Mounjaro vs. Ozempic and Wegovy: How Does It Stack Up?
New England Journal of Medicine Trials Reveal Mind-Blowing Weight Loss Results with Mounjaro. The Sage takes a closer look.
Ladies and gentlemen, get ready for a showdown of epic proportions!
The battle of the bulge is on, and there’s a new weapon of choice: tirzepatide. New England Journal of Medicine did the work, the Sage shares it with you.
Now, I know what you're thinking, "Oh great, another boring study about weight loss drugs" But hold onto your sweatpants, 'cause these results are astounding.
In the study, Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) hit the scene like a wrecking ball, with a dose of 10 to 15 mg per week resulting in a body weight reduction of more than 20%!
Semaglutide (Wegovy) wasn't far behind, with a dose of 2.4 mg resulting in a 17% reduction. That's right, folks, we're talking major weight loss here! So, grab your protein shake and get ready for a wild ride, because the war for the ultimate weight loss drug is on.
Maonjaro Weight Loss By Dosage vs. Wegovy
One thing that stood out to the Sage is that Mounjaro dosage barely mattered; the difference in weight loss between 10mg and 15mg was almost identical in the first 5 months of the trial. And over a period of 72 weeks the difference was less than 5% between the different dosages.
But here's the mind-blowing part: these levels of weight reduction on either dosage are similar to what's typically achieved with different types of bariatric surgery, like gastric bypass. The Sage doesn’t have to tell you that a weekly shot is better than major surgery.
To put it bluntly, Mounjaro is the single most effective medication available for weight loss according to Scott Isaacs, MD.
Injectable Semaglutide vs. Tizepatide
These drugs, semaglutide and tirzepatide, work in different ways but have one thing in common: they're taken once a week. Semaglutide activates a certain receptor in the body called GLP-1, while tirzepatide is in a new class of drugs that activates two receptors called GLP-1 and GIP. Call it a one-two punch for weight loss.
By targeting two receptors, tirzepatide (AKA Mounjaro) is more powerful, as it targets multiple parts of the body including the brain, liver, pancreas, and stomach.
“All doses of tirzepatide were superior to semaglutide 1 mg, a selective GLP-1 RA, in both HbA1c and body weight change from baseline at week 40” - SURPASS 2 study
Both Wegovy and Mounjaro work by making you feel fuller, slowing down digestion, and increasing insulin sensitivity. They also help lower high blood sugar levels. The side effects are similar, including nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain, but only a small percentage of people in the clinical trials stopped taking the drugs because of these side effects.
It’s worth noting that the research says 5mg of Mounjaro are no better than 2mg of semiglutide in the Eli Lilly study which covered 1879 participants:
“HbA1c and weight reductions were significantly greater for tirzepatide 10 and 15 mg versus semaglutide 2 mg and were similar for tirzepatide 5 mg versus semaglutide 2 mg.” - SURPASS 2 Study
Reducing Mounjaro Side Effects
“The overall safety profile of tirzepatide was similar to that of semaglutide” - Source
Slow escalation of dosing is the key to avoid GI side effects… in the weight loss trial dosing was escalation from 2.5 mg up to 15 mg by month 5.
Rare side effects allergic reactions, gallstones (which can occur with a large amount of weight loss), and potential of medullary thyroid cancer has been shown in rat models.
Depending on the study, side effects are experienced by 31% to 64% of all patients.
Other Health Markers
Both Wegovy and Mounjaro had very positive effects on lipids, reducing triglycerides, LDL and raising HDL cholesterol, along with reduction of blood pressure.
Is Wegovy or Mounjaro Right For You?
Now, Mounjarno, it's like the Shaquille O'Neal of drugs, it's big, it's powerful and it's targeting two receptors instead of one. But Wegovy, it's like the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar of drugs, it's been around for a while, it's reliable, and it's already FDA cleared for weight loss. But here's the catch, Mounjarno is still only indicated for diabetes, but that's about to change. The Sage expects it to be cleared for weight loss soon.
So, you might be thinking "Sage, what should I do?" well, that's where the healthcare professional comes in. But the real decision might come down to one thing: insurance. If you can get coverage for one, go for it. If not, try the other. It's that simple.
But whatever you do, don't just give up on your weight loss goals. Trust me, you got this.