Bydureon BCise vs Ozempic

Bydureon and Ozempic are brand names for prescription drugs used as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Here we will explain how they work, their similarities and differences, their side effects, and more. This should provide you with the basics to better understand your options.

What is Bydureon?

Bydureon is an FDA-approved (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) medication manufactured by AstraZeneca. Bydureon is used to help control blood sugar levels in diabetes, a condition where the body is unable to produce enough insulin or does not respond to the insulin made as it normally would. This can lead to high blood sugar levels. Bydureon may also be used for the treatment of Parkinson’s and also as a weight-loss therapy.

Exenatide, the active ingredient is classed as an incretin mimetic and is used alongside diet and exercise in diabetes. Incretins such as glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1), improve insulin release that is dependent on blood glucose. Exenatide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist and has been shown in lab tests to attach to and stimulate the human GLP-1 receptor. This increases glucose-dependent insulin production from the pancreas as well as the release of insulin from pancreatic beta-cells.

Exenatide reduces inappropriately high levels of secretion of glucagon, increases insulin release from pancreatic beta-cells when blood glucose levels are high, and slows the time it takes for food to empty from the stomach. This combined action enables exenatide to help control blood glucose levels.

Bydureon dosage

Bydureon is available as an extended-release injectable suspension, in the following forms:

• 2 mg of exenatide in single-dose vials
• Single-dose pens containing 2 mg of exenatide

Bydureon BCise is given as an injection under your skin and is usually injected once every 7 days. Bydureon can be used with or without food and given at any time of the day.

What is Ozempic?

Ozempic is an FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) approved medication manufactured by Novo Nordisk Inc. It is a medication given to adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus to:

• Lower blood sugar (glucose) levels, when used alongside exercise and diet changes
• Reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events, like high blood pressure, heart attacks, and strokes, in people who have heart disease

The active ingredient in Ozempic is called semaglutide. It is classed as a GLP-1 agonist. Unlike many other treatments for type 2 diabetes, semaglutide is not a type of insulin, it’s a human hormone that acts on different parts of your body. Semaglutide encourages your pancreas to produce more insulin, helping to lower your blood sugar after you’ve eaten. It also appears to increase the growth of the cells in your pancreas that produce insulin (beta-cells).

Ozempic dosage

Ozempic is available in injection form. You take it by injecting it under your skin (subcutaneous injection), using a pre-filled pen. The medication is long-lasting so you usually take it once per week. As it’s a non-insulin medication, your doctor may prescribe Ozempic alongside insulin. Make sure you always use your Ozempic as directed by your doctor. Ozempic is used on its own whereas Bydureon is used with other medications such as metformin or sulfonylurea.

Common side effects of Bydureon and Ozempic

The most common side effects of Bydureon in clinical trials include:

• Nausea, vomiting
• Gastrointestinal side effects – diarrhea, constipation, and indigestion
• Headache
• Itching or a bump at the injection site

More serious side effects of Bydureon include:

• Unusual bleeding or bruising
• Severe nausea and vomiting
• Pain, swelling, or other skin reaction where the shot is given
• Swelling in your neck or throat, difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, fever, increased heart rate, yellow color to eyes or skin
• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) – headache, dizziness, weakness
• Painful, difficult, or low urination, swelling in your feet or ankles, tiredness or shortness of breath

The most common side effects of Ozempic in clinical trials include:

• Nausea, vomiting
• Stomach (abdominal) pain
• Constipation
• Diarrhea

More serious side effects of Ozempic include

• An increased risk of thyroid tumors, including cancerous tumors
• Kidney problems, including kidney failure
• Severe allergic reactions to the medication that can cause itching, rashes, swelling, and difficulties breathing
• Inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis)
• Changes in your vision
• Very low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)

These aren’t all the side effects Bydureon or Ozempic can cause. You can find more details in the patient leaflet that comes with your medication. If you have any concerns about side effects, talk to your physician or pharmacist.

Bydureon and Ozempic drug interactions

Bydureon can interact with other medications. These include:

• Treatments for skin cancer
• Treatments for HIV/AIDS
• Diuretics
• Steroid treatment
• Treatment for hypertension
• Anti-coagulants – warfarin
• ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors
• Antibiotics

Ozempic can interact with other medications. These include:

• Anticoagulants like warfarin
• Insulin – Ozempic can be used alongside insulin, but your doctor may change the dose of insulin you take and/or how often you take insulin
• Any other diabetes medications you take to treat type 2 diabetes

Bydureon and Ozempic can interact with other medications. This can change how Bydureon and Ozempic and other medications work and can make side effects more likely. Tell your prescribing physician about all your drugs, including vitamins and dietary supplements.

Bydureon and Ozempic contraindications

You should not use Bydureon if you:

• Are allergic to the active ingredient exenatide
• Are allergic to any of the other ingredients in Bydureon
• Have a personal or family history of thyroid cancer
• Have multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2, cancer that can affect the thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal glands)
• Have a history of low platelets while using exenatide
• Are younger than 18 years of age

Talk to your doctor before using Bydureon if you:

• Are taking any of the medications that could interact with Bydureon
• Have kidney disease or have had a kidney transplant
• Have a stomach disorder
• Have pancreatitis
• Have gall stones
• Are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant
• Are breastfeeding or are planning to breastfeed

You should not use Ozempic if you:

• Are allergic to the active ingredient semaglutide, dulaglutide, or liraglutide
• Are allergic to any of the other ingredients in Ozempic
• Have had, or anyone in your family has had, a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC)
• Have an endocrine system condition called multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
• Have pancreatitis
• Have type 1 diabetes (Ozempic is for type 2 diabetes only)
• Are under 18 years of age

Talk to your doctor before using Ozempic if you:

• Have had any problems with your pancreas or kidneys
• Have ever had diabetic retinopathy
• Are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant
• Are breastfeeding or are planning to breastfeed

Other drugs for diabetes

• Adlyxin
• Byetta
• Novolin N
• Novolin R
• Lantus
• Humulin R
• Rybelsus
• Saxenda
• Trulicity
• Victoza

If you have any concerns about Bydureon or Ozempic side effects, talk to your physician, or pharmacist for medical advice. Also inform your healthcare provider about any medical conditions, supplements, and over-the-counter meds you are taking. You are also encouraged to report side effects to the FDA: visit http://www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.