The GLP-1 Brand Guide: Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro & Zepbound

The single biggest source of confusion in the GLP-1 conversation is the brand names. People talk about Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound as if they were four rival drugs. They’re not — they’re four brand names covering just two molecules. This guide decodes which is which, then links every practical question to a plain-English, evidence-first breakdown.

Ozempic and Wegovy are both semaglutide. Mounjaro and Zepbound are both tirzepatide. The brand name tells you the FDA-approved use — diabetes versus weight management — not a different medication.

If you want the ground-level primer first, start with The GLP-1 Guide. Otherwise, jump in.

The brands, decoded

Which brand is which molecule, and how the two molecules compare head-to-head.

How they actually work

The biology underneath the brands — incretin hormones, appetite, and gastric emptying.

The next generation

What’s coming after semaglutide and tirzepatide — triple agonists and amylin combinations.

Side effects & safety

The full picture on tolerability and risk — from the common to the black-box.

For a deeper practical playbook, see The GLP-1 Side-Effect Survival Guide.

Getting the most from treatment

Dosing, protein, muscle, and exercise — the levers that shape results.

Stopping, maintenance & cost

What happens when you stop, whether the loss lasts, and the access questions.

For coming off treatment specifically, see Coming Off a GLP-1: A Practical Guide.

Where to go next

This hub covers the brands and the highest-traffic questions. The full, always-current GLP-1 category has everything else — kidney and heart outcomes, PCOS, sleep apnea, mental health, and more. None of this is medical advice: which drug, which dose, and whether to start or stop belongs with a clinician who knows your history.