names does not change the product details or trial results.

Read each result with its own dose, study group and limits, whichever name comes first.

The full label for each

Choose a product below to see its full dose schedule, side effects and storage rules.

Wegovy

The Wegovy dose schedule in fullWegovy side effects, dose by doseStoring Wegovy safely

Ozempic

The Ozempic dose schedule in fullOzempic side effects, dose by doseStoring Ozempic safely

Questions readers ask

Can I lose 20 pounds in 3 months on Wegovy?

A 72-week trial average cannot predict a 20-pound loss in three months. At week 12, Wegovy’s standard injection schedule has not reached 2.4 mg.

An average describes the group. It does not mean half lost more and half lost less, and it does not set a deadline for one person.

Which is better for weight loss, Ozempic or Wegovy?

Wegovy has an approved weight-management use. Ozempic contains the same drug, semaglutide, but its injection label covers type 2 diabetes and certain heart and kidney uses.

Their dose schedules differ. The weekly injection amounts cannot be used to compare tablet doses, which have separate label instructions.

What is the downside of Wegovy?

In the label’s adult weight trials, nausea affected 44% on Wegovy 2.4 mg and 16% on placebo. Diarrhea, vomiting and constipation each affected more than 20% on Wegovy.

In the 7.2 mg trials, altered skin sensations affected 22% at 7.2 mg and 6% at 2.4 mg. These figures describe the studied groups, not everyone who uses Wegovy.

Why are people stopping Wegovy?

The label reports some people stopping because of side effects. In the adult 2.4 mg weight trials, 6.8% stopped for that reason, versus 3.2% on placebo.

Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea were the most common side effects leading to stopping. These trial findings do not explain every person’s reason for stopping outside a study.

15primary sources, each with the day we read it — open the documents used on this page

Wegovy and Ozempic are registered trademarks of their makers. Neither maker wrote, reviewed or endorsed this guide. It draws on public FDA labels and cited studies. A clinician can advise on your care. For prices and insurance, see our cost and coverage guide.