Comparison of Ozempic to Other Weight Loss Medicines

The good news is Ozempic, which is currently used to treat Type 2 Diabetes, has been FDA approved for chronic weight management in adults. Other medications that can help you lose weight include Saxenda, Victoza, Rybelsus, and Phentermine among others. Let’s compare some of these weight loss drugs with Ozempic in the section below.

Ozempic vs. Saxenda, Victoza

Ozempic is the trade/brand name for the drug semaglutide while Saxenda is the brand name for Liraglutide 3mg. Both are licensed medications for weight loss in the US. Another trade name for Liragluitide is Victoza which is licensed to manage Type 2 Diabetes just like Ozempic.

Both Semaglutide and liraglutide mimic a naturally produced hormone known as GLP-1 which is produced in your intestines. The work of the GLP-1 is to stimulate insulin production from the pancreas, slow the movement of food in your digestive system, and reduce your appetite. By doing so, these medications help you lose weight.

However, Ozempic is a once-weekly injectable medication but the Saxenda injection is administered once per day. Also, Ozempic is more effective in improving your weight loss and blood glucose control than Sexanda, Victoza. Ozempic has more side effects compared to Sexanda, Victoza, especially diarrhea and nausea.

Ozempic vs. Rybelsus

Ozempic and Rybelsus are medications that contain the main active ingredient called semaglutide. Both are part of a class of medications known as glucagon-like-1 (GLP-1) agonists. This means they act almost similarly. FDA has even approved these drugs for the same uses and a few different uses as well.

They control blood sugar levels in adults suffering from Type-2 Diabetes even though they are not suitable for treating Type 1 Diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.

Since they share the same active ingredients, Ozempic and Rybelus can potentially help you lose weight when you combine them with a healthy diet and exercise. Most importantly, they all share many similar side effects with differences emerging in reactions at the injected site for Ozempic and decreased appetite for Rybelsus.

Ozempic vs. Phentermine

Ozempic and Phentermine are likely to help you lose some weight. Both medications can curb your appetite to make you eat fewer calories. However, they work differently while in your body system.

Ozempic contains semaglutide and is an injectable drug. You just need to administer it once weekly to control blood sugar levels if you have Type 2 Diabetes. This medication also helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular events like stroke and heart attack among individuals with heart disease and Type 2 Diabetes. Patients taking Ozempic to treat diabetes tend to lose weight in the process. Also, individuals without diabetes can lose weight by taking Ozempic

On the other hand, Phentermine is a stimulant that you can use in a short term to lose weight. Just like Ozempic, this medication is currently approved to be used alongside a proper diet and exercise in people with BMI more than/equal to 27mg/kg² or 30 mg/kg². It is also helpful if you have risk factors such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

When it comes to side effects, Ozempic has a boxed warning regarding thyroid C-cell tumors that normally occurs in rodents. Although this risk factor remains unknown in humans, you may have to avoid Ozermpic if you have a family history of thyroid cancers.

Phentermine does not have any known boxed warnings. But there are rare cases of primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) and valve regurgitation or leaking heart valves which can be life-threatening when Phentermine is taken alongside medications such as fenfluramine or dexfenfluramine.

Additionally, Phentermine can lead to high blood pressure if you use it within the two weeks of using monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) such as those used in depression and Parkinson’s disease.

Final Thought

At the moment there are approximately eight available FDA-approved medications to help you with weight loss. Ozempic is one of them, meaning that it can work as a weight-loss drug, particularly chronic weight management. Other medications that share similar benefits with Ozempic are discussed above. In case you need these medications you can always contact Kiwi Drug, the online doctor service provider.