The GLP-1 Showdown: Ozempic vs Mounjaro Head-to-Head Comparison
Diabetes Specialists Compare A1C Reduction, Weight Loss Results, Side Effects, and Organ Protection Benefits in This 'GLP-1 Showdown’
In this video, you will learn about the following:
✔ Head-to-head comparison of A1C reduction and weight loss benefits (up to 20%)
✔ Heart and kidney protection benefits – which medication has more substantial evidence
✔ Managing side effects and finding the right dosing strategy for your needs
✔ Latest research on additional benefits, including sleep apnea improvement
✔ Considerations for long-term treatment success
Endocrinologists Dr. Steve Edelman and Dr. Jeremy Pettus, both living with Type 1 diabetes for over 30 years, compare Ozempic (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) in this comprehensive head-to-head analysis. While both medications offer remarkable benefits for blood sugar management, weight loss, and organ protection, they work differently in the body. Ozempic targets only GLP-1 receptors, while Mounjaro activates both GLP-1 and GIP receptors, potentially explaining its edge in A1C reduction and weight loss results. However, Ozempic currently has more extensive research demonstrating kidney and heart protection. Learn which medication might align best with your specific health priorities and how to discuss these options with your healthcare provider.
Explore this topic more with our in-depth article!
Mounjaro vs Ozempic: Which One Is Right for You?
Ozempic made a splashy debut in 2017 with a catchy jingle and celebrity following, and Mounjaro came onto the scene five years later as another impressive type 2 diabetes medication that delivers impactful glucose management results along with significant weight loss. How are these two game-changing medications alike? How are they different? How do you know which one would be right for you?
We’ve received lots of questions on Mounjaro vs Ozempic, so let’s get into it!
I lost more weight on ozempic but the nausea and constipation were a lot worse than mounjaro. Still waiting to see if I will lose any weight on mounjaro.T1D and also have sleep apnea (discovered during surgery).
Keep us posted – hope Mounjaro helps!
I am going to talk to my endo about switching me from Ozempic to Mounjaro at my next appt. I can’t tolerate more than .5gm dose ozempic due to reflux/side effects. Hoping Mounjaro will be better for side effects and assist with more weight loss.
I’ve been taking Ozempic for 4 years, but now the insurance company won’t pay for it. I have been type 1 for 50 years (in May)and am concerned my health will decline
You need to get your healthcare provider to lobby on your behalf to be able to continue getting the medication. Any GLP-1 should help.
I took ozempic for about 2 years. The doctor keep uping in the dose. I got so sick was in the hospital it caused my stomach pain really bad almost to stomach paralysis. Now my doctor just started me on Mounjaro so far I have no side effects and it’s haven’t seen any positives yet but it’s just so early I just been on it for 3 weeks. It is A low dose.
Hope Mounjaro works well for you, Christine!
I gained over 20 pounds on Ozempic and my doctor doesn’t know why. Does that happen to other people!? I am so unhappy about that so I quit taking it. My a1c only improved slightly with it anyway.
It’s extremely rare that people gain weight on Ozempic. I would make sure that you got the real stuff and not a compounded formula.
I am using Rybelsus hoping it would help with morning syndrome. No change. The morning blood sugar spike is slower but it still goes up to 200. This makes each day such a challenge to get the blood sugar back down. Have you heard if
Ozempic or Monjouro help with dawn syndrome?
I have only heard anecdotal stories, but no one has really looked at this specifically. Give yourself a rage bolus before you get out of bed.
My endo has been studying effect of ozempic on newly diagnosed T1s and claims reduced insulin need. He started me on ozempic right at the first meeting (Oct 2023) and I had almost an immediate honeymoon. Needed less than 5 units lantus n barely any bolus. No side effect other than weight loss, Unfortunately I had already lost close to 40 lbs on my way to T1 diagnosis and got severely underweight when I bumped up to 0.5 and then 1 mg.. I would still spike to like 250 after big meals, but even 1 unit of aspartame would bring me crashing down. It was a lot better better with Teresiba n fiasp, but I grew tired of the swings n weight loss n stopped taking it in dec 2024. Interestingly, once I stopped ozempic, my c peptide has gone significantly higher(1.3, up from 0.54 before)
Your case is extremely unusual, and it sounds like your body secretes plenty of insulin. You are either in the honeymoon period, or you have LADA, or you are not a person with true type 1 diabetes and may have something like MODY.
Can it still be MODY with auto antibodies? My gad,Ica, iaa and znt8 all came back overwhelmingly positive acc to trial etc n lab tests. My insulin needs were minimal when on ozempic, but cpeptide readings were in the 0.4-0.5 range. I’m using more insulin(10-12 units long acting + 1unit rapid per 15 g of carbs) since stopping ozempic, but the latest cpeptide was 1.3.
You are a T1D with all those positive autoantibodies!!
Wow.. you giveth hope and taketh away!!!
Haha! Well my motto is, if you’re not type 1 you’re a loser, so welcome to an exclusive club! 🙂
I’m Type 1, not obese, started on Ozempic a year ago for post-meal spikes and constant hunger (gained 15 pounds in a year). I lost 8 pounds in the first 3 months just with ramping up from .25mg to .5 and then 1mg. My blood sugar spikes disappeared, and it was great. But then it stopped working. Weight loss stalled, hunger and spikes returned. Tried 2mg with no difference. I switched to 10mg of Mounjaro and promptly had the best blood sugars in years, lost another 17 pounds. reduced my TDD from about 35-40 units/day to about 25, etc. It’s been great. Recently, though, the effect doesn’t seem as strong anymore and by the end of the week I start getting hungry a lot again, blood sugars spike a bit more and so forth. I’m hoping it doesn’t lose effectiveness. I’m super happy with my weight and everything. I love it. Got it approved by insurance because my endo said I’m Type 1 with secondary Type 2 as evidenced by ISF of 35, spikes after meals and A1C above 7.
I’ve taken Ozempic for about 3 years. T1d 35 years. No change in weight unfortunately. However, my A1C improved and insulin needs lowered by 20-25 units per day. Also, my kidney function improved from stage 2 to normal. I just switched to Zepbound in the hopes of some weight loss.
My main goal is protecting my heart, eyes and kidneys. Having normal A1Cs too.
That’s great, Leslie! Thanks for sharing your experience!
I am a Type II diagnosed 30+ years ago with an A1c of 7.0 taking 1.5 Trulicity. How does Trulicity compare to these 2 newer drugs.
Trulicity is an excellent GLP-1 medication, made by Lilly who makes Mounjaro. Based on the studies it’s just not as potent in people with type 2 diabetes in terms of A1c reduction and weight loss, but still an excellent choice. Now you can go to much higher doses like 4.5 mg/week.
I would be concerned about going higher than 1.5 as it causes me significant loss of appetite which borders on nausea. I was wondering if Mounjaro or Ozempic might provide benefits without the nausea.
Does DOD have Mounjaro or Ozempic in their formulary?
All of the GLP-1s can cause nausea. You just need to titrate slowly and only go to the higher dose if you want more weight loss, and your nausea has gone away as it does for most folks. Yes…DOD and the VA provide it.
I have been on Ozempic since June and have not had any weight loss so a bit disappointing but the A1C did get better. Yes, my insurance pushed it to a higher copay as of Jan 1 so that was disappointing for sure.
Sorry to hear about your higher copay, but glad the medication has improved your A1c.
I was on Victoza for 10 years but at the end of 2023, my insurance pushed me to Ozempic so I’ve been on it for 15 months. I’ve had intermittent GI problems over the years, but more frequently since I started Ozempic. Blood sugar control/A1C has been similar to my experience on Victoza. I’ve been able to maintain my previous weight loss (from ~250 lbs to ~200 lbs) okay on Ozempic.
I was on Victoza until the end of 2023 when my insurance pushed me onto Ozempic. In the 15 months since I started Ozempic, my A1C is stable and I’ve been able to maintain my previous weight loss of from 253 lbs to 201 lbs (today). I have had some GI problems on Ozempic but I’m managing it through fiber and probiotics.
Thanks for sharing, Thomas, and congrats on the A1c and weight loss!
I do have type 2 diabetes . My Dr tried me on Ozempic first and it made me extremly sick wirh nausea and extreme vomiting. Tolerated it for 5 months and it was awful . No weightloss even though I was hardly eating. Next My Dr switched me to mounjaro side effects not bad just a little nausea once in awhile . Great A1C results but very little weightloss in a year 6 lbs total yet I hear many people share they have lost 40 to 60 lbs in that amount of time . My highest dose on mounjaro is 12.5 . I am not very hungry ever eat 1/2 or less of what I use to but do not really lose weight BUT I am very happy with my A1C results .
You definitely need to ask your doctor about checking for hypercortisolism. You can learn more about hypercortisolism here:
https://tcoyd.org/2024/08/wondering-why-your-diabetes-is-out-of-whack-it-could-be-too-much-cortisol/
https://tcoyd.org/2024/08/hiding-in-plain-sight-a-common-condition-that-put-this-patients-health-in-jeopardy/
This is something we see in people who don’t respond to the GLP-1 RAs.