Ozempic vs Wegovy: Same Semaglutide, Different Labels
The short answer
Ozempic and Wegovy are both semaglutide from Novo Nordisk, given as a once-weekly injection. Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabetes and its dose tops out at 2 mg. Wegovy is approved for weight reduction, heart risk and liver disease, with a usual dose of 2.4 mg and a 7.2 mg option. Semaglutide is the ingredient; both are brand names.
Ozempic and Wegovy are both semaglutide, made by Novo Nordisk, and both are given as a once-weekly injection under the skin. The ingredient is the same; the brands differ in what the FDA label covers, how the dose is stepped up and how high it goes. Searches for "semaglutide vs Ozempic" have the same answer: semaglutide is the active ingredient, Ozempic is one brand of it, and Wegovy is another. This page compares the two current US labels. It is a research reference, not medical advice.
Ozempic vs Wegovy at a glance
| What | Ozempic | Wegovy |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | Semaglutide (GLP-1 receptor agonist) | Semaglutide (GLP-1 receptor agonist) |
| Maker | Novo Nordisk | Novo Nordisk |
| Label covers | Glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes; lowering major cardiovascular event risk in adults with type 2 diabetes and established heart disease; lowering the risk of sustained eGFR decline, end-stage kidney disease and cardiovascular death in adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (Ozempic label, rev. 5/2026) | Weight reduction and keeping it off in adults with obesity, or overweight plus a weight-related condition, and in adolescents aged 12 and over with obesity; lowering cardiovascular event risk in adults with established heart disease and obesity or overweight; noncirrhotic MASH with stage F2 to F3 fibrosis in adults (Wegovy label, rev. 6/2026) |
| Starting dose | 0.25 mg once weekly for 4 weeks | 0.25 mg once weekly for 4 weeks |
| Escalation | 0.5 mg after 4 weeks; 1 mg after at least 4 weeks on 0.5 mg if more glycemic control is needed; 2 mg after at least 4 weeks on 1 mg | Every 4 weeks: 0.5, 1, 1.7, then 2.4 mg |
| Highest dose | 2 mg once weekly | 7.2 mg once weekly (Wegovy HD pen); usual maintenance 2.4 mg |
| Injection forms | Pens with 2, 4 or 8 mg per 3 mL for several weekly doses; single-dose prefilled syringe (0.25, 0.5, 1 mg) | Single-dose pen (0.25 to 2.4 mg, and 7.2 mg), single-dose syringe, FlexTouch pen (four 2.4 mg doses) |
| Oral form | Ozempic tablets (oral) | Wegovy tablets, once daily (1.5, 4, 9, 25 mg) |
| Missed dose | Give as soon as possible within 5 days; after 5 days skip it | If the next dose is more than 2 days away, give it; if less than 2 days away, skip it. Two or more missed doses in a row: restart escalation at a lower dose |
| Boxed warning | Risk of thyroid C-cell tumors | Risk of thyroid C-cell tumors |
The Ozempic label does not list weight reduction as an indication, and the Wegovy label does not list glycemic control. A 2.4 mg Wegovy dose has no Ozempic equivalent, because Ozempic stops at 2 mg.
Semaglutide vs Ozempic: what is the difference?
Nothing at the molecular level. Semaglutide is the drug; Ozempic and Wegovy are the injectable brands, and Rybelsus, Ozempic tablets and Wegovy tablets are the oral ones. When someone says "semaglutide", they may mean any of those, or a compounded or research-grade product, which is a different category again and is covered in compounded semaglutide. The brand determines the label, the dose schedule and what a prescriber is formally approved to use it for.
What the weight data look like
Weight outcomes belong to Wegovy's label. In STEP 1, which enrolled 1,961 adults with overweight or obesity and no diabetes, semaglutide 2.4 mg cut body weight by 14.9% at 68 weeks against 2.4% on placebo (NEJM 2021). For how semaglutide compares with tirzepatide, see Zepbound vs Wegovy and semaglutide vs tirzepatide.
Side effects on the two labels
The Ozempic label lists nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and constipation as the reactions seen in at least 5% of patients. The Wegovy label has a longer list that adds, among others, headache, fatigue, dyspepsia, dizziness, abdominal distension, burping, gas, reflux and hair loss. A warning on severe gastrointestinal adverse reactions was added to the Ozempic label in October 2025. In the Wegovy 72-week trial table, 35% on 2.4 mg reported nausea against 13% on placebo, 16% reported vomiting against 6%, and 19% reported constipation against 8% (Wegovy label). For the full picture see semaglutide side effects and, on hair, semaglutide and hair loss.
Storage
The two brands have different storage limits: an Ozempic pen in use lasts 56 days, while a single-dose Wegovy pen or syringe may spend up to 28 days at room temperature before use. Details are in Ozempic storage and Wegovy storage.
Cost
Prices and coverage for both brands move often, so none are printed here. For the cost picture and the dose ladder, see semaglutide cost without insurance and the semaglutide dosage guide.
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Build your stack, 2 minutesSee also: Ozempic vs Mounjaro, Rybelsus vs Ozempic, Saxenda vs Wegovy.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ozempic the same as Wegovy?
They contain the same drug, semaglutide, from Novo Nordisk, and both are weekly injections. They have separate FDA labels: Ozempic for type 2 diabetes, Wegovy for weight reduction, cardiovascular risk reduction and MASH, with different dose schedules and top doses.
What is the difference between semaglutide and Ozempic?
Semaglutide is the active ingredient. Ozempic is a brand name for injectable semaglutide labelled for type 2 diabetes. Wegovy and Rybelsus are other brands, and compounded or research-grade semaglutide is a separate category that is not an FDA-approved brand product.
Is Wegovy a higher dose than Ozempic?
It can be. Ozempic goes up to 2 mg a week. Wegovy goes up to 2.4 mg in the usual injection forms, and the Wegovy HD pen delivers 7.2 mg.
What happens if you miss an Ozempic or Wegovy dose?
The Ozempic label says to give a missed dose as soon as possible within 5 days and to skip it after that. The Wegovy label says to give it if the next dose is more than 2 days away and to skip it if less than 2 days away.
Sources (checked 6 November 2026)
- Ozempic prescribing information, Novo Nordisk, revised 5/2026. Checked 6 November 2026.
- Wegovy prescribing information, Novo Nordisk, revised 6/2026. Checked 6 November 2026.
- Wilding et al, Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity (STEP 1), New England Journal of Medicine, 2021. Checked 6 November 2026.
Label figures are from the Ozempic label revised May 2026 and the Wegovy label revised June 2026. Labels and trial records change; the leaflet in your box and your prescriber come first. Educational content, not medical advice.