Zepbound vs Semaglutide vs Wegovy: What’s the Difference?

Zepbound is a brand of the medication tirzepatide that has been FDA-approved for use in medical weight loss programs to support healthy and effective weight loss among patients who are obese or overweight and have been diagnosed with at least one weight-related health condition. Zepbound can be administered through weekly subcutaneous injections but should be taken as part of a medical weight loss program that includes a calorie-deficient diet, and a regular exercise regimen, and is supervised by a health care provider. The medication is effective for weight loss as it helps to slow down the process by which food is processed by the digestive system, making the patient feel fuller for longer and reducing their appetite. This allows patients to consume fewer calories, making it much easier to follow a calorie-restrictive diet.

Zepbound contains a medication called tirzepatide, which was originally approved for the management of type 2 diabetes but was quickly realized to provide significant and safe weight loss results in many patients, resulting in an FDA-approved version specifically created and dosed for use as part of a medical weight loss program. The FDA-approved weight loss version of tirzepatide is Zepbound. Semaglutide is another type of medication that is very similar to tirzepatide in that it was created for use on patients with type 2 diabetes but was quickly realized to also be effective for weight loss. Wegovy is the brand name of semaglutide that has been formulated to be FDA-approved for weight loss. Both tirzepatide and semaglutide have versions of the medication that remain only FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes, but Zepbound and Wegovy have been formulated and altered in dosage to be specifically prescribed for weight loss. However, it is common for other versions of tirzepatide and semaglutide to be prescribed for off-label use as weight loss medications.

The primary difference between these medications is that Zepbound is a brand of the medication tirzepatide, whereas Wegovy is a brand of the medication semaglutide. Both Zepbound and Wegovy are approved as weight-loss medications and are administered through weekly subcutaneous injections as part of medical weight-loss programs. Semaglutide and tirzepatide work fairly similarly in that they work by slowing down the digestive processes, resulting in the patient feeling fuller for longer, communicating to the brain that the body feels less hungry. The medication semaglutide has been FDA-approved since 2021 whereas tirzepatide has only been FDA-approved since 2023, but both medications can offer substantial weight loss benefits to patients when used as part of a medical weight loss program. Both medications are to be administered through a weekly dose, with the dose needed for Zepbound as the maximum dose being anywhere from 5mg to 15 mg, whereas the maximum dose for Wegovy is 2.4mg. Both types of the medication come with similar side effects, but some patients may respond better to one than the other due to semaglutide being a GLP-1 antagonist and tirzepatide being a dual GIP and GLP-1 antagonist (which are satiety hormones that let the brain know the body is no longer hungry), meaning that Zepbound can offer some patients with a greater improvement in glucose control.

Both Zepbound and Wegovy are very safe and effective medications that are frequently prescribed to support weight loss programs, with Zepbound being a slightly newer medication. While patients need to take whichever medication is recommended for them based on their existing health conditions and medical history, one medication may work better for some people than the other. Since Zepbound contains tirzepatide which is a dual GIP and GLP-1 antagonist, it is common for patients to find it to be more effective for weight loss than Wegovy, which is only a GLP-1 antagonist. Zepbound is the newer medication, meaning fewer studies have been completed on its use as a weight loss medication, but it has been FDA-approved and has provided many patients with substantial weight loss success. At the end of the day, it will be up to each patient and their healthcare provider to determine which weight loss medication will be the most effective and safest option for them.

The FDA-approved injectable semaglutide targets brain regions involved in controlling hunger and food intake by mimicking hormones safely and efficiently. For best effects, it should be taken once every week. Contact us or walk in. We are conveniently located at 4301 S Flamingo Rd Ste 102 Davie, FL 33330. We serve patients from Davie FL, Pembroke Pines FL, Miramar FL, Pine Island Ridge FL, Plantation FL, Sunrise FL, and surrounding areas.