Ozempic and Mounjaro are each common injectable drugs used to deal with blood sugar ranges in folks with sort 2 diabetes.
Nevertheless, they’ve completely different energetic elements, may cause completely different unwanted effects, and have barely completely different mechanisms of motion.
It may be troublesome to know which medicine is extra applicable for you.
This information will clarify the important thing variations between Ozempic and Mounjaro and aid you determine which medicine it is best to select.
What are the energetic elements in Ozempic versus Mounjaro?
Ozempic and Mounjaro are related medicine however they can’t be mixed or used on the similar time. It’s because they’ve completely different energetic elements and mechanisms of motion.
The energetic ingredient in Ozempic is semaglutide. Semaglutide mimics the glucose-like peptide (GLP)-1 hormones within the physique.
The energetic ingredient in Mounjaro is tirzepatide. Tirzepatide mimics each the GLP-1 and the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) hormones. Its nickname is “twincreatin” as a result of it mimics two hormone teams.
GIP hormones help GLP-1 hormones of their digestive and metabolic motion. This enhances their capacity to manage urge for food and stop overeating.
Why do folks take Ozempic or Mounjaro?
Ozempic and Mounjaro are each used within the remedy of type 2 diabetes.
They’re liquid, injectable drugs that assist decrease blood sugars and A1C levels which can be taken subcutaneously (just below the pores and skin.)
Each medicine assist enhance insulin sensitivity whereas lowering insulin resistance.
One other notable impact is that additionally they sluggish digestion and suppress urge for food. Consequently, many individuals who take these drugs experience weight loss.
Ozempic and Mounjaro assist lower the risk of coronary heart assault and stroke in folks with sort 2 diabetes and coronary heart illness.
Individuals could also be prescribed Ozempic or Mounjaro “off-label”—which suggests it’s not accepted by the Meals and Drug Administration—to enhance insulin resistance and blood sugar ranges and help in weight reduction.
Nevertheless, neither medicine is FDA-approved as a weight reduction drug.
Persons are not prescribed each drugs. You’re taking one or the opposite. By no means combine the 2 drugs.
How are Ozempic and Mounjaro related?
Ozempic and Mounjaro can be utilized alone or at the side of different diabetes drugs.
The 2 drugs are related within the following methods:
Decrease blood sugar and A1C ranges
Each Ozempic and Mounjaro have been confirmed to decrease blood sugar and A1C ranges.
The typical one who takes the utmost dose of Mounjaro (15 mg per week) has been reported to lower their A1C by 2.3%.
The folks taking Ozempic on common can lower their A1C between 1.4-2.1%.
These drugs do that by rising insulin secretion. This motion prohibits the liver from releasing glucose into the bloodstream and rising insulin sensitivity.
Might trigger weight reduction
Neither medicine is FDA-approved as a weight reduction drug. Nevertheless, research have proven that each drugs have been confirmed to assist folks shed extra pounds.
Ozempic suppresses urge for food and slows digestion, which aids in weight reduction.
One study reviews that over the course of 40 weeks, folks taking 1 mg weekly of Ozempic misplaced a median of 13 lbs. These taking 2mg weekly misplaced a median of 15 lbs.
In other studies, Mounjaro helped folks lose 12–15 lbs on the 5 mg weekly dose, between 15–21 lbs whereas on the ten mg weekly dose, and between 17–25 lbs whereas taking the 15 mg weekly dose.
There isn’t a advisable dose to take for weight reduction since these drugs aren’t accepted for weight reduction by the FDA.
Discuss along with your physician for those who’re concerned about dropping pounds.
Decrease cardiovascular dangers
These drugs assist cardiovascular well being, which is important for people living with diabetes.
Studies report that after one yr of constant use, folks on the utmost dose of Mounjaro (15 mg per week):
- Lowered their complete ldl cholesterol by about 5.6 %
- Lowered their triglycerides by 22.5 %
- Lowered their LDL ldl cholesterol by 7.9 %
- Lowered their VLDL by 21.8 %
- Elevated their HDL by 10.8 %
Moreover, a meta-analysis from The Lancet discovered that Ozempic lowered cardiovascular danger and even decreased the chance of demise in folks with diabetes and coronary heart illness.
The American Diabetes Affiliation recommends GLP-1 agonists for individuals who have sort 2 diabetes and coronary heart illness to decrease cardiovascular danger.
Along with taking Mounjaro or Ozempic, a nutritious diet and an elevated quantity of bodily exercise can go an extended option to bettering your coronary heart well being.
Might trigger opposed unwanted effects
Each Ozempic and Mounjaro may cause delicate to extreme unwanted effects, particularly if you first begin taking the medicine.
Unintended effects of those drugs embrace:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Low blood sugar, particularly when used at the side of insulin
In addition they could trigger critical unwanted effects, together with:
- Pancreatitis
- Kidney issues
- Elevated danger of thyroid most cancers
- Allergic response
Study extra about Ozempic side effects and Mounjaro side effects.
They don’t substitute insulin
Ozempic and Mounjaro don’t substitute insulin.
In case you determine to start remedy with one in every of these drugs, you’ll nonetheless have to proceed taking your different diabetes drugs as prescribed.
Your insulin wants could go down over time because of improved insulin sensitivity, however you’ll probably not cease insulin remedy altogether.
They are often taken with or with out meals
Not like insulin, these drugs don’t trigger acute low blood sugar ranges and they are often taken with or with out meals.
Eat one thing bland like toast, a banana, or crackers to alleviate the nausea you might expertise after your injection.
They could worsen diabetic retinopathy
These drugs could trigger or worsen diabetic retinopathy, particularly if you first begin taking them.
Studies show that semaglutide (the energetic ingredient in Ozempic) is related to the early worsening of diabetic retinopathy.
Equally, the energetic ingredient in Mounjaro (tirzepatide) can make diabetic retinopathy worse.
Though this doesn’t occur in all sufferers who take these drugs, they do include an elevated danger of imaginative and prescient adjustments and worsening imaginative and prescient.
Discuss along with your physician when you’ve got early-stage diabetic retinopathy or are anxious that taking Ozempic or Mounjaro could threaten your eye well being.
How are Ozempic and Mounjaro completely different?
You will need to notice the important thing variations between these drugs so you can also make the healthiest and most suitable option for you.
The 2 drugs are completely different within the following methods:
The dosing will differ
Ozempic and Mounjaro have fully completely different dosing schemes, and they aren’t interchangeable.
The doses for Ozempic are the next:
- New to remedy: 0.25 mg as soon as per week for the primary 4 weeks.
- Ongoing remedy: 0.5 mg as soon as per week beginning on week 5. In case your physician thinks you require extra, there are doses accessible in 1mg and 2mg pens.
Learn extra: Ozempic Dosage Guide
The doses for Mounjaro are the next:
- New to remedy: 2.5 mg as soon as per week for the primary 4 weeks.
- Ongoing remedy: 5 mg as soon as per week beginning on week 5. In case your physician thinks you require extra, there are doses accessible in 7.5mg, 10mg, 12.5mg, and 15mg pens.
Learn extra: Mounjaro Dosing Guide
Because the energetic elements are completely different, these doses will not be interchangeable and it may be very harmful for those who try to take action.
They’ve completely different energetic elements
The energetic ingredient in Ozempic is semaglutide and the energetic ingredient in Mounjaro is tirzepatide.
Inform your physician in case you are allergic to at least one or the opposite’s energetic elements in order that they’ll prescribe you another.
Can I swap between the 2 medicine?
This can be attainable, so long as you wouldn’t have any allergy symptoms to the elements of the opposite medicine.
In case you’re experiencing extreme opposed unwanted effects on one drug, you might want to strive one other to see in case your physique will regulate higher to it.
Nevertheless, for those who’ve been taking Ozempic, you will have to attend a full week out of your final dose earlier than starting your first dose of Mounjaro.
Solely swap drugs underneath the steerage of your physician. The dosing is totally completely different between the 2 drugs and it doesn’t translate between them.
Even for those who’re on the very best dose of Ozempic, your physician will in all probability begin you on a small dose of Mounjaro (and vice versa) till your physique will get used to the brand new energetic ingredient.
Can I get off my different diabetes drugs if I lose sufficient weight on Ozempic or Mounjaro?
That is attainable however doesn’t normally occur.
Dropping pounds may also help enhance each insulin resistance and blood sugar ranges. Typically this makes your insulin or different diabetes drugs pointless.
Ozempic and Mounjaro received’t remedy diabetes.
Nevertheless, you might be able to decrease your insulin wants or cease taking insulin fully for those who’ve misplaced a big quantity of weight and your blood sugars are in nice management.
This may solely apply to individuals who have sort 2 diabetes, as folks with sort 1 diabetes are insulin-dependent for all times.
Examine-in along with your physician when you’ve got questions on taking your different diabetes drugs whereas on Ozempic or Mounjaro.
