Tirzepatide and semaglutide may cause similar side effects, like nausea and diarrhea. Tolerance depends on the person.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
Semaglutide and tirzepatide share many similarities. Both are GLP-1 receptor agonists<\/a> that work on receptors in the brain, pancreas, and digestive tract. They help control blood sugar levels, slow stomach emptying, and decrease hunger and food cravings.\n<\/p>\n Tirzepatide and semaglutide also share a number of side effects\u2014nausea, acid reflux<\/a> or indigestion, constipation, and complete loss of appetite (beyond the intended effect) are most common, said Rekha Kumar, MD<\/a>, an endocrinologist at Weill Cornell Medicine.\n<\/p>\n Beyond these, the labels for Zepbound, Mounjaro, Ozempic, and Wegovy all warn users about possible diarrhea<\/a>, vomiting, and stomach pain.\n<\/p>\n There are slight variations beyond these side effects, particularly with the weight-loss versions of these medications. Both Wegovy and Zepbound users may have fatigue, belching, and heartburn<\/a>.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Zepbound might also lead to injection site reactions, allergies, or hair loss. Wegovy may cause headaches, dizziness, bloating<\/a>, low blood sugar, stomach flu, gas, or a runny nose and sore throat.\n<\/p>\n These side effects are fairly similar. For both medications, symptoms tend to improve over time as people get used to them, said Jorge Moreno, MD<\/a>, internal medicine and obesity medicine physician at Yale Medicine.\n<\/p>\n According to Morgan Stewart, PharmD<\/a>, clinical associate professor of pharmacy practice at the University of Texas at Austin, side effects are often dose-dependent.\n<\/p>\n Regardless of whether people are taking tirzepatide or semaglutide, side effects are \u201cmore likely to happen at higher doses,\u201d Stewart told Health.\n<\/p>\n Though they\u2019re similar, tirzepatide and semaglutide are formulated differently. While semaglutide is just a GLP-1 agonist, tirzepatide is a dual-action medication. It\u2019s\u00a0both a GLP-1 agonist and a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonist.\n<\/p>\n GIP is a hormone primarily responsible for lowering blood sugar. Tirzepatide, which acts on both GLP-1 and GIP receptors, can further lower blood sugar, promote weight loss, and improve lipid levels.\n<\/p>\n