Choosing between Wegovy and Mounjaro for you weight loss journey can be challenging. Both medications offer significant benefits, but they work differently over time. Here's what you can expect from each, broken down into stages, to help you make an informed decision on your path to better health.
Wegovy: Week-by-Week Breakdown
Week 1: Getting Started
- Dosage: You'll start with a low dose of 0.25 mg for the first four weeks to help your body adjust.
- Expectations: Significant weight loss is unlikely at this stage, but you might notice an increased feeling of fullness shortly after injections, which may fade by days 4-5
Week 2: Adjusting to the Medication
- Side Effects: Some side effects like nausea, constipation, mild abdominal pain, or diarrhoea may occur as your body adapts to the medication.
- Weight Loss: Weight loss is typically minimal during this period, as the focus is on allowing your body to adjust to Wegovy.
Week 3 & 4: Stabilisation and Establishing Consistency
- Stabilisation: Your body begins to stablise with the medication, leading to a more consistent feeling of fullness throughout the week.
- Weight Loss: You may start to see some weight loss, typically around 5-6 pounds, although physical changes might still be minimal.
- Consistency: The effects on appetite and fullness should now be stable.
- Lifestyle Focus: This is the ideal time to begin implementing sustainable lifestyle changes, such as improving your diet, engaging in regular exercise, and enhancing sleep habits to support long-term weight loss.
Week 5 & Onwards: Dosage Increase
- Dosage: With your body adjusted to the medication, you will begin to increase your dose by around 0.5 mg every four weeks with regular check-ins to see how you're doing with side effects. At around 17 weeks, you should have reached the maintenance dose of 2.4 mg on which you will continue during your medicated weight loss journey.
Mounjaro: What to Expect Over Time
Weeks 1 & 2: Initial Phase
- Dosage: You'll begin with a 2.5 mg dose for the first four weeks, allowing your body to adjust.
- Weight Loss: Some people may see about 1% body weight loss per week, though many won't notice immediate changes
- Side Effects: Common issues include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. Managing these side effects is crucial, and dietary adjustments or antienemic medications (with medical advice) may be useful.
- Fullness: You can expect to feel fuller after injections, but this effect may lessen after 4-5 days.
Weeks 3 & 4: Steady Progress
- Steady State: Tirzepatide levels stablise, leading to a consistent feeling of fullness.
- Weight Loss: Average weight loss may reach nearly 4% of the starting body weight.
- Goal Setting: This is an ideal time to set long-term weight, fitness, and health goals to keep your progress on track.
Weeks 5 & 6: Increasing Dosage and Noticing Changes
- Increased Dosage: If side effects are manageable, your dosage may be increased to 5.0 mg.
- Physical Changes: Noticable weight loss and improved muscle definition may start to appear during this phase.
- Overall Health: Improvements in sleep, mood, and general health often begin to emerge, reinforcing the benefits of continued treatment.
Weeks 7 & 8: Solidifying Habits
- Continued Dosage: You'll maintain the 5 mg dosage, with average weight loss reaching 6-7% of your starting weight.
- Habit Formation: New habits and routines around medication and lifestyle changes should begin to solidify, supporting ongoing success.
Weeks 9 & Beyond: Long-Term Results
- Further Increases: Your dosage may be incrementally increased up to 15 mg over time, depending on your tolerance and a goals.
- Long-Term Results: By four months, average weight loss is about 11%, potentially reaching up to 21% over a year. However, challenges such as weight loss plateaus may arise, highlighting the importance of maintaining healthy habits for lasting results.
Long-Term Results: Wegovy vs. Mounjaro
Both Wegovy and Mounjaro offer impressive long-term results, with Wegovy patients typically losing 15-18% of their body weight and Mounjaro patients losing up to 22.5%. However, the journey requires patience, consistency, and a commitment to lifestyle changes. Mounjaro might provide more rapid and substantial weight loss, but both medications are effective when combined with a healthly lifestyle.
Conclusion: Choosing the Right Path for Your Weight Loss Journey
Deciding between Wegovy and Mounjaro depends on your individual goals, how your body responds to the medication, and your ability to manage any side effects. Both opinions offer significan potential for weight loss and health improvement, but understanding what to expect can help you prepare and stay motivated throughout your journey. Consult your healthcare provider to determine which medication is best suited to your needs.
Learn more about GLP-1 medication and whether its right for you at StrideCare.
Source:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7905697/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34964141/
https://www.tryhabitual.com/journal/mounjaro-a-week-by-week-weight-loss-guide
https://www.myjuniper.co.uk/articles/wegovy-first-month-results?srsltid=AfmBOoptm3KY65uSF9zS000yjxlDw-LYOuNZ9mPZXYwIQRckvpDc_Aqd