Metformin and Ozempic are widespread pharmaceuticals which can be used to assist individuals handle their diabetes.
Many individuals could also be prescribed metformin or Ozempic alone, however typically a health care provider might prescribe each medication without delay as a form of mixture remedy.
As a result of these medication work in numerous methods and their use collectively is comparatively new, you will have questions on how these medication work together, what the unwanted effects could also be, and the way effectively they work collectively.
This text will discover what it’s good to find out about taking Ozempic and metformin collectively.
How do Ozempic and metformin differ?
To assist perceive why you is likely to be prescribed one drug, the opposite, or each without delay, it’s necessary to know a little bit bit about every remedy and the way they differ.
Ozempic and metformin are completely different in a number of methods. To start out with, Ozempic is a once-weekly injectable drug, whereas metformin is a every day (or twice every day) oral remedy that often is available in capsule kind.
However the two medication have completely different energetic elements and act on the physique in numerous methods, too.
Ozempic
Ozempic is the model identify for the commonest drug that makes use of the energetic ingredient semaglutide, which is predominately used to assist handle diabetes. Ozempic is made by the drug firm Novo Nordisk.
Different drug firms additionally make drugs with the identical energetic ingredient as Ozempic (these embrace the model names Wegovy and Rybelsus).
Ozempic is a glucagon-like peptide 1 (often known as “GLP-1”) agonist. The drug mimics hormones within the physique that assist to control blood sugar ranges.
Ozempic will increase your physique’s pure insulin manufacturing, decreases the liver’s manufacturing of glucose, slows the emptying of meals out of your abdomen into the small intestines, and it additionally reduces your urge for food, which tends to result in weight reduction.
Metformin
Metformin is among the many most pharmaceuticals on this planet. Metformin’s commonest use is as a first-line remedy for sort 2 diabetes.
Metformin will increase insulin sensitivity and has been demonstrated to have a variety of different well being advantages. More and more, metformin is being prescribed for individuals with prediabetes, gestational diabetes, sort 1 diabetes, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Metformin lowers the quantity of sugar produced by the liver, decreases sugar absorption within the intestines, and permits particular person cells within the physique to eat extra sugar and use that sugar extra effectively.
Equally to Ozempic, metformin has additionally been proven to assist individuals drop a few pounds in some circumstances.
Whereas Ozempic is a comparatively new drug, having been FDA-approved in 2017, metformin has been available on the market in the USA since 1994. Each medication have seen vital will increase of their use since their introduction.
Why would I be prescribed Ozempic and metformin?
The first purpose these medication are prescribed is to assist handle blood sugar ranges.
Ozempic and metformin assist most individuals to decrease their common blood sugar ranges (as measured by an A1c blood check), and these results are fairly vital.
Medical trials have established that (at its most dose) metformin may help lower A1c by 1.5%, whereas a median dose of Ozempic can lower A1c by 1.4%.
In case you are already prescribed metformin and it’s now not having its most supposed profit, your physician or medical care crew might write you a prescription for Ozempic to judge its effectiveness as a stand-alone alternative for metformin, or as a complementary remedy along with your current metformin prescription.
There are different causes you might be prescribed metformin or Ozempic. Nevertheless, these makes use of are usually off-label (not authorised by the FDA).
Each medication have been proven to assist with weight reduction along with their major perform of decreasing common blood sugar ranges. Whereas neither drug is FDA-approved for this use, it may be a useful impact, particularly for individuals who have sort 2 diabetes and battle to take care of a wholesome weight.
Each medication are additionally established to lower the danger of main cardiovascular occasions, like coronary heart assaults.
Whereas many of those off-label results could also be useful, metformin and Ozempic are usually not prescribed solely for these causes.
Are you able to safely take metformin and Ozempic collectively?
Usually, the reply is sure. Medical trials have established that it’s usually protected to take metformin and Ozempic collectively.
Not solely is it usually protected, however it’s really changing into frequent to prescribe these medication collectively as a mix remedy, as each medication complement each other in serving to to handle blood sugar ranges.
The medication additionally may help with cardiovascular well being and weight reduction in ways in which might reinforce each other.
Taking metformin and Ozempic collectively will be an efficient solution to handle blood sugar ranges, particularly for individuals with sort 2 diabetes.
What unwanted effects are there to taking each Ozempic and metformin?
Whereas each of those drugs will be efficient at controlling blood glucose ranges, they will even have unwanted effects, and taking them collectively might improve the danger of sure adversarial and negative effects.
Each metformin and Ozempic may cause gastrointestinal signs like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Taking these two medication collectively can improve the probability and severity of the unwanted effects you might expertise.
In case you are taking metformin and Ozempic collectively – or in case you are prescribed them along with insulin – it’s particularly necessary to concentrate on the indicators of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
Low blood sugar ranges may cause you to sweat, and expertise shakiness, lightheadedness, or confusion. In case your blood sugar is low, you additionally might also really feel your coronary heart racing or have fast modifications in your notion or feelings.
In case you expertise any of those signs, it’s necessary to test your blood sugar ranges – and if you happen to’re low, rapidly deliver your blood sugar again as much as a traditional vary by consuming or ingesting one thing with carbohydrates.
Metformin and Ozempic every have their very own potential unwanted effects which can be very uncommon, however necessary to find out about. These embrace the danger of lactic acidosis for metformin and thyroid tumors for Ozempic.
Medical trials have proven that taking each without delay doesn’t improve your total threat of experiencing critical unwanted effects.
It’s necessary to learn any paperwork that include your prescription and to speak about every prescription drug and its potential unwanted effects along with your physician.
You may learn extra in regards to the unwanted effects of every drug right here:
Does Ozempic work higher than metformin?
As a result of Ozempic and metformin work in numerous methods, neither essentially works higher than the opposite.
Relying on the dose, both metformin or Ozempic might decrease blood sugar ranges greater than the opposite drug.
Ozempic has usually been proven to assist individuals lose extra weight than metformin, however everybody’s expertise is completely different, and weight reduction just isn’t assured by both drug – neither is both drug FDA-approved for that function.
Can you’re taking metformin mixture medication with Ozempic?
Mixture medication for individuals with sort 2 diabetes ceaselessly combine metformin plus one other drug with a distinct mechanism of motion, as a result of doing this permits each medication to maximise their effectiveness.
Including an Ozempic prescription on prime of a metformin mixture drug ought to solely be performed in session with a health care provider as every of the three (or extra) energetic elements can have its personal set of unwanted effects and contraindications.
Is metformin safer than Ozempic?
Metformin is usually thought of to be among the many most secure and most studied medication for serving to individuals to handle their blood sugar.
Whereas metformin has been been in frequent use longer than Ozempic, every drug has undergone intensive, rigorous testing.
Nevertheless, every particular person’s threat components and their very own expertise of unwanted effects will differ. So it’s necessary to work along with your physician to grasp how every drug’s security profile, dangers, and unwanted effects stack up towards its advantages, all inside the context of your well being historical past and objectives.
What meals must be averted when taking Ozempic and metformin collectively?
Meals that may trigger an upset abdomen are finest to keep away from when taking Ozempic and metformin collectively. These embrace heavy, greasy, or fatty meals.
Overly processed meals are additionally usually finest to keep away from, and you may additionally be suggested to keep away from ingesting alcohol when taking metformin and Ozempic.
Observe all tips and directions on any prescription remedy, and act accordingly. And bear in mind, it’s all the time a good suggestion to speak along with your physician in regards to the food 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 may learn extra about which meals to keep away from right here:
How a lot weight are you able to lose on Ozempic and metformin collectively?
It’s necessary to keep in mind that utilizing Ozempic and metformin collectively for weight reduction is an off-label function that isn’t FDA-approved, so it’s particularly necessary to work along with your physician to grasp the advantages and dangers.
In case you’re prescribed Ozempic and metformin to your sort 2 diabetes however want to drop a few pounds, there are FDA-approved weight reduction medication which can be protected for individuals with diabetes that your physician might also prescribe.
Medical trials have proven that metformin alone results in a 5% of physique weight common weight reduction for a few third of people that take the drug, together with lack of about 12 – 15 kilos in individuals who didn’t have diabetes.
For people who find themselves obese or overweight, Ozempic has been demonstrated to lead to weight reduction of 14.9% of their physique weight.
