By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
thiraisorgam thiraisorgam
  • Home
  • Wellness
  • Fitness
  • Diabetes
  • Reproductive Health
Reading: Can You Take Metformin and Ozempic Together?
Thirai SorgamThirai Sorgam
Search
  • Home
  • Wellness
  • Fitness
  • Diabetes
  • Reproductive Health
© 2025 All Rights reserved | Powered by Thiraisorgam
Thirai Sorgam > Diabetes > Can You Take Metformin and Ozempic Together?
Diabetes

Can You Take Metformin and Ozempic Together?

April 18, 2025 12 Min Read
Share
Boxes of Ozempic and metformin
SHARE

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.

See also  Diabetes and Hair Loss: Causes and Treatment Options

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.

See also  Ozempic Side Effects (And How to Manage Them)

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).

See also  Can Wegovy Help You Lose Weight?

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.

For more information:

TAGGED:DiabetesDiabetes Management
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Copy Link
Previous Article are periods needed Let’s Talk Vaginal Dryness for World Menopause Day
Next Article 7 Best Abs and Butt Moves Things You Can Do at Home 7 Best Abs and Butt Moves Things You Can Do at Home
Leave a comment Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

latest

11 Practical Healthy Eating Tips for Everyday Balance

11 Practical Healthy Eating Tips for Everyday Balance

Eating well doesn't have to be complicated. Small changes in your daily…

Thirai Sorgam 10 Min Read
frequent urination reasons

Why Do I Pee So Much?

It's one of the annoying stereotypes about women that may be true.…

Thirai Sorgam 7 Min Read
Try this holiday movie training challenge!

Try this holiday movie training challenge!

Even the most dedicated exercisers can be difficult to maintain activity during…

Thirai Sorgam 5 Min Read
Woman with diabetes holding her swollen feet

Swollen Feet from Diabetes: Causes and Treatment Options

It is normal to experience swollen feet from time to time. From…

Thirai Sorgam 12 Min Read
Health Benefits of Trying Something New

5 Phenomenal Health Benefits of Trying Something New

Humans have many options for what they can invest their time, but…

Thirai Sorgam 5 Min Read
14 Foods to Cut Back On for Improved Digestion and Less Bloating

14 Foods to Cut Back On for Improved Digestion and Less Bloating

Bloody and digestive discomfort can often be related to certain foods that…

Thirai Sorgam 9 Min Read

You Might Also Like

Word
Diabetes

How to Improve Your Insulin Sensitivity

Insulin sensitivity plays an important role in the management of…

7 Min Read
An Ozempic pen and a Victoza pen in front of a split-screen background
Diabetes

Ozempic vs. Victoza: Which One Should You Choose?

Ozempic and Victorza are glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists used…

16 Min Read
Selection of insulin coolers and cases on a table
Diabetes

The Best Insulin Coolers and Travel Cases

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read the disclosure.…

18 Min Read
Close up of text describing diabetic ketoacidosis
Diabetes

What Is Diabetic Ketoacidosis? – Diabetes Strong

If your blood sugar levels are too high, you can…

7 Min Read
thiraisorgam thiraisorgam
thiraisorgam thiraisorgam

Our mission is to provide reliable and up-to-date information to help our readers make informed decisions about their well-being.

Editor's Picks

Answering Your Most Common Questions About Menopause
Can You Take Mounjaro if You Have Type 1 Diabetes?
13 Ways to Reduce Stress and Feel Mentally Stronger
Can People with Diabetes Take Melatonin to Sleep Better?

Follow Us on Socials

We use social media to react to breaking news, update supporters and share information

Facebook Twitter Telegram
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
Reading: Can You Take Metformin and Ozempic Together?
© 2025 All Rights reserved | Powered by Thiraisorgam
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?