Two very different stages

Ozempic is a weekly semaglutide shot made by Novo Nordisk. The FDA approved it in 2017 for type 2 diabetes. Millions of people have used it, and we have years of safety data.

Retatrutide is made by Eli Lilly. It is not FDA-approved for anything yet. It is in large phase 3 trials called TRIUMPH. Everything we know about it comes from a phase 2 trial and early phase 3 reports.

That is the first big difference. One is a finished, approved medicine. The other is still being tested.

How each one works

Ozempic copies one gut hormone, GLP-1. GLP-1 tells your brain you are full, slows your stomach, and helps your pancreas release insulin when you eat. That is why Ozempic lowers blood sugar and reduces appetite.

Retatrutide copies three hormones: GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon. GIP works with GLP-1 on appetite. Glucagon is different. It tells the liver to burn energy and fat. The idea is to cut calories in and raise calories out at the same time.

Three targets is why early results look stronger. It is also why scientists are watching the safety data closely.

Weight loss: what the numbers say

Ozempic was designed for blood sugar, not weight. In its diabetes trials, people lost about 10 to 14 pounds on average. The same drug at a higher 2.4 mg dose, sold as Wegovy, led to about 15% body weight loss in the STEP 1 trial.

Retatrutide's phase 2 trial was published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2023. Adults with obesity on the 12 mg dose lost about 24% of their body weight over 48 weeks, and the curve had not flattened yet.

Those are not head-to-head numbers. Different trials, different people, different lengths. But the gap is large enough that most experts expect retatrutide to beat semaglutide on average if the phase 3 results hold up.

Side effects and safety

Both drugs cause the same main side effects: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation, mostly during dose increases. Both carry a warning about thyroid C-cell tumors seen in rodent studies, so neither is for people with a history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN 2.

Retatrutide also raised heart rate a little more in trials, likely because of the glucagon part. Some people had skin tingling. Long-term effects on the heart, liver, and gallbladder are still being studied.

Ozempic has one thing retatrutide does not: proof. A trial called SUSTAIN-6 showed it lowered heart attack and stroke risk in people with diabetes. Retatrutide has no such data yet.

Access and cost

Ozempic is in every pharmacy, but it is approved for diabetes, so insurance usually will not pay for it for weight loss alone. Its list price is around $1,000 a month without coverage.

Retatrutide is not sold as an approved drug anywhere. The only ways to get it today are through a clinical trial or a compounding pharmacy. Compounded retatrutide is not FDA-approved, and the FDA has not reviewed its purity, strength, or safety.

Zen IV Spa offers compounded semaglutide, the same drug as Ozempic, at $199 per month, and retatrutide at $249 per month. Both are compounded and not FDA-approved.

Which should you choose?

If you want a medicine with a long track record, semaglutide is the safer bet. It works for most people and has heart data to back it up.

If you have tried semaglutide and stalled, or you are comfortable with a newer drug that has less safety history, retatrutide is an option to discuss with a prescriber who will monitor you closely.

Either way, start with a real medical visit and labs. The best drug is the one that fits your health, not the one with the biggest number.

Talk to the Zen IV Spa medical team

Every Zen IV Spa program starts with a free video visit with our medical director and labs drawn at home by a nurse in New York and New Jersey. From there we can set you up with compounded semaglutide ($199/month), compounded tirzepatide ($299/month), or retatrutide ($249/month). Visit /peptides/ or /weight-loss/, or call (332) 239-2005.

Common Questions

Is retatrutide better than Ozempic for weight loss?+

Early trials suggest more weight loss on retatrutide, about 24% in phase 2, but there are no head-to-head trials and retatrutide is not yet approved.

Is retatrutide FDA-approved?+

No. It is in phase 3 trials. Compounded retatrutide is also not FDA-approved.

Is Ozempic approved for weight loss?+

No. Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabetes. Wegovy is the same drug approved for weight management.

Do retatrutide and Ozempic have the same side effects?+

Mostly yes: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. Retatrutide also raised heart rate a bit more in trials.

Can I switch from Ozempic to retatrutide?+

Only with a prescriber. There is no established switching protocol, so it must be done carefully.

How much does retatrutide cost at Zen IV Spa?+

Retatrutide is $249 per month. Compounded semaglutide is $199 per month. Both are compounded and not FDA-approved.

Sources: FDA prescribing information for Ozempic (2024); Retatrutide phase 2 trial, NEJM 2023; STEP 1 trial, NEJM 2021; SUSTAIN-6 trial, NEJM 2016.

All treatments are medical services. Every guest is screened, and every treatment is prescribed by a licensed provider. Nothing on this page is medical advice for you personally, and the opinions summarized here belong to the doctors named, not to Zen IV Spa. Talk to a provider before starting or stopping anything.