Ozempic Vs Wegovy. Which is cheaper?
Wegovy (semaglutide) helps with weight management by mimicking the hormone GLP-1, targeting brain areas controlling appetite. Here’s a dosing breakdown:
– Initial Dose: 0.25 mg weekly for 4 weeks.
– Gradual Increase: 0.5 mg for 4 weeks, then 1 mg, 1.7 mg, and finally 2.4 mg weekly, each for 4 weeks.
– Maintenance: 2.4 mg weekly.
Ozempic (semaglutide) is primarily for type 2 diabetes, also aiding weight loss. Dosing works as follows:
– Initial Dose: 0.25 mg weekly for 4 weeks.
– Gradual Increase: 0.5 mg weekly, possibly increasing to 1 mg if needed for better control.
– Maximum Dose: 1 mg weekly, though off-label higher doses are used for weight loss.
Pricing and Cost Analysis
Wegovy Pricing:
– 0.25 mg: $475 per pen (1 mg per pen, lasts 4 weeks, $118.75/week)
– 0.5 mg: $475 per pen (2 mg per pen, lasts 4 weeks, $118.75/week)
– 1 mg: $475 per pen (4 mg per pen, lasts 4 weeks, $118.75/week)
– 1.7 mg: $475 per pen (6.8 mg per pen, lasts 4 weeks, $118.75/week)
– 2.4 mg: $475 per pen (9.6 mg per pen, lasts 4 weeks, $118.75/week)
Ozempic Pricing:
– 0.25 mg/0.5 mg: $275 per pen (2 mg per pen, lasts 6 weeks)
– 0.25 mg/week: $34.38/week (first 4 weeks)
– 0.5 mg/week: $68.75/week (next 2 weeks)
– 1 mg: $275 per pen (4 mg per pen, lasts 4 weeks, $68.75/week)
– >1 mg: Requires multiple pens. E.g., 1.5 mg/week: $103.13/week
One can argue that you could establish a cheaper weekly cost by using the “amount of clicks method” and use the 4mg pen to get a higher total weekly dose (and provide one injection only). It is not officially recommended by Eli Lilly and will not attempt to recommend it here either. I can just imagine the slurr of comments even though it may help rank this post higher 😉. If you don’t know what I mean by “amount of clicks method” please ask in the comments. If you want to see a chart I saw, please DM me.
Cost Comparison
- Initial 4 weeks (0.25 mg)
– Wegovy: $118.75/week
– Ozempic: $34.38/week
– Winner: Ozempic
- Next 2 weeks (0.5 mg)
– Wegovy: $118.75/week
– Ozempic: $68.75/week
– Winner: Ozempic
- Subsequent weeks (1 mg)
– Wegovy: $118.75/week
– Ozempic: $68.75/week
– Winner: Ozempic
- Higher doses
– Wegovy (1.7 mg): $118.75/week
– Ozempic (1.5 mg): $103.13/week
– Winner: Ozempic
– Wegovy (2.4 mg): $118.75/week
– Ozempic (2 mg): $137.50/week
– Winner: Wegovy
Conclusion
Ozempic is more cost-effective at lower doses (0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, and 1 mg weekly). As doses increase beyond 1 mg weekly, Wegovy becomes more cost-effective, with a break-even point around 2 mg weekly. Wegovy offers more convenient dosing at higher levels, mimicking the results used in weight loss studies.
Disclaimer: Prices may vary from pharmacy. Prices are out of pocket costs in Canadian Dollars and compiled with Canadian pricing. Overall cost of weight loss treatment is of course based dose and duration dependent.
