Victoza vs. Ozempic

Below are answers to some common questions about Victoza and Ozempic.

How do Victoza and Ozempic compare with Trulicity and Saxenda?

Victoza, Ozempic, Trulicity, and Saxenda are similar medications. They all belong to the same drug class: GLP-1 agonists. And each of these drugs is given as a subcutaneous injection.

The table below compares some key similarities and differences among these four drugs.

If you have additional questions about how these drugs compare, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Are Victoza and Ozempic approved for weight loss?

No, Victoza and Ozempic are not approved for weight loss. However, both drugs may cause weight loss in some people. Moderate weight loss was commonly seen in clinical trials of Victoza and Ozempic.

In some cases, doctors may prescribe Victoza or Ozempic off-label for weight loss. Off-label drug use is when an FDA-approved drug is prescribed for a purpose other than what it’s approved for. However, you shouldn’t use Victoza or Ozempic for weight loss unless your doctor recommends it. You can refer to this article for information about Ozempic for weight loss.

Victoza contains the active drug liraglutide. Another brand-name drug called Saxenda also contains liraglutide. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Saxenda to aid weight loss in certain people.

Similarly, Ozempic contains the active drug semaglutide. Another brand-name drug called Wegovy also contains semaglutide. Wegovy is FDA-approved to aid weight loss in certain people.

If you have questions about Victoza, Ozempic, or weight management, talk with your doctor.

How much Victoza or Ozempic costs depends on the treatment plan your doctor prescribes, your insurance plan, and your pharmacy. You can visit Optum Perks for price estimates of Victoza and Ozempic. You can also refer to these cost articles for Victoza and Ozempic.

Both Victoza and Ozempic are brand-name drugs. They’re not currently available in generic forms. Brand-name medications are often more expensive than generics. To learn about generic drugs, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Keep in mind that you’ll need pen needles to administer Victoza or Ozempic. If you’re prescribed Victoza, you’ll need to buy pen needles separately at your pharmacy. If you’re prescribed Ozempic, pen needles are included with the drug.

* Optum Perks is a sister site of Medical News Today.

Below are details about the effectiveness of Victoza and Ozempic.

Review of studies. Here’s a brief look at whether Victoza or Ozempic was found to be more effective for treating certain conditions.

Separate trials of the two drugs were compared in a larger review of trials. Researchers looked at semaglutide (the active drug in Ozempic) and liraglutide (the active drug in Victoza). The findings suggest that semaglutide may be more effective than liraglutide for regulating blood sugar levels long term.

More comparison trials are needed to verify these findings. Keep in mind that trials and reviews of trials may not apply to your individual health situation. Be sure to talk with your doctor to determine whether either Victoza or Ozempic may be right for you.

Prescribing information. For details about how these drugs performed in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Victoza and Ozempic. Keep in mind that trial results may not apply to your individual health situation.

Treatment guidelines. Another way to determine whether a drug is considered effective is to look at treatment guidelines. When an organization includes certain drugs in treatment guidelines, this means that research has shown the drug to be safe and effective.

Victoza and Ozempic belong to the same drug class: GLP-1 agonists. GLP-1 agonists are recommended as a treatment option for certain people with type 2 diabetes in guidelines from the American Diabetes Association.

Here’s information about the generic status for Victoza and Ozempic, as well as details on their active ingredients.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Victoza and Ozempic as follows:

• Both Victoza and Ozempic are FDA-approved to:
  • help regulate blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes, along with diet and exercise
  • reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular problems in adults with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease

• Victoza is also FDA-approved to:
  • help regulate blood sugar levels in children ages 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes

Victoza or Ozempic and children

Victoza is FDA-approved to help regulate blood sugar levels in adults and children ages 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes. Ozempic, on the other hand, is not approved for use in children.

Note: For more information about the drugs’ uses, including their limitations of use, see our articles about Victoza and Ozempic.

Here’s a quick look at the dosage and administration of Victoza and Ozempic for the conditions both drugs treat. In the tables below, mg/mL refers to the amount of medication in milligrams per milliliter of solution.

Dosage for type 2 diabetes

Victoza and Ozempic are used to help regulate blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes, along with diet and exercise. Strengths are in milligrams per milliliter (mg/mL) of solution.

Your pharmacist or another healthcare professional will teach you how to give yourself injections. To review step-by-step instructions, see this information for Victoza and Ozempic. You can also refer to the Victoza website and Ozempic website.

Your doctor can recommend a diet and exercise plan that’s right for you during Victoza or Ozempic treatment.

Dosage for certain cardiovascular problems

Victoza and Ozempic are used to reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular problems in adults with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Strengths are in milligrams per milliliter (mg/mL) of solution.

Your pharmacist or another healthcare professional will teach you how to give yourself injections. To review step-by-step instructions, see this information for Victoza and Ozempic. You can also refer to the Victoza website and Ozempic website.

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

Both Victoza and Ozempic belong to the same class of drugs. These medications can cause some of the same side effects, as well as some different ones. Some of the side effects reported in clinical trials of these drugs are mentioned below.

For more details about side effects of the two medications, see our side effect articles about Victoza and Ozempic. You can also refer to the Victoza prescribing information and Ozempic prescribing information.

Mild side effects

The following table lists some of the more commonly reported mild side effects of Victoza and Ozempic. The table may also include mild side effects that are less common but that you might have concerns about in some cases.

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

* An allergic reaction is possible after using Victoza or Ozempic. This side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials, but it has occurred since both drugs were approved.

Serious side effects

The following table lists the reported serious side effects of Victoza and Ozempic.

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

* Victoza and Ozempic have a boxed warning for this side effect. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To learn more, see “Precautions for Victoza and Ozempic” below.
† An allergic reaction is possible after using Victoza or Ozempic. This side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials, but it has occurred since both drugs were approved.

Victoza and Ozempic may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. The two drugs share some of the same precautions, but they also have different ones. Some of these precautions are mentioned below.

Boxed warning: Risk of thyroid cancer

Victoza and Ozempic have a boxed warning for an increased risk of thyroid cancer. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.

Victoza and Ozempic are both a type of drug called a GLP-1 agonist. GLP-1 agonists have been found to increase the risk of thyroid tumors in animal studies. However, it’s not known whether these drugs might cause thyroid tumors in humans.

Cases of thyroid cancer have been reported in people using Victoza. But it’s unclear whether the drug was the cause.

Due to the risk of thyroid cancer, doctors typically will not prescribe Victoza or Ozempic if:

• you have or have had a type of cancer called medullary thyroid cancer (MTC)
• you have a rare endocrine condition called multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2) syndrome
• someone in your immediate family has or has had MTC

Your doctor can tell you more about this boxed warning if you’re considering treatment with Victoza or Ozempic.

If your doctor prescribes Victoza or Ozempic, let them know right away if you develop symptoms of thyroid cancer while using either drug. Symptoms can include a mass in your neck, voice hoarseness, and trouble swallowing or breathing. Your doctor can recommend the right treatment plan for you.

Precautions

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

If any of the following medical conditions or other health factors are relevant to you, talk with your doctor before using Victoza or Ozempic.

Note: For more comprehensive information about these two drugs, you can refer to our Victoza and Ozempic articles. You can also learn about Ozempic’s interactions here.

Switching between Victoza and Ozempic is possible.

If you’d like to know more about switching between Victoza and Ozempic, talk with your doctor. They can give you additional details and help determine the best course of action for your personal situation. Even if two drugs treat the same condition or are in the same drug class, your body can still respond differently.

It’s important that you do not stop, start, or switch any of your drug treatments without your doctor’s recommendation.

Some key points to remember when comparing Victoza and Ozempic include:

• Both Victoza and Ozempic work in similar ways and cause similar side effects.
• Victoza is approved for use in certain adults and children, while Ozempic is approved for use only in certain adults.
• Victoza is given once daily, and Ozempic is given once weekly.

If you’d like to learn more about Victoza or Ozempic, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about similarities and differences between the drugs. They can also help determine whether one drug or the other might work well for you.

Note: For more information about your condition, see our diabetes hub and cardiovascular health hub.

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.