Wegovy and Ozempic are glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists that assist individuals higher handle their blood sugar ranges, decrease HbA1c ranges, enhance insulin sensitivity, struggle insulin resistance, and shed some pounds.
Whereas remarkably related, the 2 drugs have a number of key variations which will have an effect on your selection. So: Wegovy or Ozempic: which one do you have to select?
This text will clarify the similarities and variations between these two medicine so you may make your best option for your self.
What are the energetic elements in Wegovy and Ozempic?
Wegovy and Ozempic each have the identical energetic ingredient, semaglutide, which is a GLP-1 agonist.
These are sister drugs, and they’re each produced by Novo Nordisk. Don’t take both Wegovy or Ozempic in the event you’re allergic to semaglutide.
Why do individuals take Wegovy or Ozempic?
Wegovy and Ozempic have been permitted by the Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) to deal with totally different situations.
Wegovy is permitted for the remedy of weight problems for weight reduction and continual weight administration. Wegovy could decrease blood sugar ranges and enhance A1C, however it’s not a diabetes treatment.
Individuals should meet sure physique mass index (BMI) standards to grow to be eligible for Wegovy, together with individuals who have a BMI of 30 or increased.
You might also qualify for Wegovy in case your BMI is 27 and you’ve got a number of weight-related medical situations, akin to excessive ldl cholesterol, hypertension, or sort 2 diabetes.
Wegovy is permitted for continual weight administration in individuals 12 years and older. To qualify for Wegovy, the adolescent should have a BMI at or above the 95 percentile for his or her age and intercourse.
Ozempic is barely FDA-approved for adults with sort 2 diabetes. Whereas many individuals shed some pounds whereas taking Ozempic, it’s not permitted by the FDA as a weight reduction drug.
When you’ve been prescribed Ozempic however would not have diabetes, you might be utilizing it “off-label” (with out FDA approval). Ozempic is barely permitted to be used in individuals 18 years and older.
How are Wegovy and Ozempic related?
Wegovy and Ozempic are remarkably related. The next are the similarities between these two medicine:
They don’t exchange insulin
Whereas solely Ozempic is an permitted drug to deal with sort 2 diabetes, many individuals with diabetes could also be prescribed Wegovy. Nevertheless, in the event you’re on insulin remedy, these drugs don’t exchange the necessity to take insulin.
They might, over time, scale back the quantity of insulin you require however they aren’t insulin nor are they replacements for insulin.
They’re injectable drugs, taken as soon as weekly
Each of those medicine are solely accessible in injection type and are taken subcutaneously. They’re solely taken as soon as per week on the similar time, on the identical day (ideally).
They’ve related uncomfortable side effects
The uncomfortable side effects of Ozempic and Wegovy are related, and so they could trigger nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, suppressed urge for food, and low blood sugar, particularly whenever you first begin taking the treatment till your physique will get used to it.
When you’re experiencing debilitating uncomfortable side effects which can be negatively affecting your life, contact your physician who can both decrease your dose or discover another treatment for you.
They trigger weight reduction
In research each Wegovy and Ozempic trigger weight reduction in sufferers by suppressing urge for food and inhibiting the liver from releasing glucagon.
In a single examine, grownup members taking Wegovy misplaced 15% of their beginning weight on common. In a separate examine, adolescents taking Wegovy misplaced 16% of their beginning weight on common.
Research present that Ozempic additionally causes weight reduction, however since it’s not FDA-approved as a weight reduction drug, there isn’t any really useful dose to attain weight reduction.
They decrease blood sugars and A1C
Each drugs enhance insulin sensitivity, decrease blood sugar ranges, and enhance A1Cs. Throughout scientific trials, Ozempic lowered the typical A1C by 1%.
However, the STEP 2 trial checked out Wegovy’s results on blood sugars and A1Cs in individuals who have sort 2 diabetes. The researchers discovered that members taking the treatment not solely misplaced weight however noticed statistically important enhancements of their blood sugars and A1C ranges as properly.
They are often taken with or with out meals
They are often taken with or with out meals and received’t trigger acute low blood sugar ranges.
Nevertheless, in the event you’re scuffling with nausea after taking your treatment, it might be useful to take it after consuming a meal or to have a snack of one thing bland to coat your abdomen, akin to crackers, soup, toast, or rice, to assist alleviate any nausea you might really feel.
How are Wegovy and Ozempic totally different?
Whereas remarkably related, Wegovy and Ozempic are totally different drugs that require totally different prescriptions. They’re FDA permitted to deal with totally different situations.
The focus of semaglutide is totally different
They include the identical energetic ingredient, semaglutide, however in several concentrations. On the upkeep dose, Wegovy is given at 2.4mg as soon as weekly and Ozempic can range between 0.5mg, 1mg, or 2mg as soon as weekly.
They aren’t interchangeable and doing so may cause hostile uncomfortable side effects.
The uncomfortable side effects of Wegovy could also be extra extreme
Each Ozempic and Wegovy may cause hostile uncomfortable side effects akin to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdomen ache. These uncomfortable side effects have a tendency to extend together with increased doses of semaglutide.
A rise in uncomfortable side effects was additionally famous within the scientific trial for Wegovy.
Adversarial uncomfortable side effects are commonest whenever you first begin taking semaglutide, till your physique has an opportunity to get used to the treatment.
They often reduce or go away after a couple of weeks. When you discover that your uncomfortable side effects aren’t going away or are getting worse after taking both treatment for a month or extra, you need to name your physician.
Often requested questions
In contrast to Ozempic and Victoza, Ozempic and Wegovy aren’t interchangeable. That is particularly the case in the event you take Ozempic for sort 2 diabetes, as Wegovy shouldn’t be permitted for diabetes.
When you’ve been prescribed Wegovy for weight problems or continual weight administration remedy and in addition occur to have sort 2 diabetes, that’s often wonderful.
When you repeatedly take Ozempic for sort 2 diabetes remedy, it’s not advisable to change to Wegovy with out the steerage of a physician.
When you’re on Wegovy just for weight reduction, switching to Ozempic can be much less efficient in your remedy.
No. You must by no means take these two drugs on the similar time.
In contrast to different diabetes and weight reduction drugs, combining Ozempic and Wegovy may cause critical uncomfortable side effects like debilitating nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdomen ache, and even low blood sugar which might grow to be deadly if not handled instantly.
You probably have by accident taken each of those drugs on the similar time or inside a 2-day timeframe, name your physician instantly or search emergency medical consideration.
When you take Ozempic for sort 2 diabetes and are concerned with shedding pounds, speak to your physician to see in the event you qualify to take Wegovy as an alternative.
When you take Wegovy for weight problems or continual weight administration remedy and are identified with sort 2 diabetes, your physician will assist information your remedy choices.
In the end, this selection have to be made between you and your physician. It’s going to rely in your analysis, well being historical past, well being objectives, way of life, and preferences.
You probably have sort 2 diabetes, you’ll most certainly be prescribed Ozempic, and in the event you’re scuffling with being obese or overweight however would not have diabetes, you’ll most certainly be prescribed Wegovy.
You probably have sort 2 diabetes and battle with being obese or overweight, working together with your physician to make the perfect treatment selection for your self is suggested.
