Question 1

Which GLP-1 medication has the most weight loss?

Accepted Answer

Tirzepatide (Zepbound/Mounjaro) produces the most weight loss among approved GLP-1 medications, with an average of 22.5% body weight loss at 72 weeks. Semaglutide (Wegovy) produces about 15%. Among pipeline drugs, retatrutide shows 28.7% weight loss in Phase 3 trials, and CagriSema shows 22.7%.

Question 2

What is the cheapest GLP-1 medication?

Accepted Answer

Compounded semaglutide is the cheapest GLP-1 option at $249-399 per month through telehealth providers. Among brand-name drugs, Ozempic is the least expensive at $915/month retail, or $450/month with NovoCare savings. Wegovy costs $1,349, Zepbound $1,059, and Mounjaro $1,027 per month at retail price.

Question 3

What is the difference between Wegovy and Ozempic?

Accepted Answer

Wegovy and Ozempic both contain semaglutide, made by Novo Nordisk. Wegovy is FDA-approved for weight loss (obesity) at doses up to 2.4mg. Ozempic is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes at doses up to 1.0mg. Wegovy is typically prescribed at higher doses. Both are once-weekly injections with the same mechanism and side effects.

Question 4

What is the difference between Mounjaro and Zepbound?

Accepted Answer

Mounjaro and Zepbound both contain tirzepatide, made by Eli Lilly. Mounjaro is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes. Zepbound is FDA-approved for weight loss (obesity). Both are once-weekly injections with the same dosing schedule (2.5mg to 15mg) and produce approximately 22.5% weight loss.

Question 5

Is tirzepatide better than semaglutide for weight loss?

Accepted Answer

Yes, tirzepatide produces significantly more weight loss than semaglutide. In head-to-head comparisons, tirzepatide achieves about 22.5% weight loss vs semaglutide's 15%. Tirzepatide is a dual GLP-1/GIP agonist while semaglutide is a GLP-1 only agonist, which explains the additional weight loss. However, individual results vary.

Feature	Wegovy	Ozempic	Zepbound	Mounjaro	Rybelsus	Saxenda
Generic name	Semaglutide	Semaglutide	Tirzepatide	Tirzepatide	Semaglutide	Liraglutide
Manufacturer	Novo Nordisk	Novo Nordisk	Eli Lilly	Eli Lilly	Novo Nordisk	Novo Nordisk
Mechanism	GLP-1 agonist	GLP-1 agonist	GLP-1 + GIP agonist	GLP-1 + GIP agonist	GLP-1 agonist	GLP-1 agonist
FDA indication	Obesity	Type 2 diabetes	Obesity	Type 2 diabetes	Type 2 diabetes	Obesity
Administration	Weekly injection	Weekly injection	Weekly injection	Weekly injection	Daily oral pill	Daily injection
Max dose	2.4 mg	1.0 mg	15 mg	15 mg	14 mg	3.0 mg
Avg weight loss	15%	14%	22.5%	22.5%	10%	8%
Retail cost/month	$1,349	$915	$1,059	$1,027	$818	$1,299
With savings card	$650	$450	$550	$525	$450	$600
Compounded cost	$249-399	$249-399	$399-549	$399-549	N/A	N/A
Cardiovascular benefit	Yes (SELECT: 20% MACE↓)	Yes	Pending (SURPASS-CVOT)	Pending	Yes	Yes
Half-life	~165 hours	~165 hours	~120 hours	~120 hours	~150 hours	~13 hours
Titration weeks	5 weeks per dose	4 weeks per dose	4 weeks per dose	4 weeks per dose	4-8 weeks	1 week per dose
Storage	Fridge → room temp	Fridge → room temp	Fridge → room temp	Fridge → room temp	Room temp	Fridge only
FDA approval	2021	2017	2023	2022	2019	2014

Feature	CagriSema	Retatrutide	Orforglipron	Amycretin
Generic	Semaglutide + Cagrilintide	Retatrutide	Orforglipron	Amycretin
Manufacturer	Novo Nordisk	Eli Lilly	Eli Lilly	Novo Nordisk
Mechanism	GLP-1 + Amylin	GLP-1 + GIP + Glucagon	GLP-1 (oral)	GLP-1 + Amylin (oral)
Weight loss	22.7%	28.7%	15%	22% (Phase 2)
Administration	Weekly injection (dual pen)	Weekly injection	Daily oral pill	Daily oral pill
FDA timeline	NDA under review	BLA Q1 2027	NDA filed 2026	Phase 3 starting
Expected availability	Late 2026 / early 2027	2027-2028	2026-2027	2028+

GLP-1 Medication Comparison Chart (2026)

Approved GLP-1 Medications — Full Comparison

Pipeline GLP-1 Medications — Comparison

Which GLP-1 Is Right for You?