Wegovy vs Ozempic: how they compare

How Does Ozempic Work?

Ozempic is available in New Zealand as a prescription medicine for people with type 2 diabetes. It acts like GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), a hormone your body produces naturally to release more insulin when your blood sugar rises. This helps keep blood sugar levels under greater control.

Ozempic is also approved to help lower the chance of serious heart-related problems, such as heart attacks and strokes, for adults with type 2 diabetes who already have heart disease.

How Does Wegovy Work?

Wegovy is approved in New Zealand for weight loss and weight management in people who are overweight or obese and meet certain BMI criteria. ¹

Like Ozempic, Wegovy targets GLP-1 pathways in the body. However, Wegovy uses a higher dose of semaglutide (2.4 mg), which has a greater effect on appetite and digestion. Wegovy sends signals to your brain that help you feel full sooner, so you eat less overall. It also slows how quickly food moves through your stomach, helping you feel satisfied for longer.

Wegovy is also approved to help reduce the risk of serious heart problems in certain adults with established heart disease who do not have diabetes² and have a BMI of at least 27.

Alternatives to Wegovy and Ozempic Available in New Zealand

In addition to injection treatments for weight loss and weight management, there are two other options available (for adults over 18) in tablet form.

Xenical (orlistat 120mg)

Xenical is a weight-loss medicine approved for use in New Zealand. It can be purchased either by prescription or directly from a pharmacy after a consultation with a pharmacist.

Xenical contains the active ingredient orlistat, which works by blocking an enzyme in your gut called lipase. Lipase normally breaks down fat from the food you eat so it can be absorbed into your body. By blocking some of this enzyme, Xenical reduces the amount of fat your body absorbs by up to 30%.

Xenical works best when used alongside a low-fat diet. Like Wegovy, people generally require a BMI of 30 or above, or a BMI of 27 or above if other health conditions related to weight are also present (for example, type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure).

Xenical is not a publicly funded medicine in New Zealand, which means you will need to pay for it yourself.

Contrave

Like Xenical, Contrave comes in tablet form and is available by prescription only, but it works in a different way. Each Contrave tablet contains two active ingredients: naltrexone (8 mg) and bupropion (90 mg).

While it's not fully understood exactly how Contrave helps with weight loss, these two ingredients are thought to work on different areas of the brain. Contrave may help suppress appetite so you eat less overall and may also reduce cravings by affecting the "reward" pathways in your brain, making it easier to resist snacking.

As with the other weight-loss medicines mentioned above, Contrave is not publicly funded in New Zealand, which means you will need to cover the cost yourself.

In Summary

There are several prescription medicine options available in New Zealand for weight management or related conditions:

None of the above are currently funded in New Zealand, which means you will need to cover the cost yourself. Your healthcare provider or pharmacist can help you understand which option, if any, is right for you based on your individual health needs.

Please note: All weight-loss medicines work best when used alongside a healthy diet and regular physical activity. They are not intended as a stand-alone solution for managing weight long term.

Wegovy® is used for weight loss and weight maintenance in addition to diet and physical activity in adults and adolescents aged 18 years and above who meet certain Body Mass Index (BMI) criteria. Wegovy® is also indicated to reduce the risk of a heart disease–related event in addition to standard of care if you are an adult with a history of heart disease and have a BMI ≥27 kg/m² without established diabetes. Wegovy® contains the active ingredient semaglutide and is available in the following dose forms: 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg, 1.7 mg and 2.4 mg. The two lower-dose pens contain 1.5 mL of liquid each, while the three higher-dose pens contain 3 mL each. Wegovy® has risks and benefits. Ask your healthcare provider if Wegovy® is right for you. Use strictly as directed. If you experience side effects, see your doctor, pharmacist, or healthcare professional. Side effects of Wegovy® include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal pain, headache, and fatigue. Please refer to the Wegovy® Consumer Medicine Information available at: https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/consumers/cmi/w/wegovy.pdf

Ozempic® is a prescription medicine approved in New Zealand for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Ozempic® contains the active ingredient semaglutide and is available in pre-filled pen form. Ozempic® has risks and benefits. Please refer to the Wegovy® Consumer Medicine Information (semaglutide) available at: https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/consumers/cmi/w/wegovy.pdf

Xenical® is a medicine approved in New Zealand for weight loss and is available by prescription or after a consultation with a pharmacist. Xenical® contains the active ingredient orlistat (120 mg per capsule) and works by reducing fat absorption from food. Xenical® has risks and benefits. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if Xenical® is right for you. Please refer to the Xenical® Consumer Medicine Information available at: https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/consumers/cmi/x/xenical.pdf

Contrave® is a prescription medicine approved in New Zealand for weight management. Each Contrave® tablet contains two active ingredients: naltrexone (8 mg) and bupropion (90 mg). Contrave® has risks and benefits. Ask your healthcare provider if Contrave® is right for you. Please refer to the Contrave® Consumer Medicine Information available at: https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/datasheet/c/Contravetab.pdf

Footnotes

1. To be eligible for a Wegovy treatment programme, people generally need to have a BMI of 30 or more, or a BMI of 27 or more and at least one weight-related health condition, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, PCOS, erectile dysfunction, or high cholesterol.

2. Wegovy's cardiovascular indication is based on the SELECT trial, a large, randomised trial of semaglutide 2.4 mg once weekly in adults with overweight or obesity and established cardiovascular disease who did not have diabetes. Because the trial excluded people with diabetes, the label for this specific heart-disease indication also specifies "do not have diabetes." This reflects the study design, not a universal rule that semaglutide cannot be used in people with diabetes.

• Wegovy is an injectable medicine taken once a week to support weight loss in people who are overweight or obese. It may also help lower the chance of major cardiovascular events in certain people with heart disease who do not have diabetes.
• Ozempic is a weekly injection prescribed for people with type 2 diabetes to help manage blood sugar levels. It may also help lower the chance of major cardiovascular events for people who have both type 2 diabetes and a history of heart disease.
• Xenical (orlistat) is a tablet taken with meals that reduces the amount of fat your body absorbs. It is available by prescription or after a consultation with a pharmacist.
• Contrave (naltrexone/bupropion) is a tablet that works on areas of the brain involved in appetite and cravings. It is available by prescription only.

Important safety information

Prescription medicines.