Wegovy and Ozempic contain the same active ingredient, semaglutide , but they are approved for different uses and come in different dose ranges. Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabetes, while Wegovy is approved for chronic weight management; Wegovy also goes to a higher maximum dose, which is why it is generally the one used for weight loss.

Main differences

Feature Ozempic Wegovy
Active ingredient Semaglutide Semaglutide
Primary use Type 2 diabetes Chronic weight management
Typical max dose Up to 2.0 mg Up to 2.4 mg
Age approval Adults 18+ Adults and some adolescents 12+ who qualify
Injection pen Reusable pen Single-use pen

What that means in practice

Both drugs work the same basic way: they reduce appetite, slow stomach emptying, and help people feel full sooner. Because Wegovy is approved and dosed specifically for weight loss, it may produce somewhat greater weight loss than Ozempic in people using semaglutide for that purpose.

Side effects

The side effects are also similar, and the most common ones are digestive: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, and stomach pain. More serious side effects are uncommon but can include pancreatitis, gallbladder problems, kidney injury, and very low blood sugar when combined with certain diabetes medicines.

Simple rule

Use Ozempic when the goal is diabetes treatment, and Wegovy when the goal is weight management, assuming a clinician says semaglutide is appropriate. They are related, but they are not interchangeable prescriptions.

TL;DR: same drug, different brand, different FDA-approved use, different dose ceiling, and different pen design.