Wegovy vs Zepbound
Both are once-weekly injections approved for chronic weight management, with different active ingredients and makers.
Wegovy is semaglutide from Novo Nordisk; Zepbound is tirzepatide from Eli Lilly. Both step up over months to a maintenance dose.
| Wegovy | Zepbound | |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | semaglutide | tirzepatide |
| Made by | Novo Nordisk | Eli Lilly |
| Form | Injection | Injection |
| Schedule | Once a week | Once a week |
| How it works | GLP-1 receptor agonist | GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist |
| Usual top dose | 2.4 mg weekly | 15 mg weekly |
| Half-life (label) | about 1 week | about 5 days |
Key differences
- Wegovy’s missed-dose rule depends on the next dose being more than 2 days away; Zepbound allows up to 4 days.
- Half-life: about a week for semaglutide, about 5 days for tirzepatide.
- Wegovy is also available as a daily pill; Zepbound is injection only.
Questions
Which one should I take?
That is for you and your prescriber. Whichever you are on, Steady tracks your doses, level, side effects and weight.
What is the difference between Wegovy and Zepbound?
Wegovy is semaglutide from Novo Nordisk; Zepbound is tirzepatide from Eli Lilly. Both step up over months to a maintenance dose.
Which is stronger, Wegovy or Zepbound?
Doses are not comparable milligram for milligram between different products, and which works better depends on the person. That is for your prescriber to judge.
Can I take Wegovy and Zepbound together?
The labels say these medications should not be used together with other GLP-1 receptor agonists. Do not combine them unless your prescriber tells you to.
How long do Wegovy and Zepbound stay in your system?
The labels give a half-life of about 1 week for Wegovy and about 5 days for Zepbound. It usually takes about five half-lives for most of a dose to clear.
Do Wegovy and Zepbound have the same side effects?
Both labels list stomach and gut effects such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and constipation as the most common. The full lists differ; see each medication’s side effects page.
Can I switch from Wegovy to Zepbound?
Only your prescriber can decide that and set the new dose. If you switch, change your medication in Steady so your reminders and level curve follow it.
Can Steady track both Wegovy and Zepbound?
Yes. Steady supports both, with each one’s own schedule, dose list and half-life.
Sources: Wegovy prescribing information (DailyMed), Zepbound prescribing information (DailyMed)