Weight-loss injections are transforming how people approach their health and shed excess body fat, but how can you know which solution is right for you? Semaglutide and tirzepatide are two powerful medications that have shown significant promise in scientific studies and real-world applications. Today, we’re comparing semaglutide and tirzepatide to help you understand how they work and which option may best meet your needs.
What is semaglutide?
Sold under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy, semaglutide has paved the way for injectable weight-loss medications. Here’s what you need to know about this miracle drug:
How does semaglutide work?
Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist that mimics naturally occurring hormones in your gut that stimulate insulin production and tell your brain that your stomach is full. It also slows gastric emptying and delays digestion, which compounds that feeling of fullness.
When used alongside a healthy diet and active lifestyle, it can jumpstart weight loss to help you reach your goals. This medication has also been shown to improve cognitive function and potentially inhibit neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Who should use semaglutide?
While semaglutide was originally prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes, it’s now used to combat obesity and help patients manage blood sugar, regulate metabolism, lower blood pressure, and minimize the risk of cardiovascular disease and other weight-related health concerns.
What are the side effects of semaglutide?
Nausea, constipation, and other digestive issues are the most common side effects of semaglutide. Many find that these reactions improve with dietary changes and mindful eating, while rich, fatty foods make them worse. In rare instances, patients may experience complications like pancreatitis and thyroid dysfunction.
What is tirzepatide?
Among all the GLP-1 agonists on the market, tirzepatide may be the most effective weight-loss solution. Here are the details of this popular medication:
How does tirzepatide work?
Tirzepatide combines the same GLP-1 agonist found in semaglutide with a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) for a turbo-charged weight-loss medication. When these compounds are used together, they can more effectively encourage insulin production, blood sugar regulation, appetite suppression, and the other helpful effects of semaglutide. In fact, studies have shown that patients tend to lose more weight with tirzepatide vs semaglutide.
Who should use tirzepatide?
Under the name brand Zepbound, tirzepatide is FDA-approved as a weight-loss treatment for patients with and without diabetes. Overweight individuals who want to shed excess pounds and don’t mind implementing a few lifestyle changes make great candidates for this medication.
What are the side effects of tirzepatide?
The side effects of tirzepatide are similar to those of semaglutide and include nausea, vomiting, constipation, and other digestive issues. The dual action of this drug may cause more adverse effects among patients with a sensitivity to the hormones in each shot.
Differences between semaglutide vs tirzepatide
Now that you understand how these GLP-1 agonists work, let’s discuss the primary differences between them:
Weight loss mechanism
Semaglutide and tirzepatide both increase insulin levels, help patients manage blood sugar fluctuations, and encourage weight loss. However, tirzepatide includes two peptides that mimic essential hormones for weight regulation.
This dual-action system often aids in greater weight loss to help patients reach their goals more quickly. But it may also intensify the side effects for some.
Dosage
Both tirzepatide and semaglutide for weight loss are administered as weekly subcutaneous injections. You’ll start on the lowest dose and slowly increase the amount you take until you reach a therapeutic dose. Here’s what that may look like for each medication:
Semaglutide:
- Weeks 1-4: 0.25 mg/week
- Weeks 5-8: 0.5 mg/week
- Weeks 9-12: 1.0 mg/week
- Weeks 13-16: 1.75 mg/week
- Week 17 and beyond: 2.5 mg/week
Tirzepatide:
- Weeks 1-4: 2.5 mg/week
- Weeks 5-8: 5.0 mg/week
- Weeks 9-12: 7.5 mg/week
- Weeks 13-16: 10 mg/week
In some cases, patients may increase to 12.5 mg or 15 mg per week if needed.
Cost
Thanks to advanced medical science, a higher number of ingredients, and more drastic results, tirzepatide tends to cost more per dose. Fortunately, compounded versions of both semaglutide and tirzepatide are available at a reduced rate compared to brand-name medications, which can cost thousands of dollars per month.
Explore your options for healthy weight management at The Wellness Club!
Semaglutide and tirzepatide can help you kickstart weight loss, manage your blood sugar, and control cravings that set you back on your weight loss journey. And the long-term effects, such as improved cardiovascular health and a decreased risk of heart attacks and strokes, are also worth considering.
At The Wellness Club, we offer a range of weight-loss solutions to help you meet your goals. Reach out today for more information on our available options, or book an appointment online to begin your journey to better health and wellness!