Does Wegovy have more side effects than Ozempic?

Since both contain semaglutide, their side-effect profiles are similar — most commonly nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. Wegovy uses a higher weekly dose, so some people may notice more gastrointestinal effects, though the 16-week dose-escalation schedule is designed to help manage this.

Same ingredient, similar risks

Wegovy and Ozempic are often compared because they are both versions of semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist. That means the types of side effects people experience are very similar. The most frequent are gastrointestinal: nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal discomfort, and occasionally vomiting. These effects usually occur during the first weeks of treatment and tend to improve over time as the body adapts.

Why dose makes a difference

The main reason some people report stronger side effects on Wegovy is the dose difference. Ozempic is prescribed at lower weekly doses, typically up to 1 mg (sometimes 2 mg in diabetes care), while Wegovy is taken at a higher 2.4 mg dose for weight management. The higher dose can mean a greater impact on appetite and digestion, which is why gastrointestinal symptoms may feel more pronounced with Wegovy.

How escalation helps

To make treatment more tolerable, Wegovy is started at a low dose and gradually increased over 16 weeks until the full 2.4 mg is reached. This step-up approach was built into the clinical trials and shown to help reduce the frequency and severity of side effects. Ozempic also uses a gradual titration, but because the target dose is lower, the escalation period is shorter.

What the trials showed

In the STEP trials of semaglutide 2.4 mg (Wegovy), around 74% of participants reported some gastrointestinal side effects, though most were mild to moderate. Only a small proportion stopped treatment because of these issues. In the SUSTAIN programme for Ozempic, the overall side-effect profile looked very similar, though slightly fewer people withdrew from treatment, likely reflecting the lower maintenance dose. This suggests the type of side effects doesn’t differ much, but the intensity can.

Safety monitoring on the NHS

Both medicines are considered safe when prescribed appropriately, and the NHS has built clear guidance around their use. People starting Wegovy or Ozempic are usually advised on what to expect and how to manage side effects — for example, eating smaller meals, avoiding very fatty foods, and staying hydrated. Clinicians review patients regularly, particularly in the early weeks, to ensure symptoms are settling.

Other possible effects

Although gastrointestinal issues are the most common, semaglutide has also been linked to less frequent side effects such as gallbladder problems, mild increases in heart rate, and, rarely, pancreatitis. These risks apply to both Wegovy and Ozempic and are carefully monitored. Current evidence does not suggest that Wegovy carries unique risks compared with Ozempic, aside from the higher-dose gastrointestinal effects.

Key takeaways

Wegovy and Ozempic share the same ingredient and therefore the same side-effect profile. The main difference is that Wegovy is used at a higher dose for weight management, so digestive side effects can be more noticeable. However, the gradual dose-escalation schedule helps most people adjust, and only a minority need to stop treatment because of side effects. For both medicines, close support from healthcare teams ensures that symptoms are managed and treatment remains safe.