Saxenda vs. Trulicity vs. Ozempic vs. Wegovy vs. Mounjaro
In the previous article, we covered how diabetes medicines work for weight loss. In this article, we have covered whether diabetes medicines are approved by FDA for weight reduction, can non-diabetic obese or overweight individuals take them and which are the popular diabetes drugs for weight loss in the market. We will cover Saxenda vs. Trulicity vs. Ozempic vs. Wegovy vs. Mounjaro in this article to help you choose the right medicine for yourself.
Saxenda vs. Trulicity vs. Ozempic vs. Wegovy vs. Mounjaro
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of these popular diabetes medicines for weight loss.
| Ozempic | Wegovy | Mounjaro | Trulicity | Saxenda | |
| Approved by FDA for type-2 diabetes in adults | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Approved by FDA for weight loss in diabetic and non-diabetic patients (updated: 12 Jan 2023) | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Approved by FDA to treat obesity in teenage patients aged 12 and older (updated: 12 Jan 2023) | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Active ingredient | Semaglutide | Semaglutide | Tirzepatide | Dulaglutide | liraglutide |
| Parent company | Novo Nordisk Inc | Novo Nordisk Inc | Eli Lilly and Company | Eli Lilly and Company | Novo Nordisk Inc |
| Approx. Pricing without insurance | $907.22/ Monthly dosage | $1,349.02/ Monthly dosage | $1,000/Monthly dosage | $886.56/ Monthly dosage | $1,194/ Monthly dosage |
Now, let’s have a detailed review of these diabetes drugs that became popular for weight loss.
1. Ozempic and Wegovy
One of the most popular diabetes medicines for weight loss is Semaglutide.
Ozempic and Wegovy are tradenames of medicine that contain a drug named Semaglutide. Both are prescribed drugs, and their parent company is Novo Nordisk, a Denmark-based pharma company. Both of them have shown a visible weight reduction in the patients during their clinical trials.
Ozempic: It is a prescribed medicine to manage type-2 diabetes. FDA has not approved it as a treatment for obesity. Only diabetic patients can take Ozempic with their healthcare provider’s prescription and dosage instructions. Ozempic’s active ingredient Semaglutide will help diabetic patients lose weight and manage diabetes.
Wegovy: It also contains Semaglutide. In 2021, FDA approved it for chronic weight management in overweight or obese patients with high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol. In a 68-week clinical trial with 1961 non-diabetic obese/overweight patients, participants lost an average of 14.9% of their body weight. Wegovy injection of 2.4 mg is taken once in a week.
Wegovy became overnight popular because Elon Musk Twitted that he is taking Wegovy along with fasting to lose weight and stay fit.
Ozempic vs. Wegovy: Ozempic must be used by type-2 diabetic patients and Wegovy is by non-diabetic patients. Ozempic is not approved by FDA for obesity, while Wegovy has FDA approval to treat chronic obesity in non-diabetic people. The major difference between both medicines is their dosage.
2. Mounjaro
Another well-known diabetes drug for weight loss is Mounjaro. Tirzepatide, sold under the trade name Mounjaro by Eli Lilly company, is an FDA-approved type-2 diabetes medicine.
Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) works for weight loss in diabetic (type-2) and non-diabetic obese patients. FDA is currently reviewing its effects on weight loss and has not yet approved Mounjaro (last updated: 29 November 2022) as a treatment for obesity.
In clinical trials SURPASS and SURMOUNT, diabetic participants lost up to 25 lbs. and non-diabetic obese participants lost up to 52 lbs. after consuming Mounjaro for a trial period of 40 weeks to 104 weeks.
Mounjaro is available in the dosage of 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and 15 mg.
Mounjaro is a prescribed drug and right now available to only patients with type-2 diabetes. Non-diabetic obese people can take it only if their healthcare provider prescribes it and set the appropriate dosage.
Do not take Mounjaro if you or any of your family have ever had
- thyroid cancer,
- Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2, or
- allergy to any ingredients used in Mounjaro.
You must be 18 years or older to take Mounjaro.
Mounjaro’s monthly dosage costs approximately $1,000. Monthly dosage means one carton consisting of 4 injections and should be taken one shot per week.
Mounjaro is an investigational GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) receptor and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonist.
3. Trulicity
Dulaglutide is a prescribed type-2 diabetes drug, sold under the trade name Trulicity by Eli Lilly company. In its clinical trials, 50% to 67% of patients lost up to 10.1 lbs. weight by taking 4.5 mg of weekly dosage. However, FDA has not approved it as a weight loss medicine. This means, only type-2 diabetes patients can take it. It is not for non-diabetic obese people. Trulicity It has shown positive results in weight reduction in patients with diabetes.
The list price of Trulicity is $886.56 per month. However, if your insurance provider covers it, you might need to pay a very low out-of-pocket price for Trulicity.
Here are Trulicity reviews: Patients reviews
4. Saxenda
FDA has approved Saxenda, a type-2 diabetes drug containing liraglutide, for weight management for non-diabetic obese and overweight people. In five Randomized Controlled Trials on 4,754 non-diabetic participants, liraglutide showed a promising weight reduction of an average of 5% body weight. In 2014, it got approval as a treatment for obesity for adults ( 18 years old or above). In 2022, Saxenda also got FDA approval for chronic weight management among pediatric patients aged 12 and older.
FDA has not yet approved the use of Saxenda for pediatric patients with type 2 diabetes. Adults with or without diabetes can take Saxenda for weight loss with their healthcare provider’s prescription.
A one-month supply of liraglutide costs approximately $1,194. It is taken daily with a dosage of 3 mg.
Trulicity vs. Saxenda for weight loss
Trulicity and Saxenda are type-2 diabetes drugs. Trulicity is not approved by FDA for weight loss while Saxenda is approved by FDA as a treatment for chronic weight loss in both, diabetic and non-diabetic patients. FDA also approved Saxenda to treat obesity in pediatric patients aged 12 and older.
Trulicity’s active ingredient is Dulaglutide while Saxenda contains liraglutide. Trulicity costs lesser ($886.56 per month) than Saxenda ($1,194 per month).
Disclaimer: This is an informative article that contains basic data about popular diabetes medicines. Please do not consider it as medical advice. Contact your healthcare provider before taking any diabetes drugs for weight loss.
