Ozempic vs Mounjaro: The Future of Diabetes & Weight Loss

In a world obsessed with physical fitness, being overweight is not an option for many. People tend to suffer from both physical and mental health disorders because of their obesity. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), every 1 in 8 Americans is obese. In addition to focusing on a healthy diet and ample exercise, people are also focusing on anti-obesity medications to achieve quick results. In this regard, weight loss medications like Ozempic vs Mounjaro are significant breakthroughs. Previously approved as anti-diabetic drugs, Ozempic and Mounjaro have been shown to have weight loss benefits as well.

Let us draw a comparison between Ozempic vs Mounjaro and understand what could be the future of diabetes as well as weight loss with the development of newer weight loss drugs.

What is Mounjaro?

Mounjaro is the brand of a pharmaceutically active ingredient called tirzepatide, a molecule effective in treating type 2 diabetes in adults. The pharmaceutical industry Eli Lilly and Co. has the rights to manufacture and market Mounjaro and the product enjoys FDA approval which was given in May 2022.

Management of Diabetes

To understand how tirzepatide works, let us first understand how our body deals with high glucose levels.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) are two gut hormones which are produced in our small intestine after food intake and are released in the blood.

Both of these are responsible for reducing the glucose level in our blood by increasing the level of insulin and decreasing the concentration of glucagon, the two pancreatic hormones that balance blood sugar levels.

As tirzepatide (Mounjaro) belongs to the drug class of GLP-1 and GIP agonists, it mimics the activity of these hormones and initiates the following changes in the body:

    ·    Increased Insulin Production: Mounjaro produces anti-diabetic effects by increasing insulin production in the body. This insulin pushes the glucose from the blood into our cells where it is metabolized. As a result, the blood sugar level (BSL) is lowered.

    ·    Decreased Glucagon Synthesis: The drug also reduces the level of glucagon in the body. Glucagon is a hormone released from the alpha cells present in the pancreas. It is responsible for increasing the blood sugar level by forcing the liver to generate glucose which is then ultimately released into the blood. When glucagon levels are reduced by Mounjaro, blood glucose level automatically falls.

Dose

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has considered the administration of 15 mg of tirzepatide once every weekappropriate for weight loss. The drug has to be administered subcutaneously (SC) i.e. under the skin.

Mounjaro comes in the form of a pre-filled pen which is ready to be administered. You can take the injection in your stomach tissue, upper arms, or in thighs. 

Weight Loss

Apart from its anti-diabetic effects, tirzepatide is also employed for chronic weight management. The drug works by suppressing the appetite so you don’t feel hungry for a long time after having a meal. In addition, the gastric emptying time is lowered which means the food in the stomach stays there for longer. Resultantly, one feels satiated for several hours.

The brand Mounjaro is only specific for the management of type 2 diabetes and cannot be employed for weight loss. However, another brand of tirzepatide by Eli Lilly called Zepbound is available in the market reducing body weight.  

Dose

For weight loss, tirzepatide is administered as a subcutaneous injection in a dose of 2.5 mg once every week. After 4 weeks, the dose can be increased up to 5 mg, 10 mg, or 15 mg depending upon the patient’s condition.

Side Effects of Mounjaro

With the use of Mounjaro, people often experience the following unpleasant gastrointestinal side effects:

    ·    Vomiting

    ·    Nausea

    ·    Loss of appetite

    ·    Diarrhea

    ·    Constipation

Stomach pain

    ·    Flatulence

    ·    Acid reflux 

    ·    Indigestion

Is Tirzepatide Suitable for You?

As per the FDA, tirzepatide is suitable for adults with the following conditions:

    ·    Obesity (with a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m² (kilograms per square meter))

    ·    Overweight (with a BMI greater than or equal to 27 kg/m²)

    ·   Presence of at least one weight-related condition (e.g. high cholesterol level, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes)

It is also recommended that the weight loss effects from tirzepatide can only be achieved when the therapy is accompanied by consuming a low-calorie healthy diet as well as necessary physical activity.

Who Should Not Take Mounjaro?

The use of Mounjaro is not recommended if you have a medical history of any of the following conditions:

    ·    Type 1 diabetes

    ·    Family history of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC)

    ·    Pancreatic inflammation

    ·    Thyroid cancer

    ·    Multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)

Apart from these, Mounjaro should not be taken if you are already on any of the following medications:

    ·    Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

    ·    Birth control pills

    ·    Insulin

    ·    Warfarin

    ·    Digoxin

    ·    Carbamazepine

    ·    Other antidiabetic medications such as glipizide, glimepiride, glyburide, etc.

What is Ozempic?

Ozempic is the brand name of semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist. The product is manufactured by Novo Nordisk and has been approved by the FDA in 2017 for the management of blood sugar levels in diabetic patients. Apart from this, Ozempic is also effective in reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke among diabetics.

Management of Diabetes

Once you have consumed a meal, your blood sugar levels go up very quickly. As a management strategy, Ozempic tells your pancreas to release insulin. Once in the blood, the insulin then takes the glucose out of the blood and transfers it into the cells where it is broken down and energy is produced.

Unlike other anti-diabetic medications, Ozempic only increases the blood insulin levels when your stomach is full. This way, the risk of hypoglycemia with Ozempic is much smaller as compared to other drugs which increase insulin levels even when there is no food in the gut. As a result, the blood glucose falls below the normal range and hypoglycemic effects occur.  

Dose

For blood sugar control, Ozempic can be taken at the dose of 0.25 mg per week for 4 weeks. The amount of the drug can be increased to 0.5 mg per week after the first month. It can be administered after having food or on an empty stomach and the suitable body sites for its subcutaneous injection are the thighs, abdomen, and upper arms.

Weight Loss

Semaglutide works in three different ways when given for weight-related issues:

1- It delays the emptying of the stomach. As a result, the nutrients enter the bloodstream at a slower rate and the body keeps getting glucose in small increments for several hours after food consumption. This way, big glucose spikes do not occur and the blood glucose level is effectively regulated.

2- As for the body cells, semaglutide makes them more sensitive to insulin. As a result, the cells take up glucose quickly and metabolism is thus enhanced.

3- In addition, the drug also reduces your cravings so that you do not keep on snacking between meals.

Dose

For weight loss, 0.25 mg of semaglutide can be administered subcutaneously once a week. If your healthcare professional deems fit, the dose of semaglutide can be increased up to 2 mg per week. The FDA has approved a semaglutide brand called Wegovy for administration in children above the age of 12 as well as for adults for weight loss.

Side Effects of Ozempic

Despite providing multiple benefits in diabetes and weight loss treatments, Ozempic can cause the following side effects:

    ·    Fatigue

    ·    Nausea

    ·    Vomiting

    ·    Diarrhea

    ·    Constipation

    ·    Abdominal pain

Is Semaglutide Right for You?

To be prescribed with Ozempic, one has to qualify on the following conditions:

    ·    Being obese with a BMI exceeding 30 kg/m²

    ·    Being overweight and have a BMI greater than or equal to 27 kg/m²

    ·   Presence of at least one weight-related health condition (e.g. high cholesterol level, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes)

Who Should Not Take Ozempic?

If you are suffering from any of the following conditions, Ozempic is not the right choice for you:

    ·    Diabetic retinopathy

    ·    Kidney disorders

    ·    Pancreatic inflammation

    ·    Diminished kidney function

    ·    Thyroid cancer

    ·    Multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)

    ·    Depression

    ·    Suicidal thoughts

Ozempic vs Mounjaro: What Do the Clinical Trials Say?

Several clinical trials have been conducted on Ozempic vs Mounjaro to prove which of these is better than the other. The following section summarizes the latest studies on the Ozempic vs Mounjaro effectiveness:

Ozempic vs Mounjaro: Efficacy in Type 2 Diabetes

A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) has proven that the efficacy of Mounjaro (Tirzepatide) is equal to that of Ozempic (Semaglutide). To prove this, nearly 1900 patients suffering from type 2 diabetes were recruited for the study all of whom were above 18 years of age. All of them were already taking other anti-diabetic drugs in high doses which were not able to control their blood sugar level. Moreover, their body mass indices were equal to or above 25 kg/m².

For the next 40 weeks, half of these patients received Mounjaro while the other half were subcutaneously injected with Ozempic. As for the doses of Ozempic vs Mounjaro, Mounjaro was given in 3 different doses which included 5 mg, 10 mg, and 15 mg doses while a dose of 1 mg was selected for Ozempic.

After 40 weeks, the results indicated that both Mounjaro and Ozempic were causing similar beneficial effects on the diabetic patients. Mounjaro, when given in doses of 10 mg and 15 mg, caused more side effects but all of those were of mild nature. Conclusively, it is safe to say that both Ozempic vs Mounjaro are effective for the management of type 2 diabetes.  

Ozempic vs Mounjaro: Efficacy in Losing Body Weight

To check if both Ozempic vs Mounjaro are equally beneficial for weight loss, a study was conducted with a total of 41,223 subjects. Some of them received Mounjaro while others were on Ozempic therapy. After 3, 6, and 12 months, the average weight loss was checked in both groups.

The findings of the study confirmed that people who took Mounjaro lost more weight as compared to those who took Ozempic for a similar period of time. Hence, it can be said that in the debate of Ozempic vs Mounjaro, the second is superior. 

“Between Ozempic vs Mounjaro, Mounjaro can be prescribed to obese patients who do not have diabetes as it has been approved for weight loss by the FDA while Ozempic can only be used in diabetics who are dealing with high body weight.”

Ozempic vs Mounjaro: Comparison

To summarize the above discussion, the following table has been assembled on the features of Ozempic vs Mounjaro:

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Takeaway

Nowadays, scientists and healthcare providers are focusing on drugs that can be used to treat multiple disease conditions at low doses and are also cost-effective. Two such FDA-approved drugs i.e. Ozempic vs Mounjaro are often discussed as these can regulate blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.

In addition, doctors prescribe both Ozempic vs Mounjaro as anti-obesity medications. Many clinical trials have been conducted to support these uses. Recently, Mounjaro has been proven better than Ozempic for weight loss.

Conclusively, it can be said that both Ozempic vs Mounjaro are good options when it comes to managing blood sugar levels in diabetics. In addition, significant weight loss benefits can also be achieved with both Ozempic vs Mounjaro.

Both drugs are also useful for the management of cardiovascular disorders. Some people who cannot take one drug for some reason can be prescribed the other by weight loss specialists. So, the availability of both Ozempic vs Mounjaro is a blessing for many.

References

https://www.who.int/news/item/01-03-2024-one-in-eight-people-are-now-living-with-obesity

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-new-medication-chronic-weight-management

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2107519

https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.11.21.23298775v1

Uzma Zafar

PhD Scholar (Pharmaceutics), MPhil (Pharmaceutics), Pharm D, B. Sc.

Uzma Zafar is a dedicated and highly motivated pharmaceutical professional currently pursuing her PhD in Pharmaceutics at the Punjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab. With a comprehensive academic and research background, Uzma has consistently excelled in her studies, securing first division throughout her educational journey.

Uzma’s passion for the pharmaceutical field is evident from her active engagement during her Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) program, where she not only mastered industrial techniques and clinical case studies but also delved into marketing strategies and management skills.