Mounjaro vs Ozempic: A Comparative Analysis with Research Insights

Overview:

In this article, I will undertake a comprehensive comparison between Mounjaro and Ozempic, shedding light on their features, benefits, and research insights.

Both Mounjaro and Ozempic are prescription medicines, usually used with diet and exercise, to aid the control of blood sugar (glucose) levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. Ozempic is also approved to lessen the risk of cardiovascular incidents such as heart attack or stroke, in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, Mounjaro has not yet received this suggestion although studies are ongoing.

Mounjaro and Ozempic may also lead to significant weight loss but are not yet specifically approved by the FDA for this use. However, if weight loss is your only goal, the brand of semaglutide known as Wegovy is approved for weight loss (but not blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes).

Gastrointestinal side effects, like nausea and diarrhea, are the most common side effects seen with these drugs. Slowly increasing the dose, as directed by your healthcare provider, may help you more effectively manage the stomach side effects. Now I will discuss every query regarding Mounjaro vs Ozempic one by one. But before this, I want to inform you about the way and place of administration, schedule, and cost of both drugs so that you can choose any one of them according to your requirements and circumstances. Mounjaro and Ozempic, both drugs are typically given as a subcutaneous injection once a week, maybe in the upper arm, thigh, or abdomen it’s up to you and you can learn how to inject at home. If you want any oral weight loss tablet I will suggest rybelsus which is a brand of semaglutide usually suggested for Type 2 diabetes.   

Both medications are pricey but discount coupons, insurance, copay cards, and manufacturer financial aid can help you.

How are they administered?

Both Mounjaro and Ozempic are administered through weekly subcutaneous injections in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. You or a caregiver can learn to administer these injections using an injector pen.

For Mounjaro, the typical starting dose is 2.5 mg weekly, increasing to 5 mg after 4 weeks. The 2.5 mg dose is for initiation and not for glycemic control, with a maximum of 15 mg weekly.

Contrary to Ozempic, the initial dose is 0.25 mg weekly for the beginning phase, which is then increased to 0.5 mg after 4 weeks. The highest prescribed dosage is 2 mg per week. Initiation with lower doses aims to minimize prevalent stomach-related side effects such as vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. Additional potential side effects encompass constipation, indigestion, and abdominal discomfort.

Do Mounjaro and Ozempic belong to the same drug category?

Mounjaro and Ozempic both fall under the classification of drugs termed incretin mimetics, but they exhibit certain distinctions. While both are efficacious for treating type 2 diabetes, Mounjaro targets GIP and GLP-1 receptors, whereas Ozempic solely focuses on GLP-1 receptors.

Mounjaro, developed by Eli Lilly, is a dual-acting GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonist. By affecting these natural incretin hormones, it effectively decreases fasting and postprandial glucose levels, curtails food intake, and aids in weight reduction among type 2 diabetes patients.

Ozempic, created by Novo Nordisk, is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. It binds to GLP-1 receptors, stimulating insulin release as required. Additionally, it slows down food passage through the digestive tract, promoting a prolonged sense of fullness, reduced food consumption, and subsequent weight loss.

It's important to note that these medications should not be used concurrently or in conjunction with other GLP-1 or GIP receptor agonists.

Do both Mounjaro and Ozempic lower A1C levels?

Indeed, both medications can assist in achieving your A1C target, which is vital in averting complications linked to diabetes, such as heart and vascular issues, nerve impairment, kidney dysfunction, and vision deterioration. 

A1C is a laboratory exam gauging average blood sugar (glucose) levels over 2 to 3 months, offering insights into your diabetes management. While blood sugar levels might begin decreasing immediately, it typically takes around 2 to 3 months to attain the desired A1C target. Regular A1C tests are usually conducted twice annually for individuals with type 2 diabetes. In most cases, the aim is an A1C level under 7%. Specific details about your A1C goal can be provided by your healthcare provider.

Read also Wegovy Vs Ozempic

Which is more effective: Mounjaro or Ozempic?

In the 40-week Phase, 3 SURPASS-2 studies involving over 1,870 participants, Mounjaro and semaglutide (Ozempic) were compared to assess their impact on A1C reduction and weight loss, with A1C being the primary focus. Although both Mounjaro and Ozempic are not yet approved for weight loss, they may lead to some weight reduction in patients with type 2 diabetes.

 The study examined Mounjaro injections at 5 mg, 10 mg, and 15 mg alongside semaglutide (Ozempic) injections at 1 mg in adults with type 2 diabetes who were unresponsive to 1,500 mg/day of metformin alone. At the study's commencement, participants had an A1C of 8.3% and weighed 94.1 kg (207 lb).

•   Mounjaro exhibited A1C reduction ranging from 2% to 2.3%, compared to a 1.9% decrease in the semaglutide (Ozempic) 1 mg group.
• Mounjaro led to weight loss averaging between 7.7 kg (17 lb) and 11.4 kg (25 lb), while semaglutide (Ozempic) yielded 5.9 kg (13 lb) in weight loss.
• It's worth noting that Ozempic is now approved in a higher 2 mg dose, and its effectiveness when compared to Mounjaro with this higher dose may differ. The FDA sanctioned the 2 mg dose in March 2022.

What's the difference in side effects between Mounjaro and Ozempic?

Both Mounjaro and Ozempic, along with other incretin mimetics, share gastrointestinal (digestive tract) side effects as the most prevalent. These stomach-related effects are particularly noticeable during the initial dosage stages. Following the recommended practice of gradually increasing the dose, as advised by your healthcare professional, could aid in minimizing these stomach-related effects.

It's important to recognize that comparing side effect rates is complex due to varying patient groups, doses, and study designs. Direct comparative clinical studies are essential for accurate comparisons.

Side Effects: Mounjaro

In studies involving Mounjaro, the most frequently reported side effects in comparison to a placebo (an inactive substance) are:

• Heartburn (dyspepsia): 5% to 8% (vs. 3% on placebo)
• Diarrhea: 12% to 17% (vs. 9% on placebo) 
• Constipation: 6% to 7% (vs. 1% on placebo)
• Nausea: 12% to 18% (vs. 4% on placebo)
• Decreased appetite: 5% to 11% (vs. 1% on placebo)
• Vomiting: 5% to 9% (vs. 2% on placebo)
• Stomach (abdominal) pain: 5% to 6% (vs. 4% on placebo)

In general, stomach-related side effects were experienced by 37% to 44% of patients treated with Mounjaro (compared to 20% on placebo). Furthermore, 3% to 6.6% of Mounjaro-treated patients discontinued treatment due to gastrointestinal effects, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, as opposed to 0.4% in the placebo group. Most occurrences of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea were observed during the initial dose escalation, subsiding over time.

Additional reported side effects associated with Mounjaro encompassed hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), heightened heart rate, allergic reactions, reactions at the injection site, acute gallbladder disease, and elevated amylase and lipase levels (pancreas enzymes).

Side Effects: Ozempic:

The most common side effects of Ozempic are:

• Heartburn (dyspepsia): 2.7% to 3.5% (vs. 1.9% on placebo)
• Stomach (abdominal) pain: 5.7% to 7.3% (vs. 4.6% on placebo)
• Vomiting: 5% to 9.2% (vs. 2.3% on placebo)
• Nausea: 16% to 20% (vs. 6% on placebo)
• Diarrhea: 8.5% to 8.8% (vs. 1.9% on placebo)
• Constipation: 3.1% to 5% (vs. 1.5% on placebo)

On the whole, approximately 33% to 36% of patients using Ozempic experienced stomach-related side effects (in contrast to 15% of those on placebo). Additionally, 3.1% to 3.8% of Ozempic users ceased treatment due to gastrointestinal effects, whereas the placebo group recorded 0.4%.

Other reported side effects connected to Ozempic encompassed hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), reactions at the injection site, elevated levels of amylase and lipase (pancreas enzymes), gallstones (cholelithiasis), increased heart rate, fatigue, altered taste (dysgeusia), allergic reactions, and dizziness.

Both Mounjaro and Ozempic carry Boxed Warnings regarding potential thyroid tumors, including cancer, as observed in animal studies. It is advised not to use these products if you have a history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in your family, or if you exhibit symptoms such as a neck mass, trouble swallowing (dysphagia), shortness of breath (dyspnea), or persistent hoarseness. Individuals with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2) should also avoid these products.

These details do not encompass all the side effects or cautions related to these drugs.

Comparing mounjaro vs. Ozempic costs:

Mounjaro Pricing The weekly dosage range for Mounjaro (tirzepatide) injections covers from 5 mg to 15 mg. The standard maintenance dose is 5 mg weekly, administered subcutaneously. Single-dose pens for Mounjaro are accessible in 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and 15 mg options. The highest prescribed dosage is 15 mg per week. 

• For instance, a package containing four 5 mg Mounjaro single-dose pens (each delivering 5 mg per injection) is priced at around $1086.* This carton should last for a month, but prices may fluctuate. 

• The costs per carton are relatively consistent across all Mounjaro pen strengths.

Ozempic Pricing Ozempic (semaglutide) weekly injections range from 0.5 mg to 2 mg. The typical maintenance dose involves injecting 0.5 to 1 mg subcutaneously once weekly. Ozempic injection pens are offered in strengths of 2 mg, 4 mg, and 8 mg per pen (multi-use, single patient). The highest recommended Ozempic dose is 2 mg weekly. 

• As an example, a 3 mL Ozempic pen holding a total of 4 mg and dispensing 1 mg per injection costs around $995.* Should you opt for a 1 mg dose, this pen would cover a month's usage (1 mg dose per week for 4 weeks). Prices can vary and each carton is supplied with NovoFine Plus needles. 

• The costs for different Ozempic pen strengths are approximately equal.

These prices are estimates and subject to change. The actual cost of these medications can vary based on factors like your pharmacy's location, your insurance plan, copays, deductibles, patient financial aid, or discount coupons you might possess. Employing an online coupon could potentially reduce your expenses if you're paying out-of-pocket. Manufacturers might also offer Savings Cards for eligible individuals.