Ozempic and Victorza are glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists used to deal with kind 2 diabetes.
They assist folks higher handle their blood sugar (sugar) ranges, decrease A1C ranges, enhance insulin sensitivity, and fight insulin resistance.
What are the lively elements in Ozempic vs. Victorza?
Ozempic’s lively ingredient is semaglutide, whereas Victoza comprises liraglutide. Each medication belong to the category of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists which might be authorised for the therapy of kind 2 diabetes.
They perform by selling insulin secretion in response to hyperglycemia ranges, emptying the abdomen and suppressing urge for food. All of those can enhance blood sugar management and show you how to handle your weight.
They’ve related mechanisms of motion, however semaglutide and liraglutide have completely different chemical compositions and are usually not straight suitable.
Every drug could supply a wide range of advantages and dangers, and choice between them includes cautious consideration of a wide range of components, akin to efficacy, unwanted effects, frequency of administration, and particular person preferences.
Allergic reactions or sensitivity to the lively elements of both drug additionally require cautious choice and monitoring by a medical skilled.
Why do folks take Ozempic or Viktosa?
Each Ozempic and Victorza are used to deal with kind 2 diabetes. They’re liquids, injectable drugs which might be ingested subcutaneously (just below the pores and skin). Each assist decrease blood sugar and A1C ranges (a measure of glucose management over the previous 2-3 months).
They not directly contribute to weight administration by enhancing insulin resistance (a situation wherein the physique wants additional insulin to keep up regular blood sugar ranges), slowing digestion and suppressing urge for food.
Nonetheless, you will need to word that weight reduction is a common profit, however not the principle goal of those therapies.
Along with glycemic management, Ozempic and Victorza have proven cardiovascular advantages for folks with kind 2 diabetes and preexisting coronary heart illness, which can scale back the danger of coronary heart assaults, strokes and even demise from all causes (demise from all causes).
Often, Ozempic or Victorza could also be prescribed “unlabeled” (in a manner not authorised by the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) to folks with pre-sugar or kind 1 diabetes to enhance insulin resistance and glucose ranges.
You will need to word that Ozempic and Victorza are usually not prescribed collectively. Customers are usually advisable to make use of both primarily based on their healthcare group’s evaluation of their particular state of affairs.
learn extra: All the pieces it is advisable to find out about Ozempic and All the pieces it is advisable to find out about Viktosa.
How do Ozempic and Victorza look related?
Ozempic and Victorza can be utilized alone or together with different diabetes drugs. Nonetheless, if insulin is required to deal with diabetes, it can not utterly change using insulin.
Beneath are further similarities between the 2 medication.
Hypoglycemia and A1c ranges
By mimicking the results of the GLP-1 hormone, Ozempic and Victorza successfully decrease blood glucose and A1c ranges, and naturally enhance insulin secretion in response to elevated blood glucose ranges.
This impact is glucose dependent. Which means that it primarily happens when blood sugar must be lowered. This helps enhance glycemic management with out considerably rising the danger of hypoglycemia (hypoglycemia).
Along with elevated insulin launch, these medication contribute to higher glycemic management by suppressing the secretion of glucagon, a hormone that usually sigrates the liver and releases saved glucose into the bloodstream.
By decreasing glucagon ranges, Ozempic and Victorza assist restrict liver glucose launch, additional serving to to decrease blood glucose ranges.
It will probably trigger weight reduction
Neither drug is authorised for FDA as a weight reduction drug, however the drug suppresses urge for food and gradual digestion.
There is no such thing as a advisable dose to realize this as FDA weight reduction isn’t authorised.
In case you are occupied with shedding weight and residing with kind 2 diabetes, discuss to your physician. As a result of there are weight reduction drugs that the FDA has authorised for diabetics.
For extra info: Does Ozempic show you how to shed some pounds? and Victorza and Weight Loss: Does Victorza show you how to shed some pounds?
Low cardiovascular danger
Medical proof demonstrates that each Ozempic and Viktosa contribute to decrease cardiovascular danger in folks with kind 2 diabetes, notably these with coronary heart illness.
For instance, key scientific trials such because the Victorza Chief’s Trial and Ozempic’s Maintain-6 Trial have proven that these medication could not solely scale back the danger of main cardiovascular occasions, but in addition scale back the danger of cardiovascular-related demise on this inhabitants.
In assist of this, a complete meta-analysis (evaluation of knowledge from a number of research) was revealed. Rancet We establish the cardiovascular advantages of those GLP-1 agonists and combine findings from varied research.
Based mostly on this sturdy proof, the American Diabetes Affiliation (ADA) recommends using GLP-1 agonists, together with Ozempic and Victorza, for folks with kind 2 diabetes and coronary heart illness, as a technique to cut back cardiovascular danger.
It will probably trigger opposed results
Each Ozempic and Victorza can have a unfavourable impact on unwanted effects.
These embrace:
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- constipation
- Hypoglycemia, particularly when utilized in mixture with insulin
It will probably additionally trigger extra severe unwanted effects, together with:
- Pancreatitis (irritation of the pancreas)
- Kidney issues
- Elevated danger of thyroid most cancers
- Allergic reactions
For extra details about the potential unwanted effects of each medication, learn: Ozempic Facet Results: Issues You Have to Know and Unwanted effects of victoza: What it is advisable to know.
They’re title manufacturers and costly
Sadly, there are not any common variations of Ozempic or Victorza. Each are title manufacturers and are extraordinarily costly. Neither of some medical health insurance plans could cowl.
Test your medical health insurance plan to see whether it is included in your prescription and what price sharing is earlier than you begin your treatment.
They aren’t substitutes for insulin
Neither Ozempic nor Victorza will change insulin. These medication work along with different therapies, together with insulin, and show you how to successfully handle your blood sugar ranges.
In case you are contemplating beginning Ozempic or Victoza, you will need to preserve your present therapy plan, together with insulin, if prescribed, except your healthcare supplier advises you to make a change.
They are often taken with or with out meals
GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic and Victorza present appreciable flexibility in administration as they are often taken at any time, with or with out meals. This contrasts with insulin and sure different diabetes drugs, and sometimes requires extra exact timing with food regimen.
Though these medication are usually efficient in decreasing blood glucose ranges, they’re at a decrease danger of inflicting acute hypoglycemia on their very own due to the glucose-dependent mechanism of motion.
Which means that they stimulate insulin launch primarily within the presence of hyperglycemia ranges, minimizing the danger of decreasing blood glucose below regular circumstances.
In case you are engaged in bodily exercise after receiving an injection, it’s unlikely to trigger a fast drop in blood glucose ranges. Nonetheless, train can have an effect on glucose ranges, so it is suggested to observe responses, particularly in new therapy regimens.
For individuals who have skilled nausea after injection, pre-consuming frequent unwanted effects, bland meals akin to toast, bananas, rice, crackers, and different bland meals could assist scale back this discomfort. This facet impact can lower over time as your physique adapts to the treatment.
For extra info: Meals to Keep away from When Taking Ozempic and Meals to Keep away from when taking Viktosa.
What’s the distinction between Ozempic and Victorza?
Ozempic and Victorza share many similarities as GLP-1 agonists used to handle kind 2 diabetes, however there are a number of vital variations that will have an effect on choice.
Dosage Frequency
Ozempic is taken as soon as every week, making it a handy choice for individuals who favor much less frequent dosing. In distinction, Victorza requires each day injections. This can be good for individuals who want extra detailed management of their blood sugar ranges, or those that expertise gentle unwanted effects that disappear shortly.
See extra particulars: Ozempic Dosage Information: How a lot ought to it price? and Victorza Dosing: How a lot does it price?
Authorised Group
Ozempic is authorised to be used in adults over the age of 18 with kind 2 diabetes. In the meantime, Victorza is authorised to be used in folks over the age of 10 with kind 2 diabetes.
Impact length and unwanted effects
Ozempic lasts a very long time and has a weekly dosage schedule. Nonetheless, it’s lively for longer, so unwanted effects akin to nausea and vomiting can even last as long as every week.
Alternatively, Viktoza is taken each day, so unwanted effects often lower quicker than inside a day as the results of the treatment fade away.
In case your each day injection outlook is a priority, or for those who are inclined to overlook about your each day treatment, Ozempic’s weekly schedule could also be appropriate to your life-style.
It is usually vital to notice that the administration of the 2 medication is totally completely different. Each require cautious administration changes that must be managed below the steerage of the healthcare supplier.
Ozempic could cause diabetic retinopathy
Semaglutide, the lively ingredient in ozenpic, can enhance the danger of early deterioration of diabetic retinopathy (injury to the retinal eye) particularly in individuals who have already got this eye situation.
This facet impact was notably noticed in Maintain-6 scientific trials, however doesn’t have an effect on all customers of the drug.
In distinction, Victorza isn’t related to related dangers in main research.
When you’ve got present diabetic retinopathy or are involved in regards to the potential ocular well being problems, you will need to talk about these dangers along with your physician earlier than beginning ozempic. This dialog will assist be sure that your therapy plan considers each your diabetes administration wants and your general eye well being.
FAQ
Can I change between the 2 drugs?
Sure, it’s attainable to change between Ozempic and Victorza, particularly in case you are experiencing unwanted effects with any of them. Nonetheless, as a result of completely different actions and efficacy, a particular ready interval is advisable to make sure security.
In case you are switching from Ozempic to Victoza, you’ll be able to wait every week after the final dose of Ozempic to cut back the effectiveness of long-acting Ozempic.
If you happen to change from Victorza to Ozempic, take the primary dose of Ozempic 24 hours after the final dose of Victorza earlier than ready.
All the time make such adjustments below the steerage of a physician. The doses of Ozempic and Victoza are usually not comparable and your physician could regulate your beginning dose primarily based in your wants and former expertise with GLP-1 medication.
Even in case you are taking the best dose of Victorza, your physician could begin you with a decrease dose of Ozempic and regulate primarily based in your response and any unwanted effects.
Can I take Ozempic and Victorza on the similar time?
No, we don’t advocate utilizing two medication within the GLP-1 agonist class, akin to Ozempic or Victorza, on the similar time.
Doing so could not enhance its effectiveness and enhance the danger of great unwanted effects. Though GLP-1 agonists usually have a low danger of inflicting hypoglycemia on their very own, mixtures of those medication can result in an elevated danger of different severe unwanted effects akin to gastrointestinal issues and pancreatitis.
You will need to comply with the steerage of your healthcare supplier and use solely prescribed treatment remedy.
If I lose sufficient weight on Ozempic or Victorza, can I take away different diabetes drugs?
On account of vital weight reduction and improved glycemic management, it’s attainable for folks taking Ozempic or Viktosa to cut back and even discontinue different diabetes drugs, however this isn’t assured.
Weight reduction can enhance insulin sensitivity, decrease blood sugar ranges, and scale back the necessity for extra treatment.
Nonetheless, coordination of diabetes therapy plans must be performed fastidiously and always below the steerage of a well being care supplier.
You will need to do not forget that Ozempic and Victorza can drastically enhance diabetes administration, however they haven’t cured their situation. The necessity for ongoing treatment, together with insulin, can final, particularly in individuals who have suffered from diabetes for a very long time.
This consideration is especially vital for folks with kind 2 diabetes who might be able to scale back their dependence on insulin and different medication. In distinction, kind 1 diabetic sufferers must proceed insulin remedy as a result of their our bodies don’t produce insulin.
Discuss to your physician for those who expertise any main adjustments, akin to sudden weight reduction or frequent hypoglycemia episodes.
