While metformin is a more common first-choice medication for Type 2 diabetes, weight loss is more likely with Ozempic. Ozempic can also lower your risk of heart attack and stroke if you have diabetes and heart disease. And it has been shown to have potential benefits for the kidneys.
Ozempic is often given when metformin—which is first in line to be prescribed— doesn't work for someone with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Healthcare professionals also prescribe metformin and Ozempic off-label to treat overweight and obesity as part of a holistic approach to weight care.
Mounjaro is a more effective drug than Ozempic. As demonstrated above, tirzepatide (the active ingredient in Mounjaro) leads to more clinically significant weight loss and blood sugar reductions than semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic).
(Ozempic is also approved to lower the risk of cardiovascular problems, and this use is described just below.) Ozempic may be prescribed alone or in combination with other diabetes medications. It's important to note that Ozempic is not used to treat type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.
Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, also known as “gliptins,” are other metformin alternatives. This class includes Januvia (sitagliptin), Tradjenta (linagliptin), and Nesina (alogliptin). These once-daily oral pills lower A1C up to 0.8%, making them less effective than metformin in general.
Most experts consider metformin to be the safest medicine for type 2 diabetes because it has been used for many decades, is effective, affordable, and safe.
Since Ozempic stimulates insulin secretion from the pancreas and reduces appetite, it further improves blood glucose levels and weight loss in people with type 2 diabetes. Combining metformin and Ozempic may enhance the effectiveness of both drugs. You can take Ozempic and metformin together or separately.
The most common side effect with Ozempic is nausea and occurs in about 15% to 20% of people. Others include vomiting (5% to 9%), diarrhea (8%), stomach-area pain (6% to 7%), and constipation (3% to 7%).
Ozempic and its sister medication, Wegovy — approved for weight loss for people who are obese or overweight with weight-related medical conditions — are considered long-term or lifelong treatments.
The most common side effects of Ozempic, according to the drug's website, are nausea, stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea and vomiting. Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, told CBS News that the drugs "are a well-established class of medicines, which have demonstrated long-term safety in clinical trials.
Ozempic has generally been shown to help people lose more weight than metformin, but everyone's experience is different, and weight loss is not guaranteed by either drug – nor is either drug FDA-approved for that purpose.
Popular Ozempic alternatives for blood sugar control include Mounjaro (tirzepatide), Trulicity (dulaglutide), and Rybelsus (semaglutide). If you're looking for Ozempic alternatives with the goal of losing weight, Wegovy (semaglutide) and Saxenda (liraglutide) might be an option for you.
Ozempic and metformin work in different ways to lower blood glucose (sugar). They both can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. But in rare cases, Ozempic has been linked to pancreatitis and gallbladder disease, and metformin has a risk of lactic acidosis.
Most people with a new diagnosis of type 2 diabetes start taking metformin first. If you control your sugar well, you may not need to change a thing. However, if you still struggle to keep your sugar within the target range, you can also try Ozempic. Some people prefer to swallow a pill rather than take an injection.
SGLT – 2 Inhibitors ( Invokana, Farxiga, Jardiance, and Steglatro) Usage: This can be a good metformin alternative for people who show side effects of metformin. This medicine helps to control blood sugar levels by releasing extra glucose through urine.
There is no specific time frame when someone should stop taking Ozempic as it is a medication that is intended for chronic (long-term) use.
“GLP-1 medications [like Ozempic] are designed to be taken long-term,” explains Dr. McGowan. “They are chronic medications for the treatment of chronic conditions (both diabetes and obesity).”
That's why stopping Ozempic or other weight loss drugs should be an individual decision you should come to with the help of your healthcare provider. If your health provider agrees it's time to stop taking Ozempic, they will provide you with instructions for tapering off your dose.
There is a potential risk of kidney injury associated with both Wegovy and Ozempic use since semaglutide is cleared out of your blood through the kidneys.
You start feeling those usual hunger pangs again, and consequently, you may start eating more to satisfy that hunger. An increase in your consumption can lead to the regaining of weight that was lost. A 2022 study found that most individuals gain weight back a year after stopping the medication.
Ozempic can cause nausea and vomiting if taken after eating foods high in fat or sugar. It is recommended that you take Ozempic before meals, rather than after, to minimise any potential side effects from eating high-fat or high-sugar foods.
Ozempic (semaglutide) is a once-weekly injection that helps treat Type 2 diabetes. You should inject it on the same day each week, at any time of the day. It can be taken with or without food.
Ozempic is taken as once-weekly injection to manage blood glucose levels and HbA1c in people with type 2 diabetes. As a GLP-1 analogue medication, it increases the levels of incretins – a hormone – which helps your body to produce more insulin when needed. It also supresses the amount of glucose produced by the liver.
On average, a user can lose about 3 to 5% of their body weight after using Ozempic for a month regularly. This equates to about 4 to 6 pounds on average. Using a higher potency of the drug may result in more weight loss, but it isn't recommended that you start taking it right away.