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 glucose (sugar) ranges, decrease A1c ranges, enhance insulin sensitivity, and battle insulin resistance.
What are the lively elements in Ozempic vs. Victoza?
Ozempic’s lively ingredient is semaglutide, whereas Victoza comprises liraglutide. Each medicines belong to the category of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists, that are accepted for the therapy 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 comparable mechanisms of motion, semaglutide and liraglutide have totally different chemical makeups and should not instantly interchangeable.
Every drug might provide totally different advantages and dangers, and the selection between them includes cautious consideration of assorted components, together with effectiveness, unintended effects, dosing frequency, and particular person preferences.
Allergy symptoms or sensitivities to the lively elements of both treatment 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 kind 2 diabetes. They’re liquid, injectable medicines which can be taken subcutaneously (slightly 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 wherein the physique wants additional insulin to keep up regular blood sugar ranges), slowing the speed of digestion, and suppressing urge for food, they not directly contribute to weight administration.
Nonetheless, it’s necessary to notice that weight reduction, whereas a typical profit, is just not the first objective of those therapies.
Along with blood sugar administration, Ozempic and Victoza have proven cardiovascular advantages in folks with kind 2 diabetes and current coronary heart illness, probably decreasing the chance of coronary heart assaults, strokes, and even all-cause mortality (demise from all causes).
Often, Ozempic or Victoza is perhaps prescribed “off-label” (in a way not accepted by the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration [FDA]) for folks with prediabetes or kind 1 diabetes to enhance insulin resistance and glucose ranges.
It’s necessary to remember that Ozempic and Victoza should not prescribed collectively. Customers are usually suggested to make use of one or the opposite based mostly on their medical group’s evaluation of their particular scenario.
Learn extra in: Every little thing You Must Know About Ozempic and Every little thing You Must Know About Victoza.
How are Ozempic and Victoza comparable?
Ozempic and Victoza can each be used alone or together with different diabetes medicines. Nonetheless, they’ll by no means totally substitute 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 consequences 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 have to decrease blood glucose, which helps enhance blood sugar administration with out considerably rising the chance 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 usually 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 sluggish digestion, which trigger many individuals to drop some pounds whereas taking both one.
Since they aren’t accepted for weight reduction by the FDA, there isn’t any beneficial dose to attain this.
Converse along with your physician for those who’re occupied with losing a few pounds and residing with kind 2 diabetes, as there are weight-loss medicines accepted by the FDA for folks residing with diabetes.
Study 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 folks with kind 2 diabetes, particularly those that even have coronary heart illness.
For instance, vital 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 chance of main cardiovascular occasions however might also lower the chance of cardiovascular-related demise 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 strong proof, the American Diabetes Affiliation (ADA) recommends using GLP-1 agonists, together with Ozempic and Victoza, for folks with kind 2 diabetes and coronary heart illness as a method to lower cardiovascular threat.
Could trigger hostile unintended effects
Each Ozempic and Victoza might trigger hostile unintended effects.
These embrace:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Low blood sugar, particularly when used together with insulin
In addition they might trigger extra severe unintended effects, together with:
- Pancreatitis (irritation of the pancreas)
- Kidney issues
- Elevated threat of thyroid most cancers
- Allergic response
To be taught extra in regards to the potential unintended effects of each medicines, learn: Ozempic Facet Results: What You Must Know and Victoza Facet Results: What You Must Know.
They’re identify manufacturers and costly
Sadly, there are not any generic variations of Ozempic or Victoza. They’re each identify manufacturers and fairly costly. Some medical health insurance plans might 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 turn out to be fairly cost-prohibitive over time.
They don’t substitute insulin
Neither Ozempic nor Victoza replaces insulin. These medicines work alongside different therapies, together with insulin, to assist handle blood sugar ranges successfully.
Should you’re contemplating beginning Ozempic or Victoza, it’s necessary to keep up your present therapy routine, together with insulin if prescribed, until 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 total, they’ve a low threat 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 chance of blood sugar dropping too low beneath regular circumstances.
Should 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 therapy routine, is beneficial.
For individuals 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 treatment, this aspect impact might diminish over time.
Study 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 kind 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 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 unintended 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?
Accepted populations
Ozempic is accepted to be used in adults ages 18 and up with kind 2 diabetes. However, Victoza is accepted to be used in folks ages 10 and up with kind 2 diabetes.
Impact length and unintended effects
Ozempic is longer-lasting, with a once-weekly dosing schedule. Nonetheless, as a result of it stays lively longer, any unintended effects comparable to nausea or vomiting might additionally final for as much as every week.
However, as a result of Victoza is taken each day, the unintended effects usually diminish extra rapidly — normally inside a day — because the treatment’s impact wears off.
If the prospect of each day injections is a priority, or for those who are likely to overlook each day medicines, Ozempic’s weekly schedule may higher fit your life-style.
It’s additionally necessary 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 lively ingredient in Ozempic, might improve the chance of early worsening of diabetic retinopathy (injury 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 treatment.
In distinction, Victoza has not been related to the same threat in main research.
You probably have pre-existing diabetic retinopathy or are involved about potential eye well being issues, it’s necessary to debate these dangers along with your physician earlier than beginning Ozempic. This dialog will help be sure that any therapy plan considers each your diabetes administration wants and your total 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 hostile unintended effects with one in all them. Nonetheless, 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 consequences 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.
At all times make such modifications beneath the steerage of your physician. The dosages of Ozempic and Victoza should not 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 best dose of Victoza, your physician might begin you on a decrease dose of Ozempic and modify based mostly in your response and any unintended 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 improve their effectiveness and will improve the chance of extreme unintended effects. Whereas GLP-1 agonists usually have a low threat of inflicting hypoglycemia on their very own, the mix of those medication can probably result in an elevated threat of gastrointestinal points and different severe unintended effects comparable to pancreatitis.
It’s necessary 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 potential for folks taking Ozempic or Victoza to cut back and even discontinue different diabetes medicines on account of vital weight reduction and improved blood sugar administration, this isn’t assured.
Weight reduction can enhance insulin sensitivity and scale back blood sugar ranges, probably reducing the necessity for added medicines.
Nonetheless, any changes to your diabetes therapy plan ought to be made cautiously and at all times beneath the steerage of a healthcare supplier.
It is very important keep in mind that whereas Ozempic and Victoza can considerably enhance diabetes administration, they don’t treatment the situation. The necessity for ongoing treatment, together with insulin, might persist, particularly in those that have had diabetes for a very long time.
This consideration is especially vital for folks with kind 2 diabetes who may be capable 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.
Should you expertise any vital modifications, comparable to sudden weight reduction or frequent low blood sugar episodes, converse along with your physician.
