Metformin and semaglutide, higher generally known as Ozempic, are in style prescription medicines which can be used to assist folks handle their diabetes.
Many individuals could also be prescribed metformin or Ozempic alone, however typically a physician could prescribe each medicine without delay as a type of mixture remedy.
As a result of these medicine work in several methods and their use collectively is comparatively new, you might have questions on how they work together, what the unwanted side effects could also be, and the way effectively they work collectively.
This text will discover what it’s essential find out about taking metformin and Ozempic collectively.
Desk of Contents
How do metformin and Ozempic differ?
To assist perceive why you is perhaps prescribed one drug, the opposite, or each without delay, it’s necessary to know a bit of bit about every medicine and the way they differ.
Ozempic and metformin are completely different in a number of methods. To start out with, metformin is a each day (or twice-daily) oral medicine that often is available in tablet type, whereas Ozempic is a once-weekly injectable drug.
The 2 medicine have completely different energetic substances and act on the physique in several methods, too.
Metformin
Metformin is among the many most prescribed medicines on the earth. Metformin’s commonest use is as a first-line therapy for kind 2 diabetes.
Metformin reduces the quantity of glucose launched by the liver, decreases the quantity of glucose absorbed within the intestines, and will increase insulin sensitivity, permitting particular person cells within the physique to eat extra sugar and use that sugar extra effectively.
It has additionally been demonstrated to have a variety of different well being advantages. More and more, metformin is being prescribed for folks with:
Metformin has additionally been proven to assist folks shed some pounds in some circumstances.
Ozempic
Ozempic is the model identify for the commonest drug that makes use of the energetic ingredient semaglutide, which is predominately used to assist handle diabetes.
Different drug corporations additionally make drugs with the identical energetic ingredient as Ozempic (these embody the model names Rybelsus and Wegovy).
Ozempic is a glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1, agonist. It mimics hormones within the physique that assist to manage blood sugar ranges.
Ozempic will increase the physique’s pure insulin manufacturing, decreases the liver’s manufacturing of glucose, slows the emptying of meals out of the abdomen into the small intestines, and reduces urge for food, which tends to result in weight reduction.
Whereas Ozempic is a comparatively new drug, having been FDA-approved in 2017, metformin has been in the marketplace in the USA since 1994. Each medicine have seen important will increase of their use since their introduction.
Why would I be prescribed metformin and Ozempic?
The first cause these medicine are prescribed is to assist handle blood sugar ranges.
Metformin and Ozempic assist most individuals decrease their common blood sugar ranges as measured by an HbA1c (A1C) blood check (a measure of glucose management over the earlier 2 to three months). The results are fairly important.
Medical trials have established that, at its most dose, metformin can assist lower A1C ranges by 1.5 p.c, whereas a mean dose of Ozempic can lower A1C by 1.4 p.c.
If you happen to’re at present on metformin and it’s not offering its full advantages anymore, your healthcare supplier may contemplate prescribing Ozempic. This could possibly be to evaluate how effectively it really works by itself as a substitute of metformin, or to make use of it as a further therapy alongside along with your current metformin routine.
There are different causes it’s possible you’ll be prescribed metformin or Ozempic. Nonetheless, these makes use of are typically off-label (not authorised by the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration [FDA]).
Each metformin and Ozempic have been proven to assist with weight reduction along with their major perform of decreasing common blood sugar ranges. Whereas neither drug is FDA-approved for weight reduction, it may be a useful impact, particularly for individuals who have kind 2 diabetes and issue sustaining a wholesome weight.
Each medicine are additionally established to lower the chance of main cardiovascular occasions, equivalent to coronary heart assaults.
Whereas many of those off-label results could also be useful, metformin and Ozempic are typically not prescribed solely for these causes.
Are you able to safely take metformin and Ozempic collectively?
Usually, the reply is sure. Medical trials have established that it’s typically secure to take metformin and Ozempic collectively.
Not solely is it typically secure, however it’s truly turning into widespread to prescribe these medicine collectively as a mix remedy, since they complement each other in serving to handle blood sugar ranges.
The medicines additionally can assist with cardiovascular well being and weight reduction in ways in which could reinforce each other.
Taking metformin and Ozempic collectively might be an efficient strategy to handle blood sugar ranges, particularly for folks with kind 2 diabetes.
What unwanted side effects are there to taking each metformin and Ozempic?
Whereas each of those drugs might be efficient at controlling blood glucose ranges, they will even have unwanted side effects, and taking them collectively could enhance the chance of sure hostile and negative effects.
Each metformin and Ozempic could cause gastrointestinal signs equivalent to nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
See extra in: Can Metformin Trigger Diarrhea?
Taking these two medicine collectively can enhance the chance and severity of the unwanted side effects it’s possible you’ll expertise.
If you’re taking metformin and Ozempic collectively — or if you’re prescribed them along with insulin — it’s particularly necessary to pay attention to the indicators of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
Low blood sugar ranges could cause the next signs:
- Starvation
- Dizziness
- Nervousness or irritability
- Perspiring (sweating)
- Tremors
- Tingling sensation within the lips
- Fast heartbeat
- Fatigue or weak point
- Imaginative and prescient alterations, like blurriness
- Confusion
If you happen to expertise any of those signs, it’s necessary to test your blood sugar ranges — and when you’re low, to shortly carry your blood sugar again as much as a standard vary by consuming or consuming one thing with carbohydrates.
Metformin and Ozempic every have their very own potential unwanted side effects which can be very uncommon, however necessary to find out about.
For metformin, these embody vitamin B12 deficiency and lactic acidosis, a probably deadly situation by which lactic acid builds up within the physique.
See extra in: Can Metformin Trigger Lactic Acidosis?
For Ozempic, this consists of thyroid tumors.
Medical trials have proven that taking each at medicines as soon as doesn’t enhance your total threat of experiencing critical unwanted side effects.
It’s necessary to learn any paperwork that include your prescription and to speak about every prescription drug and its potential unwanted side effects along with your physician.
You’ll be able to learn extra in regards to the unwanted side effects of every drug right here:
Does Ozempic work higher than metformin?
As a result of metformin and Ozempic work in several methods, neither essentially works higher than the opposite.
Relying on the dose, both metformin or Ozempic could decrease blood sugar ranges greater than the opposite drug.
Ozempic has typically been proven to assist folks lose extra weight than metformin, however everybody’s expertise is completely different, and outcomes could fluctuate from individual to individual. Additionally, neither drug ensures weight reduction, neither is both drug FDA-approved for that objective.
Can you are taking metformin mixture medicine with Ozempic?
Mixture medicine for folks with kind 2 diabetes typically embody metformin paired with one other drug that works in another way. This method enhances the general effectiveness of the therapy, as every drug targets completely different elements of diabetes administration, thereby bettering total blood sugar management.
Including an Ozempic prescription on prime of a metformin mixture drug ought to solely be performed in session with a physician, as every of the three (or extra) energetic substances can have its personal set of unwanted side effects, interactions, and contraindications (conditions by which the drugs shouldn’t be used as a result of it’d trigger hurt).
Is metformin safer than Ozempic?
Metformin is usually thought of to be among the many most secure and most studied medicine for serving to folks handle their blood sugar.
Whereas metformin has been in widespread use longer than Ozempic, every drug has undergone in depth, rigorous testing.
Nonetheless, every particular person’s threat components and their very own expertise of unwanted side effects will differ. So it’s necessary to work along with your physician to grasp how every drug’s security profile, dangers, and unwanted side effects stack up in opposition to its advantages, all inside the context of your private well being historical past and objectives.
Learn extra in: Is Metformin Protected?
What meals ought to be averted when taking metformin and Ozempic collectively?
Meals that may trigger an upset abdomen are finest to keep away from when taking metformin and Ozempic collectively. These embody greasy, fatty meals and meals excessive in saturated fats (equivalent to butter, fatty cuts of meat, and cheese).
It’s typically finest to keep away from refined and extremely processed meals as effectively (equivalent to white bread and packaged items), and you may additionally be suggested to keep away from consuming alcohol when taking metformin and Ozempic.
Comply with all tips and directions on any prescription drugs you’re taking. It’s at all times a good suggestion to speak along with your physician in regards to the weight loss plan it is best to eat and any meals, drinks, or behaviors it is best to keep away from when beginning a brand new prescription.
You’ll be able to learn extra about which meals to keep away from right here:
How a lot weight are you able to lose on metformin and Ozempic collectively?
It’s necessary to keep in mind that utilizing metformin and Ozempic collectively for weight reduction is an off-label objective that isn’t FDA-approved, so it’s particularly necessary to work along with your physician to grasp the advantages and dangers.
If you happen to’re prescribed metformin and Ozempic to your kind 2 diabetes however want to shed some pounds, there are FDA-approved weight-loss medicine which can be secure for folks with diabetes that your physician may additionally prescribe.
Medical trials have proven that metformin alone results in a mean weight lack of about 5 p.c of physique weight for roughly a 3rd of people that take the drug, together with lack of about 12 to fifteen kilos in folks with out diabetes.
For people who find themselves obese or overweight, Ozempic has been demonstrated to lead to a mean weight lack of 14.9 p.c of physique weight.
Study extra in: Metformin and Weight Loss: Can a Capsule Assist You Lose Weight? and Can Ozempic Assist You Lose Weight?
Closing ideas
Taking metformin and Ozempic collectively marks an evolving method in diabetes administration, highlighting the advantages of mixture remedy. This pairing, beneath medical supervision, gives a promising choice for people who find themselves not capable of handle their blood sugar ranges with single-drug remedies.
The potential added benefits in weight administration and cardiovascular well being are important, significantly given the associated nature of those well being points with diabetes.
Nonetheless, it’s necessary to keep in mind that every particular person’s response to medicine can fluctuate. The choice to make use of these medicine together ought to be made in shut session with healthcare suppliers, bearing in mind private well being historical past and particular medical wants.
Steered subsequent articles: All the pieces You Must Know About Metformin and All the pieces You Must Know About Ozempic.