Rybelsus (semaglutide) and Ozempic (semaglutide) are brand-name drugs. They’re both prescribed to help manage blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. Continue reading to learn about the drugs’ effectiveness, cost, and more.

Rybelsus comes as an oral tablet, while Ozempic is given as a subcutaneous injection.

This article explains the main similarities and differences between Rybelsus and Ozempic. If you think one of these drugs might help treat your condition, discussing this information with your doctor can help you decide whether one of these treatments may be right for you.

Note: For more comprehensive information about these two drugs, you can refer to our Rybelsus and Ozempic articles.

Both Rybelsus and Ozempic contain the active ingredient semaglutide. They belong to a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists. A class of drugs is a group of medications that act in a similar way.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Rybelsus and Ozempic for some of the same uses, as well as different ones.

What Rybelsus and Ozempic are used for

Rybelsus and Ozempic are both FDA-approved to help manage blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines recommend using the medications in combination with diet and exercise.

Rybelsus and Ozempic are not approved to treat type 1 diabetes or a complication of diabetes called diabetic ketoacidosis. Also, the drugs haven’t been studied in people who have had a pancreas problem known as pancreatitis. If you’ve had this condition in the past, your doctor will likely recommend a different diabetes medication.

If diet and exercise alone aren’t helping your type 2 diabetes, Rybelsus should not be the first medication that you try.

Other uses of Ozempic

Ozempic is also FDA-approved to decrease the risk of major heart problems in people with type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The drug lowers the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death from heart disease. Rybelsus isn’t approved by the FDA for this use.

Rybelsus and Ozempic have different FDA-approved uses, but they’re both used to treat type 2 diabetes when used in combination with diet and exercise.

These drugs haven’t been directly compared in clinical studies. However, both Rybelsus and Ozempic have been found effective for helping improve blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes when used with diet and exercise. For information about how these drugs performed in clinical studies, see the prescribing information for Rybelsus and Ozempic.

Rybelsus and Ozempic are both a type of drug called a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist. GLP-1 agonists such as Rybelsus and Ozempic are included in American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines for treating type 2 diabetes. These guidelines recommend GLP-1 agonists as an additional treatment option when metformin doesn’t lower blood sugar enough.

The ADA guidelines also recommend a GLP-1 agonist for people who have type 2 diabetes in addition to heart disease. However, the ADA recommends only drugs with proven heart benefits and FDA-approval for this use. Rybelsus is not FDA-approved for this purpose.

Both Rybelsus and Ozempic treat type 2 diabetes. These drugs can cause some of the same side effects, as well as some different ones. Some of these side effects are mentioned below.

For more information on side effects of the two drugs, see the Rybelsus medication guide and the Ozempic medication guide.

Mild side effects

The following lists contain some of the more common mild side effects of Rybelsus or Ozempic, and some that both drugs share.

  • Can occur with Rybelsus:
    • decreased appetite
  • Can occur with Ozempic:
    • reactions at the site of injection, such as skin discoloration or discomfort
  • Can occur with both Rybelsus and Ozempic:

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days or weeks. If the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

This list contains examples of serious side effects that can occur with Rybelsus and Ozempic when taken individually:

If you have serious side effects while using Rybelsus or Ozempic, call your doctor immediately. If the side effects feel life threatening, or if you believe you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number right away.

Note: For more information about mild and serious side effects, see our articles on Rybelsus and Ozempic side effects.

* Rybelsus and Ozempic have a boxed warning for the risk of thyroid C-cell tumors. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For more information, see the section below called “Warnings of Rybelsus and Ozempic.”

How much Rybelsus or Ozempic costs depends on the treatment plan your doctor prescribes, your insurance plan, and your pharmacy.

Rybelsus and Ozempic are both brand-name drugs. There are currently no generic forms of either drug. Brand-name medications usually cost more than generics.

Note: For more information about the cost of either drug, see our articles on Rybelsus and Ozempic.

Rybelsus comes as an oral tablet that you swallow.

Ozempic comes as a prefilled pen that you use to give yourself a subcutaneous injection. The injections will be in your belly, thigh, or upper arm.

Dosage differences between Rybelsus and Ozempic

With Rybelsus, you’ll usually take 3 milligrams (mg) once per day for the first 30 days. After that, your doctor will typically increase your dose to 7 mg once per day. This is the dose that’s usually needed to help improve blood sugar management.

After you’ve been taking 7 mg of Rybelsus for 30 days, your doctor will decide whether to increase the dose. If you could benefit from better blood sugar management, they may increase your dose to 14 mg, once per day.

With Ozempic, you’ll usually start with a 0.25-mg injection once a week. After 4 weeks, your doctor will likely increase your dose to a 0.5-mg injection once a week. If you could benefit from better blood sugar management, your doctor may increase your dose to a 1-mg injection once a week.

Note: For more information about dosage, see our articles on Rybelsus and Ozempic.

Rybelsus and Ozempic may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. Here, these are referred to as warnings. The two drugs share some of the same warnings, but they also have different ones. Some of these warnings are mentioned below. Before you start using Rybelsus or Ozempic, be sure to talk with your doctor to see if these warnings apply to you.

Boxed warning: Risk of thyroid tumors

Both Rybelsus and Ozempic have a boxed warning. This is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A boxed warning alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.

In animal studies of Rybelsus and Ozempic, semaglutide increased the risk of thyroid C-cell tumors. (Semaglutide is the active drug in both Rybelsus and Ozempic.) It’s not known if these medications increase the risk of thyroid tumors in humans.

You should not take Rybelsus or Ozempic if you or a family member have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma. You also should not take these drugs if you have a rare form of cancer called multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2.

If you develop symptoms of thyroid cancer while taking Rybelsus or Ozempic, see your doctor right away. Symptoms may include trouble swallowing, hoarseness that doesn’t get better, shortness of breath, and a lump in your neck.

Other warnings

In addition to boxed warnings, Rybelsus and Ozempic have other warnings.

Before using Rybelsus or Ozempic, talk with your doctor if any of the following conditions or health factors apply to you:

To learn more about these drugs, see the in-depth articles on Rybelsus and Ozempic.

Your doctor may switch you to Rybelsus from Ozempic if you prefer taking medication by mouth instead of having subcutaneous injections. Or they may switch you to Ozempic from Rybelsus if you prefer taking a drug once a week instead of once per day.

If you have heart disease, your doctor may recommend Ozempic instead of Rybelsus. Ozempic is approved to decrease the risk of major heart problems in people with type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Rybelsus isn’t approved for this use.

If you’re taking 14 milligrams (mg) of Rybelsus once per day, your doctor may switch you to a 0.5-mg injection of Ozempic once a week. You can start having your Ozempic injections the day after your last dose of Rybelsus.

If you’re taking a 0.5-mg injection of Ozempic once a week, your doctor may switch you to either a 7-mg or 14-mg dose of Rybelsus once per day. You can start taking Rybelsus up to 7 days after your last injection of Ozempic.

If you’re taking 1-mg injections of Ozempic once a week, keep in mind that there’s no equal dose of Rybelsus.

If you’re interested in switching between Rybelsus and Ozempic, talk with your doctor. You should not switch your medications without your doctor’s approval and guidance.

If you’re considering starting Rybelsus or Ozempic treatment for type 2 diabetes, or switching from one drug to the other, talk with your doctor. They can advise you on which of these drugs may be best for you, or if another diabetes treatment may be more suitable. They’ll review your personal health history, as well as the potential positives and negatives of both drugs.

Some of the key points to consider when comparing the drugs include:

  • Both Rybelsus and Ozempic contain the same active drug (semaglutide).
  • Rybelsus comes as an oral tablet that you’ll likely take once per day. Ozempic is given as a subcutaneous injection that you’ll likely give yourself once a week.
  • If your blood sugar isn’t well managed with other diabetes drugs, your doctor may look at adding Rybelsus or Ozempic to your treatment regimen. Either drug would be used in combination with diet and exercise.
  • Ozempic is approved to reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke in people with type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Rybelsus is not approved for this use.

If you’d like to learn more about Rybelsus or Ozempic, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about similarities and differences between the drugs.

Note: For more information on type 2 diabetes, see our list of diabetes articles.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.