Rybelsus Vs Ozempic, Metformin, & Jardiance
speciality medications
Rybelsus vs. Ozempic. Rybelsus vs. metformin. Rybelsus vs. Jardiance.
Figuring out which diabetes medication is right for you can feel like a full-time job.
Each has slightly different side effects, dosages, types of administration, and (importantly!) costs. In this helpful guide, we’ll pit each diabetes and weight loss med against each other and answer many of the questions you need to know.
(Is Rybelsus really better than metformin? Stay tuned.)
Before discussing Rybelsus vs. Ozempic and other diabetes medications, we should briefly answer a fundamental question.
What Does Rybelsus Do?
Rybelsus (semaglutide) is a type 2 diabetes medication. Sometimes, it’s used off-label – or prescribed for a secondary purpose – to help with weight loss.
There are several types of type 2 diabetes prescription medications. While they all have a general purpose of helping the human body process sugars better, each medication has its own strategy.
Many diabetes and weight loss medications focus on managing insulin and glucagon. These two hormones influence the way the human body moves sugar from the bloodstream (where it can cause problems) to cells (where it can be used efficiently).
Rybelsus is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (or GLP-1) receptor agonist. It works by increasing the amount of insulin and reducing the amount of glucagon the pancreas releases. This can be very helpful for people who naturally struggle to keep insulin and glucagon balanced.
Most patients who take Rybelsus see improvements in their HbA1c levels and glycemic control.
Rybelsus can also cause a patient to feel fuller for longer. Depending on a patient’s needs and goals, this may be helpful – as long as patients on Rybelsus can maintain their nutrition requirements.
Rybelsus vs. Ozempic: Treatment
Rybelsus isn’t the only way patients can benefit from semaglutide.
Ozempic is another semaglutide medication. It works in a very similar way and provides the same benefits as Rybelsus.
The main difference between Rybelsus and Ozempic is in their delivery methods:
- Rybelsus is an oral prescription medication. It comes in tablet form. Most patients take Rybelsus by mouth once per day.
- Ozempic is a once-weekly subcutaneous injection. Patients take Ozempic by using an injectable pen to deliver their dose.
Rybelsus vs. Ozempic: Side Effects
Since Rybelsus and Ozempic leverage the same active ingredient, they cause similar side effects. However, because Ozempic delivers semaglutide directly to the patient’s bloodstream, the side effects of Ozempic can be more pronounced.
Potential side effects of both Rybelsus and Ozempic include:
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
Rarer side effects of these medications may include abdominal pain, which can be traced back to pancreatitis or kidney problems. If you suspect you’re experiencing these issues after starting Rybelsus or Ozempic, talk to your doctor at once.
Rybelsus vs. Ozempic: Availability and cost
Rybelsus and Ozempic can provide effective relief for patients with type 2 diabetes. As a result, they’ve become the go-to option for many American adults managing their glucose levels.
After a semaglutide medication was approved for weight loss in early 2021, Rybelsus and Ozempic also came into the limelight. Their satiety and gastric emptying effects, which can support weight loss, made the drugs extremely popular.
So much so that Ozempic, at least, was in severely short supply by the end of 2022.
Many Americans with diabetes who relied on the medication wondered how they would maintain their care throughout the semaglutide shortage.
Fortunately for those Americans, shipping at least Rybelsus from Canada is an excellent way to access required medications and save money simultaneously even though Ozempic is not easy to get from Canada.
- In America, a one-month supply of Rybelsus starts at around $950.00. That’s over $30.00 per day of treatment and almost $12,000.00 per year for diabetes medication. Through NorthWestPharmacy.com, you can buy 30 pills of Rybelsus for around $300.00, or $10.00 per day of treatment – up to 66% savings. Yes, Canada’s drugs are often that much cheaper and so too are drugs from other countries we deal with too.
- Americans pay a similar amount – $985.00 – for one injection pen of Ozempic. Each pen contains between 4 and 8 doses, depending on your course of treatment. This can put the yearly cost of Ozempic right up there with Rybelsus, at over $10,000.00 per year. And, of course, this assumes you can find Ozempic in stock in the first place!
What is the Difference Between Rybelsus and Metformin?
Metformin is a generic type 2 diabetes medication that is widely available. While there are brand-name equivalents, such as Glucophage, metformin is affordable and easy enough to access that doctors will generally just prescribe the generic.
How does this prescription diabetes medication differ from Rybelsus and Ozempic?
Rybelsus vs. Metformin: Treatment
While Rybelsus tackles type 2 diabetes by balancing insulin and glucagon levels, metformin is a once-daily oral medication that directly influences blood glucose levels by reducing liver glucose production.
The result is similar. When less glucose (or sugar) is in the blood, insulin sensitivity in surrounding tissues increases. This means that the body requires less insulin to manage blood sugar levels.
Since metformin is cheap, easy to take, and easy to find, many doctors consider it a first-line treatment for diabetes. Patients who tolerate the side effects may not need to consider alternative treatments.
However, while metformin does reduce HbA1c levels and assist with glycemic control, it may not provide the same satiety benefits as Rybelsus and Ozempic. Patients seeking weight loss benefits as an off-label benefit of these medications may not find what they need with metformin.
Rybelsus vs. Metformin: Side Effects
Rybelsus can cause vomiting, constipation, nausea, diarrhea, and, in some infrequent circumstances, more severe pancreas and kidney issues.
Metformin’s common side effects include nausea and diarrhea, too. Side effects more unique to metformin include gastrointestinal symptoms and abdominal discomfort.
In rare cases, metformin can cause lactic acidosis or result in a metallic taste in a patient’s mouth. If you notice these less common effects, discuss them with your doctor.
Rybelsus vs. Metformin: Availability and cost
Although buying Rybelsus through NorthWestPharmacy.com is affordable, it’s nothing compared to the reliable low cost of buying metformin from Canada.
Here, you can buy 100 pills of metformin, or over a 3-month supply, for around $24.00.
Brand-name Glucophage is relatively hard to find in the States, but If you and your doctor are interested in trying Glucophage, you can buy that here, too. At NorthWestPharmacy.com, you can buy 84 pills of Glucophage for approximately $42.00.
Which is Better: Rybelsus vs. Jardiance
Jardiance (empagliflozin) is, like metformin, Rybelsus, and Ozempic, a type 2 diabetes prescription medication.
However, it isn’t a GLP-1 agonist, and it doesn’t regulate liver glucose production.
Jardiance is a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor – or an SGLT2 inhibitor.
What does that mean?
Jardiance blocks the kidney’s ability to reabsorb glucose. This increases the rate at which the body excretes glucose and can result in better glycemic control. Jardiance can lower HbA1c levels and help control symptoms associated with type 2 diabetes.
Rybelsus vs. Jardiance: Treatment
If a patient is interested in the potential off-label effects of Jardiance for weight loss, their doctor may suggest it is better to stick with Rybelsus or Ozempic. Jardiance does not prompt satiety or slow gastric emptying (or how quickly you get hungry again after a meal).
Jardiance has positive cardiovascular outcomes, though, so your doctor may recommend this medication if you face cardio challenges as well as blood glucose mismanagement.
Like metformin and Rybelsus, Jardiance is an oral medication that patients take once daily.
Rybelsus vs. Jardiance: Side Effects
While the main side effects associated with Rybelsus concern gastrointestinal issues (e.g., nausea, vomiting, constipation), Jardiance’s side effects can involve painful infections.
Patients on Jardiance have reported increased counts of urinary tract infections and genital fungal infections. In addition, in rare cases, Jardiance can cause high blood pressure and kidney issues.
Rybelsus vs. Jardiance: Costs
In America, a 30-count bottle of Jardiance starts at around $630.00. (That’s over $20.00 per day of treatment.)
Through NorthWestPharmacy.com, that same bottle of brand Jardiance costs about $140.00, or approximately $4.60 per pill – up to 77% savings.
Here, you can also find brand Rybelsus for $10.00 a day (and up to 66% savings), as well as low-cost metformin. Our goal is simple: We believe that you should feel able to access and afford the diabetes medication your doctor recommends, whether that’s Rybelsus, Metformin, or Jardiance.
This might leave you with one final question:
Rybelsus vs. Ozempic, Metformin, and Jardiance: Which is the type 2 diabetes medication that will work best for you?
Determining the Best Diabetes or Weight Loss Drug for You
Since each of these drugs is prescription-only, you will need to work with a doctor to consider these diabetes medications. If you’re interested in using them for off-label weight maintenance, you’ll still need to consult with your physician and obtain a valid, current prescription.
Your doctor will take several factors into account when recommending a diabetes medication, including:
- Your overall health status. If you have conditions other than diabetes, such as a kidney issue or a cardiovascular challenge, those conditions will play a large part in deciding which drug is appropriate for you.
- Your other medications. Some medications interact unhelpfully – for example, canceling each other out or making them more potent than expected or advised. Your doctor will know which medications have unwanted interactions and recommend a medication accordingly.
- The type of diabetes you have (if you have diabetes). The medications discussed in this article are only for type 2 diabetes patients. Type 1 diabetes patients will require alternative treatment.
- Your goals and preferences. Are you interested in losing or maintaining weight? Do you prefer a daily oral pill, or would you rather take a once-weekly injection? Are there some adverse side effects that are non-starters for you, and other potential risks that you find easier to manage? Read this article, as well as the other information pages we’ve provided for each medication. If you’re informed, you’ll be empowered to discuss your goals with your doctor and establish what you hope to achieve with your treatment.
Buying Rybelsus, Metformin, or Jardiance? We’re Here to Help
If you or a loved one is trying to figure out the best way to manage type 2 diabetes, you might have a lot of questions. For example, as you debate over Rybelsus vs. Ozempic and metformin vs. Jardiance, you could wonder:
What’s the real difference between Rybelsus and metformin? Is Rybelsus better than metformin?
Are Rybelsus and Ozempic the same thing?
If you experienced side effects with metformin, can you switch to Jardiance?
Which is better – Rybelsus or Jardiance?
Weighing the pros and cons of life-saving medications can feel like learning a new language while your health is on the line.
That isn’t a great scenario to be in. That’s why, at NorthWestPharmacy.com, we prioritize getting you practical, easy-to-understand information about your required medications. As a result, you can better advocate for yourself and your goals when discussing prescriptions with your healthcare providers.
That’s not all we do, however.
We’re also passionate about ensuring that the medications you need are affordable and accessible. Whether you require Rybelsus or Jardiance, or metformin, you can get it through NorthWestPharmacy.com (for less!) by:
- Finding the medication you need at the dosage you require and clicking “add to cart”
- Completing your order through our safe payment portal, or placing your order over the phone
- Sending your prescription to NorthWestPharmacy.com
…and that’s it! Before you know it, your prescription meds will ship from Canada or abroad straight to your front door.
Even better: Because reputable online pharmacy associations (such as the Canadian International Pharmacy Association - CIPA) certify online pharmacy websites, you can have additional confidence about product safety and quality. As long as you see the CIPA seal of approval on a pharmacy’s site, you can enjoy more peace of mind when submitting your order.
When you’re ready to buy Rybelsus or other diabetes medications online, check out what we offer. Or, if you require any assistance, call our helpful customer care team seven days a week at 1-866-539-5330. We look forward to supporting you and your health.
