Is semaglutide the same as Ozempic?

In the evolving landscape of medical advancements, both semaglutide and Ozempic have gained recent attention for their uses in diabetes management and weight loss.  

What is the difference between semaglutide and Ozempic?

Semaglutide is an active pharmaceutical ingredient. An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.

Ozempic, on the other hand, is a brand-name medication made with that active ingredient.

What is semaglutide? 

Semaglutide is the active ingredient in several medications, including Ozempic. 

Semaglutide belongs to the drug class known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. It works by stimulating GLP-1 receptors in the body. GLP-1 is a hormone your body releases when you eat.

A 2021 study explains that the effects of GLP-1 — and semaglutide, which mimics it — include:

• increased insulin
• suppressed glucagon
• slowed stomach emptying

Combined, these effects may help stabilize your blood sugar levels and reduce appetite. This makes semaglutide a valuable medication for managing diabetes and effective in weight loss efforts. 

You cannot buy a generic semaglutide medication, but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved three brand-name versions.

What is Ozempic?

Ozempic is a brand name for semaglutide. According to the Ozempic drug label, you administer the drug once per week as an injection under your skin. That said, your doctor will always prescribe the right amount for you.

Ozempic is FDA-approved for:

• lowering blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes, in addition to physical activity and eating habit changes
• reducing the risk of heart disease complications like strokes or heart attacks in adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease

However, Ozempic is also prescribed off-label as a weight loss drug. “Off-label” refers to using a medication for a different purpose than the one the FDA approved it for.

Due to its effectiveness in weight management for people with obesity, more people are now interested in using Ozempic for weight loss only.

Other brand names for semaglutide

Rybelsus

Rybelsus is an oral semaglutide medication that you swallow. Like Ozempic, it is FDA-approved to lower blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes, in combination with diet and exercise changes. It is not approved to reduce the risk of heart disease complications.

The Rybelsus label explains that you take it daily by mouth. It may be a suitable alternative to Ozempic for people who don’t want a weekly injection. A doctor can help determine the proper dosage for you.

Wegovy

Wegovy is another brand name for semaglutide. The label instructs that, like Ozempic, you administer Wegovy as a weekly injection — though the dose may be higher. 

Wegovy is FDA-approved for weight loss in people ages 12 years and over with obesity or who have overweight and weight-related health concerns, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

The label instructs that you use it alongside diet and exercise to further support weight management. A doctor can help you figure out the best treatment plan for your condition.

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Off-label semaglutide uses

Besides blood sugar management and weight loss, semaglutide medications may have potential off-label uses:

• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): A 2022 systematic review concludes that GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide may support NAFLD treatment. 
• Neurodegenerative diseases: A narrative review from 2022 suggests that semaglutide might help protect against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. 
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): A 2021 narrative review notes that semaglutide also has potential uses for PCOS management. 

It’s important to note that these uses are not FDA-approved and that research is still in its early days. More, larger, and better studies are needed to learn more about semaglutide’s potential uses outside of type 2 diabetes and weight management.

Alternatives to semaglutide

For weight loss

Besides semaglutide-based medications like Wegovy, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) lists these other FDA-approved prescription weight loss medications:

• phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia)
• buproprion-naltrexone (Contrave)
• liraglutide (Saxenda)
• orlistat (Xenical)
• setmelanotide (Imcivree) 

Non-drug options include lifestyle changes like diet and exercise. In some cases, a doctor might recommend weight loss surgery, like a gastric sleeve. A healthcare professional can help determine the best option for your unique needs.

For diabetes

The American Diabetes Association lists these medications as options for diabetes management: 

• GLP-1 receptor agonist injections
  • exenatide (Byetta)
  • lixisenatide (Adlyxin)
  • liraglutide (Victoza)
  • dulaglutide (Trulicity)
• insulin
  • insulin lispro (Humalog)
  • insulin aspart (NovoLog)
  • insulin glulisine (Apidra)
  • insulin degludec (Tresiba)
  • insulin glargine (Toujeo)
• insulin + GLP-1 receptor agonists
  • insulin glargine and lixisenatide (Soliqua)
  • insulin degludec and liraglutide (Xultophy)
• oral medications
  • metformin (Glucophage)
  • glipizide (Glucotrol)
  • acarbose (Precose)
  • saxagliptin (Onglyza)
  • canagliflozin (Invokana)

Lifestyle changes like getting more physical activity and eating a lower-calorie diet may also support diabetes management. A doctor can advise you on which approach, or combination of approaches, is best for you and your health. 

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Summary

Semaglutide is an active pharmaceutical ingredient, while Ozempic is one of the brand names for semaglutide. You cannot get semaglutide as a generic medication. Other brand names for semaglutide are Wegovy and Rybelsus.

Semaglutide promotes weight loss in adults with overweight and obesity and helps manage blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Ozempic is only FDA-approved for the latter.

If you are interested in learning more about diabetes or weight loss treatment, you can speak with a healthcare professional to determine the most suitable approach for your specific health needs.