Switching from Ozempic to Mounjaro: What you need to know

April 28. 2023

There are many approved weight loss medical treatments around, from Lipo C injections to new injectable type 2 diabetes drugs. When starting a program, it is known that choosing the right fit for you makes all the difference. But sometimes, even though you took the time to get informed about the different options, you can still end up with a program that is not the best for you. Is the treatment not providing the results you were looking for? Then switching from Ozempic to Mounjaro or any other weight loss medication is possible.

The reasons you might want to quit a medication could be many, for example, an undesired adverse reaction. Stopping a medical weight-loss treatment to start a new one is entirely different from only abandoning one altogether. Switching between weight loss drugs comes with a few guidelines that must be followed. That way, you will guarantee both your safety and the efficacy of the treatment. Seeking the advice of a healthcare professional is the safest way to change treatments safely and successfully.

Mounjaro and Ozempic have recently become two of the most popular weight loss drugs on the market. While both have highly effective weight loss effects, one of them could be more effective for your particular situation, needs, and goals. Have you started any of these weight loss programs lately and are thinking about switching? Doing so is possible, but we highly recommend you do it under the direction of a weight loss specialist. In this article, our weight loss clinic in Chicago experts will tell you more about everything you need to know when switching from Ozempic to Mounjaro.

How do Ozempic and Mounjaro work?

Mounjaro and Ozempic weight loss are two diabetes medications that aim to treat adults with type 2 diabetes. The first one, Mounjaro, is manufactured by Eli Lilly & Company. And the second one, Ozempic, is produced by Novo Nordisk Pharmaceutical. Both drugs act as receptor agonists that help diabetic patients with blood sugar control. Since individuals with type 2 diabetes can not produce or control insulin normally, they tend to have high blood glucose levels. Ozempic and Mounjaro receptor agonists act on the body by stimulating insulin production from the pancreas while decreasing glucose production from the liver.

That insulin boost and glucose decrease cause an effect called slow gastric emptying. Gastric emptying is the process of how the food you eat leaves your stomach. The faster food goes through, the quicker you will feel hungry again. But if the food stays in your stomach longer, you will feel satisfied for a prolonged period. That is one way in which Ozempic and Mounjaro help you lose weight – by reducing your appetite and helping you eat fewer calories throughout the day. On that note, a low-calorie diet is vital for these treatments to succeed. These drugs do not directly burn calories; they help you stick to a diet that will lead you to substantial weight loss. If you are not losing weight on Ozempic or Mounjaro, you likely need to adjust your meal plan and adopt some healthy habits to boost the treatment.

How do these medicines help with weight loss?

As mentioned, Ozempic and Mounjaro work as receptor agonists; they produce a slower gastric emptying that makes you feel satisfied for longer after eating. In some way, these type 2 diabetes medication work as appetite suppressants. Phentermine is one of the most popular appetite suppressants for weight loss and has been around for decades. You may have heard of it if you have been on a weight loss journey for a while. This medication is highly effective but it’s meant for short-term use only. That is why most patients ask us how to intensify Phentermine. Combining Phentermine with Ozempic could be the answer since both medications produce a similar effect.

Besides helping you achieve weight loss by surprising your appetite, Ozempic and Mounjaro receptor agonists also act on the hunger areas of your brain. These drugs signal your brain that you are full after having a light meal, helping you eat less. Ozempic and Mounjaro also assist you in making healthier food choices. While on the treatment, it is more likely you will choose healthy foods. For example, you will opt for fruit before fatty and salty, unhealthy treats when you are hungry.

Are Ozempic and Mounjaro the same medication?

While Ozempic and Mounjaro are used for the same purposes – treating type 2 diabetes or weight loss – they are not the same medication. They work similarly, producing the same effects on your body, and they have one receptor agonist in common. But still, these two weight loss medicines have a few differences you must consider when choosing your treatments. Like Wegovy vs. Ozempic for weight loss – essentially the same active compound in efferent dosages – every little difference counts when deciding on the perfect medication for you. When choosing the treatment, you must consult a weight loss healthcare professional about your options. You should discuss the treatments again before switching from Ozempic to Mounjaro.

Ozempic and Mounjaro for weight loss: the main differences

When you start a medical weight loss treatment, you should be well informed about the option you will choose to achieve your goals. The same rule applies when switching medications. Here are a few key points you must keep in mind when switching from Ozempic to Mounjaro or the other way around:

Active ingredients and Receptor agonists

Both medications are the brand names of two different drugs that work by mimicking the effects of naturally occurring receptors agonists in our bodies. Ozempic active compound is semaglutide; it mimics the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) hormone. On the other hand, Mounjaro’s active ingredient is tirzepatide. Tirzepatide mimics two receptor agonists: glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP).

The dosage

Patients must start at the lowest possible dose with any of these two weight loss therapies. With Ozempic, that dose is 0.25mg a week; Mounjaro’s initial dosage is 2.5mg a week. As you can see, in both cases, you must take the medication only once a week, always on the same day. After a short adaptation period, your doctor or healthcare provider can gradually increase the dosage until reaching the allowed maximum. With Ozempic, the maximum possible dose is 2mg per week, and with Mounjaro, 15mg a week. How long does Ozempic take to work? How fast these medications deliver results will depend on how fast you get to a higher dosage. It is important to note that not every individual needs to reach the maximum dosage to see results. Some patients start seeing the weight loss effects during the first month while still in the lowest dosages.

FDA approval

Neither Ozempic nor Mounjaro are approved weight loss medications. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved both drugs to treat type 2 diabetes in adults. During clinical trials by Novo Nordisk (Ozempic) and Eli Lilly & Company (Mounjaro), both medications were highly effective in reducing blood sugar levels and promoting substantial weight loss. Novo Nordisk developed a new brand called Wegovy. This new brand contains the same active compound Ozempic is made of (semaglutide) but at a higher dosage. The FDA currently approves Wegovy to treat obese and overweight individuals. Mounjaro was granted fast-track designation by the FDA, which means this medication will get approval for weight loss at any time.

Why switch from Ozempic to Moujaro?

There are many reasons why a patient may want or need to stop a medical weight loss treatment and start another one. Here are the most common reasons why you may want to switch from Ozempic to Mounjaro:

Looking for more effectiveness

While both medications are highly effective in promoting weight loss, Mounjaro – at its maximum dose – provides more significant body weight loss. That is because you can take Mounjaro in larger dosages than Ozempic. And the larger the dosage, the more effective the treatment will be. With the highest dosage of Ozempic, most patients lose about 10 to 14% of their body weight. On the other hand, with Mounjaro’s maximum dose, individuals lose up to 22% of their body weight.

As mentioned in this article, not everybody needs to reach the highest medication dose to obtain results. But switching medicines could be the answer if you are struggling to lose weight. However, you must remember that Ozempic and Mounjaro require diet and exercise to lead you to your goal. You can try fasting benefits by hour or a personalized diet plan to boost the treatments and achieve rapid weight loss.

Unpleasant side effects

Both Ozempic and Mounjaro work a lot alike in our bodies. Therefore, the side effects they can potentially produce are mostly the same. On that same note, with any of these medications, the most common side effects appear when your doctor increases the dosage. And in most cases, adverse effects go away once your body gets used to the higher dose. When a side effect turns serious, does not go away after a while, or a person can not tolerate it, that is a strong reason why a patient may want to change medications. The adverse effect can vary from one person to another. Both medicines’ most common side effects include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea, and headache. There are certain Ozempic and Mounjaro foods to avoid to reduce those unpleasant side effects.

What to know when switching from Ozempic to Mounjaro

You can start a new program if, a few weeks into the treatment, you do not see positive results or the side effects are too much to handle. Switching from Ozempic to Mounjaro is almost always possible. Still, it is advised you consult with a professional before doing it.

Since both injectable medications act similarly on the body, the transition should be smooth. However, you will have to start the new treatment at its lowest possible dosage. That way, your body will adapt to the new drug without developing unnecessary and uncomfortable side effects.

Many patients wonder if switching medications makes the treatment less effective. Changing weight loss medicines will not affect your treatment effectiveness as long as you do it right. Ozempic’s highest dose is 2mg, and Mounjaro’s lowest dosage is 2,5mg. So in this particular case, switching medications will likely not affect your weight loss progress.

Something else to keep in mind when changing the medications is that you must respect the day of the week you were taking Ozempic. If you used to take your injections on Sundays, use that same day to take Mounjaro. If you want or need to change the day of the week, ask your healthcare provider how to do that safely. That way, you will maintain the treatment’s effectiveness.

Final thoughts

Do you feel uncomfortable with your current weight loss program? Do you think that changing medications is the best option? Switching from Ozempic to Mounjaro safely is possible. But you will have to do that process with the guidance of a healthcare professional. Quitting a medical treatment or starting a new one without consulting your doctor first can lead to unwanted or dangerous side effects. That could also compromise the effectiveness of the weight loss program.

You must also remember that both Ozempic and Mounjaro need commitment from your side to deliver results. They have to be paired with healthy eating and exercise; Ozempic and coffee has also been proven to be a weight loss-boosting combination.

If, after reading this article, you think switching treatments is the most suitable option for you, schedule a call with us. Our team will help you make the transition smoothly so you can quickly reach your weight loss goals.

Author

Nurse Walton

Born and raised in Chicago, IL, Chanay received her Practical Nurse licensure and went to work in clinical specialties such as Home Health, Assisted Living, Long-Term Care and Dialysis Centers. Through this work, she realized the importance of diet, nutrition and weight loss among her patients. This led her to open A Better Weigh, Inc. Medical Weight Loss Center in 2009.