Wegovy and Ozempic are glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists that assist folks higher handle their blood sugar ranges, decrease HbA1c ranges, enhance insulin sensitivity, struggle insulin resistance, and drop some pounds.
Whereas remarkably comparable, the 2 drugs have a number of key variations that 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 can also 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 for those who’re allergic to semaglutide.
Why do folks take Wegovy or Ozempic?
Wegovy and Ozempic have been accepted by the Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) to deal with completely different situations.
Wegovy is accepted for the remedy of weight problems for weight reduction and power weight administration. Wegovy might decrease blood sugar ranges and enhance A1C, however it isn’t a diabetes medicine.
Individuals should meet sure physique mass index (BMI) standards to develop into 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, reminiscent of excessive ldl cholesterol, hypertension, or sort 2 diabetes.
Wegovy is accepted for power weight administration in folks 12 years and older. To qualify for Wegovy, the adolescent will need to have a BMI at or above the 95 percentile for his or her age and intercourse.
Ozempic is simply FDA-approved for adults with sort 2 diabetes. Whereas many individuals drop some pounds whereas taking Ozempic, it isn’t accepted by the FDA as a weight reduction drug.
If you happen to’ve been prescribed Ozempic however should not have diabetes, you might be utilizing it “off-label” (with out FDA approval). Ozempic is simply accepted to be used in folks 18 years and older.
How are Wegovy and Ozempic comparable?
Wegovy and Ozempic are remarkably comparable. The next are the similarities between these two medicine:
They don’t substitute insulin
Whereas solely Ozempic is an accepted drug to deal with sort 2 diabetes, many individuals with diabetes could also be prescribed Wegovy. Nevertheless, for those who’re on insulin remedy, these drugs don’t substitute the necessity to take insulin.
They could, over time, cut 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 kind and are taken subcutaneously. They’re solely taken as soon as per week on the similar time, on the identical day (ideally).
They’ve comparable uncomfortable side effects
The uncomfortable side effects of Ozempic and Wegovy are comparable, they usually might trigger nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, suppressed urge for food, and low blood sugar, particularly while you first begin taking the medicine till your physique will get used to it.
If you happen to’re experiencing debilitating uncomfortable side effects which can be negatively affecting your life, contact your physician who can both decrease your dose or discover an alternate medicine 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 isn’t FDA-approved as a weight reduction drug, there is no such thing as a 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 medical trials, Ozempic lowered the common 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 medicine not solely misplaced weight however noticed statistically important enhancements of their blood sugars and A1C ranges as nicely.
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, for those who’re battling nausea after taking your medicine, it could be useful to take it after consuming a meal or to have a snack of one thing bland to coat your abdomen, reminiscent of crackers, soup, toast, or rice, to assist alleviate any nausea it’s possible you’ll really feel.
How are Wegovy and Ozempic completely different?
Whereas remarkably comparable, Wegovy and Ozempic are completely different drugs that require completely different prescriptions. They’re FDA accepted to deal with completely different situations.
The focus of semaglutide is completely 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 differ between 0.5mg, 1mg, or 2mg as soon as weekly.
They aren’t interchangeable and doing so could cause adversarial uncomfortable side effects.
The uncomfortable side effects of Wegovy could also be extra extreme
Each Ozempic and Wegovy could cause adversarial uncomfortable side effects reminiscent of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdomen ache. These uncomfortable side effects have a tendency to extend together with increased doses of semaglutide.
An enhance in uncomfortable side effects was additionally famous within the medical trial for Wegovy.
Adversarial uncomfortable side effects are commonest while you first begin taking semaglutide, till your physique has an opportunity to get used to the medicine.
They normally reduce or go away after a couple of weeks. If you happen to discover that your uncomfortable side effects aren’t going away or are getting worse after taking both medicine for a month or extra, you must name your physician.
Ceaselessly requested questions
In contrast to Ozempic and Victoza, Ozempic and Wegovy aren’t interchangeable. That is particularly the case for those who take Ozempic for sort 2 diabetes, as Wegovy isn’t accepted for diabetes.
If you happen to’ve been prescribed Wegovy for weight problems or power weight administration remedy and likewise occur to have sort 2 diabetes, that’s normally fantastic.
If you happen to commonly take Ozempic for sort 2 diabetes remedy, it isn’t advisable to change to Wegovy with out the steering of a health care provider.
If you happen to’re on Wegovy just for weight reduction, switching to Ozempic will likely be much less efficient in your remedy.
No. It is best to by no means take these two drugs on the similar time.
In contrast to different diabetes and weight reduction drugs, combining Ozempic and Wegovy could cause critical uncomfortable side effects like debilitating nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdomen ache, and even low blood sugar which may develop into deadly if not handled instantly.
In case you have by chance taken each of those drugs on the similar time or inside a 2-day timeframe, name your physician instantly or search emergency medical consideration.
If you happen to take Ozempic for sort 2 diabetes and are fascinated about shedding weight, speak to your physician to see for those who qualify to take Wegovy as a substitute.
If you happen to take Wegovy for weight problems or power weight administration remedy and are recognized with sort 2 diabetes, your physician will assist information your remedy choices.
Finally, this selection have to be made between you and your physician. It’ll rely in your analysis, well being historical past, well being objectives, life-style, and preferences.
In case you have sort 2 diabetes, you’ll most certainly be prescribed Ozempic, and for those who’re battling being obese or overweight however should not have diabetes, you’ll most certainly be prescribed Wegovy.
In case you have sort 2 diabetes and wrestle with being obese or overweight, working together with your physician to make one of the best medicine selection for your self is suggested.
