Comparison
Ozempic and Wegovy: one substance, two approvals
The two names describe the same active substance under two separate approvals, and the difference between them is not chemistry but what each was authorised to be used for and at what dose.
From the approved label
The two labels, side by side
| Wegovy | Ozempic | |
|---|---|---|
| Approved uses | Wegovyto reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or non-fatal stroke) in adults with established cardiovascular disease and either obesity or overweight. | Ozempicas an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. |
| Forms and strengths | Wegovy2.4 mg/0.75 mL Injection: pre-filled, single-dose pen that delivers doses of 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg or 2.4 mg. | OzempicInjection: 2 mg/3 mL (0.68 mg/mL) for 4 doses of 0.25 mg and 2 doses of 0.5 mg or 4 doses of 0.5 mg, 4 mg/3 mL (1.34 mg/mL) for 4 doses of 1 mg, and 8 mg/3 mL (2.68 mg/mL) for 4 doses of 2 mg in...; Injection: 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg or 1 mg per 0.5 mL in a single-dose prefilled syringe |
| How it is taken | WegovyAdminister WEGOVY once weekly as an adjunct to diet and increased physical activity, on the same day each week, at any time of day, with or without meals. | OzempicAdminister once weekly at any time of day, with or without meals. |
| Must not be used when | WegovyPersonal or family history of MTC or in patients with MEN 2.; Known hypersensitivity to semaglutide or any of the excipients in WEGOVY. | OzempicPersonal or family history of MTC or in patients with MEN 2.; Serious hypersensitivity reaction to semaglutide or any of the excipients in OZEMPIC. |
| Common side effects | WegovyMost common adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 5%) in adults or pediatric patients aged 12 years and older are: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, headache, fatigue, dyspepsia, dizziness, abdominal distension, eructation, hypoglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes, flatulence, gastroenteritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and nasopharyngitis.; most common adverse reactions leading to discontinuation were nausea (1.8% versus 0.2%), vomiting (1.2% versus 0%), and diarrhea (0.7% versus 0.1%) for WEGOVY and placebo, respectively. | Ozempicmost common adverse reactions reported in ≥5% of patients treated with OZEMPIC are: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and constipation. |
| Boxed warning | WegovyWARNING: RISK OF THYROID C-CELL TUMORS | OzempicWARNING: RISK OF THYROID C-CELL TUMORS |
| Label holder | WegovyA-S Medication Solutions | OzempicA-S Medication Solutions |
| Label version | Wegovy23 April 2024 | Ozempic30 July 2026 |
Built at page render time from the same imported label data as the medicine pages, so it cannot drift away from them.
Written by us
What actually differs
The approved indication, and the dose schedule that comes with it. Wegovy is authorised for weight management, Ozempic for type 2 diabetes with additional cardiovascular and kidney indications, and each label sets its own escalation and maximum dose.
That distinction has consequences beyond the paperwork: it decides what a doctor may prescribe it for, what a health system will pay for, and which supply gets diverted when demand exceeds production.
What does not differ
The molecule, the mechanism, the boxed warning and the contraindications. Both labels carry the same warning about thyroid tumours in animals and the same contraindications based on personal and family history.
Because the substance is identical, the widespread practice of prescribing the diabetes brand for weight is an off-label use of an approved medicine rather than a different treatment. It is legal and documented, and it is not what the Ozempic label authorises.
Questions
- Is Ozempic weaker than Wegovy?
- The maximum doses in the two labels differ, which is not the same as one substance being weaker. Both dose schedules are in the table above.
- Why is Ozempic prescribed for weight then?
- Off-label prescribing is lawful, and supply and reimbursement both play a part in why it happens. The label is still the diabetes label, and this page says so rather than blurring it.
- What about compounded semaglutide?
- Regulators in the US and Europe have issued repeated warnings about compounded and counterfeit versions sold during shortages. There is no approved generic semaglutide.
See also
Sources
- WEGOVY: prescribing informationDailyMed, US National Library of Medicine. Label version 23 April 2024
- Ozempic: prescribing informationDailyMed, US National Library of Medicine. Label version 30 July 2026