Rybelsus vs Ozempic: What’s the Difference?

The study was fielded between July 10 and August 18, 2023, across demographic groups, genders, and health conditions. Survey recruitment took place via an online portal, in app, and via email. The margin of error for the sample size of 3,144 is +/-1.7 percent at a 95 percent confidence level. Ozempic and Rybelsus are made by the same manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, and have the same active ingredient, semaglutide. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Data sources include Micromedex (updated 3 Mar 2024), Cerner Multum™ (updated 4 Mar 2024), ASHP (updated 12 Feb 2024) and others. Both Rybelsus and Ozempic have been shown to be effective at lowering blood sugar. They are GLP-1 receptor agonists, which means they mimic the action of the GLP-1 hormone.

Composition and Formulation

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

• It could also be a result of digestive side effects caused by Rybelsus (see below).
• Ozempic comes as a single-use pen that you use to administer a subcutaneous injection.
• With the exception of certain diagnostic test panels, list available here, the tests we offer access to are not intended to diagnose or treat disease.
• Some studies suggest Ozempic tends to reduce blood sugar more than Rybelsus.
• GLP-1 is a hormone naturally produced in the intestines, says Leon I. Igel, M.D., a board-certified obesity medicine specialist, endocrinologist and chief medical officer for Intellihealth.
• His clinical skills have been recognized as being named Castle Connolly’s Physician of the Year for Clinical Excellence in 2012.

Rybelsus is an oral tablet, while Ozempic is a subcutaneous injection (under the skin). The appetite suppression caused by delayed gastric emptying means that patients can have a reduced caloric intake, which leads to improvements in weight management over time. Combining this with a healthy diet and exercise yields better results than simply taking either drug on its own, nor is this recommended. Both medications contain the active ingredient semaglutide and are in a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists. Both Rybelsus and Ozempic contain the active ingredient semaglutide. They belong to a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists.

Rybelsus vs. metformin

“Rybelsus is taken orally as a once-daily pill, whereas Ozempic is taken as a once-weekly subcutaneous (under the skin) injection,” says Dr. Igel. When considering costs, patients should also factor in one medication’s potential dose benefits and convenience over the other. Both medications, as mentioned, contain the same active drug, semaglutide. Rybelsus is an oral tablet, while Ozempic is administered as a subcutaneous injection. Making informed decisions about medications requires consultation and guidance from healthcare professionals.

These side effects are typically mild to moderate in severity and tend to diminish over time as the body adjusts to the medication. Find out if you’re eligible for GLP-1s, and get started on your weight loss journey. This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. To give you technically accurate, evidence-based information, why is rybelsus so expensive content published on the Everlywell blog is reviewed by credentialed professionals with expertise in medical and bioscience fields. Most side effects noted in studies are gastrointestinal, and include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. If you need to switch between medications, make sure you are taking the correct equivalent dose.