Weight loss medications like Ozempic® are in the spotlight—and for good reason. GLP-1 medications, like Ozempic and alternatives, are helping millions of people lose weight. It’s reported that approximately 15 million people in the U.S. are currently taking one for weight management.1The list of Ozempic alternatives is growing, so how do you choose the right medication? This guide gives an overview of how Ozempic and its alternatives work, as well as their side effects and average costs. We have included head-to-head comparisons of popular Ozempic alternatives so you can decide what is best for your needs.
What is Ozempic?
Ozempic is the name brand for the injectable medication semaglutide. Semaglutide belongs to a class of medications called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. It works by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone that is released in the digestive tract as a response to eating.2 Ozempic is prescribed to help control blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. It can also reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack, or death in adults who have type 2 diabetes, along with heart and blood vessel disease.3
Under the brand name Ozempic, semaglutide is only prescribed to lower blood sugar in diabetics. Weight loss is cited as one of the benefits, but not the drug's goal.4 The FDA approves semaglutide as a weight management drug under the brand name Wegovy®.5
Under either brand name, the active ingredient is semaglutide and the medication helps increase insulin, lower blood sugar, reduce appetite and signal the feeling of fullness.6
Ozempic Dosages
Ozempic comes premeasured in an injection pen. The pens come in three sizes and each contain four doses of either 0.5 mg, 1 mg or 2 mg of medicine given once weekly and will last for one month. It is common to prescribe lower starter doses and increase them as time goes on.7
Ozempic Side Effects
Common side effects of Ozempic include:8
Nausea.
Vomiting.
Diarrhea.
Abdominal pain.
Constipation.
Cost of Ozempic
The out-of-pocket costs for Ozempic will vary depending on the pharmacy and insurance coverage. The average cost of Ozempic without insurance or discounts is approximately $1,029 for a supply of 1.5 milliliters9 or 2.5 mg. Depending on the weekly dose prescribed, that amount will last around one month.10
Achieve your health goals without breaking the bank.
We offer all-inclusive GLP-1 med programs starting at $189/month with flat-rate pricing – no cost increase based on dosage. See if you qualify with a quick and easy online assessment.
Get StartedWhat are alternative GLP-1 medications used for weight loss?
Ozempic is just one of the GLP-1 agonist medications currently available. Alternatives include semaglutide, tirzepatide and liraglutide. Each drug is similar but not identical.
Semaglutide
Ozempic is just one brand of injectable semaglutide, which the FDA has approved for regulating blood sugar in type 2 diabetics only. Wegovy is an injectable semaglutide medication that is FDA-approved for weight management.
Semaglutide also comes in daily oral tablet form under the brand name RYBELSUS®.
While there is currently no generic form of Ozempic, Wegovy or RYBELSUS, you can get unbranded compounded semaglutide. Compounded semaglutide is produced by state-licensed compounding pharmacies and has the same active ingredient as name brands. It is available in weekly injections or daily oral tablets.11
Injectable semaglutide has been clinically proven to help lose weight. In a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, participants lost an average of 15% of their body weight after 68 weeks of semaglutide use.12
Semaglutide Side Effects
Common side effects of semaglutide include:
Nausea.
Vomiting.
Diarrhea.
Abdominal pain.
Constipation.
Decreased appetite.
Heartburn.
Burping.
Contact your provider if side effects become too bothersome. Semaglutide can cause changes in blood sugar, so it’s important to talk to your provider about the symptoms of high or low blood sugar.13
Tirzepatide
Tirzepatide is part of a class of medications called glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. It is prescribed to help lower blood sugar in those with type 2 diabetes and as a weight loss aid for individuals with obesity.14
Injectable tirzepatide is currently produced under the brand name Mounjaro® to lower blood sugar in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Under the brand name Zepbound®, injectable tirzepatide is prescribed for weight management in those with obesity.15
Compounded tirzepatide is made by a state-licensed compounding pharmacy instead of a traditional pharmaceutical manufacturer. It has the same active ingredient as name-brand medications and comes in a weekly injectable and daily oral tablet.
Tirzepatide mimics the GIP and GLP-1 hormones released in the gastrointestinal tract in response to eating. It increases the amount of insulin available and decreases glucagon, a hormone that controls the amount of glucose the liver makes. It also slows food’s movement through the stomach, which may decrease appetite and support weight loss.16
Research shows promising results for tirzepatide as a weight loss aid. In one clinical study, participants lost an average of 20.9% of their body weight after using tirzepatide for 72 weeks.17
Tirzepatide Side Effects
Common side effects of tirzepatide include:
Nausea.
Diarrhea.
Decreased appetite.
Vomiting.
Constipation.
Upset stomach.
If side effects become severe or bothersome, please contact your provider. Tirzepatide can cause changes in blood sugar, so it’s important to talk to your provider about the symptoms of high or low blood sugar.18
Liraglutide
Liraglutide injection belongs to the class of medications called incretin mimetics. It works by helping the pancreas release the right amount of insulin when blood sugar levels are high. It also slows the stomach’s emptying and can aid in weight loss. It is prescribed to help type 2 diabetics lower blood sugar and as a weight management drug for the obese.19
Liraglutide is produced under the brand name Saxenda®20 for weight management and under the brand name Victoza® for lowering blood sugar in type 2 diabetics.21
Liraglutide has been clinically proven to help weight loss. In one study, nearly 63% of participants lost more than 10% of their body weight over 52 weeks of liraglutide use.22
Liraglutide Side Effects
Common side effects of liraglutide include:
Headache.
Constipation.
Heartburn.
Runny nose, sneezing or coughing.
Tiredness.
Difficulty urinating, or pain or burning on urination.
Injection site rash or redness.
Liraglutide can cause changes in blood sugar, so it’s important to talk to your provider about the symptoms of high or low blood sugar. Contact your provider if any symptoms become bothersome.23
Semaglutide Alternatives to Ozempic
Review head-to-head comparisons of semaglutide alternatives to Ozempic.
Wegovy vs. Ozempic
Rybelsus vs. Ozempic
Compounded Semaglutide vs. Ozempic
Tirzepatide Alternatives to Ozempic
Review head-to-head comparisons of tirzepatide alternatives to Ozempic.
Zepbound vs. Ozempic
Mounjaro vs. Ozempic
Compounded Tirzepatide vs. Ozempic
Liraglutide Alternatives to Ozempic
Review head-to-head comparisons of liraglutide alternatives to Ozempic.
Saxenda vs. Ozempic
Victoza vs. Ozempic
Ozempic Alternatives Comparison Chart
How RedBox Rx can help
RedBox Rx provides convenient, affordable telehealth services and prescription treatments for weight loss.
Benefits of RedBox Rx include:
Compounded semaglutide injections and oral dissolvable tablets start at $189 per month with a six-month subscription.
Compounded tirzepatide injections starting at $429 per month and oral dissolvable tablets starting at $397 per month.
Flat-rate, no intro pricing — no cost increase based on dosage.
Online consultations with a U.S. licensed medical professional included in subscription price.
Unlimited provider follow-ups through messaging or video.
One FREE dietitian discovery session.
No insurance required. HSA and FSA eligible.
Free express shipping — get meds in five to seven days.
Start your weight loss journey today with an easy, quick online assessment to see if you qualify.
