Key takeaways
Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) and semaglutide (Ozempic) are both medications used to treat Type 2 diabetes and belong to the class of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. However, tirzepatide is unique as it also acts as a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonist, making it the first in a new class of medications. Both medications are injected under the skin once a week and are available only as brand-name products. Tirzepatide comes in another injectable form for weight loss (Zepbound) and semaglutide comes in two other forms—injectable Wegovy for weight loss and oral Rybelsus for Type 2 diabetes. Tirzepatide's starting dose is 2.5 mg, which can be increased to a maximum of 15 mg weekly, while semaglutide starts at 0.25 mg and can go up to 2 mg weekly. Common side effects for both include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Both medications carry a risk of thyroid cancer and pancreatitis and may affect birth control effectiveness, requiring additional precautions.
