At this point, I think everyone has heard of the popular weight loss medications. But there is also a lot of confusion on the names of different brands as well. Here I am going to try to explain the different medications.
Semaglutide
Semaglutide is a weekly GLP-1 RA injection and the generic name for Wegovy and Ozempic. Yes, they are the same medication. Ozempic came out for diabetics and then it was remarketed as Wegovy for weight loss. Due to the shortages, some meds were used interchangeably but Ozempic was intended for diabetics. Right now, there is a shortage of most of the dosages and should be back up in production by the Fall or Spring.
Liraglutide
Liraglutide is another GLP-1 RA and the generic name for Victoza and Saxenda. Liraglutide is a daily injection and Victoza was marketed for diabetics and Saxenda for weight loss.
Tirzepatide is a GLP-1 RA weekly injection with a twist. It also affects the GIP receptors. This has shown to cause more weight loss than Semaglutide. The brand name is Mounjaro and currently FDA approved only for diabetics. The hope is that it will be marketed for weight loss soon.
If you are interested in learning more about any of these medications, please contact us at 603-600-0700.
