Which is safer metformin or Ozempic?
Asked by: Ms. Wanda Miller | Last update: October 24, 2025Score: 4.3/5 (62 votes)
Why Ozempic instead of metformin?
While metformin is a more common first-choice medication for Type 2 diabetes, weight loss is more likely with Ozempic. Ozempic can also lower your risk of major cardiovascular events (heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death) if you have diabetes and heart disease.
Why do doctors no longer prescribe metformin?
Why do doctors no longer recommend metformin? Doctors still often prescribe metformin to help treat T2DM. However, metformin may not be suitable for everyone with T2DM. For example, a doctor may prescribe alternative treatments, such as SGLT2 inhibitors, in people with kidney problems.
What is a safer drug than metformin?
There is no single best alternative to metformin. Many people benefit from GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) agonists like Ozempic and SGLT2 (sodium-glucose cotransporter-2) inhibitors like Jardiance, but your prescriber will make the final call on the best alternative for you.
Is metformin the safest diabetes medication?
Official answer. Most experts consider metformin to be the safest medicine for type 2 diabetes because it has been used for many decades, is effective, affordable, and safe.
Ozempic and Metformin: The truth beyond diabetes drug hype
What organ is metformin hard on?
Conclusions. Metformin may have an adverse effect on renal function in patients with type 2 DM and moderate CKD.
What is the new drug replacing metformin?
Dapagliflozin is usually prescribed if: you have type 2 diabetes and cannot take metformin. the medicine you have been taking is not controlling your blood sugar properly – this may mean taking dapagliflozin with other diabetes medicines at the same time.
Why is metformin not recommended?
The current drug labeling strongly recommends against metformin use in some patients whose kidneys do not work normally because use of metformin in these patients can increase the risk of developing a serious and potentially deadly condition called lactic acidosis, in which too much lactic acid builds up in the blood.
Is Ozempic safe?
These drugs have been used for more than a decade to treat type 2 diabetes, with semaglutide earning FDA approval in 2017. Ozempic has been clinically shown to help lower A1C for people with type 2 diabetes and it is generally considered safe to use under proper supervision.
Why is metformin banned in the US?
American Diabetes Association® Echoes FDA Statement on Metformin Recall. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced a recall on extended-release (ER) metformin drugs from five manufacturers due to testing results showing N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) above the acceptable intake limit in certain lots ...
Can I lose 20 pounds on metformin?
Metformin resulted in an average weight loss of 13 pounds (6 kg) over 6 months. There was a wide range of results. At the extremes, one patient lost 77 pounds (35 kg), another one gained 29 pounds (13 kg).
What cancers are associated with metformin?
They noted that in observational studies there was a significant association of exposure to metformin with the risk of cancer death, all malignancies, liver, colorectal, pancreas, stomach, and esophagus.
What is the A1C level for Ozempic?
A majority of adults taking Ozempic® reached an A1C under 7% and maintained it. In 2 different studies, adults lowered A1C, on average, by: Ozempic®: 1.4% (0.5 mg) and 1.6% (1 mg) vs placebo: 0.1% Ozempic®: 1.9% (1 mg) and 2.1% (2 mg), taking 1 or 2 diabetes pills.
How quickly do you see weight loss with metformin?
Metformin starts lowering blood sugar within a few hours, but it can take 4–6 months to a full year to see noticeable weight loss. Results are usually modest but vary based on individual factors.
Is there anything better than Ozempic?
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer once-weekly injection for Type 2 diabetes. It works on the same targets in the body as Ozempic, plus an additional target. This results in greater A1C reduction and weight loss compared to Ozempic. However, Mounjaro hasn't been approved for the same cardiovascular benefits yet.
Did Kelly Clarkson take Ozempic?
The singer and daytime talk show host revealed she's used a weight-loss drug to help her lose weight — but it's not Ozempic.
How much weight can you lose on Ozempic in 3 months?
After taking Ozempic® for three months
In a study of 175 people with a mean BMI of 41.3, the average weight loss in people who didn't have type 2 diabetes was 6.3% body weight after taking semaglutide for 12 weeks.
How did Oprah lose weight?
Oprah's transformation with Semaglutide
Recently, Oprah discussed Semaglutide as a weight reduction treatment. She shared some of the medication's incredible results with a talk show host and called it a weight loss revolution. She said Semaglutide was different from most diet programs she had tried in the past.
What is a better choice than metformin?
Key takeaways
Metformin is a first-line treatment for Type 2 diabetes, but alternatives like Precose, Januvia, Victoza, Glucotrol XL, and Actos are available for those who cannot tolerate it or have contraindications.
Is metformin safe now?
Are there any side effects with metformin? Metformin is considered a safe, cheap and effective medication worldwide, but it can cause some minor side effects in some people. Many of these mild symptoms are associated with taking the medicine for the first time.
Is Ozempic better than metformin?
Ozempic may be more appropriate for someone with Type 2 diabetes and heart disease because it can reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems. However, metformin is a common first-line diabetes medication. A healthcare provider will determine the best option based on a person's overall health.
Why was metformin discontinued?
Concerns over higher-than-acceptable levels of the probable cancer-causing contaminant N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) prompted the recall.
What is the most serious side effect of metformin?
Under certain conditions, too much metformin can cause lactic acidosis. The symptoms of lactic acidosis are severe and quick to appear, and usually occur when other health problems not related to the medicine are present and are very severe, such as a heart attack or kidney failure.