Ozempic and Victoza are each glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists which can be used within the therapy of kind 2 diabetes.
They assist folks higher handle their blood sugar ranges, decrease HbA1c ranges, enhance insulin sensitivity, and struggle insulin resistance.
Whereas remarkably related, the 2 have a number of key variations which will have an effect on your alternative. So: Ozempic versus Victoza: which one must you select?
This text will clarify the similarities and variations between these two medicine so you can also make your best option for your self.
What are the energetic elements in Ozempic versus Victoza?
The energetic ingredient in Ozempic is semaglutide and the energetic ingredient in Victoza is liraglutide, each of which fall beneath the identical drug class, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonist.
Which means that though their energetic elements are barely completely different, their mechanism of motion is similar and so they can normally be used interchangeably (beneath the supervision of a health care provider) except you’re allergic to at least one or the opposite energetic elements.
Why do folks take Ozempic or Victoza?
Ozempic and Victoza are each used within the therapy of kind 2 diabetes. They’re liquid, injectable pens that assist decrease blood sugars and A1C ranges which can be taken subcutaneously (just below the pores and skin).
They support with enhancing insulin sensitivity, preventing insulin resistance, slowing digestion, and suppressing urge for food. Consequently, many individuals who take these medicines expertise weight reduction.
Ozempic and Victoza decrease all-cause mortality, and assist decrease the danger of coronary heart assault and stroke in folks with kind 2 diabetes and coronary heart illness.
Individuals who have prediabetes or kind 1 diabetes could also be prescribed Ozempic or Victoza “off-label”, which implies it isn’t authorized by the FDA, to enhance insulin resistance and blood sugar ranges.
Persons are by no means prescribed each medicines; you are taking one or the opposite. You’ll be able to by no means combine the 2 medicines.
How are Ozempic and Victoza related?
Ozempic and Victoza can be utilized alone or along with different diabetes medicines. Nonetheless, they’ll by no means absolutely substitute the usage of insulin for those who’re insulin-dependent.
The next are further similarities between the 2 medicines:
Decrease blood sugar and A1C ranges
Ozempic and Victoza each improve insulin secretion, thus growing sugar metabolism and enhancing insulin sensitivity.
Additionally they inhibit the liver’s manufacturing of glucagon, serving to folks with kind 2 diabetes higher handle their blood sugars and decrease their A1Cs.
Could 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 some pounds whereas taking both one.
Since they aren’t authorized for weight reduction by the Meals and Drug Administration, there isn’t any beneficial dose to attain this. Speak along with your physician for those who’re fascinated by losing a few pounds and dwelling with kind 2 diabetes, as there are weight reduction medicines authorized by the FDA for folks dwelling with diabetes.
Decrease cardiovascular dangers
Each Ozempic and Victoza decrease cardiovascular dangers for folks at the moment dwelling with each kind 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 danger of demise in folks 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 kind 2 diabetes and coronary heart illness to decrease cardiovascular danger.
Could trigger opposed uncomfortable side effects
Each Ozempic and Victoza could trigger opposed uncomfortable side effects.
These embody:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Low blood sugar, particularly when used along with insulin
Additionally they could trigger critical uncomfortable side effects, together with:
- Pancreatitis
- Kidney issues
- Elevated danger of thyroid most cancers
- Allergic response
To be taught extra concerning the potential uncomfortable side effects, learn our guides to Ozempic uncomfortable side effects and Victoza uncomfortable side effects.
They’re name-brand and costly
Sadly, there aren’t any generic variations of Ozempic or Victoza. They’re each identify manufacturers and fairly costly. Some medical insurance plans could not cowl both.
Test 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 medicine, as they’ll develop into fairly price prohibitive over time.
They don’t substitute insulin
Ozempic nor Victoza replaces insulin. If you’re insulin-dependent and determine to start therapy with one in every of these medicines, you’ll nonetheless have to proceed taking your different diabetes medicines as prescribed except your physician tells you in any other case.
They are often taken with or with out meals
In contrast to insulin and lots of different medicines, GLP-1 agonists might be taken with or and not using a meal, and they are often taken any time of day. Although they’re confirmed to decrease blood sugars in a common sense, they don’t trigger acute low blood sugars after administration.
In case you take your injection of both within the morning after which go train, it won’t have an instantaneous impact in your blood sugar ranges, inflicting you to drop low.
Nonetheless, for those who are inclined to expertise nausea after your injection, consuming one thing bland (like toast, a banana, rice, or crackers) could assist alleviate it.
How are Ozempic and Victoza completely different?
Ozempic and Victoza are additionally completely different in a number of ways in which may sway you in direction of one or the opposite. The foremost variations between these two medicines are:
The frequency of administration and dosing differ
Ozempic is taken as soon as weekly and Victoza must be taken as soon as day by day. That is the foremost distinction between these two medicines.
Ozempic is stronger and longer lasting; nonetheless, for those who take an excessive amount of Ozempic and expertise uncomfortable side effects similar to nausea or vomiting, be warned that these results will final a whole week. In case you’re calibrating your Victoza dose and take an excessive amount of, the consequences put on off after 24 hours.
Nonetheless, for those who don’t need to take a day by day injection, or are inclined to overlook to take a day by day medicine, the comfort of Ozempic could suit your life-style higher.
Additionally of observe is that their dosing is totally completely different. You will want to work along with your physician to find out the right dose for you and your well being targets.
Ozempic could trigger diabetic retinopathy
This can be a extreme aspect impact of Ozempic that isn’t related to Victoza. Research present that semaglutide (the energetic 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 medicine does include an elevated danger.
Speak along with your physician when you have early-stage diabetic retinopathy or are nervous that taking Ozempic could threaten your eye well being.
Continuously requested questions
Sure. You’ll be able to change between the 2, particularly for those who’re experiencing opposed uncomfortable side effects on one drug or the opposite. Nonetheless, for those who’ve been taking Ozempic, you will want to attend a full week out of your final dose earlier than starting your first dose of Victoza.
In case you’re at the moment on Victoza, you will want to attend 24 hours earlier than taking your first dose of Ozempic.
Solely change medicines beneath the steerage of your physician, because the dosing is totally completely different between the 2 medicines and it doesn’t translate between them.
Even for those who’re on the best dose of Victoza, your physician will in all probability begin you on a small dose of Ozempic (and vice versa) till your physique will get used to the brand new energetic ingredient.
That is attainable, however not at all times doubtless. Shedding weight may also help enhance each insulin resistance and blood sugar ranges, typically making insulin or different diabetes medicines pointless.
Nonetheless, these adjustments can take a number of time, and they need to solely ever be achieved beneath the steerage of a health care provider.
Ozempic and Victoza can’t treatment diabetes, however for those who’ve misplaced a major quantity of weight and your blood sugars are in nice management with much less insulin (and also you’re managing nicely with wholesome consuming and train), you might be able to decrease your insulin wants or cease taking insulin utterly.
This may solely apply to individuals who have kind 2 diabetes, as folks with kind 1 diabetes must not ever cease taking their insulin.
Speak along with your physician when you have questions or issues or are experiencing extreme bouts of low blood sugar ranges whereas taking Ozempic or Victoza.
Takeaway
Finally, the selection between taking Ozempic or Victoza is totally as much as you and can range primarily based in your well being historical past, life-style, well being targets, and medical insurance protection.
Speak along with your physician about any questions or issues you may have, and for those who begin one medicine however dislike it, you may at all times change and take a look at the choice.
