Ozempic vs Mounjaro vs Wegovy in Canada: 2026 Side-by-Side Comparison of Cost, Approval, and Weight-Loss Results

What Is a GLP-1 Receptor Agonist?

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a hormone released by the small intestine after meals. It signals the pancreas to produce insulin, slows the rate at which food empties from the stomach, and acts on the brain's appetite centres to promote satiety. GLP-1 receptor agonists are synthetic peptides that mimic this hormone's effects but persist in the body far longer than the natural version. The class has been used to treat type 2 diabetes for over 15 years; weight-loss applications became prominent after 2017 when high-dose semaglutide produced dramatic results in clinical trials. Mounjaro extends the concept by also activating the GIP receptor, doubling the metabolic targets.

Wegovy (High-Dose Semaglutide) — Built for Weight Loss

Wegovy is also semaglutide but at a higher maximum dose of 2.4 mg weekly, formulated specifically for chronic weight management. Health Canada approved Wegovy in November 2021 for adults with a body mass index of 30 kg/m squared or greater, or 27 kg/m squared or greater with at least one weight-related comorbidity. In June 2023 Health Canada extended the indication to adolescents aged 12 and older. The pivotal STEP-1 trial showed an average weight loss of 14.9 percent over 68 weeks compared with 2.4 percent for placebo. Wegovy's 2024 SELECT trial also demonstrated a 20 percent reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events in overweight or obese adults with established cardiovascular disease.

Side-by-Side: Approval, Indication, and Active Ingredient

Knowing exactly what each medication is approved for in Canada matters because it determines insurance coverage and prescriber comfort. Off-label prescribing is legal but plans rarely cover off-label use without strong documentation.

• Ozempic — semaglutide; Health Canada-approved for type 2 diabetes (2018); off-label for weight loss.
• Wegovy — semaglutide (high-dose); Health Canada-approved for chronic weight management (2021); also approved for cardiovascular risk reduction in obese adults (2024).
• Mounjaro — tirzepatide; Health Canada-approved for type 2 diabetes (2023); off-label for weight loss.
• All three: subcutaneous once-weekly injection in a pre-filled pen.
• All three: distributed by major Canadian wholesalers and dispensed at Shoppers Drug Mart, London Drugs, Rexall, Costco, and other pharmacies.

Canadian Pricing in 2026

Canadian pricing for all three medications is regulated by the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB), which keeps costs significantly below US retail. Prices below reflect typical Canadian pharmacy pricing as of April 2026 and do not include dispensing fees, which vary from CA$5 (Costco) to CA$15 (community pharmacies).

• Ozempic 0.25/0.5 mg pen (4 weeks): CA$300-360.
• Ozempic 1 mg pen (4 weeks): CA$360-410.
• Ozempic 2 mg pen (4 weeks): CA$400-450.
• Wegovy starting doses (4 weeks): CA$400-460.
• Wegovy maintenance 2.4 mg (4 weeks): CA$460-510.
• Mounjaro 2.5 mg / 5 mg (4 weeks): CA$400-450.
• Mounjaro 10 mg / 15 mg (4 weeks): CA$450-520.

Side Effects — How They Compare

All three medications share the GLP-1 side-effect profile because they share much of the same mechanism. Most adverse events are gastrointestinal and most resolve within 8 to 12 weeks as the body adapts. Mounjaro's GIP component does not appear to dramatically increase nausea relative to semaglutide. The frequency of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation is generally similar across all three at comparable doses.

• Common (more than 10% of users): nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, decreased appetite.
• Less common (1-10%): fatigue, headache, dizziness, injection-site reactions, gallstones.
• Rare but serious: pancreatitis, kidney injury from dehydration, gallbladder disease, hypoglycemia (especially in patients also on insulin or sulfonylureas).
• Boxed warning: thyroid C-cell tumours observed in rodents — contraindicated for those with personal/family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN-2.

Switching Safely Between Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro

Switching between GLP-1 medications should always be supervised by a physician. Although the molecules are related, dose equivalence is not exact, and abrupt switches can cause excessive nausea or transient loss of glycemic control. The general approach is to discontinue the current medication for one week (allowing the long half-life to clear), then start the new medication at its standard initiation dose. Physicians titrate up over the following 4 to 16 weeks based on tolerance and response. Patients moving from Ozempic 2 mg to Wegovy 2.4 mg often skip the lowest Wegovy doses; those moving to Mounjaro typically restart at 2.5 mg and titrate normally because of the different mechanism.

Talk to a Canadian Physician About the Right GLP-1 for You

TelePlus Care offers virtual GLP-1 consultations with physicians registered with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta. We assess your goals, review your blood work and medical history, discuss insurance coverage with your DIN, and prescribe the medication that fits your situation — Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro. Same-day appointments are available, prescriptions can be filled at your chosen pharmacy, and follow-up visits are scheduled to monitor response and adjust dose.