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 are 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 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.