Wegovy is a prescription weight management medication for people with obesity or overweight in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and regular exercise. There is a Wegovy shortage in the United States, so people may consider alternatives such as Saxenda, Alli, or
Zepbound and Mounjaro are basically the same drug, but they're approved for different medical conditions: Zepbound for weight loss and Mounjaro for diabetes. Similarly, Wegovy and Ozempic are the same drug, but with different names and different doses for different conditions.
Wegovy in pill form could be available by 2026. While popular drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are only available as injections, drugmaker Novo Nordisk is working on a more convenient option: A pill.
Zepbound (tirzepatide) and Saxenda (liraglutide) work in a similar way as Wegovy. But, they may also have limited availability. Weight-loss pills, such as Contrave (naltrexone / bupropion) and Qsymia (phentermine / topiramate ER), are available but may not result in as much weight loss.
An analysis of 143 studies revealed that phentermine-topiramate and GLP-1 receptor agonists (like liraglutide and semaglutide) are among the most effective medications for reducing weight in people with obesity. The typical body weight reduction with these medications is 6% to 11%.
This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription. This product is available in the following dosage forms: Tablet.
Regular Exercise and Fitness Routines
In addition to her dietary changes, Kelly incorporated regular exercise into her daily routine. Her workout regimen included a mix of cardio, strength training, and flexibility exercises, each of which contributed to her overall fitness and weight loss success.
Like Ozempic, orforglipron is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, but whereas Ozempic requires injection, orforglipron comes as a daily pill. Lilly expects to complete phase III trials in 2025, and orforglipron could receive US regulatory approval in 2026, according to Lilly's chief executive Dave Ricks.
Wegovy and phentermine are both FDA-approved prescription weight-loss medications. Wegovy is a GLP-1 medication intended for long-term use, while phentermine is an appetite-reducing medication approved for short-term use. The best weight loss medication for you depends on your needs and weight loss goals.
Nonetheless, our results have shown that orally administered semaglutide may be as effective an option for improving glycemic target attainment and supporting weight loss in adults with T2D as the injectable formulation, particularly in patients who are reluctant to take injectable medications.
However, research suggests that Wegovy supports more weight loss and leads to better blood sugar improvements than Rybelsus based on the currently available doses.
Mounjaro is an injection, while Rybelsus is an oral pill
One key difference between Mounjaro and Rybelsus is their dosage forms. Mounjaro is available as a subcutaneous (under the skin) injection, while Rybelsus is an oral pill. In fact, Rybelsus is the only medication in its class that isn't injected.
Novo Nordisk said it plans to seek U.S. and European regulatory approval for a tablet version of Wegovy by the end of 2023. If the tablet does get approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), patients could then have a choice between a pill or a shot that offer similar weight loss results, Holst Lange said.
While Wegovy is in short supply or is backordered, there are other weight loss medications that may be worth discussing with your healthcare provider. Options include Qsymia (phentermine-topiramate), Xenical (orlistat), Contrave (naltrexone-bupropion), and Saxenda (liraglutide), all of which are approved by the FDA.
Patients taking Ozempic and its sister drug, Wegovy, share their experiences.
While the $25 Wegovy savings offer is no longer available, there is still a Wegovy Savings Program. However, the details have changed as of January 2025. Depending on your insurance provider and coverage, you may pay as little as $0 per month for Wegovy, up to a maximum of $650 per month.
New prescription weight loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound are currently in the spotlight for their fast, dramatic results. Indeed, these medications are helping people lose a lot of weight. Plus, they're enjoying a better quality of life and can do more with greater confidence.
Try to be as specific as possible when talking about your challenges with losing weight. Keep a record of the efforts you've made in the past, such as changes to your diet, exercise routine, or overall lifestyle. Note any results from these changes, including weight loss achieved and difficulties you may have had.
McCarthy lost weight through a combination of a high-protein diet and regular exercise, specifically Piloxing. She also focused on adopting a healthier mindset rather than turning to extreme diets or surgery.
How did Oprah lose weight? Winfrey has lost her latest weight using a weight-loss drug and with a healthy diet and exercising. She told People the weight-loss medication is just part of her regimen for maintaining a healthy weight. “I know everybody thought I was on it, but I worked so damn hard.
Ozempic face is a colloquial term, not a medically recognized condition. It describes the facial changes that can accompany rapid weight loss when using medications like Ozempic or another version of the same drug (generic name semaglutide) FDA-approved for weight-loss treatment.
The cost of Rybelsus (semaglutide) without insurance can range from $1,100 to $1,240 depending on the pharmacy location, quantity, and other factors. Most Medicare Part D and employer-sponsored insurance plans cover Rybelsus, but Medicaid coverage varies by state.
However, Rybelsus is the oral counterpart of Ozempic. Like Ozempic, Rybelsus also contains semaglutide as the active ingredient, and both medications are used to treat type-2 diabetes. Studies have shown that semaglutide tablets (Rybelsus) are as good as semaglutide injections (Ozempic) for diabetes treatment.
Some popular weight-loss pills are Contrave (naltrexone / bupropion), Qsymia (phentermine / topiramate ER), and phentermine (Adipex-P). Some clinical studies suggest that Qsymia is the most effective weight loss pill.