Is Wegovy 7.2mg Stronger Than Mounjaro 15mg?

When comparing weight loss medications, the question of which dose is “stronger” comes up constantly. If you’re weighing up Wegovy 7.2mg against Mounjaro 15mg, you’re probably looking for a clear winner.

The short answer? These two high-dose options produce remarkably similar results. Both deliver around 20% or more average weight loss over 72 weeks in clinical trials, making neither definitively “stronger” than the other.

But the full picture involves more nuance than a simple head-to-head comparison allows. Let’s break down what the data actually shows and what it means for your weight loss journey.

Direct answer: Is Wegovy 7.2mg stronger than Mounjaro 15mg?

Based on available clinical trial data, Wegovy 7.2mg and Mounjaro 15mg produce very similar average weight loss outcomes. Neither medication is clearly “stronger” when you look at the headline numbers from major trials.

STEP UP data for once-weekly semaglutide at 7.2 mg shows approximately 20.7% average total weight loss over 72 weeks. Meanwhile, SURMOUNT-1 and SURMOUNT-5 data for Mounjaro 15mg show around 20-22.5% weight reduction over the same timeframe.

The word “stronger” can mean different things depending on what matters most to you. It might refer to the weight loss effect, the intensity of side effects, or how the appetite suppression feels day-to-day. Individual response varies significantly between patients, and what works powerfully for one person may be less effective for another.

It’s worth noting that no completed, large, head-to-head trial directly comparing Wegovy 7.2mg with Mounjaro 15mg exists yet. The comparisons we have are based on separate studies and emerging results, not direct matchups.

The choice between mounjaro and wegovy should ultimately be guided by your medical history, how well you tolerate each medication, cost considerations, and your prescriber’s advice—rather than the assumption that one dose is universally more powerful than the other.

Is Wegovy 7.2mg available as a single-dose pen?

No. Wegovy 7.2mg is not available as a single full dose pen. Even though the MHRA has approved the new high-dose version of Wegovy, the 7.2mg dose is not currently available as single dose pen (to deliver the full dose in one injection). This means, if a weight loss clinician wishes to prescribe the 7.2mg dose, then the only way to administer this is as three injections of 2.4mg.

What are Wegovy 7.2mg and Mounjaro 15mg?

Both Wegovy and Mounjaro are once-weekly injectable medications approved by the Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency for weight management in the UK. They represent the current front line of effective weight loss medications, but they work through slightly different mechanisms and have distinct approval histories.

Wegovy (semaglutide) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that mimics a naturally occurring hormone involved in appetite control. It was licensed in September 2022 for weight management at doses up to 2.4 mg. The higher 7.2mg dose is a newer option which has been approved by the UK’s MHRA in January 2026, aimed at patients who need additional support weight loss beyond what the standard maintenance dose provides. However, Wegovy 7.2mg is NOT available as single unit dose pen, and although the strength is approved, it is administered by using 3 Wegovy 2.4mg Pens once a week. Novo Nordisk has indicated it will manufacture a single Wegovy 7.2mg for release later in 2026.

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a dual agonist targeting both GLP-1 and glucose dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptors. Originally approved for type 2 diabetes, it received UK approval for weight management in late 2023. The maximum dose of 15mg weekly represents the highest maintenance dose in licensed use.

Here’s how the two compare at a glance:

• Brand names: Wegovy vs Mounjaro
• Active ingredient: Semaglutide vs Tirzepatide
• Agonist type: GLP-1 only vs Dual GLP-1/GIP
• UK weight management approval: September 2022 vs Late 2023
• Standard dose range: 0.25mg to 2.4mg (Wegovy) vs 2.5mg to 15mg (Mounjaro)
• High-dose options: 7.2mg (emerging) vs 15mg (established)

The standard approach for both involves gradual escalation from a lower dose to allow your body adjusts to the medication. The starting dose for Wegovy is typically 0.25mg, while Mounjaro begins at 2.5mg. The appropriate starting dose helps minimize gastrointestinal side effects as your system adapts.

Wegovy 7.2mg isn’t yet routine in UK practice. It’s aimed at people who have already tolerated the 2.4 mg dose but need additional appetite suppression to reach their target weight. Mounjaro 15mg, by contrast, is an established upper tier within the current treatment framework.

How do Wegovy 7.2mg and Mounjaro 15mg work in the body?

Both medications act on gut hormones that regulate blood sugar levels, appetite, and feelings of fullness. However, they take slightly different approaches to achieve these effects.

Wegovy at 7.2mg delivers a higher-strength GLP-1 receptor activation. This deeply suppresses appetite, slows stomach emptying, and reduces what many patients describe as “food noise”—those constant thoughts about food that make it difficult to lose weight. The effects last for days after each injection, which is why both medications work as weekly injectable medications rather than daily treatments.

Mounjaro at 15mg activates both GLP-1 and GIP receptors simultaneously. This dual action may provide additional benefits for blood sugar regulation and fat metabolism. The GIP component influences how your body processes fats and responds to insulin, which helps some people achieve slightly greater weight loss compared to GLP-1-only treatments at standard wegovy doses.

Because both medications slow gastric emptying and influence hunger pathways, their side effect profiles overlap considerably—particularly at higher dose levels like 7.2mg and 15mg. Nausea, constipation, and other gastrointestinal symptoms are common with both.

Mechanism at a glance:

• Wegovy 7.2mg: Mimics GLP-1 hormone only; strong appetite suppression; slows digestion; reduces calorie intake through satiety signals
• Mounjaro 15mg: Mimics both GLP-1 and GIP hormones; appetite suppression plus enhanced fat metabolism; improved insulin sensitivity; stronger effects on blood sugar

Mechanistically, it’s difficult to declare one dose “stronger” than the other. Semaglutide relies on higher single-pathway activation, pushing GLP-1 receptor stimulation further. Tirzepatide uses dual-pathway activation at slightly different receptor potencies, combining GLP-1 effects with GIP benefits.

The same medication can produce very different results in different people, which is why individual response matters more than theoretical potency.

What do the clinical trials say about Wegovy 7.2mg vs Mounjaro 15mg?

The available evidence comes from separate landmark trials rather than a single direct head-to-head study comparing these high doses. This means we’re comparing results across different patient populations and study designs—useful, but not definitive.

STEP UP findings for Wegovy 7.2mg

The STEP UP trial examined higher-dose semaglutide in adults with obesity or overweight with comorbidities. Key findings include:

• Treatment duration: 72 weeks
• Average weight loss: Approximately 20.7% of starting weight
• High responders: Around one-third of participants achieved 25% or greater weight reduction
• Comparison to standard dose: Substantially better results than the standard 2.4mg dose, which achieved 17-17.5% in earlier semaglutide trials

This represents a meaningful step up from what patients could achieve on the lower maintenance dose, closing much of the gap with Mounjaro’s performance in large clinical trials.

SURMOUNT-1 results for Mounjaro 15mg

SURMOUNT-1 studied tirzepatide in adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related health condition. The results:

• Treatment duration: 72 weeks
• Average weight loss: Up to 22-22.5% at the 15mg dose
• High responders: A substantial proportion achieved 20-25% body weight reduction
• Dose response: Clear dose-dependent effects, with 15mg producing the greatest average weight loss

SURMOUNT-5 comparisons

When Mounjaro 15mg was compared directly with Wegovy 2.4mg in SURMOUNT-5-type analyses, Mounjaro showed greater weight loss—around 20.2% versus 13.7% at 72 weeks. However, this comparison did not include the newer 7.2mg Wegovy dose.

When you line up the clinical trial data, Wegovy 7.2mg (20.7%) sits very close to Mounjaro 15mg (around 20-22.5%). The difference is small and may not be clinically meaningful for many individuals. Both high-dose options deliver approximately 20% or more average weight loss, representing a significant achievement for sustainable weight loss.

Is Wegovy 7.2mg “stronger” in terms of weight loss, side effects, or overall impact?

“Strength” can refer to several different things when comparing weight loss treatment options. The amount of weight lost is one measure, but severity of side effects and intensity of appetite suppression also matter for your treatment journey.

Comparing weight loss outcomes

On average weight loss, the numbers are close:

• Wegovy 7.2mg: STEP UP showed ~20.7% average loss
• Mounjaro 15mg: SURMOUNT-1 showed ~22-22.5% average loss

These figures are close enough that the difference is small compared to individual variability. Some people lose considerably more weight on either drug, while others see more modest results. Users lost varying amounts based on factors like adherence, healthy diet maintenance, and baseline metabolic factors.

Side effect comparison

Both medications share common gastrointestinal side effects:

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain

STEP UP showed slightly more side effects at 7.2mg than at 2.4mg, with about 5.4% of participants discontinuing treatment at the higher dose compared to approximately 4% at the standard current dose. Mounjaro 15mg had discontinuation rates around 6.2% in high-dose trials.

This suggests broadly similar tolerability at the top doses of each medication. The safety profile consistent across both treatments involves predictable gastrointestinal symptoms that typically improve as your body adjusts.

Emerging safety observations

Some participants in STEP UP trials experienced dysaesthesia—tingling or altered skin sensation—at the 7.2mg dose. Importantly, most cases (around 85% or more) resolved while patients continued treatment, suggesting this is usually manageable rather than a reason to stop.

Real-world observations

Some real-world observational data for lower doses suggests Mounjaro users may lose slightly more weight on average than Wegovy users over 12 months. However, the gap shrinks considerably when Wegovy is used at higher doses and combined with structured lifestyle support, including healthy eating and regular activity.

Neither high dose is consistently “stronger” for everyone. For some people, Wegovy 7.2mg may feel more powerful in terms of appetite control. For others, Mounjaro 15mg delivers greater impact. Prescriber-guided adjustment is often needed to find what works best for your body mass index and health profile.

Who might be better suited to Wegovy 7.2mg vs Mounjaro 15mg?

Suitability is highly individual and should be assessed by weight loss clinicians based on your medical history, existing conditions, and past response to GLP-1 therapies. There’s no universal answer, but certain patterns emerge.

You might be better suited to Wegovy 7.2mg if:

• You’re already stable on Wegovy 2.4mg but have plateaued without reaching sufficient weight loss, and you tolerate semaglutide well
• You previously experienced more manageable side effects on semaglutide compared with tirzepatide or other GLP-1/GIP agents
• You have established heart disease or cardiovascular risk factor concerns—semaglutide has robust CV outcomes data from trials like SELECT
• You prefer staying on the same medication rather than switching treatments to a different drug class
• You’ve achieved partial results on lower wegovy doses and want to continue your current treatment pathway

You might be better suited to Mounjaro 15mg if:

• You started on tirzepatide and have escalated through doses with good response and tolerability
• You have pronounced insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes, where dual GLP-1/GIP action provides additional glycemic benefits
• You haven’t achieved sufficient weight loss or experienced poor tolerability on standard-dose semaglutide
• You’re looking for alternative weight loss treatments after a suboptimal response to GLP-1-only medications
• Your prescriber believes the dual mechanism may address a weight-related medical condition more effectively

General eligibility

Both treatments are usually reserved for adults with:

• BMI (Body Mass Index) of 30 kg/m² or higher, or
• BMI of 27 kg/m² or higher with weight-related conditions such as high blood pressure, sleep apnoea, or type 2 diabetes

This aligns with MHRA and NICE guidance for weight loss medication prescribing.

Access considerations

High doses like Wegovy 7.2mg are unlikely to be routinely accessible on the NHS initially. Mounjaro 15mg is available but typically through specialist weight-management services. Many patients seeking either the maximum dose of Mounjaro or wegovy access higher-dose options through private providers.

Cost considerations matter here. Multi-dose injectable pens for both medications represent significant ongoing expense, and availability can fluctuate due to supply constraints.

Rather than deciding between mounjaro or wegovy based solely on theoretical potency, discuss these options with your prescriber. They can help determine which medication balances effectiveness with your individual risk factor profile and treatment history, ensuring ongoing support throughout your weight maintenance phase.

Key takeaways: how to think about “stronger” when choosing between Wegovy 7.2mg and Mounjaro 15mg

When comparing mounjaro vs wegovy at their highest doses, keep these points in mind:

• Similar efficacy: Wegovy 7.2mg and Mounjaro 15mg both deliver around 20% or more average weight loss over approximately 72 weeks in clinical trials
• Slight edge for Mounjaro: Clinical trial data suggests Mounjaro 15mg may achieve slightly greater weight loss on average, but Wegovy 7.2mg closes much of the gap seen at the standard 2.4mg Wegovy dose
• Comparable tolerability: Side effect rates at these top doses are broadly similar; some symptoms like dysaesthesia appear more frequently with Wegovy 7.2mg, but overall safety profile is comparable
• No direct head-to-head data: There is no robust, completed trial directly comparing Wegovy 7.2mg and Mounjaro 15mg, so conclusions rely on best-available indirect evidence
• Individual variation matters most: The “strongest” option for any individual is the one that offers effective weight loss with acceptable side effects, fits their health profile, and can be used consistently long-term
• First weight loss medications aren’t always the last: Some people may need to try more than one option before finding what delivers sustained weight loss for their situation

These medications, whether Wegovy and Mounjaro at standard or higher doses, are tools within a wider plan. Reaching and maintaining your goal weight involves combining weight loss injections with healthy diet choices, regular physical activity, adequate sleep, and emotional support.

Work closely with your NowPatient weight loss clinician when considering high-dose options. They can help you weigh whether the potential for more weight loss justifies any additional side effect burden, and whether your own medication history suggests one pathway might serve you better than another.

The strongest option isn’t necessarily the one with the highest milligram count or the biggest trial numbers. It’s the one that helps you achieve sustainable weight loss while fitting realistically into your life for the long term.