Both drugs are FDA approved for people with type 2 diabetes.
As Popularity of Drugs Used for Weight loss As the numbers continue to explode, new research is shedding light on which drugs are most effective. Weight loss.
Munjaro, a drug whose main ingredient is tirzepatide, has been found to be effective in losing weight and maintaining the weight that has been lost. study The study was published Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine.
People taking Munjaro were three times more likely to lose at least 15% of their total body weight, 2.5 times more likely to lose at least 10% and 1.8 times more likely to lose at least 5% compared to people taking semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic.
The results held up at a 12-month follow-up, according to the study, which analyzed more than 18,000 obese people with and without type 2 diabetes.
The study found that patients without diabetes lost more weight than those with diabetes.
The study authors said more research is needed to understand why Munjaro, which contains the active ingredient tirzepatide, is effective in promoting weight loss.
Tirzepatide targets both the GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonists, while semaglutide only mimics the GLP-1 receptor agonist, a type of hormone in the body that affects everything from the brain to muscles, pancreas, stomach and liver.
Both Ozempic and Maunjaro are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat type 2 diabetes, but some doctors prescribe the drugs “off-label” for weight loss, with FDA permission.
When these drugs are used “off-label,” they are not typically covered by insurance and can be expensive, costing as much as $1,000 per month.
Additionally, there are currently two medications on the market that are FDA-approved for weight loss: Wegovy, a drug that contains semaglutide, the same active ingredient as Ozempic, and Zepbound, a drug that contains tirzepatide, the same active ingredient as Mounjaro.
These drugs are usually taken once a week by injection and work by helping the pancreas increase insulin production to move sugar in the blood to body tissues.
It also slows the movement of food through the stomach, suppressing appetite and resulting in weight loss.
Past clinical studies have shown that users of the drug can lose 5% to 20% of their body weight over time.
Medical experts say weight loss with medication also requires aerobic exercise, strength training and a diet high in protein and low in processed, sugary foods.
The most commonly reported side effects of drugs used for weight loss are nausea and constipation, but gallbladder and pancreatic disease have also been reported. The manufacturers of these drugs recommend discussing the side effect profile and personal risks with a medical professional before starting use.
The study found no difference in the number of adverse gastrointestinal effects between people with and without type 2 diabetes.
Prapti Chatterjee Murphy, M.D., a member of the ABC News Medical Unit, contributed to this report.
