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Does Ozempic work right away?

Ozempic starts to work shortly after it's been injected. After you start using Ozempic, your body may take several weeks to get used to it and to get the full benefit. Depending on how you're doing with Ozempic, your doctor may then adjust your dose.

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Here’s how Ozempic compares to other medications that have similar uses.

Ozempic vs. Saxenda

You may wonder how Ozempic compares to Saxenda. They both belong to a group of medications called glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs). So, they have related uses and side effects, but they also have important differences. They each contain different active drugs: Ozempic contains semaglutide, and Saxenda contains liraglutide.

What are their uses?

Ozempic is used to help manage blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. It is also used to help lower the risk of certain heart or blood vessel problems in adults who have both heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Saxenda, on the other hand, is a weight-management medication. It’s used by people who have obesity or another weight-related condition such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or type 2 diabetes. Saxenda can also be used by certain children.

What are their forms?

Ozempic comes in self-injection pens that are used once weekly. Saxenda also comes in self-injection pens, but it’s injected once daily.

What are their side effects?

Ozempic and Saxenda have some of the same side effects. These include diarrhea, nausea, kidney damage, fatigue (low energy), pancreatitis, and gallbladder disease. Ozempic and Saxenda can also cause serious side effects, and they both have a boxed warning about a possible risk of thyroid cancer. (A boxed warning is the most serious warning for a drug.) Talk with your doctor if you have more questions about Ozempic and Saxenda.

How effective are they?

Both Ozempic and Saxenda have been found effective for their approved uses. You can see the prescribing information for Ozempic and Saxenda for details about how each drug performed in studies. You can also talk with your doctor or a pharmacist to learn more about how they compare.

Ozempic vs. Trulicity

You might also like to know how Ozempic compares to Trulicity. Both drugs belong to a group of medications called glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs). So, they have similar uses, side effects, and effectiveness. But they contain different active drugs: Ozempic’s active drug is liraglutide, and Trulicity’s active drug is dulaglutide.

What are their uses?

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Ozempic and Trulicity are both used to treat type 2 diabetes. Both drugs also have protective effects on the heart and kidneys. They are recommended in the American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines for use in people with type 2 diabetes who also have heart disease, heart failure, or kidney disease.

What are their forms?

Both Ozempic and Trulicity come in self-injection pens that you’ll use once weekly.

What are their side effects?

These drugs share some side effects. These include diarrhea, nausea, kidney damage, fatigue, pancreatitis, and diabetic retinopathy. But they also have some unique side effects, such as headache with Ozempic and loss of appetite with Trulicity. Ozempic and Trulicity have serious side effects, and they both have a boxed warning about a possible risk of thyroid cancer. (A boxed warning is the most serious warning for a drug.)

How effective are they?

Studies have directly compared semaglutide (the active drug in Ozempic) with dulaglutide (the active drug in Trulicity). Semaglutide was found to be more effective at lowering hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and body weight. HbA1c is an average of your blood sugar levels over the past 3 months. Your doctor can provide more information about these medications and determine which one may be most suitable for you. You can see the prescribing information for Ozempic and Trulicity for more information about how each drug performed in studies. You can also see this detailed comparison of the two drugs. Talk with your doctor if you have more questions about Ozempic and Trulicity. They can determine which one may suit you best.

Ozempic vs. Victoza

Ozempic and Victoza are both approved to:

help manage blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes

lower risk of serious cardiovascular (heart or blood vessel) problems in adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease Victoza can also be used to help manage blood sugar levels in children ages 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes. For more information on how Ozempic and Victoza compare, see this detailed article. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

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