Mounjaro vs Ozempic: What’s the difference between these 2 diabetes and weight loss drugs?

Weight problems is a worldwide pandemic. In keeping with the World Well being Group (WHO), grownup weight problems on the planet greater than doubled between 1990 and 2022. This has led to extra well being issues starting from cardiovascular illnesses, diabetes and neurological problems, continual respiratory illnesses and digestive points. On this situation, it’s in folks’s greatest curiosity to keep up wholesome weight. Nevertheless, the pursuit of reducing weight shortly is main folks to search out options in medication meant for diabetes administration, however which additionally result in weight reduction. Ozempic and Mounjaro are two such weight reduction medication which have induced a stir globally. Are they related or totally different? Allow us to break down the Ozempic vs Mounjaro debate for you!

How does Mounjaro work?

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a novel injectable medicine developed for the therapy of sort 2 diabetes, however can also be used as a weight reduction drug. “It’s a twin glucose- dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist,” says diabetologist Dr Shankar Kumar Venkatarayaraju. So, it mimics the actions of each GIP and GLP-1 hormones that management blood sugar ranges and cut back urge for food, resulting in weight reduction.

The drug, accessible in prefilled pen, is run as soon as weekly by way of subcutaneous injection, which implies it’s injected below the pores and skin of the stomach, thigh or higher arm. It’s authorized by the US Meals and Drug Administration for sort 2 diabetes, with off-label use for weight problems.

How does Ozempic work?

Ozempic (semaglutide) is a once-weekly injectable medicine meant for sort 2 diabetes administration and used off-label for weight reduction. “It’s a GLP-1 receptor agonist that mimics endogenous glucagon-like peptide-1,” shares the skilled. It will increase the degrees of intestine hormones, incretins, and helps to provide extra insulin when wanted. It additionally helps in lowering the quantity of sugar produced by the liver, and slows down digestion of meals. These mechanisms assist to decrease blood sugar ranges and contribute to weight reduction.

Mounjaro vs Ozempic: What are the similarities?

Each the drugs are related in a number of methods.

1. Not authorized for weight reduction

Mounjaro shouldn’t be authorized by the FDA for weight reduction though tirzepatide, which is its lively ingredient, bought a inexperienced sign for weight reduction below the model title Zepbound. Equally, Ozempic can also be not authorized for this objective. The one authorized by the FDA for weight administration is Wegovy, which additionally makes use of semaglutide, the principle ingredient in Ozempic.

2. Weekly injectable medicines

Relating to Mounjaro vs Ozempic, each are weekly injectable medicines used to deal with sort 2 diabetes, and work as weight reduction medication. They work by incretin hormone pathways to decrease blood sugar ranges and suppress urge for food, resulting in weight reduction.

3. Administered subcutaneously

Each the medication are administered subcutaneously and require dose titration (gradual addition of 1 resolution of a focus that’s already identified). These are essential, as they’ll cut back gastrointestinal unwanted side effects comparable to nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

“Additionally, each the medicines, that are advisable after failure of first-line brokers like metformin, present beneficial cardiovascular and metabolic profiles, and should not appropriate for sort 1 diabetes,” says Dr Venkatarayaraju.

Mounjaro vs Ozempic: What are the variations between them?

Listed below are some key variations between Mounjaro and Ozempic:

1. Mounjaro vs Ozempic: Substances and mechanism

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a twin GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist, whereas Ozempic (semaglutide) targets solely the GLP-1 receptor. This twin focusing on in Mounjaro supplies probably optimistic results on metabolism, and helps with weight reduction.

2. Mounjaro vs Ozempic: Dose

Whereas each are administered subcutaneously as soon as in every week, the doses are totally different. “Mounjaro is out there in doses from 2.5 to fifteen mg weekly, whereas Ozempic is normally titrated as much as 2 mg,” says the skilled.

3. Mounjaro vs Ozempic: Security

Ozempic, which was launched in 2017 within the US, has extra intensive long-term knowledge, together with optimistic cardiovascular outcomes in folks with sort 2 diabetes. “Mounjaro’s long-term security continues to be below analysis, though early knowledge is promising,” in response to Dr Venkatarayaraju.

Mounjaro vs Ozempic: Which one is best?

From a scientific efficacy standpoint, Mounjaro seems superior to Ozempic for each glycemic management and weight reduction. Throughout a research, printed in JAMA Inside Medication, contributors who have been chubby or overweight used tirzepatide and semaglutide. They skilled considerably higher weight reduction after they used tirzepatide.

“Nevertheless, ‘higher’ additionally depends upon patient-specific elements. Ozempic has a powerful cardiovascular knowledge, together with FDA approval for lowering main cardiovascular occasions in high-risk folks. Mounjaro doesn’t but have this label,” says the skilled.

Within the Mounjaro vs Ozempic battle, the previous could also be most well-liked when maximal weight reduction and glycemic management are main objectives. Ozempic could also be chosen when cardiovascular safety is a precedence.

Mounjaro vs Ozempic: Unwanted effects

Listed below are a number of the unwanted side effects:

Mounjaro unwanted side effects

• Stomach bloating
• Stomach ache
• Constipation
• Flatulence
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Lack of urge for food
• Discomfort or discolouration across the spot the place the drugs was injected

Ozempic unwanted side effects

• Stomach ache
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Indigestion
• Discomfort across the injection space

Whereas these unwanted side effects of Ozempic and Mounjaro could also be non permanent, there may be critical dangers too. “They’re uncommon, however folks utilizing each could find yourself with pancreatitis, thyroid tumors and gallbladder illness,” says the skilled.

Within the Mounjaro vs Ozempic debate, there isn’t a clear winner. Their lively components are totally different, however their well being objectives, unwanted side effects, and routes of administration overlap significantly.