Oral Semaglutide Vs Injectable

1.What Is Oral Semaglutide Vs Injectable?

Oral Semaglutide VS Injectable - Sourced: Ark Health

Semaglutide is a glucagon like peptide (GLP-1) receptor agonist developed by Novo Nordisk. In December 2017, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Smeglutide injection for marketing, which is used to control the blood sugar of adult type 2 diabetes patients.

There are two main forms of semaglutide on the market: injectable and oral. The dosage and indications of these products may vary, but the ingredients are almost identical.

2.What Are the Benefits of Oral Semaglutide Vs Injectable?

Semalutide has a significant role in weight loss and treatment of diabetes. The two drugs are used in different ways, but each has its own advantages.

(1)Benefits of oral smaglutide

Convenient to take

Convenient to Take - Sourced: Daily Mail

The biggest advantage of the oral version of semaglutide is its convenient administration. For patients who are unwilling or fearful of injections, oral form is clearly a more friendly option. Patients only need to take it once a day to enjoy the therapeutic effect of the medication.

No need for regular medical visits

No Need For Regular Medical Visits - Sourced: Westmed Family Healthcare

For some patients with busy lives or living in remote areas, the oral semaglutide provides greater flexibility as patients can self medicate without the need to go to the hospital for injections every week.

High patient acceptance

For many patients, injections often bring psychological fear and discomfort, while oral medication is more easily accepted. Oral semaglutide eliminates patients’ resistance to injections, making them more willing to actively cooperate with treatment, thereby improving the overall success rate and sustainability of treatment.

Suitable for a wide range of people

Suitable For a Wide Range Of People - Sourced: Vox

Due to its oral nature, oral semaglutide provides a more suitable treatment option for some special populations, such as children, the elderly, patients with injection phobia or physical disabilities who are difficult to self inject, expanding the scope of application of the drug and enabling more patients to benefit from the therapeutic effects of semaglutide.

(2)Benefits of injectable semaglutide

Rapid therapeutic effect

Injectable semaglutide is usually injected once a week, and patients can quickly feel the significant effects of the drug on blood glucose control and weight management during use. The injectable version of the drug can directly enter the bloodstream, avoiding the breakdown of the gastrointestinal tract. The drug has a high bioavailability, so the efficacy is relatively rapid and long-lasting.

Less gastrointestinal discomfort

Less Gastrointestinal Discomfort - Sourced: Vecteezy

Compared with the oral version, the injectable semaglutide is usually less likely to cause gastrointestinal discomfort (such as nausea, vomiting, etc.) due to bypassing the gastrointestinal tract, allowing some patients to tolerate it better.

Significant effects on controlling blood sugar and weight loss

Research shows that smeglutide injection has a significant effect on blood sugar control of type 2 diabetes, which can help patients significantly reduce their blood sugar level. At the same time, the effect on weight management is also very prominent, especially for obese patients, which can significantly reduce their weight.

3.What Are the Drawback of Oral Semaglutide Vs Injectable?

These two drugs each have their own advantages, but they also have their own disadvantages.

(1)Drawbacks of oral smaglutide

Gastrointestinal discomfort is more common

The oral version of semaglutide may cause gastrointestinal discomfort, such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, constipation, etc. This is because drugs need to be absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract, and some patients may not be able to tolerate these side effects well. Although these discomforts usually ease with the body’s adaptation, they are still an issue that needs to be considered.

Low bioavailability

Due to the fact that oral medications must be absorbed through the digestive system, some drug components may be broken down in the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in lower bioavailability. Compared to the injection version, the concentration of the oral version of the drug may fluctuate in the body, which can affect the therapeutic effect.

Should be taken on an empty stomach

Should Be Taken On An Empty Stomach - Sourced: Best Life

Oral semaglutide needs to be taken on an empty stomach to ensure optimal absorption of the medication, which may cause inconvenience for some patients, especially those with irregular breakfasts or busy mornings.

(2)Drawbacks of injectable smaglutide

Injection discomfort

Although the injection of semaglutide is relatively simple, for some patients, the injection may still bring certain psychological burden or discomfort. Especially for patients who have fear or discomfort with injections, they may not be willing to undergo regular injections.

May cause injection site reactions

Some patients may experience mild reactions such as redness, swelling, itching, etc. at the injection site (such as the skin). Although these reactions are usually mild and brief, they are still a factor that patients need to consider.

High cost

High Cost - Sourced: Medium

Due to the high production and transportation costs involved in injectable formulations, the price of the injectable version of semaglutide is relatively high, which may become a burden for some patients, especially those without medical insurance or insurance support.

4.What Are the Side Effects of Oral Semaglutide Vs Injectable?

Whether taken orally or injected with semaglutide, improper use or lack of attention can result in some side effects.

Gastrointestinal function

Gastrointestinal Function - Sourced: San Antonio

The use of GLP-1 receptor agonists may cause gastrointestinal adverse reactions, leading to dehydration and, in rare cases, deterioration of renal function. Inform patients receiving semaglutide treatment that gastrointestinal side effects may pose a risk of dehydration, and be careful to avoid fluid shortages.

Acute pancreatitis

Acute Pancreatitis - Sourced: Shutterstock

Patients who have experienced acute pancreatitis using GIP receptor agonists should be informed of the typical symptoms of acute pancreatitis. Stop using semaglutide when suspected of pancreatitis. If diagnosed, semaglutide cannot be restarted. For patients with a history of pancreatitis, special caution should be exercised when using it.

Hypoglycemia

When Semaglutide is used in combination with sulfonylurea drugs or insulin, it may increase the risk of hypoglycemia in patients. When starting semaglutide treatment, reducing the dosage of sulfonylureas or insulin can lower the risk of hypoglycemia.

5.What Are the Differences Between Oral Semaglutide Vs Injectable?

Oral semaglutide and injectable are the same medication, what are the specific differences?

Administration method

Administration Method - Sourced: Aesthetica Montgomery

The oral formulation of semaglutide is in the form of tablets or capsules, which patients can take directly and are easy to carry and use. And injections need to be administered through subcutaneous injection, which is relatively complex and requires guidance from professional medical personnel.

Bioavailability

Injectable semeglutide has a high bioavailability and can more effectively exert its drug effects, thereby achieving therapeutic effects such as reducing blood sugar and weight. However, the bioavailability of oral preparations is relatively low due to poor absorption of peptide drugs in the intestine, and some drugs may be destroyed during digestion.

Price

Price - Sourced: AnnounceKit

Usually, the price of injections is relatively high, while oral preparations are more affordable. Patients can consider their own financial situation and doctor's advice when making a choice.

Dose difference

Injectable semeglutide only require 0.5-1 milligrams per week, while oral semeglutide require 3-14 milligrams per day. This is because most oral medications “die” during digestion, with only about 1% actually entering the bloodstream.

Usage frequency

Injectable semeglutide should be taken once a week, while oral tablets should be taken at regular intervals every day. For elderly people who easily forget to take their medication, this may be a new challenge.

6.What Are the Machines for Oral Semaglutide Vs Injectable?

Oral semaglutide and injectable have significant differences in their characteristics and production machines. What machines can be used in the production of these two drugs?

Machines for oral semaglutide

Machine	Description
Crusher machine	To crush the raw materials of semaglutide, a crusher machine can be used. This device utilizes the high-speed relative motion between the movable toothed discs to achieve crushing through a comprehensive effect of tooth impact, friction, and material to material impact.
Mixer	The crushed raw materials are proportioned, and the 3D motion mixer utilizes unique three degree oscillation, translational rotation, and rock principles to mix different raw materials.
Tablet press machine	Equipped with multiple tablet pressing stations, rotary tablet press machine is capable of simultaneously pressing multiple tablets. This type of equipment has high production efficiency and is suitable for large-scale production. It is also equipped with automatic feeding, dust removal and other devices, which improves the degree of production automation.
Tablet coating machine	In order to protect the material, the film can also improve its stability, beautify the appearance of the product. Therefore, it is necessary to use a tablet coating machine, which is an efficient, energy-saving, safe, and clean electromechanical integrated equipment. It continuously and uniformly coats the material to form a uniform coating film on the surface of the material.

Machines for injectable semaglutide

Purified water treatment system	Purified water is one of the raw materials for producing injectable semaglutide, and a purified water treatment system is a high-purity water treatment equipment used in production and manufacturing processes. It can treat tap water, well water, or water from other sources to remove impurities and pollutants, resulting in pure water
Vacuum emulsifying mixer	The vacuum emulsifying mixer generates strong shear force, high-frequency and vibration force flow through the precise coordination of the high-speed rotating rotor and stator. Under this comprehensive action, the material is rapidly dispersed, emulsified, and homogenized, achieving a delicate state. At the same time, the equipment operates in a vacuum state, effectively preventing material oxidation and contamination, ensuring product quality.
Pre filled syringe production line	The pre filled syringe production line is suitable for sterile filling of injectable semaglutide. The equipment runs stably, is easy to operate, and is equipped with intelligent detection devices. It has a high degree of automation, is easy to maintain, and can also be customized according to user needs.

7.Are Oral Semaglutide As Effective As injections?

Simeglutide tablets and injections have the same composition and pharmacological effects, but differences in administration routes and absorption rates may lead to certain differences in efficacy.

Oral Semaglutide and Injectable - Sourced: Enhance. MD

In terms of blood glucose control and weight loss, the overall efficacy of oral semaglutide is comparable to that of injectable semaglutide. Although there may be some differences in drug absorption speed and peak time, from the perspective of long-term treatment effect, both can effectively improve the metabolic indicators of diabetes patients, and help obese patients lose weight and reduce the risk of related complications.

The two formulations of semaglutide have similarities in safety, with common adverse reactions including gastrointestinal discomfort such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. However, these symptoms are usually more pronounced in the early stages of treatment and gradually alleviate or tolerate over time.

However, injectable semaglutide may increase the risk of local injection site reactions such as redness, pain, and induration due to the involvement of injection procedures, while oral semaglutide avoids such risks.

8.How to Choose from Oral Semaglutide Vs Injectable?

Smeglutide, as a drug attracting much attention in the field of diabetes and obesity treatment, provides patients with different drug choices in its oral and injection forms.

Patient’s condition

Patient’s Condition - Sourced: Soliant Health

For patients with mild symptoms and remaining pancreatic function, oral semaglutide may be effective in controlling blood sugar. For patients with severe illness and poor pancreatic function, injection of semaglutide may have a more ideal effect.

Consider the convenience of use

Oral semaglutide is convenient to take, but it may be greatly influenced by diet. The injection of semaglutide is relatively complex, but it can more accurately control the dosage.

Consulting doctors

Consulting Doctors - Sourced: StudyMEDIC

The use of semaglutide should take into account various factors, and patients should choose the most suitable way to control their blood sugar based on their own condition and actual situation under the guidance of a doctor.

Consider the cost of treatment

Injectable semaglutide is relatively expensive, while the cost of oral semaglutide varies depending on the type and frequency of use.

Conclusion

Simeglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist with significant advantages, including effective control of blood sugar, weight loss, and significant reduction of hypoglycemia and cardiovascular events. After reading this article, have you gained a deeper understanding of oral and injectable semaglutide, as well as the machines used to produce these two drugs? If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact AIPAK at any time.