Wegovy vs Phentermine

Over the past years, several choices concerning weight loss medications have increased. One of the best-known is phentermine (Adipex-P) which is in the form of oral tablets for use in short-term management of obesity, and has been available since 1970s. 

But there are injectable versions of drugs even for relatively new products, such as Wegovy.

These medications lead to weight reduction and can reduce risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, or death due to cardiovascular causes. While both Wegovy and phentermine aid in weight loss, the two drugs function differently once they’re introduced into the body.

This article provides more information about the differences between Wegovy and Phentermine; how it works; its efficacy; side effects and who should opt for which.

What is Wegovy?

Wegovy is a newly developed drug approved for use in the treatment of weight in patients whose diseases are brought about by certain problems related to excess weight. That active pharmaceutical ingredient in Wegovy is called semaglutide, but we also learn that it is an example of the GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs class. These were first approved and used for type 2 diabetic patients and the most recent scientific evidence indicates that these drugs will work for weight loss.

Wegovy was approved by the United States FDA in June 2021 for the management of obesity.

How Does Wegovy Work?

Wegovy causes its effects by releasing a hormone known as GLP-1 which is responsible for appetite and food intake. The elevation in GLP-1 levels also sends out signals to the brain, that people feel full for the longest of times. Hence, total daily food intake, and therefore the overall daily calories, are reduced and the patients lose weight progressively. 

Wegovy comes as a weekly, subcutaneous injection treatment.

Effectiveness of Wegovy for Weight Loss

Some previous investigations show that Wegovy is really an effective medicine in the process of weight loss. Another study that received wide attention was published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2021 in which patients who received Wegovy, shed almost 15% of their weight over 68 weeks; the control group using a placebo shed only 2.4% of their weight. This level of weight loss places Wegovy among the top biosimilar products of weight loss in the market for use today.

Key Takeaway: In particular, Wegovy is a perfect medication for people who are in need of a long-term weight loss plan. The injections are usually given about once a week, and they decrease appetite hence causing substantial weight loss.

What is Phentermine?

This drug can be prescribed today for obesity treatment although it has received FDA approval in 1959. But it is generally used for a period of not more than 12 weeks and reserved preferably in patients with BMI>30, or >27 — along with comorbid illness hypertension, and diabetes. 

It mainly act through an appetite inhibition system of action. Since this drug is developed from amphetamine, it falls under controlled drugs in the U.S.

How Does Phentermine Work?

It does this by enhancing the effectiveness of dopamine and Norepinephrine which are chemicals in your brain. They operate under the ’emergency diet’ through the fight and flight appetite suppressor system. These are available as tablets or capsules, and are usually taken one or two times a day.

How Effective is Phentermine for Weight Loss?

From analysis done, it was evident that Phentermine assists people to reduce their weight but not dramatically. For instance, individuals using Wegovy would find a whole lot of difference compared to this medication. 

In the foregoing randomized controlled experiments lasting from 2 to 24 weeks, the subjects treated with Phentermine lost about 3.6 kg more than patients who received the placebo. The authors of the research study went further to prove that indeed, Phentermine when administered alone or in conjunction with other changes leads to loss of weight.

Key Takeaway: Phentermine may lessen appetite, and help one lose some weight in the short run, but it will not be the right one for a person who wants to make changes for the long term.

Side Effects and Safety Considerations

Side Effects of Wegovy

Indeed, like most drugs, Wegovy is not without its side effects: however, these side effects are most often mild to moderate. The most common side effects include:

• Nausea 

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea 

• Constipation

• Headache

• Abdominal pain

That is, there was indication of more side effects, especially, nausea resulted in the discontinuation of the use of Wegovy in clinical studies. However, such signs do not last and may decrease with time because the body adjusts to the medicine. Wegovy is contraindicated in patients with pancreatitis or thyroid cancer because it affects blood glucose levels.

Side Effects of Phentermine

Phentermine, being a stimulant, comes with a different set of potential side effects:

• Insomnia

• Increased heart rate 

• Headache

• Nervousness

• Dry mouth

Because of its stimulant property it is not recommendable for heart patients or even those with high blood pressure. It should not be accessed by anyone with a history of drug abuse especially because dependence to this medication can easily be mastered.

Cardiovascular risk reduction

Wegovy is now used to assist in reducing the risk of even worse forms of cardiovascular issues in high risk heart disease patients and for impurpose weight or obesity. In this group, Wegovy has been established to reduce premature heart attack death, stroke, and other types of heart attack. It is the only non-surgical anti obesity drug to be endorsed in this capacity. 

In this regard, phentermine is not authorised and, indeed, should not be utilised for this reason.

Comparing Wegovy and Phentermine

Here’s a comparison of the two medications:

Who Should Consider Wegovy?

Weggovy is recommended for those whose BMI is 30 or above or those, whose BMI is 27 and above and who have conditions such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure. Calling itself a weight loss solution for life, Wegovy is indeed suitable for those who want to lose weight gradually and over the long period, although they will have to cope with weekly injections.

Who Should Consider Phentermine?

Phentermine is prescribed for the patients who need to lose weight urgently because of their health issues but it is taken only for a limited time (usually, up to 12 weeks). Therefore, phentermine could be used by those with BMI of 30 or higher or 27 or higher with other ailments.

Final Verdict: Which is Better?

Ultimately it is possible to determine that which of the two is better; Wegovy or Phentermine, depending directly on the person and their requirements or goals and health condition.

• Wegovy is more helpful for those patients who need to lose weight and maintain it for an extended period of time or who need to change their eating habits significantly.
• Phentermine is good to be used when it comes to the short course as a result of its stimulating action and, therefore, raises the risk of developing dependence to the stimulant.

A doctor should be consulted about the use of the mentioned medications before one starts using any of the two. In other words, both Wegovy and Phentermine are excellent supplements for a weight loss cause but should be administered under certain strict directions and nutrition exercises to ensure one gets to the intended weight loss.

Conclusion

Wegovy and Phentermine have properties that qualify them for weight loss treatment though they are different in nature. While Wegovy belongs to the family of GLP-1 receptor agonist, they act gradually and continuously and will be benefitted to the user with a higher BMI value. Phentermine is swift so as to reduce appetite and has more adverse side effects than other slimming commodities and it is ideal to be prescribed in the short-term.

Wegovy must be prescribed where the patient requires a permanent solution to obesity, and once weekly administration is easy unlike Phentermine which is taken for a short time for the management of weight.

Consult your doctor to know which drug is appropriate for you depending on your lifestyle, health, and if you are losing weight.