Metformin and Ozempic are fashionable 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 will have questions on how they work together, what the unwanted side effects could also be, and the way properly they work collectively.
This text will discover what you must 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, itβs necessary to know somewhat bit about every treatment and the way they differ.
Ozempic and metformin are completely different in a number of methods. To begin with, metformin is a day by day (or twice-daily) oral treatment that normally is available in tablet type, whereas Ozempic is a once-weekly injectable drug.
The 2 medicine have completely different energetic components and act on the physique in several methods, too.
Metformin
Metformin is among the many most prescribed medicines on the earth. Metforminβs 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 devour 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 drop some weight in some circumstances.
OzempicΒ
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. Ozempic is made by the pharmaceutical firm Novo Nordisk.
Different drug corporations additionally make drugs with the identical energetic ingredient as Ozempic (these embrace 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 physiqueβs pure insulin manufacturing, decreases the liverβs 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 america 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 purpose 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 consequences are fairly important.
Medical trials have established that, at its most dose, metformin can assist lower A1C ranges by 1.5%, whereas a median dose of Ozempic can lower A1C by 1.4%.
In case youβre presently on metformin and itβs not offering its full advantages anymore, your healthcare supplier would possibly think about prescribing Ozempic. This may very well be to evaluate how properly it really works as a sole therapy as an alternative of metformin, or to make use of alongside your current metformin routine as a supplementary remedy.
There are different causes you might be prescribed metformin or Ozempic. Nevertheless, these makes use of are typically off-label (not accredited 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, resembling 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?
Most often, the reply is sure. Medical trials have established that it’s typically protected to take metformin and Ozempic collectively.
Not solely is it typically protected, however it’s truly changing into widespread to prescribe these medicine collectively as a mixture 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 option 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 improve the chance of sure opposed and negative effects.
Each metformin and Ozempic could cause gastrointestinal signs resembling nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Taking these two medicine collectively can improve the chance and severity of the unwanted side effects you might expertise.
If you’re taking metformin and Ozempic collectively β or if you’re prescribed them along with insulin β it’s particularly necessary to concentrate on the indicators of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
Low blood sugar ranges could cause the next signs:
- Starvation
- Dizziness
- Anxiousness or irritability
- Perspiring (sweating)
- Tremors
- Tingling sensation within the lips
- Speedy heartbeat
- Fatigue or weak spot
- Imaginative and prescient alterations, like blurriness
- Confusion
In case you expertise any of those signs, itβs necessary to verify your blood sugar ranges β and should youβre low, to shortly carry your blood sugar again as much as a traditional vary by consuming or ingesting 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 embrace vitamin B12 deficiency and lactic acidosis, a doubtlessly deadly situation through which lactic acid builds up within the physique.
For Ozempic, this consists of thyroid tumors.
Medical trials have proven that taking each at medicines as soon as doesn’t improve your total danger of experiencing critical unwanted side effects.
Itβs 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 possibly can 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 everybodyβs expertise is completely different, and weight reduction just isn’t assured by both drug β neither is both drug FDA-approved for that objective.
Can you’re taking metformin mixture medicine with Ozempic?
Mixture medicine for folks with kind 2 diabetes usually embrace 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 features of diabetes administration, thereby bettering total blood sugar management.
Including an Ozempic prescription on prime of a metformin mixture drug ought to solely be achieved in session with a physician, as every of the three (or extra) energetic components can have its personal set of unwanted side effects, interactions, and contraindications (conditions through which the drugs shouldn’t be used as a result of it’d trigger hurt).
Is metformin safer than Ozempic?
Metformin is usually thought-about 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.
Nevertheless, every individualβs danger components and their very own expertise of unwanted side effects will differ. So itβs necessary to work along with your physician to know how every drugβs security profile, dangers, and unwanted side effects stack up towards its advantages, all inside the context of your private well being historical past and targets.
What meals must be prevented when taking metformin and Ozempic collectively?
Meals that may trigger an upset abdomen are greatest to keep away from when taking metformin and Ozempic collectively. These embrace greasy, fatty meals and meals excessive in saturated fats (resembling butter, fatty cuts of meat, and cheese).
Itβs typically greatest to avoid refined and extremely processed meals as properly (resembling white bread and packaged items), and you may additionally be suggested to keep away from ingesting alcohol when taking metformin and Ozempic.
Observe all tips and directions on any prescription drugs you take. Itβs at all times a good suggestion to speak along with your physician in regards to the eating regimen you must eat and any meals, drinks, or behaviors you must keep away from when beginning a brand new prescription.
You possibly can 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?
Itβs necessary to do not forget that utilizing metformin and Ozempic collectively for weight reduction is an off-label objective that isnβt FDA-approved, so it’s particularly necessary to work along with your physician to know the advantages and dangers.
In case youβre prescribed metformin and Ozempic to your kind 2 diabetes however want to drop some weight, there are FDA-approved weight-loss medicine which can be protected for folks with diabetes that your physician might also prescribe.
Medical trials have proven that metformin alone results in a median weight lack of about 5% 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 end in a median weight lack of 14.9% of physique weight.
Closing ideas
Taking metformin and Ozempic collectively marks an evolving method in diabetes administration, highlighting the advantages of mixture remedy. This pairing, below medical supervision, provides a promising choice for people who find themselves not in a position to 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.
Nevertheless, itβs necessary to do not forget that every individualβs response to treatment can differ. The choice to make use of these medicine together must be made in shut session with healthcare suppliers, bearing in mind private well being historical past and particular medical wants.
