Comparison of Ozempic to Other Diabetes Medications

There are numerous medications used to treat diabetes today besides Ozempic. Some of these drugs include Trulicity, Bydureon, and Saxenda,Victoza among others.  Here is a comparison of Ozompic with each one of the diabetes medications mentioned above:

Ozempic vs. Trulicity

Both Ozempic and Trulicity are medications prescribed to help people with Type 2 Diabetes. Each one of these drugs can improve your blood sugar levels in addition to lowering your risk for stroke, heart attack and death resulting from heart disease. 

Ozempic and Trulicity are both brand name prescription drugs with no generic versions of any of them. They are also FDA approved to improve your blood sugar levels if you have Type 2 Diabetes or heart disease. Neither drug is FDA approved to help treat Type 1 Diabetes. 

When it comes to the ingredients, Ozempic has semaglutide as the active drug while Trulicity has dulaglutide. These two diabetes medications belong to glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists class of medications. 

Another striking similarities about Ozempic and Trulicity is that they both come in prefilled pens and in liquid form. But the Ozempic pen is for multiple uses whereas the Trulicity pen is designed for a single use only. Besides sharing the same side effects, these two medications are administered by self-injection under your skin or subcutaneously once per week.  

Ozempic vs. Bydureon

Ozempic and Bydureon are both in the same class of medication known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor Agonists. But the main drag in Ozempic is semaglutide while exenatide is for Bydureon. 

Both medications can help improve glycemic control among patients with Type 2 Diabetes when combined with a healthy diet and exercise. 

The two share similar side effects such as:

• Diarrhea

• Constipation

• Nausea

• Vomiting. 

However, Ozempic’s side effects that differ from Bydureon include belly or abdominal pain. 

For Bydureon, the only side effects that are different from Ozempic’s are:

•  Headache

•  Itching

•  indigestion 

• A small nodule-like bump at the injection area.

Both medications are likely to interact with oral drugs, insulin, or insulin secretagogues when you take them simultaneously.

Ozempic’s initial dose is 0.25mg which you should take once weekly for four weeks before increasing to 0.5mg once per week. Bydureon (2mg/dose), however, is designed to be administered once weekly.

Ozempic vs. Saxenda, Victoza

Another set of comparisons you need to know is Ozempic versus Saxenda, Victoza. All these diabetes medications are part of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists. You can combine them with a proper diet and exercise to help improve glycemic control if you are diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes mellitus. 

Unlike Ozempic, the main drug in Saxenda, Victoza is liraglutide (rDNA origin). Saxenda, Victoza is usually useful in adults with an initial BMI of about 27kg/m2 or more (overweight) or 30kg/m2 or more (obese) who also have a weight-related comorbid condition such as Type 2 Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or dyslipidemia. 

Similar side effects for both Ozempic and Saxenda, Victoza include:

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Stomach pain

• Constipation

Side effects that you may only experience from Saxenda, Victoza, but not from Ozempic are:

• Lack of energy

• Low blood sugar or hypoglycemia

• Gastroenteritis

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

• Headache

• Gas

• Dizziness

• Indigestion

• Bloating

• Dry mouth

• Fatigue

• Changes in taste

• Frequent belching

• Redness at the injection site

• Anxiety

• Insomnia

• Urinary tract infection (UTI)

• Decreased appetite

Ozempic and Sazenda, Victoza can interact with oral medications when you take them at the same time. Also, Ozempic can interact with insulin or insulin secretagogues.

While the initial dose of Ozempic medication is 0.25mg once per week for four weeks, for Saxenda, Victoza is only 3mg daily

Final Thought

Apart from Ozempic, there are other effective diabetes medications that you can use. Most of these drugs have some similarities with Ozempic in terms of side effects and interactions with other drugs. You may try any of them to find out which one works best for your condition. But make sure you contact Kiwi Drug, the online doctor service for more guidance and to purchase your most effective diabetic medication upon the online doctor’s approval.