Ozempic and Victoza are each glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists which can be used within the remedy of kind 2 diabetes.
They assist individuals 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 medicine so you may make the only 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 remedy of kind 2 diabetes.
They operate 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 completely different chemical makeups and will not be instantly interchangeable.
Every drug could provide completely different advantages and dangers, and the selection between them includes cautious consideration of assorted components, together with effectiveness, uncomfortable side effects, dosing frequency, and particular person preferences.
Allergic reactions or sensitivities to the energetic substances of both treatment additionally require cautious choice and monitoring by a medical skilled.
Why do individuals take Ozempic or Victoza?
Ozempic and Victoza are each used for the remedy of kind 2 diabetes. They’re liquid, injectable medicines which can 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 during 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.
Nonetheless, it’s essential to notice that weight reduction, whereas a standard profit, just isn’t the first goal of those remedies.
Along with blood sugar administration, Ozempic and Victoza have proven cardiovascular advantages in individuals with kind 2 diabetes and current coronary heart illness, probably decreasing the danger of coronary heart assaults, strokes, and even all-cause mortality (dying from all causes).
Sometimes, Ozempic or Victoza is perhaps prescribed “off-label” (in a way not accredited by the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration [FDA]) for individuals with prediabetes or kind 1 diabetes to enhance insulin resistance and glucose ranges.
It’s essential to remember that Ozempic and Victoza will not be prescribed collectively. Customers are sometimes suggested to make use of one or the opposite based mostly on their medical group’s evaluation of their particular state of affairs.
Learn extra in: Every little thing You Have to Know About Ozempic and Every little thing You Have to Know About Victoza.
How are Ozempic and Victoza related?
Ozempic and Victoza can each be used alone or together with different diabetes medicines. Nonetheless, they’ll by no means absolutely exchange the usage of insulin in case you 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, that 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 indicators the liver to launch saved glucose into the bloodstream.
By decreasing glucagon ranges, Ozempic and Victoza assist restrict the liver’s launch of glucose, additional serving to with the discount of blood sugar ranges.
Could trigger weight reduction
Whereas neither treatment is FDA-approved as a weight reduction drug, the medicines suppress urge for food and gradual digestion, which trigger many individuals to drop a few pounds whereas taking both one.
Since they aren’t accredited for weight reduction by the FDA, there isn’t any really useful dose to realize this.
Communicate along with your physician in case you’re focused on reducing weight and dwelling with kind 2 diabetes, as there are weight-loss medicines accredited by the FDA for individuals dwelling 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
Medical proof has demonstrated that each Ozempic and Victoza contribute to reducing cardiovascular dangers in individuals with kind 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 lower the danger of cardiovascular-related dying on this inhabitants.
Supporting this, a complete meta-analysis (evaluation of knowledge 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 the usage of GLP-1 agonists, together with Ozempic and Victoza, for individuals with kind 2 diabetes and coronary heart illness as a method to lower cardiovascular danger.
Could trigger adversarial uncomfortable side effects
Each Ozempic and Victoza could trigger adversarial uncomfortable side effects.
These embody:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Low blood sugar, particularly when used together with insulin
Additionally they could trigger extra severe uncomfortable side 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 uncomfortable side effects of each medicines, learn: Ozempic Aspect Results: What You Have to Know and Victoza Aspect Results: What You Have to Know.
They’re identify manufacturers and costly
Sadly, there aren’t any generic variations of Ozempic or Victoza. They’re each identify manufacturers and fairly costly. Some medical health insurance plans could not cowl both one.
Test along with your medical health insurance plan to see whether it is included on the formulary and what your cost-sharing could be earlier than beginning the treatment, as they’ll grow to be fairly cost-prohibitive over time.
They don’t exchange insulin
Neither Ozempic nor Victoza replaces insulin. These medicines work alongside different remedies, together with insulin, to assist handle blood sugar ranges successfully.
When you’re contemplating beginning Ozempic or Victoza, it’s essential to take care of your present remedy 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 provide 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, because of 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 below regular circumstances.
When you have interaction in bodily exercise after taking your injection, it’s unlikely to trigger a speedy drop in blood sugar ranges. Nonetheless, as train can affect glucose ranges, monitoring your response, particularly with a brand new remedy routine, is really useful.
For many who expertise nausea after their injection, a standard aspect impact, consuming bland meals like toast, bananas, rice, or crackers beforehand could assist reduce this discomfort. As your physique adjusts to the treatment, this aspect impact could 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 completely different?
Whereas Ozempic and Victoza share many similarities as GLP-1 agonists used within the administration of kind 2 diabetes, there are a number of key variations which may affect your selection:
Administration frequency
Ozempic is taken as soon as weekly, making it a handy possibility for many who choose less-frequent dosing. In distinction, Victoza requires each day injections, which can be preferable for individuals who want finer management over their blood glucose ranges or who expertise milder uncomfortable side 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 kind 2 diabetes. However, Victoza is accredited to be used in individuals ages 10 and up with kind 2 diabetes.
Impact period and uncomfortable side effects
Ozempic is longer-lasting, with a once-weekly dosing schedule. Nonetheless, as a result of it stays energetic longer, any uncomfortable side effects comparable to nausea or vomiting may additionally final for as much as per week.
However, as a result of Victoza is taken each day, the uncomfortable side effects sometimes diminish extra rapidly — often inside a day — because the treatment’s impact wears off.
If the prospect of each day injections is a priority, or in case you are likely to overlook each day medicines, Ozempic’s weekly schedule may higher fit your way of life.
It’s additionally essential to remember that the dosing of the 2 medicines is totally completely different. Each require cautious dosing changes that needs to be managed below the steerage of a healthcare supplier.
Ozempic could trigger diabetic retinopathy
Semaglutide, the energetic ingredient in Ozempic, could improve the danger of early worsening of diabetic retinopathy (harm to the retina of the attention), significantly 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 treatment.
In distinction, Victoza has not been related to the same danger in main research.
In case you have pre-existing diabetic retinopathy or are involved about potential eye well being issues, it’s essential to debate these dangers along with your physician earlier than beginning Ozempic. This dialog might help be sure that any remedy plan considers each your diabetes administration wants and your general eye well being.
Ceaselessly requested questions
Can I change between the 2 medicine?
Sure, switching between Ozempic and Victoza is feasible, significantly in case you’re experiencing adversarial uncomfortable side effects with one in all them. Nonetheless, due to their differing durations of motion and potencies, particular ready durations are really useful 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 below the steerage of your physician. The dosages of Ozempic and Victoza will not be equal, and your physician will seemingly modify your beginning dose based mostly in your wants and former experiences with GLP-1 medicines.
Even if you’re on the very best dose of Victoza, your physician could begin you on a decrease dose of Ozempic and modify based mostly in your response and any uncomfortable side effects.
Can you are taking Ozempic and Victoza on the identical time?
No, it isn’t really useful to make use of two medicines from the GLP-1 agonist class, comparable to Ozempic and Victoza, concurrently.
Doing so doesn’t improve their effectiveness and should improve the danger of extreme uncomfortable side effects. Whereas GLP-1 agonists typically have a low danger of inflicting hypoglycemia on their very own, the mixture of those medicine can probably result in an elevated danger of gastrointestinal points and different severe uncomfortable side effects comparable to pancreatitis.
It’s essential to comply with your healthcare supplier’s steerage and use solely the prescribed treatment routine.
If I lose sufficient weight taking Ozempic or Victoza, can I get off my different diabetes medicines?
Whereas it’s doable for individuals taking Ozempic or Victoza to scale back and even discontinue different diabetes medicines because 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 added medicines.
Nonetheless, any changes to your diabetes remedy plan needs to be made cautiously and all the time below 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 treatment, together with insulin, could persist, particularly in those that have had diabetes for a very long time.
This consideration is especially crucial for individuals with kind 2 diabetes who may have the ability to scale back their dependence on insulin or different medicines. In distinction, these with kind 1 diabetes should proceed insulin remedy as their our bodies don’t produce insulin.
When you expertise any important modifications, comparable to surprising weight reduction or frequent low blood sugar episodes, communicate along 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 could attraction to these looking for comfort, Victoza’s each day dosing offers flexibility for dose changes and managing uncomfortable side effects.
It’s essential to have a dialog along with your healthcare supplier about your particular wants, way of life, and any considerations you might need about uncomfortable side effects or the monetary implications of those remedies. Given the absence of generic options, the associated fee is usually a important issue on this decision-making course of.
