BlogSemaglutideSemaglutide and Tirzepatide for Weight Loss: A Pharmacist’s Perspective

Semaglutide and Tirzepatide for Weight Loss: A Pharmacist’s Perspective

These two meds have shown incredible promise in research. Here’s your guide to their similarities and differences.

Medically Reviewed Article

Published
Share

As a pharmacist, I understand how challenging and confusing a weight loss journey can be for a lot of people. There’s good news, though. Recently, two medications—semaglutide and tirzepatide—have gotten much attention, backed by research, for how effective they can be for weight loss. 

Two trials, called SURMOUNT-3 and SELECT Trial, were groundbreaking in determining the effectiveness of these drugs.

Let’s take a look at how these drugs work, their similarities and differences, side effects, and the clinical trial results that highlight their potential in managing weight. This information can help you and your doctor determine if semaglutide or tirzepatide is right for you. Then, chat with a ReflexMD Wellness Advisor to explore the options available to you. 

Semaglutide-Is It Right for you? Find Out today!

Semaglutide, the same active ingredient as the weight loss drug Wegovy®—available today at 40% OFF.

How do semaglutide and tirzepatide work?

Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. GLP-1 is a hormone, released by the body in response to eating, focused on the digestive system and brain. It slows how fast your stomach empties, reduces your appetite, and boosts insulin secretion while reducing the secretion of glucagon. This helps lower your blood glucose levels. For weight loss, the primary benefit of semaglutide is its appetite-suppressing effect, which leads to taking in fewer calories.

Tirzepatide, on the other hand, is a dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and GLP-1 receptor agonist. This means that tirzepatide produces the same effects of GLP-1, and uses GIP, another hormone, to boost your body’s insulin secretion. This can potentially affect how your body metabolizes fat—and help regulate your appetite. These combined effects can have positive impacts on both your blood glucose control and weight loss.

What’s the difference in how these drugs work?

The key difference between these two medications lies in tirzepatide’s dual action. While semaglutide exclusively targets GLP-1 receptors, tirzepatide’s additional effect on GIP receptors might help you lose more weight. This is because while semaglutide focuses on one pathway to help you eat less and control blood sugar, tirzepatide uses two pathways for potentially greater effects on weight and blood sugar control.

What are the side effects of these drugs? 

Semaglutide and tirzepatide share the same side effects. The most common ones are gastrointestinal issues like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. These side effects, which can stop over time as your body adjusts to the medication, happen because the drugs slow the speed at which your stomach empties. 

What should I know about the clinical trial results?

The SURMOUNT-3 trial was a significant study that evaluated the efficacy of tirzepatide in patients with obesity. It also aimed to assess the drug’s impact on various health markers, including blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and glycemic control. 

The trial included participants who had an average body mass index (BMI) of approximately 38. They ranged in age from 18 to 75 years, with an average age of 50. This diverse demographic of people provided a broad perspective on the drug’s efficacy across a wide age group.

The results of the SURMOUNT-3 trial were striking. Participants who received tirzepatide experienced an average weight loss of approximately 21% of their baseline body weight over a period of 72 weeks, which translated to an average weight loss of around 46 pounds.

The trial also demonstrated significant improvements in various metabolic health markers. Participants’ blood pressure and cholesterol levels decreased, which meant they had an overall enhancement in their cardiovascular health. These weight loss and health benefits over the 72-week study period showed tirzepatide’s potential for helping those with obesity lose weight.

The primary goal of the SELECT Trial was to assess the weight loss efficacy of semaglutide and its impact on cardiovascular health. The study aimed to determine whether the med could provide dual benefits of weight reduction and cardiovascular risk reduction.

Participants had an average BMI of about 35, and the age range was from 30 to 85 years old, with an average age of around 60. They had existing cardiovascular conditions.

The SELECT trial yielded impressive results. Participants treated with semaglutide achieved an average weight reduction of about 15% of their baseline body weight over 68 weeks. This translated to an average weight loss of approximately 35 pounds. 

Beyond weight loss, the SELECT Trial highlighted semaglutide’s ability to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events: People in the study experienced significant improvements in heart health markers. 

What did these trials teach us about how these drugs compare? 

Both medications demonstrated substantial weight loss benefits, but tirzepatide’s dual-action effect demonstrated a slight edge in terms of the amount of weight loss patients may experience. However, both drugs offer significant improvements in metabolic benefits—including reduced waist circumference, improved cardiovascular disease risk factors, and better control of blood sugar. 

How to take these medications 

Semaglutide

  • Dosing: Semaglutide is typically started at a low dose (0.25 mg weekly) to minimize gastrointestinal side effects, then gradually increased to the maintenance dose of 2.5 mg weekly if needed.
  • Administration: You get a shot once a week, with or without meals.

Tirzepatide

  • Dosing: Tirzepatide dosing starts at 2.5 mg once a week, with incremental increases to 10 mg based on tolerance. 
  • Administration: Like semaglutide, tirzepatide is administered via a shot once a week, with or without meals.

Deciding which is right for you: semaglutide or tirzepatide

Both semaglutide and tirzepatide represent significant advancements in weight management, and can potentially help many patients. They both work well for weight loss and better metabolic health. Both medications have shown impressive results in their respective clinical trials. But without direct head-to-head comparisons, it is still hard to say whether one is superior to the other.

How should you choose between the two? It’s a very individual decision. Talk to your doctor about your ability to tolerate these drugs, as well as potential side effects, your health history, and your specific health goals. 

I also encourage you to chat with a ReflexMD Wellness Advisor to explore the options available in detail, so you can be informed when you speak to your doctor. 

 How ReflexMD works

  1. Get prescribed online: First, answer a few questions to see if you’re eligible. Then chat with one of our doctors (virtually), so he or she can develop your custom treatment plan.
  2. Your meds are delivered to your door: All medications are quality-checked and shipped in discreet packaging.
  3. Ongoing expert support: Your expert care team always has your back. Book unlimited virtual appointments and talk to your doctor anytime with 24/7 messaging.

Kommu K et al. Semaglutide. StatPearls. February 11, 2024.

Farzam K et al. Tirzepatide. StatPearls. February 20, 2024.

Bergmann NC et al. Semaglutide for the Treatment of Overweight and Obesity: A Review. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. October 18, 2022. 

Wadden TA et al. Tirezepatide After Intensive Lifestyle Intervention in Adults with Overweight or 

Obesity: The SURMONT-3 Phase 3 Trial. Nature Medicine. October 15, 2023. 

Lincoff AM et al. Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Obesity Without Diabetes. New England Journal of Medicine. November 11, 2023. 

Madsbad S. Review of Head-To-Head Comparisons of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. December 29, 2015.

Rubino D et al. Effect of Continued Weekly Subcutaneous Semaglutide Vs Placebo on Weight Loss Maintenance In Adults with Overweight or Obesity: The STEP 4 Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Network. March 23, 2021. 

Wadden T. et al. Effect of Subcutaneous Semaglutide Vs Placebo as an Adjunct to Intensive Behavioral Therapy on Body Weight In Adults with Overweight or Obesity: The STEP 3 Randomized Clinical Trial. New England Journal of Medicine. April 13, 2021. 

Jastreboff A et al. Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity. New England Journal of Medicine. July 21, 2022.

Related

Published
Share
Semaglutide-Is It Right for you? Find Out today!

Semaglutide, the same active ingredient as the weight loss drug Wegovy®—available today at 40% OFF.

The latest

What Does “Medically Reviewed” Mean?

When you see the “Medically Reviewed” badge on ReflexMD, it means the article has been reviewed and approved by a medical professional.

Why Is It Important?

When it comes to your health, it’s critical to know that the information you’re reading is accurate and credible. The ReflexMD “Medically Reviewed” badge assures you that our content is based on science, not speculation, empowering you to make informed decisions about your health.

Who Reviews the Content?

Our team of medical reviewers includes doctors, nurses, and licensed healthcare professionals.

If you have questions about our medical review process, please feel free to contact us.

Semaglutide injection bottle from ReflexMD
ReflexMD New Years Offer

Start the New Year strong!

Limited Time Offer

40% Off

Your First 3 Months

Enter your information below to receive this offer.
By providing your email, you agree to our Terms and ConditionsPrivacy Policy, and Telehealth Consent. You also consent to receive promotional emails from ReflexMD. This consent is not a condition of purchase. You may unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in our emails.
By providing your mobile number and submitting this form, you agree to receive marketing text messages (e.g. promos, cart/browse reminders) from ReflexMD at the number provided. Your consent is not a requirement for any purchase. Standard Msg & data rates may apply. Msg frequency varies. You can opt out at any time by replying STOP or clicking the unsubscribe link (where available). To learn more visit our Privacy Policy & Terms.
Semaglutide injection bottle from ReflexMD
ReflexMD New Years Offer

Start the New Year strong!

Limited Time Offer

40% Off

Your First 3 Months

Enter your information below to receive this offer.
By providing your email, you agree to our Terms and ConditionsPrivacy Policy, and Telehealth Consent. You also consent to receive promotional emails from ReflexMD. This consent is not a condition of purchase. You may unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in our emails.
By providing your mobile number and submitting this form, you agree to receive marketing text messages (e.g. promos, cart/browse reminders) from ReflexMD at the number provided. Your consent is not a requirement for any purchase. Standard Msg & data rates may apply. Msg frequency varies. You can opt out at any time by replying STOP or clicking the unsubscribe link (where available). To learn more visit our Privacy Policy & Terms.

Find out if semaglutide is right for you.

Weight loss medicine Wegovy® is in short supply. Get matched with a doctor who can prescribe semaglutide if it’s right for you—available today at 40% OFF.