Semaglutide vs. Tirzepatide: Which Medication is More Effective?

Your hunt for an effective weight loss regimen is perhaps what brought you to the topic of semaglutide vs tirzepatide. While professionals use both of these prescribed medications to treat diabetes, they can potentially aid in weight loss, too [1]. The question arises – which one is more effective?

In this comparison of semaglutide vs tirzepatide, we’ll scrutinize their mechanisms of action, efficacy, potential side effects, and availability to determine which offers the most benefit as diabetes and weight loss aids.

Overview of Semaglutide and Tirzepatide

Semaglutide and tirzepatide are off-label medications often used for type 2 diabetes management. The term “off-label” refers to the authorized use of a medication for a condition or in a manner not specified in the approved labeling by the medicine’s regulatory authority [2].

To better understand the distinctions in their usage, let’s briefly discuss what semaglutide and tirzepatide are:

• Tirzepatide (brand names: Mounjaro, Zepbound) is an approved medication for type 2 diabetes. It doubles as a weight loss aid due to its GLP-1 and GIP agonist properties. Introduced in May 2022, this type of medication can be reviewed by a tirzepatide compounding pharmacy for its indications, usage, adverse effects, and administration [3].
• Semaglutide (brand names: Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus), a GLP-1 receptor stimulator, comes in subcutaneous and oral dosages, a first among GLP-1 receptor agonists. Mostly used for type 2 diabetes, semaglutide dosage is also being scrutinized for weight loss [4].

Evaluating the effectiveness of semaglutide and tirzepatide becomes more discernible once we understand more of how they actually work.

Mechanisms of Action

When it comes to the comparison of semaglutide vs tirzepatide, a key focus lies in understanding their mechanisms of action. Both medications fall within the category of drugs known as incretin mimetics. Despite having similar working principles, they bear differences in the ways they interact with our bodies.

These medications work in three primary ways [5]:

• They stimulate the pancreas to release the required amount of insulin, thereby helping decrease blood sugar.
• They curb the liver from producing an excessive amount of sugar by restraining glucagon secretion. Glucagon, another hormone, tends to increase the amount of sugar in your blood.
• They prolong the process of gastric emptying, or in other words, the transit of food from your stomach through your digestive system. By slowing down this process, semaglutide and tirzepatide can suppress your appetite and lead to weight loss, as you tend to feel satiated for a longer time.

Semaglutide

Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. In simpler terms, it’s a substance that mirrors the function of distinct hormones in our bodies, specifically the GLP-1 hormone. On binding to the GLP-1 receptor, semaglutide plays a crucial role in the regulation of blood sugar levels.

Tirzepatide

Tirzepatide also functions as an incretin mimetic, yet it presents a dual-action mechanism. As a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, tirzepatide binds to both GIP and GLP-1 receptors.

Like GLP-1, GIP is a naturally occurring incretin hormone. Their combined action bolsters the effectiveness of tirzepatide in glucose management.

Please note that these medications should not be used concurrently or in tandem with any other GLP-1 or GIP receptor agonists [6]. Their use should be determined by a healthcare provider, taking into account individual health status, medical history, and specific health goals.

Efficacy Comparison

Turning our discussion to the efficacy of semaglutide vs tirzepatide, we’ll explore concrete evidence drawn from relevant studies to further illuminate the effectiveness of both medications in diabetes management.

Clinical Studies on Semaglutide

• From The Lancet: Semaglutide, when taken orally at 50 mg once a day, led to a significant decrease in body weight in adults with overweight or obesity but no type 2 diabetes [7].
• From the National Library of Medicine: A study involving 175 overweight or obese patients recorded total body weight loss percentages of 5.9% and an impressive 10.9% at the 3-month and 6-month mark respectively [8].
• From the University of Pennsylvania: Semaglutide proved efficacious in combating obesity and diabetes, offering losses of 9.6-17.4% of initial body weight after 68 weeks with improvements in related health and psychological parameters [9].
• From the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association: Some concerns exist around compounded semaglutide as cases underscore the potential hazards like overdosing due to lack of safety features and patient confusion over the diversity of dosage units [10].

Clinical Studies on Tirzepatide

• From New York University Langone Health: Tirzepatide, an investigational drug, showed promising results in aiding people with obesity or overweight and weight-related conditions like diabetes, at different doses [11].
• From The New England Journal of Medicine: Participant weight losses between 16% and 22.5% signpost tirzepatide as a potential obesity treatment, with overall safety similar to other obesity treatments [12].
• From the National Library of Medicine: Tirzepatide led to significant sustained weight loss, with 89.5% of participants maintaining at least 80% of weight loss compared to 16.6% on placebo, despite prevalent mild to moderate gastrointestinal side effects [13].

While both medications have shown promising results, tirzepatide seems to induce more significant weight loss and diabetes treatment in clinical trials. However, the topic of semaglutide vs tirzepatide is multifaceted; it’s crucial to consult a healthcare professional for personalized advice.

Side Effects and Safety Profile

According to Mayo Clinic, certain medications may interact negatively with both semaglutide and tirzepatide. Physicians must account for allergies, geriatric and pediatric measures, and pregnancy, among other considerations.

Here, we present a table enumerating some of the potential side effects for each drug, as per Mayo Clinic’s guidelines for their subcutaneous routes [14][15]:

Cost and Accessibility

Semaglutide and tirzepatide are available under various brand names, which translates to diverse pricing systems. What’s more, your insurance coverage may help bear some of these costs. Ask your doctor about how often you should intake these and for how long. Here are the pricing details for each:

Semaglutide

• Ozempic costs $969 per month.
• Wegovy has a singular price of $1,349.02.
• Rybelsus starts at $947.25.

Tirzepatide

• Mounjaro is priced at $1,023.04 per list.
• A 28-day supply of Zepbound costs around $1,060.

Wrapping Up

Both semaglutide and tirzepatide have strong evidence supporting their efficacy as anti-diabetic and weight-loss medications. Currently, based on studies and pricing, tirzepatide might appear as a preferable option. Yet, the optimal choice ultimately depends on your overall health status.

Curious about other options, possibly through intravenous therapy? Try to have a discussion with an expert here at Legere Pharmaceuticals.

Dr .Taylor Froiland

President of Legere Pharmaceuticals

Taylor Froiland is the president of Legere Pharmaceuticals in Scottsdale, Arizona and serves on the Board of Directors for RK Logistics Group. He also owns and operates Medmetrics Compounding Pharmacy in Chandler, Arizona, specializing in various pharmaceutical services. Taylor holds a PharmD and has expertise in compounding, medicinal chemistry, and quality control.