{"id":632480,"date":"2025-06-06T12:56:15","date_gmt":"2025-06-06T16:56:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=632480"},"modified":"2025-12-15T18:33:16","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T23:33:16","slug":"ozempic-vs-mounjaro-side-effects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/ozempic-vs-mounjaro-side-effects\/","title":{"rendered":"Ozempic vs. Mounjaro side effects"},"content":{"rendered":"

Celebrities and social media have created significant buzz around injectable medications like <\/span>Ozempic<\/span><\/a> (semaglutide) and <\/span>Mounjaro<\/span><\/a> (tirzepatide). These two brand-name drugs are sometimes prescribed <\/span>off-label<\/span><\/a> for weight loss, but they\u2019re not approved for that purpose. Mounjaro and Ozempic are both approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of<\/span> Type 2 diabetes<\/span><\/a>. Ozempic has two additional FDA-approved uses as well. If you\u2019re considering Ozempic or Mounjaro, you may wonder which is better for you, especially if the drugs\u2019 potential side effects are a factor.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s the difference between Ozempic and Mounjaro?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The main difference between Ozempic and Mounjaro is their active ingredient and how they work. Ozempic contains semaglutide, whereas Mounjaro contains tirzepatide.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Because of their different ingredients, Ozempic and Mounjaro belong to overlapping but not identical drug classes. Semaglutide and tirzepatide are classified as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, or <\/span>GLP-1 agonists<\/span><\/a>, but since tirzepatide also targets a second receptor, it is classified as a <\/span>dual<\/span><\/i> GIP\/GLP-1 receptor agonist. Activating these receptors is what helps Ozempic and Mounjaro regulate blood sugar levels and reduce appetite.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ozempic and Mounjaro are both FDA-approved for blood sugar control in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. Ozempic is also<\/span> approved<\/span><\/a> to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with both Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, and to prevent the worsening of kidney disease and cardiovascular death in adults with Type 2 diabetes and <\/span>chronic kidney disease (CKD)<\/span><\/a>. As of now, <\/span>Mounjaro has not been approved for those uses<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, Ozempic and Mounjaro have different dosages.<\/span> Ozempic dosage<\/span><\/a> starts at 0.25 mg injected once weekly and can be increased to a maximum of 2 mg once weekly<\/a>. Mounjaro\u2019s starting dose is 2.5 mg, injected once weekly. The maximum<\/span> Mounjaro dose<\/span><\/a> is 15 mg once weekly. But that doesn’t mean Mounjaro is 10 times stronger than Ozempic\u2014their active ingredients work differently and require different dosages to achieve their effects. Your healthcare provider will prescribe a dosing schedule that aligns with your treatment plan.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

An important note: <\/b>Ozempic and Mounjaro are not FDA approved for weight loss. The brand-name weight loss drugs <\/span>Wegovy<\/span><\/a> (semaglutide) and <\/span>Zepbound<\/span><\/a> (tirzepatide) contain the same active ingredients as Ozempic and Mounjaro, respectively, and are FDA approved for weight loss.<\/span><\/p>\n

What are the common side effects of Ozempic?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Common<\/span> Ozempic side effects<\/span><\/a> include gastrointestinal issues such as nausea and diarrhea. In clinical trials, nausea was the most common side effect, with 16% of participants affected, based on the 0.5 mg dose (percentages vary slightly, depending on the dose). The next most commonly reported side effects were diarrhea (9%) and stomach pain (7%), followed by vomiting and constipation (both 5%). Some Ozempic users also report<\/span> muscle pain<\/span><\/a>,<\/span> fatigue<\/span><\/a>, and<\/span> eye issues<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>Can Ozempic cause heart palpitations?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

What are the common side effects of Mounjaro?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Most <\/span>Mounjaro side effects<\/span><\/a> are also gastrointestinal. In clinical trials, nausea and diarrhea were the most commonly reported side effects, affecting 12% of Mounjaro users (based on the 5 mg dose; other doses may vary in the percentage affected). Other common side effects included indigestion (8%), constipation (6%), and stomach pain (6%).<\/span><\/p>\n

Serious side effects of Ozempic and Mounjaro<\/span><\/h2>\n

Both drugs may be associated with serious side effects in rare cases. If you have symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as trouble breathing, hives, or swelling, get emergency medical help. You should also get urgent medical help for acute symptoms like severely low blood sugar, vision changes, a lump in the neck, or any other concerning symptoms. This is not a full list of serious side effects, and others may occur. Consult your healthcare provider for more information about possible side effects.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Compare Ozempic vs. Mounjaro side effects<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

<\/td>\nOzempic (0.5 mg dose)<\/b><\/td>\nMounjaro (5 mg dose)<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Side effect<\/b><\/td>\nFrequency<\/b><\/td>\nFrequency<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nausea<\/strong><\/td>\n16%<\/span><\/td>\n12%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vomiting<\/strong><\/td>\n5%<\/span><\/td>\n5%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Constipation<\/strong><\/td>\n5%<\/span><\/td>\n6%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Diarrhea<\/strong><\/td>\n9%<\/span><\/td>\n12%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Indigestion<\/strong><\/td>\n3.5%<\/span><\/td>\n8%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Stomach pain<\/strong><\/td>\n7%<\/span><\/td>\n6%<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
Frequency is not based on data from a head-to-head trial and may vary by dose. This may not be a complete list of adverse effects that can occur. Please refer to your healthcare provider to learn more.<\/span><\/i><\/h5>\n
Source: DailyMed (<\/span>Mounjaro<\/span><\/a>), DailyMed (<\/span>Ozempic<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/h5>\n

Is Mounjaro better than Ozempic?<\/span><\/h2>\n

From a side-effect point of view, Mounjaro may be better than Ozempic. It may also be better for weight loss (an off-label use).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPatients do report fewer side effects with tirzepatide, though this is variable, and I have had patients with no side effects on both medications,\u201d says<\/span> Mir Ali, MD<\/span><\/a>, board-certified general surgeon, bariatric surgeon and medical director of<\/span> MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center<\/span><\/a> at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In clinical trials, every side effect except constipation had a higher incidence rate in Ozempic than in Mounjaro. Six percent of Mounjaro clinical trial participants reported constipation, whereas only 5% of Ozempic clinical trial participants experienced constipation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As for effectiveness,<\/span> Michelle Lin, DO<\/span><\/a>, family medicine provider and owner of My Family Doc in Las Vegas, Nevada, points to data suggesting that Mounjaro gets slightly better results than Ozempic:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n