Ozempic and Victoza are each glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists which might be used within the therapy of sort 2 diabetes.
They assist individuals higher handle their blood sugar ranges, decrease HbA1c ranges, enhance insulin sensitivity, and combat insulin resistance.
Whereas remarkably comparable, the 2 have a number of key variations which will have an effect on your selection. So: Ozempic versus Victoza: which one do you have to select?
This text will clarify the similarities and variations between these two medication so you can also make your best option for your self.
Desk of Contents
What are the lively components in Ozempic versus Victoza?
The lively ingredient in Ozempic is semaglutide and the lively ingredient in Victoza is liraglutide, each of which fall below the identical drug class, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonist.
Which means that though their lively components are barely totally different, their mechanism of motion is similar they usually can normally be used interchangeably (below the supervision of a health care provider) except you’re allergic to 1 or the opposite lively components.
Why do individuals take Ozempic or Victoza?
Ozempic and Victoza are each used within the therapy of sort 2 diabetes. They’re liquid, injectable pens that assist decrease blood sugars and A1C ranges which might be taken subcutaneously (just below the pores and skin).
They assist with bettering insulin sensitivity, combating insulin resistance, slowing digestion, and suppressing urge for food. Consequently, many individuals who take these drugs expertise weight reduction.
Ozempic and Victoza decrease all-cause mortality, and assist decrease the chance of coronary heart assault and stroke in individuals with sort 2 diabetes and coronary heart illness.
Individuals who have prediabetes or sort 1 diabetes could also be prescribed Ozempic or Victoza βoff-labelβ, which suggests it isn’t permitted by the FDA, to enhance insulin resistance and blood sugar ranges.
Persons are by no means prescribed each drugs; you are taking one or the opposite. You’ll be able to by no means combine the 2 drugs.
How are Ozempic and Victoza comparable?Β
Ozempic and Victoza can be utilized alone or together with different diabetes drugs. Nonetheless, they will by no means absolutely exchange using insulin if you happen toβre insulin-dependent.
The next are extra similarities between the 2 drugs:
Decrease blood sugar and A1C ranges
Ozempic and Victoza each improve insulin secretion, thus rising sugar metabolism and bettering insulin sensitivity.
Additionally they inhibit the liverβs manufacturing of glucagon, serving to individuals with sort 2 diabetes higher handle their blood sugars and decrease their A1Cs.
Could trigger weight reductionΒ
Whereas neither treatment is FDA-approved as a weight reduction drug, the drugs suppress urge for food and gradual digestion, which trigger many individuals to drop extra pounds whereas taking both one.
Since they arenβt permitted for weight reduction by the Meals and Drug Administration, there is no such thing as a advisable dose to realize this. Discuss along with your physician if you happen toβre excited by dropping pounds and residing with sort 2 diabetes, as there are weight reduction drugs permitted by the FDA for individuals residing with diabetes.
Decrease cardiovascular dangersΒ
Each Ozempic and Victoza decrease cardiovascular dangers for individuals at the moment residing with each sort 2 diabetes and coronary heart illness.
A meta-analysis from The Lancet discovered this to be true: Ozempic and Victoza lowered cardiovascular danger and even decreased the chance of demise in individuals with diabetes and coronary heart illness.
The American Diabetes Affiliation even recommends GLP-1 agonists (a drug class of which each Ozempic and Victoza are an element) for individuals who have sort 2 diabetes and coronary heart illness to decrease cardiovascular danger.
Could trigger antagonistic unintended effects
Each Ozempic and Victoza might trigger antagonistic unintended effects.
These embody:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Low blood sugar, particularly when used together with insulin
Additionally they might trigger critical unintended effects, together with:
- Pancreatitis
- Kidney issues
- Elevated danger of thyroid most cancers
- Allergic response
To study extra concerning the potential unintended effects, learn our guides to Ozempic unintended effects and Victoza unintended effects.
They’re name-brand and costlyΒ
Sadly, there are not any generic variations of Ozempic or Victoza. They’re each title manufacturers and fairly costly. Some medical insurance plans might not cowl both.
Examine along with your well being plan to see whether it is included on the formulary, and what your cost-sharing can be earlier than beginning the treatment, as they will turn into fairly value prohibitive over time.
They don’t exchange insulinΒ
Ozempic nor Victoza replaces insulin. In case you are insulin-dependent and determine to start therapy with certainly one of these drugs, you’ll nonetheless have to proceed taking your different diabetes drugs as prescribed except your physician tells you in any other case.
They are often taken with or with out mealsΒ
Not like insulin and lots of different drugs, GLP-1 agonists will be taken with or with out a meal, and they are often taken any time of day. Regardless that theyβre confirmed to decrease blood sugars in a common sense, they don’t trigger acute low blood sugars after administration.
For those who take your injection of both within the morning after which go train, it is not going to have a direct impact in your blood sugar ranges, inflicting you to drop low.
Nonetheless, if you happen to are likely to expertise nausea after your injection, consuming one thing bland (like toast, a banana, rice, or crackers) might assist alleviate it.
How are Ozempic and Victoza totally different?Β
Ozempic and Victoza are additionally totally different in a number of ways in which may sway you in direction of one or the opposite. The main variations between these two drugs are:
The frequency of administration and dosing differΒ
Ozempic is taken as soon as weekly and Victoza must be taken as soon as day by day. That is the key distinction between these two drugs.
Ozempic is stronger and longer lasting; nonetheless, if you happen to take an excessive amount of Ozempic and expertise unintended effects equivalent to nausea or vomiting, be warned that these results will final a complete week. For those whoβre calibrating your Victoza dose and take an excessive amount of, the consequences put on off after 24 hours.
Nonetheless, if you happen to donβt wish to take a day by day injection, or are likely to overlook to take a day by day treatment, the comfort of Ozempic might suit your life-style higher.
Additionally of notice is that their dosing is totally totally different. You’ll need to work along with your physician to find out the right dose for you and your well being objectives.
Ozempic might trigger diabetic retinopathyΒ
This can be a extreme aspect impact of Ozempic that isn’t related to Victoza. Research present that semaglutide (the lively ingredient in Ozempic) is related to the early worsening of diabetic retinopathy.
Though this doesn’t occur in all and even many sufferers who take Ozempic, taking this treatment does include an elevated danger.
Discuss along with your physician in case you have early-stage diabetic retinopathy or are frightened that taking Ozempic might threaten your eye well being.
Often requested questions
Sure. You’ll be able to swap between the 2, particularly if you happen toβre experiencing antagonistic unintended effects on one drug or the opposite. Nonetheless, if you happen toβve been taking Ozempic, you have to to attend a full week out of your final dose earlier than starting your first dose of Victoza.
For those whoβre at the moment on Victoza, you have to to attend 24 hours earlier than taking your first dose of Ozempic.
Solely swap drugs below the steering of your physician, because the dosing is totally totally different between the 2 drugs and it doesn’t translate between them.
Even if you happen toβre on the best dose of Victoza, your physician will most likely begin you on a small dose of Ozempic (and vice versa) till your physique will get used to the brand new lively ingredient.
That is attainable, however not all the time seemingly. Shedding weight will help enhance each insulin resistance and blood sugar ranges, generally making insulin or different diabetes drugs pointless.
Nonetheless, these adjustments can take plenty of time, and they need to solely ever be completed below the steering of a health care provider.
Ozempic and Victoza can not treatment diabetes, however if you happen toβve misplaced a major quantity of weight and your blood sugars are in nice management with much less insulin (and also youβre managing properly with wholesome consuming and train), you could possibly decrease your insulin wants or cease taking insulin utterly.
This can solely apply to individuals who have sort 2 diabetes, as individuals with sort 1 diabetes mustn’t ever cease taking their insulin.
Discuss along with your physician in case you have questions or considerations or are experiencing extreme bouts of low blood sugar ranges whereas taking Ozempic or Victoza.
TakeawayΒ
In the end, the selection between taking Ozempic or Victoza is totally as much as you and can fluctuate based mostly in your well being historical past, life-style, well being objectives, and medical insurance protection.
Discuss along with your physician about any questions or considerations you could have, and if you happen to begin one treatment however dislike it, you’ll be able to all the time swap and take a look at the choice.
