Ozempic vs Metformin
People who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus, choosing the right drug to control varying blood sugars and insure a healthy metabolism can be a challenge.
There are a number of diabetes drugs for people with type 2 diabetes, as you might know from TV commercials or personal investigation. Two of the most common antidiabetic drugs available presently are Ozempic vs Metformin. Both drugs are only available via a written prescription from your Doctor
To acquire one of these drugs, a person with type 2 diabetes mellitus should make an appointment with their medical professional to review the options and form a care plan in order to begin a capsule administration or weekly injection treatment plan. Your Doctor will review Ozempic vs Metformin and which will be better for you.
Before speaking to a medical professional, people with type 2 diabetes should understand the difference between these two drugs. Read on for an explanation of the differences and commonalities between Ozempic vs Metformin.
| Metformin | Ozempic | |
| Drug class | Biguanides | Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, semaglutide |
| Mechanism of action | Lowers blood glucose absorption from food & lowers glucose production in the liver | Stimulates insulin secretion & decreases glucose production in the liver |
| Side effects |
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| Rare Complications |
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| Price | Up to $77 but may be partly or completely covered by insurance | Up to $2,544 but might be partly or completely covered by insurance |
| Route | Per Oral pill form. Taken once or twice daily. | Subcutaneous injection into adipose tissue. Once per week. |
| Discovered | 1957, but established in the U.S. in 1995 | Approved by FDA in 2017 |
Metformin (Glucophage, Riomet, Glumetza)
What is Metformin?
Metformin is an antidiabetic drug that has been specified to people with type 2 diabetes since 1957 in France and popularized more lately in 1995. This drug has a common known performance among medical professionals and has been around for several decades.
It’s only available by written prescription and can not be used to treat type 1 diabetes mellitus.
Common Metformin brands include:
- Glumetza
- Glucophage / Glucophage XR
- Fortamet
- Riomet
Multi-ingredient drugs containing metformin:
- ActoPlus (Pioglitazone, Metformin)
- Avandamet (Rosiglitazone, Metformin)
- Invokamet (Canagliflozin, Metformin Hydrochloride)
- Janumet / Janumet XR (Metformin Hydrochloride, Sitagliptin Phosphate)
- Jentadueto (Metformin Hydrochloride, Linagliptin)
- Synjardy (Metformin Hydrochloride, Empagliflozin)
- Xigduo (Dapagliflozin Propanediol Monohydrate, Metformin)
What does Metformin do?
Metformin is in a medication class called biguanides. The method of action of biguanides is to reduce the quantity of blood glucose (or blood sugar) that your body absorbs from your food, plus also lower glucose output in the liver.
So, rather than the intestines absorbing the full quantity of glucose in food, they only absorb some glucose, lowering overall blood glucose. This has been known to help control hyperglycemia and/or high blood sugar. Lowered blood sugar can lead to increased vascular and heart health, weight loss, lowered threats of diabetic ketoacidosis, and increased overall health.
Metformin is taken onetime or two times per day in capsule form (by mouth, per oral/ PO) with or without food. This drug is to be used in combination with exercise and healthy eating habits similar as limiting portions and bettering nutrient choices.
Common Side Effects Associated with Metformin:
There are a small amount of specific side effects of Metformin, although not every person is affected by these conditions.
Some reported side effects include nausea, puking, diarrhea, flatulence (or gas), heartburn and indigestion, bloating, stomach cramps, muscle cramps, skin flushing, and constipation. There are also occasional reports that the drug can taste displeasing, leaving a metallic taste in the mouth.
These side effects don’t happen in every person, and can occasionally be managed with the help of a primary care medical professional and life changes. Most frequently, these side effects are over shadowed in the long- term by the longevity type 2 diabetes control can offer.
Rare Complications Associated with Metformin:
There have also been reports of serious responses to the Metformin drug. These rare complications generally warrant stopping or switching drugs with the help of one’s primary care medical professional.
Signs of an allergic response between Ozempic vs Metformin, similar as a growing rash, briefness of breath, and throat and lip swelling, all warrant immediate emergency medical treatment. Chest pain is another reason to promptly seek emergency medical attention.
Metformin can lead to low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia responses, when overused or used with too little food/ water consumption. This will present as unsteadiness, sweats, agitation, dizziness, lightheadedness, and skin reddishness. Some people with diabetes know how to check and treat low blood sugars at home. However, they should seek immediate medical treatment for signs of hypoglycemia, If a person isn’t confident in this matter. Upon examination, a medical professional might also diagnose someone with lactic acidosis or high blood acidity in this condition.
Long- term use can seldom lead to liver damage or liver inflammation, and thus, once a year liver enzyme testing at a primary care medical professional is recommended.
Alcohol use is greatly discouraged while taking Metformin. Consuming alcohol at the same time as taking Metformin can lead to increased dangers of uncomfortable side effects, liver damage, gastrointestinal complications, and lactic acidosis.
Price of Metformin
Annually, the price of Metformin shouldn’t exceed $77 but can be retailed for as much as $119 for 100 tablets. Numerous health insurance programs will partly or fully pay for this drug.
Ozempic vs Metformin can be bought for as low as $29 fromPolarbearmeds.com.
Ozempic (semaglutide)
What is Ozempic?
Ozempic is used for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus to control high blood sugar. furthermore, it can help avoid blood clot creation that can lead to life- threatening events (stroke, heart attack, embolism). Ozempic vs Metformin is occasionally also used to promote weight loss.
Ozempic was approved by the FDA in 2017 so it’s a newer drug than Metformin.
While Metformin is taken in capsule form, Ozempic is taken in subcutaneous injection form. This means that a person who takes Ozempic will use a small needle to poke themselves onetime per week. Frequently subcutaneous injections are given in the stomach area, where there are a lot of fat pads, and this will make the injection less painful than an intramuscular shot. For someone who doesn’t like to swallow capsules or can not swallow capsules, subcutaneous injections are an alternate option for Ozempic vs Metformin.
What does Ozempic do?
Ozempic (semaglutide), or glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, which decreases blood sugar. Instead of limiting the absorption of glucose like what Metformin does, (Ozempic vs Metformin) Ozempic stimulates the secretion of insulin from the human body. The body’s natural defense mechanism is Insulin which works against high blood sugars. Ozempic’s stimulation of insulin combats type 2 diabetes insulin resistance, leading to lower blood glucose and enriched vascular health.
Additionally, Ozempic lowers glucagon secretion from the liver. This means that the liver won’t produce as much glucagon (the enzyme that breaks down food into sugar to be added to the blood) and thus, leads to lower blood sugar situations.
Ozempic vs Metformin, also works best when combined with healthy eating habits and physical exercise.
Common Side Effects Associated with Ozempic
Ozempic can bring about comparable side effects to Metformin. The most common reported side effects may include nausea, puking, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain or cramping, reduced appetite, indigestion, burping, heartburn, flatulence or gas, and fatigue.
It has been documented that In some cases, Ozempic has lead to low blood sugar or hypoglycemia. This will generally happen if a person has eaten/ drank very little in a day, or if a person has taken a double dosage ( too high of a dosage) of their drug. Warning signs of hypoglycemia include dizziness, unstableness, sweating, anxiety, and light headedness. However, seek immediate emergency medical attention for signs of hypoglycemia, If you haven’t been instructed to treat hypoglycemia at home. A further examination, an EMT may also diagnose someone in this condition with high blood acidity or lactic acidosis.
Rare Complications Associated with Ozempic:
There are less common but more serious complications that can happen while taking Ozempic. Allergic responses, which can present as a worsening rash, angioedema (facial swelling), throat swelling or closing, and tongue enlargement, are life- threatening and should lead a person to seek immediate emergency care. Other rare complications include vision changes, lowered urination, yellowing of the skin or eyes ( jaundice), or rapid-fire heartbeat (tachycardia).
Pain in the abdominal area and signs of jaundice can indicate liver damage or pancreatic damage and thus should lead a person to seek medical attention. Vision changes might be a side effect of diabetic neuropathy, which is a sign that the drug isn’t controlling diabetes.
Importantly, anyone with a history of thyroid illness or thyroid cancer in their family should know that Ozempic can increase risk for thyroid cancer and thyroid growths. It’s tremendously important that a person informs their medical professional of this threat factor. A person with thyroid medical conditions will most probably want to pick an alternate drug similar as Ozempic vs Metformin.
Ozempic and alcohol should not be consumed at the same time. Still, mild alcohol consumption that’s balanced with regular food consumption and controlled blood sugar via Ozempic/ life changes, may be adequate in certain situations.
Ozempic can interact with some drugs, vitamins, and spices, so it’s important to give a full list of drugs to your medical professional.
Price of Ozempic
Ozempic is quite a bit more expensive than Ozempic vs Metformin if insurance doesn’t cover it. Ozempic generally costs $632.56 per unit and comes inpre-filled injection needles. Annually, this brings the cost of Ozempic to as much as $2,544.
Ozempic vs Metformin can be purchased for only $284.50 from Polarbearmeds.com