Wegovy and Mounjaro are two injectable prescription drugs used to assist decrease blood sugar and A1c ranges (a measure of glucose management over the earlier 2 to three months) and assist with weight reduction.
This information will assist you determine whether or not Wegovy or Mounjaro may be extra acceptable for you.
What are the lively components in Wegovy versus Mounjaro?
The lively ingredient in Wegovy is semaglutide and the lively ingredient in Mounjaro is tirzepatide. Their mechanisms of motion differ barely.
Semaglutide mimics the glucose-like peptide (GLP)-1 hormones within the physique, which play a task in reducing urge for food, slowing abdomen emptying, lowering the discharge of glucose from the liver, and growing insulin launch.
Tirzepatide has a twin perform. It mimics each GLP-1 and GIP incretin hormones.
Whereas it shares GLP-1’s results, the addition of GIP motion enhances insulin launch in response to excessive blood sugar and performs a task in fats metabolism. This enhances their means to control urge for food and stop overeating.
Wegovy and Mounjaro are comparable medicine, however they can’t be mixed or used on the similar time.
Why do folks take Wegovy or Mounjaro?
Wegovy is FDA-approved for the remedy of weight problems and to assist with weight reduction.
It’s accredited to be used in folks with a body-mass index (BMI, a measure of weight relative to top) of 30 or greater or with a BMI of 27 or greater with a number of weight-related situations (akin to sort 2 diabetes, hypertension, or excessive ldl cholesterol).
Adolescents 12 years and older with a BMI at or better than the ninety fifth percentile for age and intercourse are additionally accredited to take Wegovy.
Mounjaro is FDA-approved as a remedy to assist adults with sort 2 diabetes handle their blood sugar ranges.
They’re each liquid, injectable drugs that assist decrease blood sugar ranges and A1c ranges. They’re taken subcutaneously (slightly below the pores and skin) in areas such because the stomach, thigh, or higher arm.
Study extra about administering these medicines in: Wegovy Injection Information: The place and Find out how to Inject and Mounjaro Injection: The place and Find out how to Inject.
Individuals coping with insulin resistance and weight achieve could also be prescribed considered one of these drugs. It’s because, along with blood sugar administration, additionally they gradual digestion and suppress urge for food.
Learn extra in: Can Wegovy Assist You Lose Weight? and Can Mounjaro Assist You Lose Weight?
Lastly, Wegovy and Mounjaro each decrease the danger of coronary heart assault and stroke.
How are Wegovy and Mounjaro comparable?
The next are the consequences of each drugs:
Decrease blood sugar and A1c ranges
Each have been confirmed to decrease blood sugar and A1c ranges.
Individuals who take the utmost dose of Mounjaro (15 milligrams [mg] per week) decrease their A1c by a mean of two.3 %.
The STEP 2 trial checked out Wegovy’s results on blood sugars and A1c ranges in individuals who have sort 2 diabetes.
The researchers discovered that individuals taking the remedy not solely misplaced weight however noticed statistically important enhancements of their blood sugars and A1c ranges.
These drugs do that by growing insulin secretion.
This motion stops the liver from releasing glucose into the bloodstream, serving to to stop low blood sugars whereas growing insulin sensitivity.
Might trigger weight reduction
In research, each medicines trigger weight reduction in individuals by suppressing urge for food and inhibiting the liver from releasing glucose.
In a single examine, grownup individuals taking Wegovy misplaced 15 % of their beginning weight, on common.
A separate examine discovered that adolescents taking Wegovy misplaced 16 % of their beginning weight, on common.
Mounjaro may also assist with weight reduction, though it’s not FDA-approved as a standalone weight-loss drug. Nevertheless, the FDA has accredited a drugs known as Zepbound for this objective.
Zepbound is chemically similar to Mounjaro, containing the identical lively ingredient on the similar power, however it’s marketed beneath a special title when used for weight-loss remedy.
In research, Mounjaro helped folks lose 12 to fifteen kilos on a 5-mg weekly dose, between 15 and 21 kilos on a 10-mg weekly dose, and between 17 and 25 kilos on a 15-mg weekly dose.
There is no such thing as a really helpful dose to take for weight reduction since these drugs aren’t accredited for this objective by the FDA.
(For Zepbound, the weight-loss model of Mounjaro, accessible doses are 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, and 15 mg taken by injection as soon as weekly, with 15 mg being the utmost dose.)
Learn extra in: Every part You Have to Know About Zepbound.
Discuss along with your physician in case you’re excited by losing a few pounds. They will offer you data on each pharmaceutical and life-style approaches that may assist.
Defend coronary heart well being
These drugs each decrease coronary heart illness danger, which is vital for folks dwelling with diabetes.
In research, after 52 weeks, individuals on the best dose of Mounjaro (15 mg per week):
- Lowered their whole ldl cholesterol by about 5.6 %
- Lowered their triglycerides by 22.5 %
- Lowered their LDL (“dangerous”) ldl cholesterol by 7.9 %
- Lowered their VLDL ldl cholesterol by 21.8 %
- Elevated their HDL (“good”) ldl cholesterol by 10.8 %
Moreover, a meta-analysis (evaluation of knowledge from a number of scientific trials) from The Lancet discovered that GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs, together with semaglutide (the lively ingredient in Wegovy), lowered cardiovascular danger.
They even decreased the danger of demise in folks with diabetes and coronary heart illness.
The American Diabetes Affiliation (ADA) recommends GLP-1 agonists for individuals who have sort 2 diabetes and coronary heart illness to decrease the danger of coronary heart assault and stroke.
Along with drugs, consuming a nutritious diet and growing the quantity of bodily exercise you routinely get will go a protracted approach to bettering your coronary heart well being.
Might trigger antagonistic uncomfortable side effects
Individuals expertise comparable uncomfortable side effects whereas taking both of those drugs.
They could each trigger nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, suppressed urge for food, and low blood sugar (in case you take insulin).
Unwanted effects might be extra extreme if you first begin taking the remedy till your physique adjusts to it.
Contact your physician in case you’re experiencing debilitating uncomfortable side effects which might be negatively affecting your high quality of life.
They will both decrease your dose or discover an alternate remedy for you.
Study extra in: Wegovy Facet Results: What You Have to Know and Mounjaro Facet Results: What You Have to Know.
They don’t substitute insulin
Whereas these drugs decrease blood sugar ranges, they don’t substitute the necessity for insulin.
They could, over time, scale back the quantity of insulin you require, however they aren’t insulin nor are they replacements for insulin.
Discuss along with your physician in case you’re experiencing frequent low blood sugar.
They might help you recalibrate your insulin doses so you possibly can expertise fewer lows.
They’re taken as soon as weekly
Not like different GLP-1 drugs like Victoza, each Wegovy and Mounjaro are solely taken as soon as weekly.
By no means take multiple dose inside a single week.
They are often taken with or with out meals
These drugs don’t trigger acute low blood sugar and might be taken each with or with out meals.
The vital factor is that they’re taken on the identical day every week (ideally across the similar time, so that you at all times keep in mind to take your dose).
Generally folks will pair taking their remedy with a meal, like breakfast, however it’s not required.
For those who expertise acute nausea instantly after taking your remedy, you might wish to eat one thing bland like oatmeal or toast to assist.
They could trigger modifications to your imaginative and prescient
These drugs might trigger or worsen diabetic retinopathy, particularly if you first begin taking them.
Research present that semaglutide (the lively ingredient in Wegovy) is related to the early worsening of diabetic retinopathy.
Equally, the lively ingredient in Mounjaro (tirzepatide) could make diabetic retinopathy worse.
Though this aspect impact doesn’t happen in all individuals who take these drugs, the medicine do include an elevated danger of imaginative and prescient modifications and worsening imaginative and prescient.
Discuss along with your physician if in case you have early-stage diabetic retinopathy or are involved that taking Wegovy or Mounjaro might affect your eye well being.
How are Wegovy and Mounjaro completely different?
Wegovy and Moujaro, whereas being remarkably comparable, are completely different medicine.
The next are the methods through which these drugs differ:
They’ve completely different doses
The doses for Wegovy are the next:
- New to remedy: 0.25 mg as soon as per week for the primary 4 weeks.
- Ongoing remedy: 0.5 mg as soon as per week beginning on week 5. In case your physician thinks you require extra, there are doses accessible in 1-mg, 1.7-mg, and a pair of.4-mg pens.
Learn extra: Wegovy Dosage Information: How A lot Ought to You Take?
The doses for Mounjaro are the next:
- New to remedy: 2.5 mg as soon as per week for the primary 4 weeks.
- Ongoing remedy: 5 mg as soon as per week beginning on week 5. In case your physician thinks you require extra, there are doses accessible in 7.5-mg, 10-mg, 12.5-mg, and 15-mg pens. Because the lively components are completely different, these drugs are usually not interchangeable.
Learn extra: Mounjaro Dosing Information: How A lot Ought to You Take?
Because the lively components are completely different, these doses are usually not interchangeable and it may be very harmful in case you try to make use of them on this method.
They’ve completely different lively components
The lively ingredient in Wegovy is semaglutide (the identical as in Ozempic), and the lively ingredient in Mounjaro is tirzepatide.
Discuss along with your physician if you’re allergic to 1 or the opposite’s lively ingredient in order that they will prescribe you an alternate.
They’re FDA-approved for various causes
Wegovy is meant for use as a weight-loss and/or weight-maintenance drug. It’s not an accredited remedy for the remedy of sort 2 diabetes.
Nevertheless, many individuals who take Wegovy for weight reduction or weight upkeep may also expertise the improved blood sugar results of taking the remedy.
Mounjaro, however, is an FDA-approved remedy for the administration of blood sugar ranges in folks with sort 2 diabetes.
It additionally helps with weight reduction, though it’s not FDA-approved as a weight-loss drug. (As famous above, a model of the medication generally known as Zepbound has been accredited by the FDA for weight reduction.)
Since many individuals with sort 2 diabetes additionally wrestle with their weight, taking Mounjaro for improved blood sugar administration may also assist with weight reduction.
Can I change between the 2 medicine?
In some instances, sure.
So long as you should not have any allergic reactions to the components of the opposite remedy, it could be attainable.
For those who’re experiencing extreme antagonistic uncomfortable side effects on one drug, you might want to attempt one other to see in case your physique will regulate higher to it.
You’re extra seemingly to have the ability to change between these two drugs in case you fall beneath the eligibility standards for each. Specifically, weight problems and sort 2 diabetes.
For those who solely have sort 2 diabetes, your insurance coverage might solely cowl Mounjaro for you.
Alternately, if in case you have weight problems however not sort 2 diabetes, you might solely qualify for Wegovy.
Solely change drugs beneath the steerage of your physician.
The dosing is totally completely different between the 2 drugs and overdosing on these drugs could cause extreme uncomfortable side effects.
These uncomfortable side effects embrace nausea, vomiting, and low blood sugar ranges — which might be deadly if not handled rapidly.
Can I get off my different diabetes drugs if I lose sufficient weight on Wegovy or Mounjaro?
This can be attainable, however it’s not possible.
Dropping pounds might help enhance each insulin resistance and blood sugar ranges. Generally this makes your insulin or different diabetes drugs pointless.
Nevertheless, neither Wegovy nor Mounjaro will treatment diabetes.
You might be able to decrease your insulin wants or cease taking insulin fully in case you’ve misplaced a big quantity of weight and your blood sugar ranges are very effectively managed.
This can solely apply to individuals who have sort 2 diabetes, as folks with sort 1 diabetes should take insulin for all times.
Verify along with your physician if in case you have questions on taking your different diabetes drugs whereas on Wegovy or Mounjaro.
Is Wegovy higher than Mounjaro?
Particular person responses to those medicines fluctuate, and what’s higher for one particular person will not be higher for an additional.
Moreover, as a result of they’re accredited for various functions, it’s difficult to instantly examine their effectiveness.
By way of weight reduction alone, current analysis has steered that individuals taking the lively ingredient in Mounjaro usually tend to lose 5 %, 10 %, or 15 % of their weight and to have a bigger discount of their weight at 3, 6, and 12 months in comparison with these taking the lively ingredient in Wegovy.
How a lot do Wegovy and Mounjaro price?
The price of Wegovy and Mounjaro varies relying in your insurance coverage protection and particular plan particulars.
To find out your particular co-pay or out-of-pocket prices, seek the advice of your prescription or medical card and use the Wegovy or Mounjaro protection and co-pay calculators.
When you have questions relating to protection or co-pay prices for Wegovy, you possibly can contact Novo Nordisk buyer help at 1-888-693-4883. For Mounjaro, Eli Lilly provides buyer help at 1-800-545-5979.
For individuals who qualify, each Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly supply Affected person Help Packages (PAP) which will present free remedy.
To be taught extra about these packages and see if you’re eligible, contact Novo Nordisk’s PAP toll-free at 1-866-310-7549 or Eli Lilly’s PAP at 1-800-545-6962.
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