The medicine's active part is its ingredient
Semaglutide copies a gut hormone with some changes to its form; the hormone is a chemical message released by the body after a meal.
That hormone helps send a fullness signal and helps the body manage blood sugar.
Medicines that act like this hormone are called GLP-1 medicines.
The brand tells only part of the story
Semaglutide products sold as Ozempic or Wegovy included US-approved tablets and injections on September 26, 2026.
Type 2 diabetes involves trouble managing blood sugar; Ozempic injection has approved uses for adults with this condition.
Weight loss is not its approved use.
Wegovy has approval for adult weight management when there is obesity, or excess weight along with a health problem linked to it.
Obesity is a health condition involving excess body weight; the person treating you can explain how it applies to your health.
Ask the prescriber which product fits the health problem being treated and why that brand is being considered.
A pharmacy-made version is a separate question
Compounding means preparing medicine for an individual order, rather than supplying a finished brand product.
Compounded medicines lacked approval from the FDA on September 26, 2026.
On that date, no generic semaglutide had full FDA approval to reach patients in the US.
Generic means a version of a brand medicine that has approval; medicine prepared for an individual order is a different kind of product.
If an offer uses either word, ask which one it means. That is a useful question, not a fussy one.
A closer look at the source
Ask what the prescription is for
The approved uses differ between brands, and the reason for treatment can affect insurance coverage.
Ask which product is under discussion and why the prescriber is considering it for you.
The links below open the full medicine information, including its uses and warnings.
Information as of September 26, 2026.