An estimated 1 in 10 Americans lives with diabetes. It is a condition that needs to be carefully managed and controlled with medication, diet, and exercise. If you’re looking to learn more about medication therapy for diabetes, keep reading.
Here is our comparison of Victoza vs Ozempic.
Overview
Victoza and Ozempic are both injectable medications used to control and support blood sugar in type two diabetes, known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. These medications are also designed to be injected once a week to reduce the risk of heart disease, improve feelings of satiety after eating, and promote weight loss.
The two drugs have different properties and costs: here are some details about each medication.
Side Effects
Victoza is a relatively new medication approved by the FDA in 2010. Common side effects include:
- Upset stomach (diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, vomiting, a decrease in appetite, bloating, gas)
- Headache
- Common cold
- Respiratory tract infections
- Back pain
- Dizziness
- Excessive daytime fatigue
- Insomnia
While beneficial effects like weight loss can help reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other obesity-related conditions, Victoza has a potential link to conditions like pancreatitis and cancer of the thyroid gland.
Ozempic shares some of these side effects, especially digestive issues. Other side effects pf Ozempic include:
- Diabetic retinopathy (blurry vision, loss of vision, poor vision at night)
- Hypoglycemia (headache, confusion, dizziness, shakiness, irritability)
- Kidney damage (a reduction in urine output, swelling in your extremities, confusion, fatigue, upset stomach)
Similar to Victoza, Ozempic is also linked to potentially life-threatening or deadly conditions like pancreatitis and thyroid cancer.
Effectiveness
Both medications are prescribed to type 2 diabetics and injected weekly for weight loss and long-term blood glucose control.
When partnered with a healthy diet and exercise, Victoza showed promising findings in terms of weight loss. Participants in one study showed two-thirds of people on Victoza lost 5% or more of their body weight. One-third lost 10% of their body weight or more.
This weight loss also helped lower disease risk for cardiovascular disease and helped improve diabetes symptoms. Ozempic has shown effectiveness in lowering A1C levels but does not seem to be as effective in aiding weight loss efforts.
Ozempic manufacturers found that the drug reduced A1C levels by 1.4% to 1.6% within 30 weeks. Fasting blood sugar levels were also reduced by 41 to 44 mg/dL. This is generally better than the effects seen from Victoza.
Drug Interactions
When taking any type of medication, it’s essential to consider potential drug interactions. Interactions can happen between prescription medications, OTC drugs, or even foods or drinks. Here are some interactions to discuss with your doctor:
Victoza has the potential to interact with beta-blockers used to reduce or control blood pressure, such as Lopressor (metoprolol), Inderal LA/Xl (propranolol), or Timoptic (timolol). These medications may suppress heart palpitations/rapid heartbeat that alerts you to low blood sugar levels.
Other drug interactions include Rayos (prednisone), Zyprexa (olanzapine), Cipro XR (ciprofloxacin), and more. Any concerns about drug interactions and your Victoza dose should be discussed with your doctor.
Ozempic shares some drug interactions with Victoza. Other interactions include Eligard (Leuprorelin), Norpace (disopyramide), Ozurdex (dexamethasone), Entocort (budesonide), and Versacloz (clozapine). Medication management is an important part of controlling diabetes and chronic disease.
Cost
The cost of Victoza (18 mg/3 mL) is typically around $683 per 6 milliliters. This is the cash price without insurance coverage. There is no generic version, but many insurance plans cover it.
If you don’t have insurance, you can get it for a discounted price by searching for 90daymeds.com Victoza. You can save up to 58% with their service.
The prices for Ozempic are similar. Ozempic (2 mg/1.5 mL) is typically around $856 per 1.5 milliliter without insurance coverage. There is no generic for this prescription either, but it is available at a discounted rate online or with many insurance plans.
Victoza vs Ozempic: Our Comparison
In summary, comparing Victoza vs Ozempic comes down to side effects, effectiveness, drug interactions, and medications’ cost. Both have their pros and cons. Discuss which is better for you to control your diabetes with your doctor.
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