Metformin and Ozempic are popular prescription drugs that help people manage their diabetes.
These drugs work in a variety of ways and are relatively new to use together, so you may have questions about how they interact, what their side effects are, and how well they work.
How are metformin and ozempic different?
To understand why you are prescribed one medication at a time, it is important to know a little about whether you are prescribed one medication at a time, and how each medication and how they differ.
Ozempic and metformin differ in several ways. First, metformin is an oral medication daily (or twice a day) and usually takes the form of a pill, while Ozempic is an injectable once a week.
The two drugs have different active ingredients and act on the body in different ways.
Metformin
Metformin is one of the most prescribed medicines in the world. The most common use is as first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes.
Metformin reduces the amount of glucose released by the liver, reduces the amount of glucose absorbed by the intestine, increases insulin sensitivity, allowing individual cells in the body to consume more sugar and use it more efficiently.
It has also been demonstrated to have a wide range of other health benefits. Increasingly, metformin is being prescribed by:
Metformin has also been shown to help people lose weight in some situations.
ozempic
Ozempic is the most common drug brand name that uses the active ingredient semaglutide, and is primarily used to help manage diabetes.
Other pharmaceutical companies manufacture drugs that have the same active ingredients as Ozempic (these include the brand names Rybelsus and Wegovy).
Ozempic is a glucagon-like peptide-1, or Agonist. It mimics the hormones in the body that help regulate blood glucose levels.
It tends to increase the body’s natural insulin production, reduce liver glucose production, slow the drainage of food from the stomach into the small intestine, reduce appetite, and lead to weight loss.
Ozempic is a relatively new drug approved by the FDA in 2017, while metformin has been on the market in the US since 1994. Both drugs have been using significantly since introduction.
Why am I prescribed metformin and ozempic?
The main reason these medications are prescribed is to help you manage your blood sugar levels.
They help most people lower their average blood glucose levels, as measured by HBA1C (A1C) blood tests (a measure of glucose control over the past 2-3 months). Effects are extremely important.
Clinical trials have established that metformin helps reduce A1C levels by 1.5% at maximum doses, but the average dose of Ozempic could reduce A1C by 1.4%.
If you are currently using metformin and it is not offering its full benefits anymore, your healthcare provider may consider prescribing Ozempic. This is how well it works on its own in place of metformin or it is used as an additional treatment with existing metformin regimen.
There are other reasons why you are prescribed metformin or ozempic. However, these uses tend to be off-label (not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Both metformin and ozempic have been shown to help you lose weight, along with their key function of lowering your average blood glucose level. Neither drug has approved the FDA for weight loss, but it can be useful effects, especially for people with type 2 diabetes and difficulty maintaining a healthy weight.
Both drugs are also established to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attacks.
While many of these off-label effects may be useful, metformin and ozempic are not generally prescribed for these reasons alone.
Can you safely take the medicine together?
In most cases, the answer is yes. Clinical trials have established that taking metformin and ozenpic together is generally safe.
It has actually become common practice to prescribe these medications together as combination therapy, not only are they generally safe, but also complement each other in helping with glucose management.
Medicines also help in cardiovascular health and weight loss in ways that can strengthen each other.
Taking metformin and ozempic together is an effective way to manage blood sugar levels, especially for people with type 2 diabetes.
What are the side effects of taking both metformin and ozempic?
Both of these drugs may be effective in controlling blood glucose levels, but they may also have side effects, and if they are put together, it may increase the risk of certain adverse effects and unwanted effects.
Both metformin and ozempic can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
See more details: Can metformin cause diarrhea?
Together these two drugs can increase the likelihood and severity of side effects you may experience.
It is especially important to be aware of signs of hypoglycemia (hypoglycemia) if you are taking metformin and ozenpic together, or if you are prescribed it in addition to insulin.
Low blood sugar levels can cause the following symptoms:
- Hungry
- Dizziness
- Anxiety or annoyed
- Sweat (sweats)
- trembling
- The feeling of tingling in my lips
- Rapid Heartbeat
- Fatigue or weakness
- Blurred visual changes
- confusion
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to check your blood sugar levels. If it’s low, eating or drinking something with carbohydrates will quickly restore your blood sugar to normal range.
Metformin and Ozempic each have very rare potential side effects, but it’s important to know.
In the case of metformin, these include vitamin B12 deficiency and lactic acidosis. This can cause lactic acid to accumulate in the body.
See more details: Metophone can cause lactic acid disease?
In the case of Ozempic, this includes thyroid tumors.
Clinical trials show that taking both medications once does not increase the overall risk of experiencing serious side effects.
It is important to read the documentation that comes with your prescription and talk to your doctor about each prescription medication and its potential side effects.
For more information on the side effects of each drug, please see here.
Does Ozempic work better than metformin?
Metformin and Ozempic work in many ways and therefore do not necessarily work Better More than others.
Depending on the dose, either metformin or ozempic may lower blood sugar levels than other drugs.
Ozempic has generally been shown to help people lose more weight than metformin, but everyone’s experiences are different and outcomes can vary from person to person. Furthermore, the drug does not guarantee weight loss, nor is it approved by the FDA for that purpose.
Can I take Metformin combination medicine and Ozempic?
Combined medications for people with type 2 diabetes include metformin paired with another drug that often has different behaviors. This approach increases the overall effectiveness of the treatment, as each drug targets various aspects of diabetes management, thereby improving overall glycemic control.
Adding an Ozempic prescription on top of metformin combination medications should only be done in consultation with your doctor, as each of the three (or more) active ingredients can have their own side effects, interactions, and contraindications (situations that can cause harm to situations where the medication should not be used).
Is metformin safer than ozempic?
Metformin is often considered to be one of the safest and most studied drugs to help people manage their blood sugar levels.
Metformin is more commonly used than Ozempic, but each drug undergoes extensive and rigorous testing.
However, each person’s unique experience with risk factors and side effects will vary. Therefore, it is important to work with your physician to understand how each drug’s safety profile, risks, and side effects stack up against its benefits within the context of all health history and goals.
read more: Is metformin safe?
What foods should you avoid when taking metformin and ozenpic together?
Foods that can cause stomach upset are best avoided when taking metformin and ozenpic together. These include fatty and fatty foods (such as butter, slices of fatty meat, cheese).
In general, it is best to avoid sophisticated and highly processed foods (such as white bread and packaging). It is also recommended to avoid drinking alcohol while taking metformin or ozenpic.
Follow all guidelines and instructions for the prescription medication you are taking. It is always a good idea to talk to your doctor about foods you should eat, or about foods, drinks, or behaviors to avoid when starting a new prescription.
You can read more about foods to avoid here:
How much weight can you lose together with Metformin and Ozempic?
It is important to remember that working with physicians to understand benefits and risks is particularly important, as using metformin and ozenpic together for weight loss is an off-label purpose that is not approved by the FDA.
If you prescribe metformin and ozempic for type 2 diabetes but want to lose weight, there are FDA approved weight loss medications that are safe for diabetics, which doctors also prescribe.
Clinical trials show that metformin alone results in an average weight loss of about 5% of body weight in about a third of people taking the drug, including losses of about 12-15 pounds in people without diabetes.
Ozempic has been demonstrated to lead to average weight loss in weight in people who are overweight or obese.
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