The dose and specific instructions vary based on why its being prescribed, so its essential for patients to follow their doctors guidance on how and when to take it
Choose Semaglutide (Wegovy) If: Best for people who: Want the longest safety track record (5 years) Have good insurance coverage for Wegovy specifically Prefer lowest discontinuation rate (6.9%) Are satisfied with 15% average weight loss Advantages: Most real-world data, proven track record since 2021 Disadvantages: Lowest efficacy (14.9%), highest cost ($1,349/month) Choose Tirzepatide (Zepbound) If: Best for people who: Want highest efficacy among available options (22.5%) Prefer best tolerability (31% nausea, lowest) Want better value (~$290/month cheaper) Want medication available today Advantages: Superior efficacy, best side effect profile, lower cost Disadvantages: Less long-term data than Semaglutide (3 years vs 5) Consider Waiting for Retatrutide If: Might make sense if you: Can wait until 2027-2028 without health consequences Want maximum weight loss (28.7%) Have tried both Semaglutide and Tirzepatide with insufficient results Have flexible health timeline Advantages: Highest efficacy (28.7%) Disadvantages: 2+ year wait, highest discontinuation (18.2%), no long-term data Realistic Recommendations For most people today: Choose Tirzepatide
Drives glucose-dependent insulin secretion, suppresses glucagon, slows gastric emptying, and signals satiety via hypothalamic and brainstem pathways
One payer might expect 1 unit for the entire injection
