Ozempic and Victoza are each glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists which can be used within the remedy of kind 2 diabetes.
They assist individuals higher handle their blood glucose (sugar) ranges, decrease A1c ranges, enhance insulin sensitivity, and battle insulin resistance.
This text will clarify the similarities and variations between these two medicine so you can also make your best option for your self.
Desk of Contents
What are the lively components in Ozempic vs. Victoza?
Ozempic’s lively ingredient is semaglutide, whereas Victoza comprises liraglutide. Each medicines belong to the category of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists, that are authorized for the remedy of kind 2 diabetes.
They perform by enhancing insulin secretion in response to excessive blood sugar ranges, slowing abdomen emptying, and suppressing urge for food, all of which assist to enhance blood sugar administration and doubtlessly assist with weight administration.
Though they’ve related mechanisms of motion, semaglutide and liraglutide have completely different chemical makeups and usually are not instantly interchangeable.
Every drug could provide completely different advantages and dangers, and the selection between them entails cautious consideration of varied elements, together with effectiveness, unwanted effects, dosing frequency, and particular person preferences.
Allergic reactions or sensitivities to the lively components of both medicine additionally require cautious choice and monitoring by a medical skilled.
Why do individuals take Ozempic or Victoza?
Ozempic and Victoza are each used for the remedy of kind 2 diabetes. They’re liquid, injectable medicines which can be taken subcutaneously (slightly below the pores and skin). Each assist to decrease blood sugar ranges and A1c ranges (a measure of glucose management over the earlier 2 to three months).
By bettering insulin resistance (a situation wherein the physique wants additional insulin to take care of regular blood sugar ranges), slowing the speed of digestion, and suppressing urge for food, they not directly contribute to weight administration.
Nonetheless, it’s vital to notice that weight reduction, whereas a standard profit, will not be the first function of those remedies.
Along with blood sugar administration, Ozempic and Victoza have proven cardiovascular advantages in individuals with kind 2 diabetes and current coronary heart illness, doubtlessly decreasing the threat of coronary heart assaults, strokes, and even all-cause mortality (loss of life from all causes).
Often, Ozempic or Victoza is perhaps prescribed “off-label” (in a way not authorized by the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration [FDA]) for individuals with prediabetes or kind 1 diabetes to enhance insulin resistance and glucose ranges.
It’s vital to remember that Ozempic and Victoza usually are not prescribed collectively. Customers are usually suggested to make use of one or the opposite primarily based on their medical workforce’s evaluation of their particular scenario.
Learn extra in: Every part You Have to Know About Ozempic and Every part You Have to Know About Victoza.
How are Ozempic and Victoza related?
Ozempic and Victoza can each be used alone or at the side of different diabetes medicines. Nonetheless, they will by no means totally exchange using insulin if you happen to require insulin to deal with your diabetes.
The next are further similarities between the 2 medicines:
Decrease blood sugar and A1c ranges
Ozempic and Victoza successfully decrease blood sugar and A1c ranges by mimicking the consequences of the GLP-1 hormone, which naturally will increase insulin secretion in response to elevated blood sugar ranges.
This motion is glucose-dependent, which means that it primarily happens when there’s a have to decrease blood glucose, which helps enhance blood sugar administration with out considerably rising the chance of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
Along with boosting insulin launch, these medicines contribute to higher blood sugar administration by suppressing the secretion of glucagon, a hormone that usually alerts the liver to launch saved glucose into the bloodstream.
By decreasing glucagon ranges, Ozempic and Victoza assist restrict the liver’s launch of glucose, additional serving to with the discount of blood sugar ranges.
Might trigger weight reduction
Whereas neither medicine is FDA-approved as a weight reduction drug, the medicines suppress urge for food and sluggish digestion, which trigger many individuals to drop pounds whereas taking both one.
Since they aren’t authorized for weight reduction by the FDA, there isn’t any advisable dose to realize this.
Converse along with your physician if you happen to’re involved in dropping pounds and residing with kind 2 diabetes, as there are weight-loss medicines authorized by the FDA for individuals residing with diabetes.
Study extra in: Can Ozempic Assist You Lose Weight? and Victoza and Weight Loss: Can Victoza Assist You Lose Weight?
Decrease cardiovascular dangers
Medical proof has demonstrated that each Ozempic and Victoza contribute to reducing cardiovascular dangers in individuals with kind 2 diabetes, particularly those that even have coronary heart illness.
For instance, vital medical trials such because the LEADER trial for Victoza and the SUSTAIN-6 trial for Ozempic have proven that these medicines not solely cut back the chance of main cardiovascular occasions however may lower the chance of cardiovascular-related loss of life on this inhabitants.
Supporting this, a complete meta-analysis (evaluation of knowledge from a number of research) revealed in The Lancet has consolidated findings from varied research, affirming the cardiovascular advantages of those GLP-1 agonists.
Based mostly on such strong proof, the American Diabetes Affiliation (ADA) recommends using GLP-1 agonists, together with Ozempic and Victoza, for individuals with kind 2 diabetes and coronary heart illness as a technique to lower cardiovascular threat.
Might trigger opposed unwanted effects
Each Ozempic and Victoza could trigger opposed unwanted effects.
These embody:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Low blood sugar, particularly when used at the side of insulin
In addition they could trigger extra critical unwanted effects, together with:
- Pancreatitis (irritation of the pancreas)
- Kidney issues
- Elevated threat of thyroid most cancers
- Allergic response
To be taught extra concerning the potential unwanted effects of each medicines, learn: Ozempic Aspect Results: What You Have to Know and Victoza Aspect Results: What You Have to Know.
They’re title manufacturers and costly
Sadly, there are not any generic variations of Ozempic or Victoza. They’re each title manufacturers and fairly costly. Some medical health insurance plans could not cowl both one.
Examine along with your medical health insurance plan to see whether it is included on the formulary and what your cost-sharing can be earlier than beginning the medicine, as they will change into fairly cost-prohibitive over time.
They don’t exchange insulin
Neither Ozempic nor Victoza replaces insulin. These medicines work alongside different remedies, together with insulin, to assist handle blood sugar ranges successfully.
For those who’re contemplating beginning Ozempic or Victoza, it’s vital to take care of your present remedy routine, together with insulin if prescribed, until and till your healthcare supplier advises a change.
They are often taken with or with out meals
GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic and Victoza provide appreciable flexibility in administration, as they will be taken with or with out meals and at any time of day. That is in distinction to insulin and sure different diabetes medicines, which frequently require extra exact timing with meals.
Whereas these medicines are efficient in reducing blood sugar ranges general, they’ve a low threat of inflicting acute low blood sugar on their very own, due to their glucose-dependent mechanism of motion.
This implies they stimulate insulin launch primarily within the presence of excessive blood glucose ranges, minimizing the chance of blood sugar dropping too low below regular circumstances.
For those who interact in bodily exercise after taking your injection, it’s unlikely to trigger a fast drop in blood sugar ranges. Nonetheless, as train can affect glucose ranges, monitoring your response, particularly with a brand new remedy routine, is advisable.
For many who expertise nausea after their injection, a standard aspect impact, consuming bland meals like toast, bananas, rice, or crackers beforehand could assist reduce this discomfort. As your physique adjusts to the medicine, this aspect impact could diminish over time.
Study extra in: Meals to Keep away from Whereas Taking Ozempic and Meals to Keep away from Whereas Taking Victoza.
How are Ozempic and Victoza completely different?
Whereas Ozempic and Victoza share many similarities as GLP-1 agonists used within the administration of kind 2 diabetes, there are a number of key variations which may affect your selection:
Administration frequency
Ozempic is taken as soon as weekly, making it a handy possibility for many who choose less-frequent dosing. In distinction, Victoza requires each day injections, which can be preferable for individuals who want finer management over their blood glucose ranges or who expertise milder unwanted effects that go away rapidly.
Discover out extra in: Ozempic Dosage Information: How A lot Ought to You Take? and Victoza Dosing: How A lot Ought to You Take?
Accepted populations
Ozempic is authorized to be used in adults ages 18 and up with kind 2 diabetes. However, Victoza is authorized to be used in individuals ages 10 and up with kind 2 diabetes.
Impact length and unwanted effects
Ozempic is longer-lasting, with a once-weekly dosing schedule. Nonetheless, as a result of it stays lively longer, any unwanted effects corresponding to nausea or vomiting may additionally final for as much as every week.
However, as a result of Victoza is taken each day, the unwanted effects usually diminish extra rapidly — normally inside a day — because the medicine’s impact wears off.
If the prospect of each day injections is a priority, or if you happen to are likely to neglect each day medicines, Ozempic’s weekly schedule would possibly higher fit your way of life.
It’s additionally vital to remember that the dosing of the 2 medicines is totally completely different. Each require cautious dosing changes that ought to be managed below the steering of a healthcare supplier.
Ozempic could trigger diabetic retinopathy
Semaglutide, the lively ingredient in Ozempic, could enhance the chance of early worsening of diabetic retinopathy (harm to the retina of the attention), notably in individuals who have already got this eye situation.
This aspect impact was notably noticed within the SUSTAIN-6 medical trial, though it doesn’t have an effect on all customers of the medicine.
In distinction, Victoza has not been related to an analogous threat in main research.
When you have pre-existing diabetic retinopathy or are involved about potential eye well being issues, it’s vital to debate these dangers along with your physician earlier than beginning Ozempic. This dialog can assist make sure that any remedy plan considers each your diabetes administration wants and your general eye well being.
Regularly requested questions
Can I swap between the 2 medicine?
Sure, switching between Ozempic and Victoza is feasible, notably if you happen to’re experiencing opposed unwanted effects with certainly one of them. Nonetheless, due to their differing durations of motion and potencies, particular ready durations are advisable to make sure security:
If switching from Ozempic to Victoza, wait a full week after your final dose of Ozempic earlier than beginning Victoza to permit the consequences of the longer-acting Ozempic to decrease.
If switching from Victoza to Ozempic, wait 24 hours after your final dose of Victoza earlier than taking your first dose of Ozempic.
All the time make such modifications below the steering of your physician. The dosages of Ozempic and Victoza usually are not equal, and your physician will probably modify your beginning dose primarily based in your wants and former experiences with GLP-1 medicines.
Even if you’re on the best dose of Victoza, your physician could begin you on a decrease dose of Ozempic and modify primarily based in your response and any unwanted effects.
Can you are taking Ozempic and Victoza on the similar time?
No, it isn’t advisable to make use of two medicines from the GLP-1 agonist class, corresponding to Ozempic and Victoza, concurrently.
Doing so doesn’t enhance their effectiveness and will enhance the chance of extreme unwanted effects. Whereas GLP-1 agonists typically have a low threat of inflicting hypoglycemia on their very own, the mix of those medicine can doubtlessly result in an elevated threat of gastrointestinal points and different critical unwanted effects corresponding to pancreatitis.
It’s vital to observe your healthcare supplier’s steering and use solely the prescribed medicine routine.
If I lose sufficient weight taking Ozempic or Victoza, can I get off my different diabetes medicines?
Whereas it’s attainable for individuals taking Ozempic or Victoza to scale back and even discontinue different diabetes medicines because of vital weight reduction and improved blood sugar administration, this isn’t assured.
Weight reduction can enhance insulin sensitivity and cut back blood sugar ranges, doubtlessly reducing the necessity for extra medicines.
Nonetheless, any changes to your diabetes remedy plan ought to be made cautiously and all the time below the steering of a healthcare supplier.
You will need to do not forget that whereas Ozempic and Victoza can considerably enhance diabetes administration, they don’t remedy the situation. The necessity for ongoing medicine, together with insulin, could persist, particularly in those that have had diabetes for a very long time.
This consideration is especially crucial for individuals with kind 2 diabetes who would possibly have the ability to cut back their dependence on insulin or different medicines. In distinction, these with kind 1 diabetes should proceed insulin remedy as their our bodies don’t produce insulin.
For those who expertise any vital modifications, corresponding to sudden weight reduction or frequent low blood sugar episodes, communicate along with your physician.
Ultimate ideas
The selection between Ozempic and Victoza hinges on varied elements, together with the distinction in lively components, dosing schedules, and particular person well being conditions.
Whereas Ozempic’s once-weekly administration could enchantment to these searching for comfort, Victoza’s each day dosing offers flexibility for dose changes and managing unwanted effects.
It’s vital to have a dialog along with your healthcare supplier about your particular wants, way of life, and any considerations you might need about unwanted effects or the monetary implications of those remedies. Given the absence of generic options, the fee generally is a vital issue on this decision-making course of.