Maintaining a healthy body weight and healthy levels of blood sugar levels is essential for longevity and improving the overall quality of life. Healthy practices such as maintaining a balanced diet, creating a calorie deficit by increasing movements reducing calorie intake, and avoiding sugary drinks and foods are the most recommended ways to bring your weight and glucose levels under control.
But even with these healthy practices, many people experience either no or extremely minimal results. If you are someone who belongs to this category, prescription drugs such as Semaglutide or Tirzepatide can be a good choice for you.
Both Semaglutides and Tirzepatides are comparatively new medications. But still, they are some of the most prescribed drugs for weight loss and type 2 diabetes. Both of them have several similarities but they also have some differences that make them unique from each other.
So, how would you know what is best for your specific condition? With the help of a direct comparison between Semaglutide vs Tirzepatide laid out in this article, you can easily deduce the difference, and would give you a well-rounded understanding of what might work for you.
Tirzepatide Vs Semaglutide
Both semaglutide and Tirzepatide are FDA-approved drugs prescribed for weight management and regulating blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. Here is a direct comparison between the two:
🎇 Purpose
Semaglutide: Semaglutide is an antidiabetic medication used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and an anti-obesity medication drug for long-term weight management.
Tirzepatide: Tirzepatide is used for weight loss under the brand name Zepbound and to treat type 2 diabetes under the brand name Mounjaro.
🎇 Mechanism Of Action
Semaglutide: It is a peptide similar to the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), modified with a side chain. It works by increasing insulin release, lowering glucagon release, delaying gastric emptying, and reducing appetite.
Tirzepatide: it is a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor co-agonist. It decreases blood sugar levels by increasing insulin production and reducing liver sugar production. In terms of achieving weight loss, it works by decreasing your appetite and slows food movement from the stomach to the small intestine, making you feel full longer.
🎇 Administration
Semaglutide: It can be administrated by subcutaneous injection oral tablets.
Tirzepatide: Unlike Semaglutide, Tirzepatide can only be administrated by subcutaneous injection. The oral form is not available.
🎇 Brands
Semaglutide: Available under the trade names Ozempic for type 2 diabetes, Rybelsus oral medication for type 2 diabetes, and Wegovy for weight management.
Tirzepatide: Available under the brand names Zepbound, and Mounjaro for weight loss and type 2 diabetes respectively.
🎇 Clinical Data
Semaglutide: According to the official website of the product, in clinical trials, patients on Wegowy reduced 35 pounds of body weight in 68 weeks.
Tirzepatide: According to the New England Journal of Medicine, in a 72-week trial, participants with obesity who took 5 mg, 10 mg, or 15 mg weekly dose of Tirzepatide experienced a significant and sustained reduction in body weight.
🎇 Side Effects
Both Semaglutides and Tirzepatides have similar side effects. This might be due to their similarity in working mechanisms and objectives. Some of the common and moderate potential side effects are:
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Upset stomach
- Abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting
- Headaches
- Drowsiness
- Very low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia)
Both of these drugs may also cause some serious side effects including:
- Vision changes
- Pancreatitis
- Kidney failure
- Gallbladder issues
- Allergic reactions
It is also important to note that both Semaglutide and Tirzepatide have boxed warnings (serious warnings from the FDA) for the risk of thyroid C-cell tumors. These results were found in animal studies and it is unknown whether the same would be applicable for humans.
🎇 Expense
Semaglutide: Wegovy, the only form of Semaglutide currently approved for weight loss costs about $1,349 for a monthly dose without insurance. Whereas, Ozempic which is approved for type 2 diabetes management but also used off-label for weight loss costs about $936 for a monthly dose. The cost for Rybelsus oral tablet for type 2 diabetes is $1,029 for a supply of thirty tablets.
Tirzepatide: Without insurance, the average monthly cost of Mounjaro, which is the Tirzepatide approved for type 2 diabetes can be anywhere between $1000 to $1,200. And the weight management drug Zepbounnd costs about $1,060 for a 28-day supply.
The price of both Semaglutide and Tirzepatide seems similar, but Semaglutides can be a more cost-effective option since they provide a higher dose than Tirzepatides. So, people using Tirzepatide may have to continue the medication longer than the people using Semaglutide, effectively costing more.
Interestingly, the cost of both Semaglutides and Tirzepatides may vary depending on your location and the pharmacy you chose. It is also notable that the prices are considerably high in the United States compared to other countries such as UK, Australia, and France.
Also Read:- Not Losing Weight On Semaglutide: Exploring Reasons And Solutions!
Conclusion
Tirzepatide and Semaglutide are two prescription medications approved for weight management and treating people with type 2 diabetes. They have a similar objective which is to bring down glucose levels and reduce the appetite, but both have a different structure and working mechanisms.
Semaglutide is sold under the brand names Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus. Whereas, Tirzepatide is sold under the brand names Mounjaro, and Zepbound. To better understand which one would be the best for you, discuss your personal preferences and goals with your doctor in detail.
