Weight loss

Zepbound vs Ozempic

Two different medicines from two different makers. Zepbound is tirzepatide. Ozempic is semaglutide.

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$0 until a clinician approves. Your clinician helps you choose.

Zepbound®
Eli Lilly · Tirzepatide
Dual GLP-1 / GIP agonist
vs
O
Ozempic®
Novo Nordisk · Semaglutide
GLP-1 receptor agonist

People often compare Zepbound and Ozempic because both are weekly GLP-1 shots. But they are different medicines. Zepbound (Eli Lilly) contains tirzepatide. It acts on two hormones, GLP-1 and GIP, and it's FDA-approved for weight management. Ozempic (Novo Nordisk) contains semaglutide. It's FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes.

Side by side.

 
Zepbound®
Ozempic®
Active ingredient
Tirzepatide
Semaglutide
Receptors
GLP-1 + GIP
GLP-1 only
FDA indication
Weight management
Type 2 diabetes
Average weight loss in trials
~20.9%
Not labeled for weight
Manufacturer
Eli Lilly
Novo Nordisk

Who picks which.

Zepbound®
  • Weight management is the goal
  • You want the strongest weight-loss data and the two-hormone action
View Zepbound®
Ozempic®
  • You have type 2 diabetes
  • You're already doing well and stable on semaglutide
Our verdict

You can't swap one for the other. Match the medicine to your medical reason. Zepbound is for weight management. Ozempic is for diabetes. If you were thinking of Ozempic for weight loss (an off-label use), the semaglutide brand approved for that is Wegovy.

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Prescription treatments need an online visit. A U.S.-licensed provider reviews it and decides if a treatment is medically right for you. Individual results vary.

Common questions.

Can I take both?
No. Never combine GLP-1 medicines. Taking two floods the same receptors (the spots on your cells the medicine acts on). That raises the risk of side effects and doesn't improve results.
Which has fewer side effects?
Both mostly cause stomach side effects, like nausea. Tirzepatide's action on GIP may lower nausea at the highest doses, but that isn't certain.

Related comparisons

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Semaglutide vs Tirzepatide

Both are GLP-1 medicines. Tirzepatide also acts on a second hormone, GIP. Here's how to choose between them.

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Wegovy® vs Zepbound®

Two FDA-approved brands with different medicines inside. Picking one really means picking semaglutide or tirzepatide, at brand-name prices.

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Ozempic® vs Wegovy®

Same active ingredient (semaglutide), but a different FDA label. Here's what that means for you.

Read the comparison →