Assignment Prompt & Instructions
Review Paper
– ## MounjaroandOzempic.docx
**## MounjaroandOzempic.docx**
1
**Similarities, Differences, and Clinical Implications of Mounjaro and Ozempic**
Gloria B. Gallegos
Nursing Department, Miami Regional University
MSN5350 FNP1 B: Advanced Pharmacology
Dr. Yusnier Mendoza
November 12, 2025
Significantly, there have been medicine discoveries in the past decade for treating type 2 diabetes and obesity. The two highly rated medications on the market currently include Tirzepatide, known as Mounjaro, and semaglutide, known as Ozempic. Both medications improve glycemic control and weight loss through similar modes of simulating specific hormones. While these medications are beneficial to diabetic and obese patients, understanding their differences in mode of work is necessary to properly create a plan of care.
These medications work using receptor agonists like the incretin hormone naturally found in the gastrointestinal tract. This enhances glucose-dependent insulin secretion, suppressing appetite and gastric motility. Consequently, both have been successful in eliciting significant weight loss and reduction in cardiovascular events. Administration routes for both drugs are given once a week subcutaneously. Both drugs are given according to the needs and tolerance of the patient in a titrated manner (Wilding et al., 2021; Frías et al., 2021).
The two major hormones participating in the treatment of diabetes and obesity are GLP-1 and GIP. Semaglutide is a medicine that contains GLP-1, whereas tirzepatide works in combination with GLP-1 and GIP; this could be the reason for the difference in efficacy in the use of tirzepatide vs semaglutide. In a randomized trial of people with type 2 diabetes, tirzepatide greatly reduced HbA1C and body weight more than semaglutide did (Frías et al., 2021). In obese patients, both medications caused significant weight loss, and once again, tirzepatide proved a twenty percent weight reduction compared to fifteen percent with semaglutide (Jastreboff et al., 2022).
Clinically, this explains the preference for tirzepatide for maximum combined glycemic and weight loss results. Regardless, there are aspects to consider, such as cost, access, and tolerance. The drugs themselves are too costly, and the cost is not economical. Furthermore, the medications for obesity are not covered in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. These limits medication use and cause inequalities (Hwang et al., 2025). The discontinuation of medication use is another factor that negatively affects treatment due to intolerance and increased adverse effects. Some of the adverse effects include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and constipation. Less frequent but serious effects include abdominal pain, pancreatitis, hypoglycemia, gallbladder problems, thyroid tumors, visual changes, and kidney injury related to dehydration. It is necessary to reassess the patient’s condition and consider gradual titration, frequent monitoring, reinforcing education, and finding alternatives for treatment if needed (Rodriguez et al., 2024).
Both are preferred options in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity, based on the studies reviewed; semaglutide contains GLP-1, while tirzepatide has an added value with its dual action on GIP and GLP-1. These drugs have assisted patients in maintaining their sugar levels and even in weight loss. The high cost and lack of approval or coverage by healthcare create access barriers. For these reasons, treatment should be personalized based on the patient’s needs and preferences.
**References**
Frías, J. P., Davies, M. J., Rosenstock, J., Pérez Manghi, F. C., Fernández Landó, L., Bergman, B. K., Liu, B., Cui, X., & Brown, K. (2021). Tirzepatide versus semaglutide once weekly in patients with type 2 diabetes.
_New England Journal of Medicine_,
_385_(6), 503–515. PubMed. https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa2107519
Hwang, J. H., Laiteerapong, N., Huang, E. S., & Kim, D. D. (2025). Lifetime Health Effects and Cost-Effectiveness of Tirzepatide and Semaglutide in US Adults.
_JAMA Health Forum_,
_6_(3), e245586. JAMA Health Forum. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamahealthforum.2024.5586
Jastreboff, A. M., Aronne, L. J., Ahmad, N. N., Wharton, S., Connery, L., Alves, B., Kiyosue, A., Zhang, S., Liu, B., Bunck, M. C., & Stefanski, A. (2022). Tirzepatide once weekly for the treatment of obesity.
_New England Journal of Medicine_,
_387_(3), 205–216. PubMed. https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa2206038
Rodriguez, P. J., Goodwin Cartwright, B. M., Gratzl, S., Brar, R., Baker, C., Gluckman, T. J., & Stucky, N. L. (2024). Semaglutide vs Tirzepatide for Weight Loss in Adults With Overweight or Obesity.
_JAMA Internal Medicine_,
_184_(9). JAMA Health Forum. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2024.2525
Wilding, J. P. H., Batterham, R. L., & Calanna, S. (2021). Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity.
_The New England Journal of Medicine_,
_384_(11), 989–1002. PubMed. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183
**## MounjaroandOzempic.docx**
1
**Similarities, Differences, and Clinical Implications of Mounjaro and Ozempic**
Gloria B. Gallegos
Nursing Department, Miami Regional University
MSN5350 FNP1 B: Advanced Pharmacology
Dr. Yusnier Mendoza
November 12, 2025
Significantly, there have been medicine discoveries in the past decade for treating type 2 diabetes and obesity. The two highly rated medications on the market currently include Tirzepatide, known as Mounjaro, and semaglutide, known as Ozempic. Both medications improve glycemic control and weight loss through similar modes of simulating specific hormones. While these medications are beneficial to diabetic and obese patients, understanding their differences in mode of work is necessary to properly create a plan of care.
These medications work using receptor agonists like the incretin hormone naturally found in the gastrointestinal tract. This enhances glucose-dependent insulin secretion, suppressing appetite and gastric motility. Consequently, both have been successful in eliciting significant weight loss and reduction in cardiovascular events. Administration routes for both drugs are given once a week subcutaneously. Both drugs are given according to the needs and tolerance of the patient in a titrated manner (Wilding et al., 2021; Frías et al., 2021).
The two major hormones participating in the treatment of diabetes and obesity are GLP-1 and GIP. Semaglutide is a medicine that contains GLP-1, whereas tirzepatide works in combination with GLP-1 and GIP; this could be the reason for the difference in efficacy in the use of tirzepatide vs semaglutide. In a randomized trial of people with type 2 diabetes, tirzepatide greatly reduced HbA1C and body weight more than semaglutide did (Frías et al., 2021). In obese patients, both medications caused significant weight loss, and once again, tirzepatide proved a twenty percent weight reduction compared to fifteen percent with semaglutide (Jastreboff et al., 2022).
Clinically, this explains the preference for tirzepatide for maximum combined glycemic and weight loss results. Regardless, there are aspects to consider, such as cost, access, and tolerance. The drugs themselves are too costly, and the cost is not economical. Furthermore, the medications for obesity are not covered in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. These limits medication use and cause inequalities (Hwang et al., 2025). The discontinuation of medication use is another factor that negatively affects treatment due to intolerance and increased adverse effects. Some of the adverse effects include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and constipation. Less frequent but serious effects include abdominal pain, pancreatitis, hypoglycemia, gallbladder problems, thyroid tumors, visual changes, and kidney injury related to dehydration. It is necessary to reassess the patient’s condition and consider gradual titration, frequent monitoring, reinforcing education, and finding alternatives for treatment if needed (Rodriguez et al., 2024).
Both are preferred options in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity, based on the studies reviewed; semaglutide contains GLP-1, while tirzepatide has an added value with its dual action on GIP and GLP-1. These drugs have assisted patients in maintaining their sugar levels and even in weight loss. The high cost and lack of approval or coverage by healthcare create access barriers. For these reasons, treatment should be personalized based on the patient’s needs and preferences.
**References**
Frías, J. P., Davies, M. J., Rosenstock, J., Pérez Manghi, F. C., Fernández Landó, L., Bergman, B. K., Liu, B., Cui, X., & Brown, K. (2021). Tirzepatide versus semaglutide once weekly in patients with type 2 diabetes.
_New England Journal of Medicine_,
_385_(6), 503–515. PubMed. https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa2107519
Hwang, J. H., Laiteerapong, N., Huang, E. S., & Kim, D. D. (2025). Lifetime Health Effects and Cost-Effectiveness of Tirzepatide and Semaglutide in US Adults.
_JAMA Health Forum_,
_6_(3), e245586. JAMA Health Forum. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamahealthforum.2024.5586
Jastreboff, A. M., Aronne, L. J., Ahmad, N. N., Wharton, S., Connery, L., Alves, B., Kiyosue, A., Zhang, S., Liu, B., Bunck, M. C., & Stefanski, A. (2022). Tirzepatide once weekly for the treatment of obesity.
_New England Journal of Medicine_,
_387_(3), 205–216. PubMed. https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa2206038
Rodriguez, P. J., Goodwin Cartwright, B. M., Gratzl, S., Brar, R., Baker, C., Gluckman, T. J., & Stucky, N. L. (2024). Semaglutide vs Tirzepatide for Weight Loss in Adults With Overweight or Obesity.
_JAMA Internal Medicine_,
_184_(9). JAMA Health Forum. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2024.2525
Wilding, J. P. H., Batterham, R. L., & Calanna, S. (2021). Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity.
_The New England Journal of Medicine_,
_384_(11), 989–1002. PubMed. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183