Anyone who has attempted to lose a significant amount of weight on their own can tell you that it is not only a huge challenge but also leaves them feeling frustrated and defeated. Most people do not understand how their bodies react to weight loss efforts or that things like genetics, age, medication, hormones, and their own metabolism can make losing weight even harder.
For years, the only help available for individuals struggling with obesity required invasive surgery, but these days, we are fortunate to have non-surgical options like endoscopic procedures as well as medications that are designed for weight management.
Today, we are going to talk about the different weight loss injections that are available in the United States, provide a bit about their history, how they work, and the average weight loss potential of each. If you have been considering Saxenda, Wegovy, Ozempic, Zepbound, or Mounjaro to assist you on your weight loss journey, this overview should help determine the best injection for weight loss for your needs and circumstances.
Where Did These Weight Loss Injections Come From?
The injections that are now approved for weight loss contain the same medications that were previously approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Prescription medications such as semaglutide, with the name Ozempic, were approved in 2017 to help individuals with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar levels.
During the clinical trials, it became evident that individuals who were using the medication for blood sugar control were also experiencing the side benefit of weight loss. This prompted another trial to see what effect semaglutide would have if it were given to individuals who did not have type 2 diabetes, and these people experienced an even higher percentage of weight loss.
Currently, there are three prescription medications that have been approved for weight loss after first being designed to treat type 2 diabetes.
What Is The Difference between Wegovy vs Ozempic, Victoza vs Saxenda, and Mounjaro vs Zepbound?
It can be confusing when you are trying to figure out the best injection for weight loss because there appear to be more choices than there actually are. There are only three different medications, but they are each double-branded, meaning each medication has two different names depending on what it is being used for.
For example, Ozempic and Wegovy are the same prescription medication, semaglutide, but the FDA has approved them individually under different brand names, with Ozempic designated to control blood sugar and Wegovy approved in higher doses to treat overweight and obesity.
The following chart provides an overview of these weight loss injections, including their brand name, when they were approved by the FDA and how often they are administered.
to see the entire table
| Prescription Medication | Brand Name For Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes | Approved by the FDA to Regulate Blood Sugar | Brand Name For Treatment of Obesity | Approved by the FDA for weight loss | Dosage Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liraglutide | Victoza | 2010 | Saxenda | 2017 | Daily |
| Semaglutide | Ozempic | 2017 | Wegovy | 2021 | Weekly |
| Tirzepatide | Mounjaro | 2022 | Zepbound | 2023 | Weekly |
What Does Off-Label Use Mean?
Prescription medications are often approved by the FDA for use in treating one condition but are also used to treat another condition, which is known in the industry as “off-label” use.
For example, the manufacturer of Wegovy experienced serious shortages of this brand-label semaglutide product, and doctors began prescribing Ozempic “off-label” to help their patients remain on the medication.
The only thing different, aside from the brand name, is that the dose when used for weight loss is higher than what is prescribed for patients with diabetes for blood sugar regulation.
How Do Prescription Weight Loss Injections Work?
The prescription injections approved for weight loss that were originally designed to treat type 2 diabetes belong to a group called GLP-1 receptor agonists. These drugs closely resemble the natural glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) hormone that is produced by your body, and when they are injected, they mimic the effect that hormone has on your body, helping with appetite suppression, hormone regulation, and stomach emptying.
Most of the GLP-1 hormone is produced in the small intestine, and when you eat, your body is triggered to release these hormones, and they send signals to your brain indicating that you are full, they slow down the digestion process, and help regulate your blood sugar. GLP-1 also tells the liver to release stored glucose and also convert certain amino acids into glucose, which encourages the body to burn the fat it has stored. You stay satisfied longer, your brain stops sending you “food chatter” messages and your metabolism works more efficiently so you eat less, a calorie deficit is created, and it results in weight loss.
Comparing Prescription Weight Loss Injections In Order Of Approval
Liraglutide (Victoza And Saxenda)
Victoza is a brand name for the prescription medication liraglutide and was the first GLP-1 receptor agonist that the FDA approved in 2010 to treat type 2 diabetes. The same drug received FDA approval in 2017 under the name Saxenda for weight management. Saxenda is injected once a day into a fatty area such as the stomach, thigh, or the back of the upper arm.
Semaglutide (Ozempic And Wegovy)
Ozempic is the prescription medication semaglutide that the FDA approved in 2017 to help manage blood sugar levels of patients with type 2 diabetes. In June 2021, the FDA approved the same medication under the brand name Wegovy for weight loss. Patients administer Wegovy once a week in an area of their body containing subcutaneous fat using a prefilled injection pen that is disposable.
Tirzepatide (Mounjaro and Zepbound)
Tirzepatide was approved by the FDA for the treatment of diabetes in May 2022, and then in November 2023 it gained approval under the brand name Zepbound for weight management. This prescription medication is a bit different than the others because it mimics two hormones that impact the digestive system: glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and also GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide), which work together and do a more effective job of controlling blood sugar levels and optimizing the way your body digests food and converts fat into energy. Tirzepatide is administered through a once-weekly injection into the abdomen, upper thigh, or upper arm.
Retatrutide
Retatrutide is an injectable weight loss medication developed by Eli Lilly that is still in the testing phase and not yet FDA-approved. It is the first and only weight loss injection that targets three GLP-1 hormones, including GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon, and has been nicknamed the “triple agonist”.
It is administered once weekly, similar to other GLP-1 injections into the abdomen, upper arm, or upper thigh. In a Phase 2 clinical trial involving adults with obesity who did not have diabetes, patients achieved the following impressive weight loss results in only 48 weeks:
- Participants on a 4 mg weekly dose lost 17% of their starting weight.
- Participants on an 8 mg weekly dose lost 23% of their starting weight.
- Participants on a 12 mg weekly dose lost over 24% of their starting weight.
This means someone whose starting weight was 250 pounds could lose 60 pounds in just 11 months.
Retatrutide testing is expected to be completed sometime in 2026 and be available sometime before 2027.
How Does Dosing Work For Weight Loss Injections?
Weight loss injections need to be introduced to your body gradually because they tend to cause side effects like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. If the highest dose was administered right out of the gate, these side effects would be severe, so dosing begins at the lowest strength and then increases over a course of five to six months. Individuals usually take each dose strength for about four weeks before transitioning to a higher dose until reaching the strength that works for them.
What Is The Best Injection For Weight Loss?
According to the data resulting from clinical trials, tirzepatide is leading the rest in both more effective blood sugar control and a higher average of weight loss. Around 2,500 patients took 15 mg of tirzepatide for a year and lost an average of about 23% of their total body weight, which was around 54 pounds. During the semaglutide trials, which lasted about 15 months, patients lost an average of 16% of their total body weight. Liraglutide was not even close to keeping up with the other two and resulted in only about a 6.4% average weight loss.
What Are The Common Side Effects Of Weight Loss Injections?
Side Effects Of Weight Loss Injections
Each person’s body will react to prescription drugs differently, and as with any type of medication, there are always risks and side effects that can occur.
Some of the most frequently experienced side effects of weight loss injections are most often temporary and include:
- stomach upset;
- nausea;
- vomiting;
- diarrhea;
- constipation;
- dizziness.
Some individuals may develop rare but more serious side effects, so it is important to speak with your doctor about your specific medication. Most of these medications are new, and therefore, there is no data on long-term side effects.
Downsides Of Weight Loss Injections
There are some potential downsides to using prescription weight loss medications, including:
- Individuals may become dependent on them to maintain a healthy weight rather than change unhealthy lifestyle habits.
- They may not be effective for some people.
- Patients with underlying metabolic conditions may have to continue using it to prevent weight gain.
- They can be expensive and are not covered by most insurance plans.
Benefits of Weight Loss Injections
Prescription weight loss injections offer many benefits to people who struggle with losing weight, including:
- They help suppress your appetite by controlling the signals in the brain that indicate hunger and satiety.
- They slow down the rate of digestion, so it keeps you feeling full longer and reduces your intake of calories.
- They enhance the performance of your metabolism so you burn more calories and store less fat.
- They can help individuals who have not been able to lose weight using other methods achieve positive results.
- Using them can result in significant weight loss, which can reduce or eliminate weight-related metabolic conditions and improve their health.
Where Can I Get The Best Weight Loss Injections In Miami?
If you have tried to lose weight using all the usual methods and, despite all you do, you have been unable to lose weight, it is time to get the help you deserve. Simmons MD Advanced Weight Loss Solutions offers the best weight loss injections, lifestyle and nutritional guidance, and other non-surgical options to help you be successful on your weight loss journey.
Dr. Okeefe Simmons and the expert team at Simmons MD Advanced Weight Loss Solutions can help you reach sustainable weight loss to improve your health and enhance your quality of life. They are dedicated to providing you with the tools and the knowledge you need to be successful and will work with you to create an individualized plan and provide expert guidance and support so you can take control of your weight and your health.
Set up your personal consultation with Dr. Simmons today and start on the pathway to better health today!
