Semaglutide vs Tirzepatide: which GLP-1 is right for you?
Both are powerful tools for weight loss — but they aren't identical. Here's how to think about the differences with your provider.
The short version
Semaglutide (Ozempic®, Wegovy®) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro®, Zepbound®) are both incretin medications that quiet appetite, slow gastric emptying, and improve insulin sensitivity. Tirzepatide is a dual agonist (GLP-1 + GIP) and tends to produce greater average weight loss in head-to-head studies — roughly 20% vs 15% over 68–72 weeks.
So tirzepatide is "better"?
Not necessarily. Better is whatever produces durable results for *you* with tolerable side effects. Some patients respond beautifully to semaglutide and feel awful on tirzepatide. Some have the opposite experience.
What we actually consider
- Side effect profile — nausea, fatigue, GI symptoms
- Insurance coverage and access
- Starting weight and goals
- History of pancreatitis, gallbladder issues, or thyroid C-cell tumors (contraindications)
- Cost — compounded options can dramatically reduce out-of-pocket
The bigger point
Medication is a tool. Without nutrition, sleep, strength training, and the boring fundamentals, you'll plateau or rebound. The patients who do best treat GLP-1s as a runway to build new habits, not a permanent crutch.