GLP-1 medications, side by side
Schedule, form, maker and half-life for every major GLP-1 · Last updated August 26, 2026
The quick answer
GLP-1s differ mainly in molecule (semaglutide, tirzepatide, liraglutide, dulaglutide), schedule (weekly vs. daily) and form (shot vs. pill). Which one you take is a medical decision — but the schedule shapes your daily routine, and that’s what this table compares.
The comparison table
| Brand | Active ingredient | Schedule | Maker | Half-life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ozempic | semaglutide | Once-weekly injection | Novo Nordisk | About 1 week |
| Wegovy | semaglutide | Once-weekly injection | Novo Nordisk | About 1 week |
| Mounjaro | tirzepatide | Once-weekly injection | Eli Lilly | About 5 days |
| Zepbound | tirzepatide | Once-weekly injection | Eli Lilly | About 5 days |
| Saxenda | liraglutide | Once-daily injection | Novo Nordisk | About 13 hours |
| Rybelsus | semaglutide (oral) | Once-daily pill | Novo Nordisk | About 1 week |
| Trulicity | dulaglutide | Once-weekly injection | Eli Lilly | About 5 days |
| Victoza | liraglutide | Once-daily injection | Novo Nordisk | About 13 hours |
| Compounded Semaglutide | semaglutide | Custom schedule (typically weekly) | Compounding pharmacies | About 1 week (semaglutide) |
| Compounded Tirzepatide | tirzepatide | Custom schedule (typically weekly) | Compounding pharmacies | About 5 days (tirzepatide) |
What the schedule means for tracking
- Weekly injections — one dose day to protect, a catch-up window if you miss it, and a medication level that visibly rises and falls across the week. Reminders and a level chart carry most of the load.
- Daily injections — no meaningful catch-up window; consistency is everything, and with 7 shots a week, injection-site rotation matters far more. Streaks and same-time reminders are the tools.
- The daily pill (Rybelsus) — an exacting morning ritual: empty stomach, plain water, a 30-minute wait. The reminder isn’t about the pill so much as the routine around it.
Comparison FAQ
What's the difference between weekly and daily GLP-1s for daily life?
Weekly medications (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound, Trulicity) build a steady level and revolve around one dose day, so the challenge is remembering the day and rotating sites. Daily options (Saxenda, Victoza, Rybelsus) clear quickly and depend on an unbroken routine — streaks matter more than timing windows.
Are Ozempic and Wegovy the same drug?
Both are semaglutide by Novo Nordisk with weekly injections — Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabetes (up to 2 mg), Wegovy for weight management (up to 2.4 mg). Rybelsus is the same molecule as a daily pill.
Are Mounjaro and Zepbound the same drug?
Both are tirzepatide by Eli Lilly with identical weekly schedules and titration steps — Mounjaro is approved for type 2 diabetes, Zepbound for weight management.
Which GLP-1 is best?
That's a prescriber question — it depends on your diagnosis, insurance, tolerance and goals, not on a comparison table. What this table can tell you is what daily life looks like on each schedule, and DoseDash tracks all of them.
Whatever you’re prescribed, DoseDash tracks it
30+ GLP-1 medications, weekly or daily, shots or pills — free on iPhone.
All trademarks belong to their owners; DoseDash is not affiliated with any pharmaceutical company. This guide is educational, not medical advice — treatment choices belong with your care team.