Semaglutide injections for weight loss
Currently, semaglutide is only approved for weight loss under the brand name Wegovy. The typical dose for weight loss is 2.4 milligrams, administered weekly as subcutaneous (under the skin) self-injections.
Tirzepatide, an Eli Lilly and Co. drug approved to treat type 2 diabetes under the brand name Mounjaro, helped people with the disease who were overweight or had obesity lose up to 16% of their body weight, or more than 34 pounds, over nearly 17 months, the company said on Thursday.
Mounjaro works better to lower A1C compared to Ozempic
People receiving any dose of Mounjaro had a greater reduction in hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C or A1C) compared to people receiving Ozempic. A1C is your average blood glucose levels over 3 months. If you need more help lowering your A1C, Mounjaro can be a good choice.
How much does Mounjaro cost? Mounjaro is injected on a weekly basis, with each pen containing that week's dose of the medication. The list price for Mounjaro is $1,023.04 per fill, according to Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of Mounjaro. That breaks down to $255.76 per week, or $13,299.52 per year.
Mounjaro is a prescription GLP-1 agonist medication that the FDA has approved to treat type 2 diabetes. Medical professionals may also prescribe it off-label for weight loss in people with obesity. People can get a prescription for Mounjaro through telehealth platforms or at a doctor's office.
Some individuals may actually gain more weight after stopping an obesity drug than they initially lost, Conde-Knape added. Studies have similarly shown weight rebound in people who stop taking Ozempic.
“Ozempic face” is a term for common side effects of the type 2 diabetes medication semaglutide (Ozempic). It can cause sagging and aging of facial skin. A doctor may recommend lifestyle modifications or facial fillers to treat these effects.
Wegovy is one of several new “miracle” drugs that promise to revolutionize the weight-loss industry. Praised by celebrities and social media influencers, Wegovy was approved for use in the U.S., as well as in the U.K.'s free healthcare system, where it will be available to patients in spring 2023.
1) Saxenda Injection for Weight Loss
Among the several injectable treatments for obesity, Saxenda is a favorite. Its active gradient, Liraglutide, aids in weight reduction and is injected once daily. This active component resembles a hormone produced by the body naturally called GLP-1.
Some patients who use diabetes drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy for weight loss have reportedly noticed facial aging and sagging. A New York-based dermatologist referred to this type of skin sagging due to rapid weight loss as "Ozempic face."
Stars like Chelsea Handler, Kyle Richards and more have spoken about the diet trend. Handler, for her part, admitted during a January 2023 episode of the “Call Her Daddy” podcast that she unknowingly took the medication.
Ozempic has an average rating of 5.9 out of 10 from a total of 937 reviews on Drugs.com. 45% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 34% reported a negative experience.
According to the manufacturer, Saxenda has a list price of $1,349.02 for a 30-day supply. However, the cost of Saxenda varies for each patient depending on insurance plans, assistance programs, and more.
If you qualify for insurance coverage, Ozempic can cost as little as $25 for a monthly supply. However, without insurance, Ozempic costs around $892.06 per month, on average (NovoCare-a, 2022). However, savings programs can sometimes help lower the cost of the medication if you qualify.
The viral diabetic drug and its active ingredient, semaglutide, have recently soared in popularity over their weight loss properties. That said, dietitians warn the drug's effects are far from permanent.
Hair loss was not reported as a side effect in clinical trials of Ozempic for type 2 diabetes. In a clinical trial of tirzepatide for weight loss in obesity, 5.7% of patients taking the highest dose (a 15-milligram once-weekly injection) reported hair loss compared to 1% of those who got a placebo.
Mounjaro can produce average weight loss of 12-22% or more over about 68 weeks when combined with lifestyle changes, but results depend on many individual factors.
Yes. According to FDA regulators, the average weight loss with the maximum recommended dose of Mounjaro resulted in patients losing 12 pounds more on average than those who used semaglutide.
Trial participants given a lower 10 mg dose of Mounjaro, also known as tirzepatide, achieved average weight loss of over 13%, or about 30 pounds (14kg), and nearly 82% lost at least 5% of their body weight.
A person can stay on Ozempic® so long as they are tolerating the medication and it is deemed appropriate by their treating provider. There is no specific time frame when someone should stop taking Ozempic as it is a medication that is intended for chronic (long-term) use.