Semaglutide Pills vs Injection: Which Is Best For You?

Semaglutide, commonly known by the favored brand Ozempic, is a revolutionary weight reduction drug that has helped hundreds of individuals transform their lives. Semaglutide was initially created to treat type 2 diabetes, but researchers saw remarkable weight reduction during clinical trials.

This led to expanding the usage of the drug to incorporate weight reduction management. Semaglutide is obtainable as a each day oral tablet under the brand name Rybelsus and as a weekly injection in Ozempic and Wegovy.

So, how do you select between oral semaglutide in comparison with an injection? We’re about to dive into the research to check semaglutide pills and injections to provide help to determine the best choice.

Table of Contents:

• What’s Semaglutide?
• Comparing Semaglutide Forms: Pros, Cons, & Dosing
• Semaglutide Tablets & Injections: Is One Higher For Weight Loss & Diabetes?
• How To Get The Most Out Of Semaglutide
• FAQs

What Is Semaglutide?

Semaglutide is a diabetes and anti-obesity medication that belongs to the glucagon-like peptide-1 GLP-1 receptor agonists class. The body releases the hormone GLP-1 in response to eating to assist improve blood sugar control by lowering blood glucose.

Semaglutide medications mimic the actions of GLP-1, causing an insulin secretion, reducing the hormone glucagon that increases blood sugar levels and triggering the brain to scale back appetite and increase satiety in higher doses. 

We talk more about semaglutide in our article: How Long Does Semaglutide Stay In Your System?

Semaglutide was developed in 2012 by the pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, a Danish-based company specializing in diabetes medication. Novo Nordisk produces all three semaglutide medications available: Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy. The preferred brand name of semaglutide and the primary created is Ozempic, a once-weekly subcutaneous injection.

Ozempic is barely FDA-approved to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus, however it is often prescribed off-label for obesity treatment. The American Diabetes Association encouraged drug manufacturers to have multiple options in medication dosage and form to satisfy each individual patient’s needs accurately. This led to the production of Wegovy and Rybelsus, an oral and subcutaneous semaglutide option for everybody.

Wegovy is sort of an identical to Ozempic as a once-weekly subcutaneous injection, even though it is obtainable in barely higher doses to focus on weight reduction specifically. Wegovy is the one semaglutide medication that’s FDA-approved solely for chronic weight reduction management.

The pill form is Rybelsus, the one oral version of semaglutide available on the market. Rybelsus is FDA-approved specifically for type 2 diabetes treatment; nonetheless, it is usually commonly prescribed off-label for weight reduction¹. As well as, research has shown semaglutide plays a task in reducing major antagonistic cardiovascular events and death.

You’ll be able to learn more about each type of semaglutide in our articles comparing Ozempic vs Rybelsus and Ozempic vs Wegovy.

Comparing Semaglutide Forms: Which Is Higher?

There is no such thing as a clear answer of which is best between semaglutide injection vs pill, because it primarily will depend on the person and private preference.

Overall, there’s a slight advantage within the effectiveness of semaglutide injections in comparison with pills as a result of the dosing protocol and absorption rates. On this section, we’ll compare semaglutide tablets vs injection for weight reduction and other areas. 

Dosage for Different Semaglutide Forms

The dosage for semaglutide injection medications Ozempic and Wegovy are nearly an identical, except that Wegovy offers a better dosage to focus on appetite suppression and weight reduction directly. Ozempic injections are available 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg, and a couple of.0 mg per week. Wegovy injections are available doses of 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg, 1.7 mg, 2.0 mg, and a couple of.7 mg per week.

Each Ozempic and Wegovy starting dose is 0.25 mg for the primary 4 weeks, followed by 0.5 mg for a minimum of 4 weeks.

Ozempic users often remain at a maintenance dose of 1.0 mg for several months, whereas Wegovy increases the dosage to 1.7 mg in weeks 13-16 (month 4), followed by the utmost dose of two.4 mg in weeks 17 and onward. Each medications are injected under the skin of the stomach, upper arm, or thigh. Users should rotate injection sites to limit the damage.

Oral semaglutide has a rigorous dosing protocol, whereas injection semaglutide is less strict. Oral semaglutide must be taken at the identical time each day, very first thing within the morning, with water a minimum of 30-60 minutes before the day’s first meal. Rybelsus is available in three doses in tablet form: 3 mg, 7 mg, and 14 mg.

People typically start with the 3mg tablet for the primary month before moving to 7 mg. Drug manufacturer Novo Nordisk states that users can switch from 0.5 mg of semaglutide injections to 7 or 14 mg of Rybelsus for insulin treatment or weight management without issue. 

Pros Of Semaglutide Pills

There are a couple of perks to taking the once each day oral semaglutide over injections. Let’s get into it!

• Convenience: Some people struggle with needles, especially self-administered shots, so an oral semaglutide tablet is less complicated to make use of. Rybelsus and other oral medications may be more convenient since you simply swallow a tablet versus injecting yourself. 
• Effective: Recent research found that oral semaglutide is equally, if no more, effective when put next to its injectable counterpart in managing type 2 diabetes (T2) while maintaining similar tolerability².

Cons Of Oral Semaglutide

We just learned that an enormous plus of oral semaglutide is that you would be able to take a pill as an alternative of an injection. Now, let’s review the cons.

• Gastrointestinal Side Effects: One con of oral semaglutide is potentially worse gastrointestinal unintended effects. It is important to notice that each one types of semaglutide could cause gastrointestinal unintended effects since the medication directly affects the digestive system and stomach. Nonetheless, oral semaglutide may be barely more harsh than injections because it passes through the stomach. Patients taking oral semaglutide may experience stomach pain, vomiting, and nausea.
• Dosing: One other con of taking oral semaglutide in comparison with injectable semaglutide is the dosing frequency and strict protocol. You will have to take oral semaglutide each day at roughly the identical time, which must be very first thing within the morning, 30 to 60 minutes before eating. You’re also only presupposed to take one sip of water to swallow the tablet. That is inconvenient and requires a strict schedule, which is usually a problem for individuals who travel often or have a distinct schedule for work. 

Pros of Semaglutide Injections

Listed below are the most effective features of semaglutide injections.

• Proven Safety & Effectiveness: One pro of semaglutide injections is that they’re proven secure and effective by clinical trials in 2016, and Ozempic has been available since 2017. There may be a protracted, proven history of semaglutide injections effectively lowering blood sugar and weight reduction. Rybelsus, the oral semaglutide, was not released until late 2019, so there’s less history of success. 
• Convenient Dosing Protocol: One other major advantage of semaglutide injections in comparison with oral semaglutide is the convenience of the dosing protocol. Semaglutide injections are just once per week and may be taken at any time of the day, with or without food. The one thing that matters is the injection is similar day each week. Lastly, semaglutide injections can potentially have less gastrointestinal unintended effects than oral versions. 

Cons Of Injectable Semaglutide

Listed below are the drawbacks of injectable semaglutide.

• Taking Injections: Probably the most obvious con of semaglutide injections is the injection itself. Several people struggle with fear and anxiety of needles, so the thought of taking weekly injections that you just administer yourself is unappealing.
• Injection Site Pain: Apart from fear of needles, there’s the potential for injection site pain with a semaglutide injection. It is important to rotate injection sites to avoid the potential for injection site pain. 

Price

The price of medication will depend heavily on what country you might be in and what sort of insurance plan you’ve gotten. As of late 2023, the Ozempic list price is $935.77 for a 28-day supply of all dosages, Rybelsus is $851.60 for a 30-day supply, and Wegovy is $1,349.02 in the US.

Nonetheless, in the event you live in the UK, Ozempic is barely $93 and even lower in France at $83. Similarly, Wegovy is barely $328 in Germany, roughly one-fourth the worth in America. 

Novo Nordisk offers copay savings cards that may prevent as much as $225 per 30 days supply for Wegovy. Copay savings cards also drop the worth significantly all the way down to roughly $25 for Ozempic and $10 for Rybelsus and Wegovy. 

To learn more in regards to the prices of semaglutide medications, take a look at our article How Much Is Semaglutide Without Insurance?

Semaglutide Shot vs Pill: Side By Side Comparison

Here’s a snapshot view of each versions, so you possibly can see similarities and differences.

Semaglutide Tablets vs Injection: Weight Loss And Diabetes

When Novo Nordisk created the oral semaglutide tablet, they ran the PIONEER trials (Peptide Innovation for Early Diabetes Treatment) that tested Ozempic and Rybelsus. Additionally they used the SUSTAIN (Semaglutide Unabated Sustainability in Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes) clinical trial, which tested Ozempic, to check the 2.

In patients with type 2 diabetes being treated with eating regimen and exercise, 1.0 mg of subcutaneous semaglutide (Ozempic) reduced body weight by a mean of 4.5 kg (9.9 lbs) in comparison with 3.7 kg (8.1 lbs) in patients with 14 mg of oral semaglutide (Rybelsus). While each medicines are very effective at losing body weight, the typical weight reduction with Ozempic is bigger than with Rybelsus. 

The SUSTAIN and PIONEER trials also tested the effectiveness of diabetes treatment. The trials showed a discount in HbA1c by a mean of 1.5-1.8% after 30-56 weeks of 1.0 mg subcutaneous injection (Ozempic) weekly. The PIONEER trials showed that 26 weeks of 14 mg of once-daily oral semaglutide (Rybelsus) resulted in an HbA1c drop of 1.0-1.4%.

That’s the utmost dosage of Rybelsus, whereas the Ozempic is a maintenance dose. In relation to hitting their glycemic targets and the estimated treatment difference, 1.0 mg of Ozempic had 66-80% success, whereas 14 mg of Rybelsus had 55-77% success. This explains why users can switch from 0.5 mg of semaglutide injections to 7 or 14 mg of Rybelsus without affecting blood sugar levels³.

Semaglutide injection reviews

Here at SET FOR SET, we consider anecdotal evidence of human testimonials is sort of as necessary as scientific research. Readers wish to hear patient reported outcomes from individuals with similar body types quite than reading an anonymous study. Within the r/Diabetes subReddit, a post shares several positive experiences with semaglutide injections for weight reduction.

One user stated: “I even have not modified my eating regimen and don’t exercise. I lost 43 kilos in about six months and have kept it off.” (source)

One other user had success with weight reduction and lowering blood sugar levels, posting, “Began on it in March a1c was all the way down to 6.8 when i began. Have lost 19kg (42lb) and my latest a1c was 5.9.” (source)

Semaglutide injections have been proven effective in clinical trials and human testimonials support its effectiveness in treating obesity and poor blood sugar levels. 

Oral semaglutide reviews

Just like the injectable version, people have found great success with semaglutide tablets for weight reduction.

Within the r/LoseIt subReddit, a thread titled “Dr put me on Rybelsus for weight reduction,” has several positive testimonials. One user stated, “I’ve been on it for a few months, 3mg and now 7mg dose every morning. It’s rather a lot easier to take and significantly better on my system and body than Ozempic which I had developed bad unintended effects to.” (source)

While the side effect differences are as a result of individual reactions, several people have found oral semaglutide more practical and easier on the body than injectable semaglutide. One other user posted, “Just began month three and graduated as much as 14mg. In three months, lost 21 lbs. BP is best and shut to normal range.” (source)

Similarly, user lilbrowngirl2000 posted, “On day 20 today, I’m down ~10.5 lbs. Still on 3 mg for an additional ten days.” (source)

Reader Takeaway: These testimonials show that individuals drop a few pounds just as quickly and efficiently using oral semaglutide in comparison with injectable semaglutide, so it truly comes all the way down to your preference!

Where To Buy Semaglutide

Obtaining a prescription through your doctor is one in all the ways by which you possibly can get the load loss medication. Nonetheless, it’s not the one strategy to get semaglutide, which is great news, as as a result of its demand, you might not have the most effective of luck obtaining it through your pharmacy.

The opposite more convenient option is to buy it through Fountain GLP, a telemedicine clinic that provides a radical GLP-1 evaluation to evaluate your eligibility. When you obtain a prescription, their cost-effective semaglutide medication is shipped right to your house.

Learn more about Fountain GLP’s process by visiting our article: Where To Buy Semaglutide.

How To Get The Most Out Of Semaglutide

An important thing to maximise the results of semaglutide and promote weight reduction is following a low-calorie eating regimen of healthy foods and exercising recurrently. In reality, the FDA approval for all three drugs states that every medication is for use along with eating regimen and exercise¹.

One other major factor is how closely the person follows the dosing protocol. Oral semaglutide must be taken at the identical time each day, very first thing within the morning, with water a minimum of 30-60 minutes before the day’s first meal.

Injectable semaglutide medications aren’t as strict with the dosing protocol so long as the shot is finished on the identical day of the week. Make sure that you’re employed along with your doctor to make sure the prescription you are taking supports treatment adherence.

Several other aspects also impact your results with semaglutide. Other aspects include too low of a dose, poor individual response, poor eating regimen, an excessive amount of stress, not being on long enough, poor sleep schedule, using drugs or alcohol, not following the dosing protocol, and never drinking enough water. Avoiding foods high in sugar and empty calories is particularly necessary for semaglutide users with type 2 diabetes. 

Make sure that you are setting yourself up for achievement by following a correct workout plan and eating regimen! Try our article on Best Workout Splits and our Meal Plan For Weight Loss to provide help to stay on target.

FAQs

On this section, we’ll answer a number of the most typical questions related to semaglutide injections vs. pills. 

Is oral semaglutide approved for weight reduction?

No, semaglutide in pill form (Rybelsus) just isn’t FDA-approved for weight reduction, just for type 2 diabetes. Nonetheless, it is often prescribed off-label for weight reduction. 

Are you able to drop a few pounds in 4 weeks on semaglutide?

Yes! Patients treated with semaglutide typically lose a couple of kilos in the primary week and can proceed to drop a few pounds. Learn more about this in our article: How Much Weight Can You Lose On Semaglutide?

Why am I not losing any more weight on semaglutide?

There are several possible explanation why you are not losing more weight on semaglutide, including too low of a dose, individual response, poor eating regimen, lack of exercise, having been on long enough, using drugs or alcohol, not taking your dose at the correct time, or not drinking enough water. For more information, take a look at our article 7 Reasons You are Not Losing Weight On Semaglutide. 

Can I stay on semaglutide ceaselessly?

Semaglutide is secure for long-term use, nonetheless, studies have only shown safety for as much as two years. Individuals who use semaglutide to treat diabetes may stay on it ceaselessly to regulate blood sugar levels, but people looking for weight reduction likely don’t have to stay on ceaselessly. It will be best to hearken to your doctor, but we don’t recommend using semaglutide for longer than two years.

Semaglutide Pill vs Injection: Key Takeaways

Semaglutide is a remarkable medication with proven efficacy that has helped hundreds of individuals fight type 2 diabetes and weight reduction. The choice between an injectable medication or oral version mainly will depend on personal preference, but injections have been found to be barely more efficient.

The clinical trials run by Novo Nordisk showed that injection semaglutide is more practical at a lower dose than oral semaglutide. In reality, patients can switch from 0.5 mg of semaglutide injections to 7 or 14 mg of Rybelsus with none harm. So, in the event you prefer to take the bottom dose possible while being effective, injection semaglutide is the better option.

Alternatively, several people hate needles and like a tablet option. No matter which type of semaglutide you select, you possibly can expect significant improvements in weight reduction and glycemic control.

Eager about taking semaglutide? Learn more about how and where to purchase it online in our article: Where To Buy Semaglutide.

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