Skip to content

GLP-1 receptor agonist

Semaglutide

Semaglutide is sold four ways: Ozempic and Rybelsus for diabetes, and Wegovy injection and the Wegovy pill for weight.

Clinician review pending Updated

How it works

It mimics GLP-1, a gut hormone released after meals. It slows stomach emptying, lowers appetite and helps the pancreas release insulin when blood sugar is high.

Half-life: about 1 week for the injection, so steady levels take 4 to 5 weeks.

Brands

BrandApproved forHow takenDose range
WegovyWeightonce weekly injection0.25 mg to 2.4 mg
OzempicType 2 diabetesonce weekly injection0.25 mg to 2 mg
Wegovy pillWeightonce daily tablet1.5 mg to 25 mg
RybelsusType 2 diabetesonce daily tablet3 mg to 14 mg

More on semaglutide

Semaglutide dosage chartCompounded semaglutideTirzepatide vs semaglutide

Brand pages

Novo Nordisk

Wegovy

Weekly semaglutide injection for weight management and heart-risk reduction

Open Novo Nordisk

Ozempic

Weekly semaglutide injection for type 2 diabetes, heart and kidney protection

Open Novo Nordisk

Wegovy pill

Daily semaglutide tablet for weight management, the first GLP-1 pill for obesity

Open Novo Nordisk

Rybelsus

Daily semaglutide tablet for type 2 diabetes

Open

Explainer · 0:23

1 · THE GUT HORMONE GLP-1 the medicine copies it and lasts for days 2 · SLOWER EMPTYING full sooner, full for longer 3 · THE BRAIN lowhigh HUNGER 4 · BLOOD SUGAR blood sugar after a meal + insulin withoutwith GLP-1 tirzepatide: + GIP 0:23 · voiced · captions on
After you eat, your gut releases a hormone called GLP-1. GLP-1 medicines copy it, but last much longer in the body.
0:00 / 0:23
How GLP-1 medicines work
Read the transcript
  1. After you eat, your gut releases a hormone called GLP-1. GLP-1 medicines copy it, but last much longer in the body.
  2. It slows how fast your stomach empties, so you feel full sooner and stay full for longer.
  3. It also acts on appetite centers in the brain, which quiets hunger and constant thoughts about food.
  4. When blood sugar is high, it helps the pancreas release insulin. Tirzepatide also acts on a second gut hormone, GIP.

Sources

  1. DailyMed: FDA labels

Clinician review pending. Drafted from primary sources and waiting for sign-off by a licensed clinician (MD, DO or PharmD) before launch. Every number is checked against its source. Drug facts are re-checked quarterly, prices monthly and whenever a label changes. How we review · Report an error