Short answer: The most common weight-loss injection names are Mounjaro (tirzepatide), Zepbound (tirzepatide), Ozempic (semaglutide), Wegovy (semaglutide), Saxenda (liraglutide) and Trulicity (dulaglutide). There is also an oral tablet form, Rybelsus.
Key takeaways
- Mounjaro and Zepbound contain dual-action tirzepatide, which acts on both the GIP and GLP-1 receptors.
- Wegovy and Ozempic contain semaglutide, a pure GLP-1 receptor agonist.
- Mounjaro, Zepbound, Ozempic, Wegovy and Trulicity are given once a week; Saxenda is given once a day.
- Rybelsus is a once-daily oral tablet form of the active ingredient semaglutide.
The most common names of the medications known as weight-loss injections are Mounjaro, Zepbound, Ozempic, Wegovy, Saxenda and Trulicity. All of them belong to the GLP-1 receptor agonist group; their active ingredients are tirzepatide, semaglutide, liraglutide and dulaglutide. All of them require a prescription.
This page is for general information only, is not medical advice and does not promote any medication. Which medication is right for you is a decision only a doctor can make.
Comparison table
| Brand | Active ingredient | Frequency | Mechanism | Official information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mounjaro | Tirzepatide | Once a week | GIP + GLP-1 | EMA |
| Zepbound | Tirzepatide | Once a week | GIP + GLP-1 | US-specific name |
| Ozempic | Semaglutide | Once a week | GLP-1 | EMA |
| Wegovy | Semaglutide | Once a week | GLP-1 | EMA |
| Rybelsus | Semaglutide | Once a day (by mouth) | GLP-1 | Tablet form |
| Saxenda | Liraglutide | Once a day | GLP-1 | EMA |
| Trulicity | Dulaglutide | Once a week | GLP-1 | EMA |
The EMA entries refer to the European Medicines Agency's official assessment pages. For approval status, approved indications and current product information in the US, the FDA should be your reference.
How they differ
What is the difference between Mounjaro and Ozempic?
The key difference is the active ingredient. Mounjaro contains tirzepatide and acts on two separate hormone receptors at once: GIP and GLP-1. Ozempic contains semaglutide and acts only on the GLP-1 receptor. Both are given once a week. In clinical trials, weight-loss results were higher with dual-action tirzepatide, but whether it suits a given person is a separate medical assessment.
Are Ozempic and Wegovy the same medication?
Their active ingredient is the same: semaglutide. The difference is the indication and the dosing schedule. Ozempic is approved primarily for type 2 diabetes, while Wegovy is approved for weight management and follows different dose steps. The same is true for Mounjaro and Zepbound: both are tirzepatide, and Zepbound is the name used in the US market with a weight-management indication.
Are they all injections?
No. Rybelsus is the oral tablet form of semaglutide and is taken once a day. The others are injections given under the skin.
Weekly or daily?
Mounjaro, Zepbound, Ozempic, Wegovy and Trulicity are given once a week. Saxenda and Rybelsus are used once a day. This distinction matters in practice: with a weekly medication, remembering the dose day is the hard part; with a daily one, it is not breaking the routine.
Whatever medication you use, the tracking is the same
Whatever the name and active ingredient, the questions your doctor asks during treatment are similar: which day you injected, which site you used, how your weight moved, which day you had side effects. Remembering these accurately from memory is hard.
Haftra is a free iPhone app that keeps this tracking in one place. It supports all of the medications above and works with both weekly and daily schedules. You can use it without creating an account, and then your records stay on your phone. It does not suggest doses or make diagnoses.
iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. Free.
Frequently asked questions
What are the names of GLP-1 weight-loss injections?
The best-known products are Mounjaro, Zepbound, Ozempic, Wegovy, Saxenda and Trulicity. Their active ingredients are, in order, tirzepatide, tirzepatide, semaglutide, semaglutide, liraglutide and dulaglutide. All of them require a prescription.
What is the difference between Mounjaro and Ozempic?
Mounjaro's active ingredient is tirzepatide and Ozempic's is semaglutide. Tirzepatide acts on both the GIP and GLP-1 receptors, while semaglutide acts only on GLP-1. Both are given once a week. In clinical trials, tirzepatide showed higher weight-loss rates.
Are Ozempic and Wegovy the same medication?
Both contain the same active ingredient (semaglutide). However, they are separate brands with different dose steps: Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabetes, and Wegovy for obesity and weight management.
Which weight-loss injection is the most effective?
In the SURMOUNT-1 clinical trial, tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound) produced the highest average weight loss (20.9%); however, the most suitable medication for a given person is determined through a doctor's examination.
Related pages
Sources
- EMA - Mounjaro (tirzepatide)
- EMA - Ozempic (semaglutide)
- EMA - Wegovy (semaglutide)
- EMA - Saxenda (liraglutide)
- EMA - Trulicity (dulaglutide)
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Last reviewed: August 2, 2026
