Metformin and Ozempic are widespread prescription medicines which are used to assist individuals handle their diabetes.
As a result of these medicine work in several methods and their use collectively is comparatively new, you’ll have questions on how they work together, what the unintended effects could also be, and the way nicely they work collectively.
How do metformin and Ozempic differ?
To assist perceive why you could be prescribed one drug, the opposite, or each directly, it’s essential to know slightly bit about every medicine and the way they differ.
Ozempic and metformin are totally different in a number of methods. To start out with, metformin is a each day (or twice-daily) oral medicine that normally is available in capsule type, whereas Ozempic is a once-weekly injectable drug.
The 2 medicine have totally different lively elements and act on the physique in several methods, too.
Metformin
Metformin is among the many most prescribed medicines on the earth. It’s most typical use is as a first-line therapy for kind 2 diabetes.
Metformin reduces the quantity of glucose launched by the liver, decreases the quantity of glucose absorbed within the intestines, and will increase insulin sensitivity, permitting particular person cells within the physique to devour extra sugar and use that sugar extra effectively.
It has additionally been demonstrated to have a variety of different well being advantages. More and more, metformin is being prescribed for individuals with:
Metformin has additionally been proven to assist individuals drop pounds in some circumstances.
Ozempic
Ozempic is the model title for the most typical drug that makes use of the lively ingredient semaglutide, which is predominately used to assist handle diabetes.
Different drug firms additionally make medicines with the identical lively ingredient as Ozempic (these embrace the model names Rybelsus and Wegovy).
Ozempic is a glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1, agonist. It mimics hormones within the physique that assist to manage blood sugar ranges.
It will increase the physique’s pure insulin manufacturing, decreases the liver’s manufacturing of glucose, slows the emptying of meals out of the abdomen into the small intestines, and reduces urge for food, which tends to result in weight reduction.
Whereas Ozempic is a comparatively new drug, having been FDA-approved in 2017, metformin has been available on the market in america since 1994. Each medicine have seen important will increase of their use since their introduction.
Why would I be prescribed metformin and Ozempic?
The first purpose these medicine are prescribed is to assist handle blood sugar ranges.
They assist most individuals decrease their common blood sugar ranges as measured by an HbA1c (A1C) blood check (a measure of glucose management over the earlier 2 to three months). The consequences are fairly important.
Medical trials have established that, at its most dose, metformin will help lower A1C ranges by 1.5 p.c, whereas a median dose of Ozempic can lower A1C by 1.4 p.c.
For those who’re presently on metformin and it’s not offering its full advantages anymore, your healthcare supplier would possibly contemplate prescribing Ozempic. This may very well be to evaluate how nicely it really works by itself as an alternative of metformin, or to make use of it as an extra therapy alongside together with your present metformin routine.
There are different causes you could be prescribed metformin or Ozempic. Nevertheless, these makes use of are typically off-label (not permitted by the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration [FDA]).
Each metformin and Ozempic have been proven to assist with weight reduction along with their main operate of reducing common blood sugar ranges. Whereas neither drug is FDA-approved for weight reduction, it may be a useful impact, particularly for individuals who have kind 2 diabetes and issue sustaining a wholesome weight.
Each medicine are additionally established to lower the danger of main cardiovascular occasions, corresponding to coronary heart assaults.
Whereas many of those off-label results could also be useful, metformin and Ozempic are typically not prescribed solely for these causes.
Are you able to safely take the medicine collectively?
Generally, the reply is sure. Medical trials have established that it’s typically protected to take metformin and Ozempic collectively.
Not solely is it typically protected, however it’s truly turning into widespread to prescribe these medicine collectively as a mix remedy, since they complement each other in serving to handle blood sugar ranges.
The medicines additionally will help with cardiovascular well being and weight reduction in ways in which could reinforce each other.
Taking metformin and Ozempic collectively might be an efficient approach to handle blood sugar ranges, particularly for individuals with kind 2 diabetes.
What unintended effects are there to taking each metformin and Ozempic?
Whereas each of those medicines might be efficient at controlling blood glucose ranges, they will even have unintended effects, and taking them collectively could improve the danger of sure hostile and negative effects.
Each metformin and Ozempic may cause gastrointestinal signs corresponding to nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
See extra in: Can Metformin Trigger Diarrhea?
Taking these two medicine collectively can improve the probability and severity of the unintended effects you could expertise.
In case you are taking metformin and Ozempic collectively — or in case you are prescribed them along with insulin — it’s particularly essential to pay attention to the indicators of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
Low blood sugar ranges may cause the next signs:
- Starvation
- Dizziness
- Nervousness or irritability
- Perspiring (sweating)
- Tremors
- Tingling sensation within the lips
- Speedy heartbeat
- Fatigue or weak spot
- Imaginative and prescient alterations, like blurriness
- Confusion
For those who expertise any of those signs, it’s essential to verify your blood sugar ranges — and should you’re low, to rapidly convey your blood sugar again as much as a standard vary by consuming or ingesting one thing with carbohydrates.
Metformin and Ozempic every have their very own potential unintended effects which are very uncommon, however essential to find out about.
For metformin, these embrace vitamin B12 deficiency and lactic acidosis, a doubtlessly deadly situation by which lactic acid builds up within the physique.
See extra in: Can Metformin Trigger Lactic Acidosis?
For Ozempic, this consists of thyroid tumors.
Medical trials have proven that taking each at medicines as soon as doesn’t improve your general danger of experiencing critical unintended effects.
It’s essential to learn any paperwork that include your prescription and to speak about every prescription drug and its potential unintended effects together with your physician.
You possibly can learn extra in regards to the unintended effects of every drug right here:
Does Ozempic work higher than metformin?
As a result of metformin and Ozempic work in several methods, neither essentially works higher than the opposite.
Relying on the dose, both metformin or Ozempic could decrease blood sugar ranges greater than the opposite drug.
Ozempic has typically been proven to assist individuals lose extra weight than metformin, however everybody’s expertise is totally different, and outcomes could differ from individual to individual. Additionally, neither drug ensures weight reduction, neither is both drug FDA-approved for that objective.
Can you’re taking metformin mixture medicine with Ozempic?
Mixture medicine for individuals with kind 2 diabetes typically embrace metformin paired with one other drug that works in a different way. This strategy enhances the general effectiveness of the therapy, as every drug targets totally different elements of diabetes administration, thereby bettering general blood sugar management.
Including an Ozempic prescription on high of a metformin mixture drug ought to solely be completed in session with a physician, as every of the three (or extra) lively elements can have its personal set of unintended effects, interactions, and contraindications (conditions by which the medication shouldn’t be used as a result of it would trigger hurt).
Is metformin safer than Ozempic?
Metformin is commonly thought of to be among the many most secure and most studied medicine for serving to individuals handle their blood sugar.
Whereas metformin has been in widespread use longer than Ozempic, every drug has undergone intensive, rigorous testing.
Nevertheless, every individual’s danger components and their very own expertise of unintended effects will differ. So it’s essential to work together with your physician to know how every drug’s security profile, dangers, and unintended effects stack up towards its advantages, all inside the context of your private well being historical past and objectives.
Learn extra in: Is Metformin Secure?
What meals ought to be averted when taking metformin and Ozempic collectively?
Meals that may trigger an upset abdomen are greatest to keep away from when taking metformin and Ozempic collectively. These embrace greasy, fatty meals and meals excessive in saturated fats (corresponding to butter, fatty cuts of meat, and cheese).
It’s typically greatest to avoid refined and extremely processed meals as nicely (corresponding to white bread and packaged items), and you might also be suggested to keep away from ingesting alcohol when taking metformin and Ozempic.
Comply with all pointers and directions on any prescription medicines you’re taking. It’s all the time a good suggestion to speak together with your physician in regards to the weight-reduction plan it is best to eat and any meals, drinks, or behaviors it is best to keep away from when beginning a brand new prescription.
You possibly can learn extra about which meals to keep away from right here:
How a lot weight are you able to lose on metformin and Ozempic collectively?
It’s essential to do not forget that utilizing metformin and Ozempic collectively for weight reduction is an off-label objective that isn’t FDA-approved, so it’s particularly essential to work together with your physician to know the advantages and dangers.
For those who’re prescribed metformin and Ozempic in your kind 2 diabetes however want to drop pounds, there are FDA-approved weight-loss medicine which are protected for individuals with diabetes that your physician might also prescribe.
Medical trials have proven that metformin alone results in a median weight lack of about 5 p.c of physique weight for roughly a 3rd of people that take the drug, together with lack of about 12 to fifteen kilos in individuals with out diabetes.
For people who find themselves chubby or overweight, Ozempic has been demonstrated to end in a median weight lack of 14.9 p.c of physique weight.
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