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Novolog vs. Ozempic

Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, warnings, and more.

Key takeaways

NovoLog (insulin aspart) and Ozempic (semaglutide) are both medications used to manage diabetes, but they belong to different drug classes and have distinct uses. NovoLog is a fast-acting insulin used to treat both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes by helping your body absorb sugar from the bloodstream. It is typically injected one or more times a day before meals. On the other hand, Ozempic is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist used for Type 2 diabetes and to lower the risk of heart problems in adults with Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. It is injected once a week. NovoLog is available in vials and prefilled pens, while Ozempic comes as a prefilled pen. Common side effects of NovoLog include low blood sugar and headaches, whereas Ozempic may cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. NovoLog can lead to weight gain, while Ozempic might cause weight loss. Both medications require careful monitoring of blood sugar levels, and they have different storage requirements and dosing schedules.

NovoLog

(insulin aspart)

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Ozempic

(semaglutide)

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Summary for Novolog

Prescription only

NovoLog (insulin aspart) is a fast-acting insulin for adults and children with diabetes. It lowers your blood sugar levels by moving the sugar into your body so it can be used for energy. NovoLog (insulin aspart) is available as vials and ready-to-use prefilled pens. It's typically injected under the skin at mealtimes, but it can also be given as an infusion into the veins by a healthcare provider for people in the hospital. Side effects include headache and low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

Indications for Novolog

Pros and Cons for Novolog

Pros

  • Starts to work within 10 minutes to lower blood sugar levels
  • Dose can be easily adjusted to make treatment tailored to your specific needs
  • Can use if you have liver or kidney problems
  • Available as a prefilled pen for easier and convenient use

Cons

  • Given multiple times per day (before each meal)
  • Must give as an injection
  • Might be hard for some people to inject properly
  • Risk of low blood sugar and weight gain

Common Side Effects for Novolog

Type 1 diabetes:

  • Severely low blood sugar (17%)
  • Headache (12%)
  • Accidental injury (11%)
  • Nausea (7%)
  • Diarrhea (5%)

Type 2 diabetes:

  • Muscles slow to react (11%)
  • Severely low blood sugar (10%)
  • Fungal nail infection (10%)
  • Impairment of your senses (9%)
  • Urinary tract infection (8%)
  • Sinus infection (5%)
  • Chest pain (5%)
  • Stomach pain (5%)
  • Headache (5%)
  • Skin problems (5%)

Warnings for Novolog

  • Spread of infections from sharing injection supplies
  • Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
  • Low blood potassium levels
  • Swelling from fluid buildup and risk of heart failure when taken with certain blood sugar medications
  • Dangerously high blood sugar levels or buildup of ketones (for people who use insulin pump)

Summary for Ozempic

Prescription only

Ozempic (semaglutide) is a GLP-1 agonist used with diet and exercise to help adults manage Type 2 diabetes. It can also lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart-related death in some people with Type 2 diabetes. It comes as a once-weekly injection under the skin and as a tablet taken by mouth once a day. The injection is also approved to help slow worsening kidney problems in people with Type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Indications for Ozempic

Injection:

Tablets:

Pros and Cons for Ozempic

Pros

  • Only given once per week
  • Might help you lose weight
  • Helps lower the risk of heart problems and kidney problems in people with type 2 diabetes
  • Available as an injection and an oral tablet

Cons

  • Commonly causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
  • Risk of low blood sugar if taken with certain diabetes medications
  • Can't be used for Type 1 diabetes
  • Interacts with medications taken by mouth

Common Side Effects for Ozempic

Note: Side effects listed above are for Ozempic (semaglutide) injection

Warnings for Ozempic

  • Risk of thyroid tumors
  • Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
  • Eye problems
  • Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) when taken with certain diabetes medications
  • Kidney damage
  • Severe stomach problems
  • Severe allergic reactions
  • Gallbladder problems
  • Lung problems during anesthesia or deep sedation

Prices with our coupons for Novolog vs. Ozempic

Price Card Drug Icon
Insulin Aspart1 vial / 10ml of 100 units
$78.45$196.43
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Price Card Drug Icon
Ozempic30 tablets / 1.5mg
$149.00$1,211.99
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