Before Wegovy’s UK launch, many people were prescribed Ozempic injections for weight loss. Ozempic and Wegovy contain the same active ingredient, semaglutide. Indeed, Wegovy is a result of Ozempic’s clinical trial – as many patients presented with weight loss after using Ozempic, the manufacturer adjusted the dosage to be used as a weight loss medication.
However, the dose of Wegovy is optimised for weight loss, helping you to achieve better weight loss results with just one injection per week. With this in mind, many people will want to switch from Ozempic to Wegovy to achieve their weight loss goals.
What Are Ozempic and Wegovy?
Ozempic and Wegovy are two different brand names for the same drug, semaglutide. The main difference between the two medications is that Wegovy contains a higher dose of semaglutide which makes it more suited to weight loss, whereas Ozempic contains a lower dose and is intended for use in type 2 diabetes. Both medications are weekly injections.
Before Wegovy was released, some individuals were prescribed Ozempic off-label for weight loss. This means that, whilst Ozempic was a diabetes medication, some doctors judged that Ozempic would also be appropriate for people trying to lose weight. Off-label prescribing of Ozempic for weight loss is legal in the UK – however, with Wegovy’s UK release, this is now the preferred treatment.
Wegovy and Ozempic contain the same medication (semaglutide) and work in exactly the same way. The main difference is the doses of semaglutide that they contain.
Semaglutide is the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy. It belongs to a group of drugs called GLP-1 agonists. This means that it mimics the effects of a naturally-occurring hormone in your body called GLP-1.
This hormone slows the rate at which your stomach empties, which helps you feel full and reduces your appetite. This reduction in appetite is how semaglutide helps you lose weight. Wegovy should be used in conjunction with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity to maximise its effectiveness.
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Can I Switch from Ozempic to Wegovy?
If you have been taking Ozempic for weight loss, you should be able to switch to Wegovy instead. Wegovy is a better weight loss treatment, because the higher doses have been specifically designed to help people lose weight. For this reason, you are likely to experience optimal weight loss when taking Wegovy, compared to Ozempic.
Wegovy is only prescribed to patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 30, or a BMI of 27 along with a weight-related medical condition (such as high blood pressure, heart disease or type 2 diabetes). While this is likely if you have been prescribed Ozempic previously, it is worth bearing in mind when looking to make the switch.
How Do I Switch from Ozempic to Wegovy?
You are able to move on to your equivalent Wegovy dosage from Ozempic. For example, if you have been taking Ozempic 0.5mg, you can switch directly to Wegovy 0.5mg, or if you have been taking the 0.5mg dosage for four weeks, you can step up to the next dose, Wegovy 1mg.
If you have been taking the maximum 2mg dose of Ozempic for four weeks, your doctor can suggest you either move to Wegovy 2mg or if you prefer, you can move on to Wegovy 2.4mg.
As long as you have been taking your current Ozempic dose for 4 weeks, you can choose to either stay at the same strength or move up a strength.
Evidence may be required for online assessments, to show you have been taking a particular Ozempic dosage, to ensure safe prescribing.
While these medications are very similar, you may experience some side effects from switching between the two – unfortunately, there are no studies or advice to make this judgement call easily.
| Ozempic Dosage | Length of Time on Dose | Wegovy Switch |
|---|---|---|
| 0.25mg | 4+ weeks | 0.25mg OR 0.5mg |
| 0.5mg | 4+ weeks | 0.5mg OR 1mg |
| 1mg | 4+ weeks | 1mg OR 1.7mg |
| 2mg | 4+ weeks | 2mg OR 2.4mg |
Conclusion
You can now request to buy Wegovy pens in the UK. Ozempic and Wegovy contain the same active ingredient, semaglutide; however, the dose of Wegovy is optimised for weight loss, whereas Ozempic was designed as a diabetes medication. If you wish to switch from Ozempic to Wegovy, you are able to do so if you are able to provide evidence to our prescribers of your current Ozempic dose.
