Semaglutide is the active drug. Ozempic and Wegovy are two brand-name medicines that contain it, both made by Novo Nordisk. Ozempic is FDA approved for type 2 diabetes and related heart and kidney risks. Wegovy is FDA approved for weight reduction and long-term weight management, and to lower heart risk in certain adults.
Ozempic, Wegovy and Semaglutide at a Glance
| Dimension | Semaglutide (the drug) | Ozempic | Wegovy |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | The active ingredient, a GLP-1 receptor agonist | A brand-name medicine that contains semaglutide | A brand-name medicine that contains semaglutide |
| Maker | Not a brand | Novo Nordisk | Novo Nordisk |
| FDA-approved uses | Depends on the product | Type 2 diabetes blood sugar control; lower risk of major heart events in adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease; lower risk of kidney disease worsening in adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease | Weight reduction and maintenance (adults and children 12 and older with obesity; adults with overweight and a related condition); lower heart risk in adults with heart disease and obesity or overweight; MASH with moderate to advanced scarring in adults |
| Approved for weight loss? | Depends on the product | No. Weight loss is not a labeled use | Yes |
| How it is taken | Injection or tablet, depending on the product | Once-weekly injection | Once-weekly injection; a tablet form is also available |
| Boxed warning | Thyroid C-cell tumors seen in animal studies | Risk of thyroid C-cell tumors | Risk of thyroid C-cell tumors |
Semaglutide: The Active Drug
Semaglutide belongs to a group of medicines called GLP-1 receptor agonists. It copies a natural hormone that helps the pancreas release insulin when blood sugar is high, slows how quickly the stomach empties, and signals fullness to the brain. Different products use it for different approved purposes, which is where the brand names come in.
Ozempic: Approved for Type 2 Diabetes
Ozempic is FDA approved to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes, to lower the risk of major heart events in adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease, and to lower the risk of kidney disease getting worse in adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease. Weight loss is not a labeled use of Ozempic, although weight loss can happen as a side effect of treatment.
Providers can legally prescribe an approved medicine for a use that is not on its label. That is called off-label prescribing, and it is a clinical judgment. It is not the same as the FDA approving the drug for that use.
Wegovy: Approved for Weight Management
Wegovy is FDA approved to reduce excess body weight and keep it off in adults and in children 12 and older with obesity, and in adults with overweight who also have a weight-related condition. It is also approved to lower the risk of major heart events in adults with heart disease who have obesity or overweight, and to treat a form of liver disease called MASH in adults with moderate to advanced scarring. Wegovy has its own dosing schedule, set by its label.
So Are They the Same?
They share an active ingredient, but not an approval, a label, or a dosing schedule. Which one is appropriate, if any, depends on your health history, your goals, other medicines you take, and coverage. That is a decision to make with a licensed provider, not from a chart.
What About Compounded Semaglutide?
Compounded semaglutide is prepared by a pharmacy instead of by Novo Nordisk. Compounded drugs are not FDA approved, which means the FDA has not reviewed them for safety, effectiveness, or quality. Rules for compounding have tightened since the national shortage of semaglutide ended, so what is available, and what is allowed, can change.
The FDA has also received reports of dosing mistakes with compounded semaglutide [wording re-checked on the publish date, B2]. If you are offered a compounded product, ask which pharmacy prepares it, whether it is a licensed U.S. pharmacy, what exactly is in it, and why it is being recommended over the approved medicine.
Safety: Side Effects and Who Should Not Take Semaglutide
The most common side effects are stomach-related: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. They are often worst when treatment starts or the dose goes up.
Ozempic and Wegovy carry a boxed warning, the FDA’s strongest, about thyroid C-cell tumors. The warning comes from animal studies, and it is not known whether the drugs cause these tumors in people. Neither should be used by anyone with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or a condition called MEN 2.
Less common but serious risks include pancreatitis and gallbladder problems. Seek care for severe stomach pain that does not go away. Tell your provider if you are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding.
Where Vitamin B12 Fits In
Vitamin B12 is not part of Ozempic or Wegovy. Some medically supervised programs add it to semaglutide. If a program includes B12, ask what form it is, why it is included, and who is prescribing it. You can read how we approach this on our semaglutide with B12 page.
How Novique Approaches Semaglutide
At Novique in Doylestown, semaglutide is prescribed only after a medical evaluation by a licensed provider. [Product and prescriber details confirmed in B1.] If you are weighing your options, you can learn more about our medically supervised semaglutide program or request a consultation to talk through whether it is right for you.
Medically reviewed by Inna Levinstein. Last reviewed: October 2026.