Wegovy vs Ozempic: what is the difference and which one do you get for weight loss?

The same substance, a different registration

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist: it mimics a gut hormone that suppresses appetite, slows gastric emptying and lowers blood sugar. Novo Nordisk first brought the substance to market as Ozempic, for type 2 diabetes. When it became clear how much weight diabetes patients lost, separate research followed in people without diabetes, at a higher dose. That led to the registration of Wegovy for weight management.

According to the European Medicines Agency (EMA), Ozempic is registered exclusively for the treatment of adults with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes. Weight loss is a side benefit, not an indication. Wegovy is registered for weight management in adults with a BMI of 30 or higher, or of 27 or higher with a weight-related condition.

Using Ozempic for weight loss is therefore off-label: outside the registration. A doctor may prescribe it with good justification, but the insurer does not reimburse it and the manufacturer does not endorse it. You can read more about the substance itself in our article on semaglutide.

Dosage: is 1 mg of Wegovy the same as 1 mg of Ozempic?

Yes, 1 mg of Wegovy contains as much semaglutide as 1 mg of Ozempic and works the same way. The difference lies in the schedule that dose fits into. According to the Farmacotherapeutisch Kompas of Zorginstituut Nederland (the Dutch National Health Care Institute), the schedules look like this:

With Ozempic, 1 mg is the maintenance dose for many diabetes patients and 2 mg the maximum. With Wegovy, 1 mg is an intermediate step on the way to 2.4 mg. The pens also differ: the Wegovy FlexTouch delivers four fixed weekly doses of one strength per pen, while the Ozempic pen delivers several doses that you set yourself. As a result, you cannot make 1.7 or 2.4 mg with a 1 mg Ozempic pen. The full schedules are in Ozempic dosage and Wegovy dosage.

What do the studies show for weight loss?

The registration studies for Wegovy (the STEP programme) show that 2.4 mg of semaglutide leads to more weight loss than the lower Ozempic doses. In STEP 1, adults without diabetes lost an average of 14.9% of their body weight over 68 weeks on 2.4 mg, compared with 2.4% on placebo.

The STEP 2 trial (The Lancet, 2021) directly compared the 2.4 mg dose with 1 mg, the dose approved for diabetes, in 1,210 adults with overweight and type 2 diabetes. After 68 weeks, weight loss was 9.6% on 2.4 mg, compared with 3.4% on placebo; the 1 mg group was in between. Gastrointestinal complaints occurred in 63.5% of the 2.4 mg group and 57.5% of the 1 mg group, mostly mild to moderate.

Two caveats. These are averages: the variation between people is large. And the higher dose is not necessary or tolerable for everyone; some users already achieve a good result on 1 mg. Results vary from person to person.

Side effects of Wegovy and Ozempic

The side effects are the same, because the substance is the same: nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal pain and headache, especially with every dose increase. They occur in more than 1 in 10 users. Because Wegovy is dosed higher, gastrointestinal complaints on the maintenance dose are slightly more common than with Ozempic at 1 mg.

Rare but serious side effects apply to both: inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), gallstones with rapid weight loss, dehydration from persistent vomiting or diarrhoea, and, since 2025, the very rare eye condition NAION, which the EMA added to the product information of all semaglutide medicines. Neither medicine is suitable during pregnancy, when trying to conceive or while breastfeeding.

The details per medicine, including when to call the doctor, are in Ozempic side effects and Wegovy side effects.

Price and reimbursement in the Netherlands

Neither is reimbursed for weight loss. Ozempic is only reimbursed for type 2 diabetes under the Appendix 2 (bijlage 2) conditions (BMI 30 or higher, insufficiently controlled blood sugar despite other medication). Wegovy is not in the basic package (basispakket) of Dutch health insurance: on 16 July 2024, Zorginstituut Nederland advised against including it, because of uncertain long-term health effects and the cost to the healthcare budget. The minister adopted that advice. You can follow the current status in our article on whether Wegovy is covered by insurance.

If you pay yourself, the pharmacy prices are close together. According to the Farmacotherapeutisch Kompas (September 2026), an Ozempic pen costs €105.59 (0.25 and 0.5 mg), €172.07 (1 mg) or €184.34 (2 mg). A Wegovy pen costs €105.59 (0.25 and 0.5 mg), €104.49 (1 mg), €164.49 (1.7 mg) or €196.70 (2.4 mg). So Wegovy is not cheaper than Ozempic; on the maintenance dose it is slightly more expensive per pen, because it contains more semaglutide. The calculation per month and per year is in Ozempic price and Wegovy price.

Tried everything and want to know whether medication under a doctor's supervision could suit you? Read how medical weight loss with injections works with us →

Can you switch from Ozempic to Wegovy?

Yes, you can switch, and because it is the same substance, it is simpler than switching to a different medicine. The doctor moves you to the Wegovy dose closest to your current Ozempic dose: from 1 mg of Ozempic to 1 mg of Wegovy, and then further up to 1.7 and 2.4 mg if needed and if you tolerate it. From 2 mg of Ozempic, you usually move to 1.7 or 2.4 mg of Wegovy.

The switch takes place on your usual injection day, without a break. Expect some gastrointestinal complaints again with each increase. The other way round, from Wegovy to Ozempic, happens with supply problems or when, for diabetes, the doctor chooses the reimbursed route; you then go back to a maximum of 2 mg.

Reasons to switch are availability, the wish to go above 2 mg, or a lower price per pen on a low dose. Never switch between pens yourself and never combine them.

Which medicine does the doctor prescribe for weight loss?

For weight loss without diabetes, Wegovy is the registered medicine and therefore the medical starting point. For that situation, Ozempic is off-label. When a doctor does sometimes prescribe Ozempic for weight loss, it is usually to do with availability or dose: not everyone needs 2.4 mg, and the Ozempic strengths up to 1 mg are enough for some users. The doctor must justify such a choice and discuss it with you.

The doctor looks at your BMI, your health (blood sugar, heart and blood vessels, kidneys, pancreas), previous attempts to lose weight, other medication and your preference. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Saxenda (liraglutide) are also part of that decision. Whether medical weight loss suits you, and which medicine goes with it, is for the doctor to assess.

With us, a medical weight loss with injections programme with semaglutide (Ozempic) costs €250 per month, plus a one-off €400 support fee, including medication, home delivery and support from your own BIG-registered doctor (the BIG register is the Dutch register of healthcare professionals). We do not offer Wegovy.

Want to know whether medical weight loss could be right for you? Take the eligibility check, and the doctor will assess your situation →

Frequently asked questions about Wegovy and Ozempic

Is 1 mg of Wegovy the same as 1 mg of Ozempic?

Yes, it is the same amount of semaglutide with the same effect. With Wegovy, 1 mg is an intermediate step towards 2.4 mg; with Ozempic, 1 mg is often the maintenance dose and 2 mg the maximum.

Is Wegovy cheaper than Ozempic?

No. Per pen, the low doses cost the same (€105.59); the Wegovy maintenance dose (2.4 mg) costs €196.70, compared with €184.34 for Ozempic 2 mg (Farmacotherapeutisch Kompas, September 2026). Neither is reimbursed for weight loss.

How much does Wegovy cost per month?

One pen contains four weekly doses and lasts about a month: €105.59 on the lowest doses up to €196.70 on 2.4 mg (September 2026), plus pharmacy and doctor's fees.

How effective is Wegovy?

In the STEP 1 trial, adults without diabetes lost an average of 14.9% of their weight over 68 weeks on 2.4 mg, compared with 2.4% on placebo. Results vary from person to person, and the medicine only works alongside an adjusted diet and exercise.

Can you switch from Ozempic to Wegovy?

Yes, through the doctor, on your usual injection day and at the nearest dose. Because it is the same substance, you do not need to start again at 0.25 mg. Never switch yourself.

What is the difference between Wegovy and Mounjaro?

Mounjaro contains tirzepatide, a different substance that acts on two hormones (GLP-1 and GIP). In a direct comparison, tirzepatide led to more weight loss on average. The full comparison is in Wegovy vs Mounjaro.

What is the difference between Wegovy and Saxenda?

Saxenda contains liraglutide, an older GLP-1 agonist that you inject daily. Saxenda is reimbursed, under strict conditions. See Wegovy vs Saxenda.

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