Wegovy vs. Mounjaro
See how Wegovy and Mounjaro compare on approved uses, dosing, side effects, and cost.
Key Takeaways
Wegovy is FDA-approved for chronic weight management and to lower cardiovascular risk, while Mounjaro is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes and used off-label for weight loss.
Mounjaro acts on two gut hormone receptors (GIP and GLP-1) instead of one, which is linked to greater average weight loss in trials than semaglutide alone.
Wegovy causes gastrointestinal side effects like nausea and diarrhea at notably higher rates than Mounjaro, based on each drug's own FDA label.
Wegovy vs. Mounjaro Drug Summary
Wegovy
Wegovy (semaglutide) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist FDA-approved for chronic weight management and to lower cardiovascular risk in adults with obesity or overweight and existing heart disease. It's given as a once-weekly injection, starting low and increasing gradually to a 2.4 mg maintenance dose over about four months.
Mounjaro
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist FDA-approved to control blood sugar in adults and children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes, alongside diet and exercise. It is not FDA-approved for weight loss, but many doctors prescribe it off-label for that purpose because of the significant weight loss seen in clinical trials.
Wegovy vs. Mounjaro Side Effects
Wegovy
Mounjaro
Wegovy vs. Mounjaro Dosage
Wegovy
Mounjaro
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 0.25 mg once weekly | Weeks 1-4 |
| Maximum dose | 2.4 mg once weekly | Week 17 onward |
| Dose changes | 4 increases | Every 4 weeks |
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 2.5 mg once weekly | Weeks 1-4 |
| Maximum dose | 15 mg once weekly | Week 21 onward |
| Dose changes | 5 increases | Every 4 weeks |
Wegovy
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 0.25 mg once weekly | Weeks 1-4 |
| Maximum dose | 2.4 mg once weekly | Week 17 onward |
| Dose changes | 4 increases | Every 4 weeks |
Mounjaro
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 2.5 mg once weekly | Weeks 1-4 |
| Maximum dose | 15 mg once weekly | Week 21 onward |
| Dose changes | 5 increases | Every 4 weeks |
Wegovy vs. Mounjaro Indications
Wegovy
Wegovy is FDA-approved for chronic weight management in adults and adolescents 12 and older who have obesity, or are overweight with a weight-related condition, alongside diet and exercise. It's also approved to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events in adults with obesity or overweight who already have cardiovascular disease.
Chronic weight management in adults and teens 12+
Reduces risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death in adults with existing heart disease
Prescribed alongside diet and exercise changes
Not approved for type 1 or type 2 diabetes
Mounjaro
Mounjaro is FDA-approved to improve blood sugar control in adults and children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes, alongside diet and exercise. It is not FDA-approved for weight loss, but many doctors prescribe it off-label for that purpose because of the significant weight loss seen in clinical trials.
Blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes
Blood sugar control in children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes
Off-label use for weight loss in people without diabetes
Not approved for type 1 diabetes
Wegovy vs. Mounjaro Pros and Cons
Wegovy
Wegovy has an FDA approval specifically for weight management and is the only GLP-1 shown to reduce major cardiovascular events in people with obesity and heart disease. It causes more gastrointestinal side effects on average than Mounjaro, based on each drug's own label data.
Pros
FDA-approved specifically for weight management, not just diabetes
Only GLP-1 medication proven to lower cardiovascular event risk in people with obesity
Approved for adolescents 12 and older
Well-established track record since its 2021 approval
Cons
Higher rates of nausea, vomiting, and GI side effects than Mounjaro
Slower titration schedule, taking about 4 months to reach full dose
Only one maintenance dose (2.4 mg), with no higher option if weight loss plateaus
Mounjaro
Mounjaro's dual-hormone mechanism has produced larger average weight loss in trials than semaglutide alone, though its FDA approval covers diabetes rather than obesity. Its lower rates of GI side effects come from head-to-head label comparisons, but using it for weight loss still requires an off-label prescription.
Pros
Targets two gut hormone receptors (GIP and GLP-1), linked to greater weight loss in trials
Lower rates of nausea, vomiting, and other GI side effects than Wegovy
More maintenance dose options (5 mg to 15 mg) if weight loss plateaus
Also sold as Zepbound, an on-label option for weight loss with the same active ingredient
Cons
Not FDA-approved for weight loss; using Mounjaro itself for that purpose is off-label
Longer titration schedule, taking about 20 weeks to reach the top dose
Not approved for use in adolescents under 18
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