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 folks 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 medication so you may make your best option for your self.
What are the energetic substances in Ozempic vs. Victoza?
Ozempic’s energetic ingredient is semaglutide, whereas Victoza comprises liraglutide. Each medicines belong to the category of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists, that are accredited for the therapy of sort 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 probably assist with weight administration.
Though they’ve related mechanisms of motion, semaglutide and liraglutide have totally different chemical makeups and aren’t immediately interchangeable.
Every drug might supply totally different advantages and dangers, and the selection between them entails cautious consideration of assorted components, together with effectiveness, negative effects, dosing frequency, and particular person preferences.
Allergy symptoms or sensitivities to the energetic substances of both remedy additionally require cautious choice and monitoring by a medical skilled.
Why do folks take Ozempic or Victoza?
Ozempic and Victoza are each used for the therapy of sort 2 diabetes. They’re liquid, injectable medicines which might be taken subcutaneously (just 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 enhancing insulin resistance (a situation by which the physique wants further 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.
Nevertheless, it’s essential to notice that weight reduction, whereas a typical profit, isn’t the first goal of those therapies.
Along with blood sugar administration, Ozempic and Victoza have proven cardiovascular advantages in folks with sort 2 diabetes and present coronary heart illness, probably lowering the danger of coronary heart assaults, strokes, and even all-cause mortality (dying from all causes).
Often, Ozempic or Victoza could be prescribed “off-label” (in a fashion not accredited by the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration [FDA]) for folks with prediabetes or sort 1 diabetes to enhance insulin resistance and glucose ranges.
It’s essential to remember that Ozempic and Victoza aren’t prescribed collectively. Customers are sometimes suggested to make use of one or the opposite primarily based on their medical group’s evaluation of their particular scenario.
Learn extra in: All the things You Must Know About Ozempic and All the things You Must Know About Victoza.
How are Ozempic and Victoza related?
Ozempic and Victoza can each be used alone or along side different diabetes medicines. Nevertheless, they’ll by no means absolutely change using insulin for those who 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 results 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 must decrease blood glucose, which helps enhance blood sugar administration with out considerably growing the danger 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 sometimes alerts the liver to launch saved glucose into the bloodstream.
By lowering 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 remedy is FDA-approved as a weight reduction drug, the medicines suppress urge for food and gradual digestion, which trigger many individuals to shed pounds whereas taking both one.
Since they aren’t accredited for weight reduction by the FDA, there is no such thing as a beneficial dose to attain this.
Converse together with your physician for those who’re fascinated by shedding pounds and residing with sort 2 diabetes, as there are weight-loss medicines accredited by the FDA for folks residing with diabetes.
Be taught extra in: Can Ozempic Assist You Lose Weight? and Victoza and Weight Loss: Can Victoza Assist You Lose Weight?
Decrease cardiovascular dangers
Scientific proof has demonstrated that each Ozempic and Victoza contribute to reducing cardiovascular dangers in folks with sort 2 diabetes, particularly those that even have coronary heart illness.
For instance, important medical trials such because the LEADER trial for Victoza and the SUSTAIN-6 trial for Ozempic have proven that these medicines not solely scale back the danger of main cardiovascular occasions however may additionally lower the danger of cardiovascular-related dying on this inhabitants.
Supporting this, a complete meta-analysis (evaluation of information from a number of research) printed in The Lancet has consolidated findings from numerous research, affirming the cardiovascular advantages of those GLP-1 agonists.
Based mostly on such sturdy proof, the American Diabetes Affiliation (ADA) recommends using GLP-1 agonists, together with Ozempic and Victoza, for folks with sort 2 diabetes and coronary heart illness as a technique to lower cardiovascular danger.
Might trigger opposed negative effects
Each Ozempic and Victoza might trigger opposed negative effects.
These embody:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Low blood sugar, particularly when used along side insulin
Additionally they might trigger extra severe negative effects, together with:
- Pancreatitis (irritation of the pancreas)
- Kidney issues
- Elevated danger of thyroid most cancers
- Allergic response
To be taught extra in regards to the potential negative effects of each medicines, learn: Ozempic Facet Results: What You Must Know and Victoza Facet Results: What You Must 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 insurance plans might not cowl both one.
Test together with your medical insurance plan to see whether it is included on the formulary and what your cost-sharing can be earlier than beginning the remedy, as they’ll change into fairly cost-prohibitive over time.
They don’t change insulin
Neither Ozempic nor Victoza replaces insulin. These medicines work alongside different therapies, together with insulin, to assist handle blood sugar ranges successfully.
If you happen to’re contemplating beginning Ozempic or Victoza, it’s essential to take care of your present therapy routine, together with insulin if prescribed, except and till your healthcare supplier advises a change.
They are often taken with or with out meals
GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic and Victoza supply appreciable flexibility in administration, as they are often taken with or with out meals and at any time of day. That is in distinction to insulin and sure different diabetes medicines, which regularly require extra exact timing with meals.
Whereas these medicines are efficient in reducing blood sugar ranges general, they’ve a low danger 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 danger of blood sugar dropping too low beneath regular circumstances.
If you happen to interact in bodily exercise after taking your injection, it’s unlikely to trigger a fast drop in blood sugar ranges. Nevertheless, as train can affect glucose ranges, monitoring your response, particularly with a brand new therapy routine, is beneficial.
For many who expertise nausea after their injection, a typical aspect impact, consuming bland meals like toast, bananas, rice, or crackers beforehand might assist reduce this discomfort. As your physique adjusts to the remedy, this aspect impact might diminish over time.
Be taught extra in: Meals to Keep away from Whereas Taking Ozempic and Meals to Keep away from Whereas Taking Victoza.
How are Ozempic and Victoza totally different?
Whereas Ozempic and Victoza share many similarities as GLP-1 agonists used within the administration of sort 2 diabetes, there are a number of key variations that may affect your selection:
Administration frequency
Ozempic is taken as soon as weekly, making it a handy choice for individuals who choose less-frequent dosing. In distinction, Victoza requires every day injections, which can be preferable for individuals who want finer management over their blood glucose ranges or who expertise milder negative 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?
Authorized populations
Ozempic is accredited to be used in adults ages 18 and up with sort 2 diabetes. Alternatively, Victoza is accredited to be used in folks ages 10 and up with sort 2 diabetes.
Impact length and negative effects
Ozempic is longer-lasting, with a once-weekly dosing schedule. Nevertheless, as a result of it stays energetic longer, any negative effects comparable to nausea or vomiting may additionally final for as much as per week.
Alternatively, as a result of Victoza is taken every day, the negative effects sometimes diminish extra rapidly — normally inside a day — because the remedy’s impact wears off.
If the prospect of every day injections is a priority, or for those who are inclined to overlook every day medicines, Ozempic’s weekly schedule would possibly higher fit your life-style.
It’s additionally essential to remember that the dosing of the 2 medicines is totally totally different. Each require cautious dosing changes that ought to be managed beneath the steerage of a healthcare supplier.
Ozempic might trigger diabetic retinopathy
Semaglutide, the energetic ingredient in Ozempic, might enhance the danger 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 remedy.
In distinction, Victoza has not been related to an identical danger in main research.
In case you have pre-existing diabetic retinopathy or are involved about potential eye well being problems, it’s essential to debate these dangers together with your physician earlier than beginning Ozempic. This dialog may also help be certain that any therapy plan considers each your diabetes administration wants and your general eye well being.
Regularly requested questions
Can I swap between the 2 medication?
Sure, switching between Ozempic and Victoza is feasible, notably for those who’re experiencing opposed negative effects with one among them. Nevertheless, due to their differing durations of motion and potencies, particular ready intervals are beneficial 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 results 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 beneath the steerage of your physician. The dosages of Ozempic and Victoza aren’t equal, and your physician will probably alter your beginning dose primarily based in your wants and former experiences with GLP-1 medicines.
Even in case you are on the very best dose of Victoza, your physician might begin you on a decrease dose of Ozempic and alter primarily based in your response and any negative effects.
Can you’re taking Ozempic and Victoza on the similar time?
No, it isn’t beneficial to make use of two medicines from the GLP-1 agonist class, comparable to Ozempic and Victoza, concurrently.
Doing so doesn’t enhance their effectiveness and will enhance the danger of extreme negative effects. Whereas GLP-1 agonists usually have a low danger of inflicting hypoglycemia on their very own, the mix of those medication can probably result in an elevated danger of gastrointestinal points and different severe negative effects comparable to pancreatitis.
It’s essential to comply with your healthcare supplier’s steerage and use solely the prescribed remedy routine.
If I lose sufficient weight taking Ozempic or Victoza, can I get off my different diabetes medicines?
Whereas it’s potential for folks taking Ozempic or Victoza to cut back and even discontinue different diabetes medicines on account of important weight reduction and improved blood sugar administration, this isn’t assured.
Weight reduction can enhance insulin sensitivity and scale back blood sugar ranges, probably lowering the necessity for extra medicines.
Nevertheless, any changes to your diabetes therapy plan ought to be made cautiously and all the time beneath the steerage 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 remedy, together with insulin, might persist, particularly in those that have had diabetes for a very long time.
This consideration is especially crucial for folks with sort 2 diabetes who would possibly be capable to scale back their dependence on insulin or different medicines. In distinction, these with sort 1 diabetes should proceed insulin remedy as their our bodies don’t produce insulin.
If you happen to expertise any important modifications, comparable to sudden weight reduction or frequent low blood sugar episodes, communicate together with your physician.
Last ideas
The selection between Ozempic and Victoza hinges on numerous components, together with the distinction in energetic substances, dosing schedules, and particular person well being conditions.
Whereas Ozempic’s once-weekly administration might attraction to these looking for comfort, Victoza’s every day dosing gives flexibility for dose changes and managing negative effects.
It’s essential to have a dialog together with your healthcare supplier about your particular wants, life-style, and any issues you may need about negative effects or the monetary implications of those therapies. Given the absence of generic alternate options, the price generally is a important issue on this decision-making course of.
