Ozempic vs Rybelsus for Diabetes: One Is Injected While the Other Is a Pill

RYBELSUS is a prescription medicine used along with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar (glucose) in adults with type 2 diabetes. Semaglutide reduces fasting and postprandial glucose concentrations. In parental animals, pharmacologically mediated reductions in body weight gain and food consumption were observed at all dose levels. In the offspring, reduced growth and fetuses with visceral (heart blood vessels) and skeletal (cranial bones, vertebra, ribs) abnormalities were observed at the human exposure. There have been postmarketing reports of acute kidney injury and worsening of chronic renal failure, which may sometimes require hemodialysis, in patients treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists, including semaglutide. Some of these events have been reported in patients without known underlying renal disease.

The absorption of semaglutide predominantly occurs in the stomach. No dose adjustment of RYBELSUS is recommended for patients with hepatic impairment. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness for RYBELSUS have been observed between patients 65 years of age and older and younger adult patients. The safety and effectiveness of RYBELSUS have not been established in pediatric patients. Inform patients to contact their physician if changes in vision are experienced during treatment with RYBELSUS [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].

What other drugs will affect Rybelsus?

Healthcare providers also prescribe GLP-1 agonists for weight loss. During clinical trials, people with and without type 2 diabetes who took Rybelsus or Ozempic experienced significant weight loss. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved both Rybelsus and Ozempic for controlling blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes, along with diet and exercise. Rybelsus should be taken at least 30 minutes before the first food, beverage or other oral medication of the day, with no more than 4 ounces of plain water.

With Ozempic, you’ll usually start with a 0.25-mg injection once a week. After 4 weeks, your doctor will likely increase your dose to a 0.5-mg injection once a week. If you could benefit from better blood sugar management, your doctor may increase your dose to a 1-mg injection once a week.

Impact on Blood Pressure

If you’ve had this condition in the past, your doctor will likely recommend a different diabetes medication. Both Rybelsus and Ozempic contain the active ingredient semaglutide. They belong to a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists. A class of https://anyflip.com/homepage/myzzm drugs is a group of medications that act in a similar way. Keep in mind that what you’ll pay for either drug will depend on your treatment plan, health insurance, and the pharmacy you use. A healthcare provider can help determine which option may be right for you.

• You also should not take these drugs if you have a rare form of cancer called multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2.
• It is not known if RYBELSUS is safe and effective for use in children under 18 years of age.
• The most common side effects caused by Rybelsus are digestive side effects.
• Due to this potential risk, doctors usually don’t prescribe Rybelsus to people with a personal or family history of certain types of thyroid tumors or cancer.
• It is not known if Rybelsus is safe and effective for use in children under 18 years of age.
• It’s usually not recommended that you take Rybelsus during pregnancy unless your doctor thinks that the benefits of treatment are greater than the potential side effects.

Inform patients using these concomitant medications of the risk of hypoglycemia and educate them on the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia. When coadministering oral medications instruct patients to closely follow RYBELSUS administration instructions. Consider increased clinical or laboratory monitoring for medications that have a narrow therapeutic index or that require clinical monitoring [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION]. RYBELSUS stimulates insulin release in the presence of elevated blood glucose concentrations. Patients receiving RYBELSUS in combination with an insulin secretagogue (e.g., sulfonylurea) or insulin may have an increased risk of hypoglycemia, including severe hypoglycemia.

Jardiance is also used to reduce the risk of hospitalization or death from heart disease in certain people, but this use isn’t addressed below. To learn more about the dosages for all conditions these drugs treat or prevent, see the articles for Rybelsus and Jardiance. Rybelsus also has warnings about pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), diabetic retinopathy (damage to the eye’s retina), hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), acute kidney injury and hypersensitivity reactions. It is not known whether Rybelsus can be used by patients who have had pancreatitis. The risk of hypoglycemia increased when Rybelsus was used in combination with sulfonylureas or insulin. Currently, a clinical study is looking to see if Rybelsus is also effective in helping lower the risk of major heart or blood vessel events in people with both type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

• If you could benefit from better blood sugar management, your doctor may increase your dose to 14 mg once per day.
• Check your blood sugar regularly as directed and share the results with your doctor.
• Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, diarrhea, or constipation may occur.
• Therefore, these medications can cause some similar side effects, but some different ones as well.