According to the FDA, up to 70% of American adults are overweight or obese and may have chronic health conditions related to their weight. If you’re overweight, losing even 5% of your overall weight can significantly reduce the chances of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
However, losing weight isn't always easy, especially when you don't know where to start. If you have diabetes or are struggling to lose weight alone, medications like tirzepatide and semaglutide may help.
Before starting any medication, it's essential to understand how they work and the differences between the two. At Novell Primary Care and Weight Loss in Tallahassee, Florida, our team specializes in losing weight through diet, exercise, and medications to suppress appetite and produce excellent results.
Tirzepatide is a medication doctors utilize for type 2 diabetes and weight loss. In November 2023, the FDA approved the drug for adults living with obesity who have one weight-related health condition.
Mounjaro® or Zepbound® are the brand names of tirzepatide, with Zepbound being the drug's active ingredient. It works by activating specific receptors that work with the hormones your body makes to help you feel full and eat less.
Tirzepatide works with glucagon-like peptide 1, a hormone your intestines secrete to prompt insulin production and tell your brain that you're full. It’s an agonist, meaning it mimics the effects of GLP-1, which helps you lose weight.
It also works with the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, or GIP, another hormone that increases insulin and triggers a sensation of fullness.
Doctors use tirzepatide to manage type 2 diabetes and help control weight. It's an injection you give yourself once weekly, increasing the dosage over four to twenty weeks to achieve optimal weight loss. The maximum dose for the drug is 15mg weekly.
Semaglutide is similar to tirzepatide in that doctors use it to manage type 2 diabetes and help support weight loss. It has three brand names: Wegovy®, Ozempic®, and Rybelsus®.
Semaglutide is a GLP-1 agonist; it mimics the effects of the hormone. It increases insulin production to control blood sugar and makes you feel full with less food. It works best with moderate exercise and a healthy diet.
You can choose a once-weekly injection of semaglutide or opt for oral tablets. However, there are specific instructions for taking Rybelsus that you must follow precisely to trigger weight loss.
For instance, if you choose Rybelsus, you must take it when you first wake up on an empty stomach with less than four ounces of water. You then must wait 30 minutes to eat or take any other medications.
You must also take the pill whole without crushing it or cutting it in half. Following these instructions ensures your body reaps the drug's benefits and helps you lose weight effectively.
Although semaglutide and tirzepatide are both GLP-1 agonists, they differ. They both work by stimulating the body's insulin production and helping you feel full – but it goes beyond that.
Comparing the two medications before choosing one for weight loss is essential to your health. One significant difference to consider is if you want to inject yourself weekly or take an oral tablet daily.
Tirzepatide is only available as an injection, whereas semaglutide comes in an oral form called Rybelsus. If you don't like needles, semaglutide may be a better option.
Another difference is what hormones they work on in the body. Semaglutide and tirzepatide work on the GLP-1 hormone, but only tirzepatide works on the GIP hormone to promote even more insulin production and the feeling of fullness for optimal weight loss.
The doses of each drug are also different. Tirzepatide comes in 5, 10, and 15 milligram doses, while semaglutide comes in 0.25 milligram increments and increases to 2 milligrams per week as an injection.
Overall, both drugs are effective in controlling type 2 diabetes and achieving weight loss, but tirzepatide seems to have the edge. In one study, tirzepatide lowered hemoglobin A1C levels by 2-2.5%, whereas semaglutide lowered them by 1-2%.
Tirzepatide also wins out in the weight loss category, with another study showing weight loss at 15.4-28.6 pounds, whereas semaglutide only averaged 13.2-22 pounds of weight loss.
Both drugs are effective in managing type 2 diabetes and achieving weight loss, and they work similarly. Our team helps you determine the best medication for your weight loss goals and needs.
To find out which medication suits your weight loss needs and goals, call Novell Primary Care and Weight Loss today or request a consultation on the website.
