Semaglutide Pills Vs Injection

1.What is Semaglutide? How Does it Work?

Semaglutide- Picture courtesy: Healthy for Life Meal&nbsp

Semaglutide is one of the extremely effective therapeutic options on the market for managing the symptoms of diabetes type 2 and weight reduction. It has been used for treating diabetes for more than 15 years and recently in 2021, FDA approved it as an anti-obesity treatment.

This drug falls under the category of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1). This compound is formed by the combination of 31 amino acids present in a straight chain. Semaglutide has the same function as that of the naturally produced hormone GLP-1 in the gut. GLP-1 is released at mealtime in response to eating.

Working of Semaglutide

This medication works by the following mechanisms:

• Semaglutide induces the production of insulin by the pancreas. Insulin is the main hormone that decreases the sugar level in your blood. Due to insulin, sugar enters the cells and is utilized for producing energy. Hence, semaglutide elevates the level of insulin and assists in keeping your sugar numbers at a desired level.
• In addition to increasing insulin in the systematic circulation, it also lowers the quantity of sugar discharged by your liver into your blood circulation. This double action facilitates maintaining balanced sugar levels in the blood.
• Another function of the GLP-1 hormone is appetite curbing, which is mirrored by semaglutide. Both GLP-1 and semaglutide send a message to the appetite center in your brain that you’re full and no longer hungry. Semaglutide slows down gastric movements and stomach emptying. Thus, you feel full more quickly and for a longer time. In this way, you’ll intake lower calories and reduce weight.

2.What are Semaglutide Types?

Semaglutide is available in two main types: oral and injectable. Oral semaglutide is available as a tablet or pill while injectable semaglutide is formulated as a subcutaneous injection. Let’s briefly have an overview of both these types:

Semaglutide Pill

Semaglutide Pill- Picture courtesy: Good Morning America

It is formulated as oval tablets and has other excipients (filler, disintegrants, and absorption enhancers) besides active ingredients. You can take it orally with a small sip of water. It is formulated for people who prefer a non-injectable option for keeping their symptoms of diabetes under check.

These pills have FDA approval to mitigate the effects of diabetes type 2, however; you must follow a proper nutritional plan along with daily exercise to achieve more effective outcomes.

But you should know that the semaglutide pill is not authorized by the FDA as an anti-obesity med and your doctors prescribe it as off-label for weight loss. This pill is present in higher doses of 3, 7, and 14 mg than in injection.

Semaglutide Injection

Semaglutide Injection- Picture courtesy: Verywellhealth

The injection form of semaglutide is developed by the same pharmaceutical firm Novo Nordisk which manufactures semaglutide pills. It is interesting to note that semaglutide injection was actually the first of semaglutide types to gain FDA okay in 2017 for treating diabetes.

It has two subtypes and only one of which is approved for weight reduction in obese or overweight individuals.

Semaglutide injection is also used for preventing cardiovascular events, such as stroke or heart attack in diabetic persons. It is available as a parenteral solution and comes in prefilled pen form. You can obtain these injections in 0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.7, 2, and 2.4 doses.

3.Semaglutide Pills Vs Injection

When your physician recommends semaglutide, this question will definitely arise in your mind Which semaglutide pill vs injection, which one should you take? The choice between semaglutide pills vs injection is typically dependent on your health status, your medical history, and your current ailment.

Nevertheless, here we have detailed some important factors that should help you in making the right choice between semaglutide pills and injections.

a.Which One is Better Absorbed?

As you likely know, if a drug is absorbed, then more of it becomes available in the body. Consequently, more bioavailability means more drugs reaching the target side to induce its intended effects.

In many instances, the injection form of drugs has better and complete absorption than its pill forms, and the same holds for semaglutide injection forms as well.

Semaglutide Pills

Semaglutide Pills- Picture courtesy: marie clarie

Since you ingest semaglutide pills by mouth, they enter the digestive tract, where some of their components may get degraded by your stomach's acidic conditions. The semaglutide pill is composed of SNAC, Sodium N-(8-[2-hydroxybenzoyl] amino) caprylate, which increases its absorption from the intestine. Still, a significant portion of oral semaglutide is broken down by first-pass metabolism in your liver, leading to its lower bioavailability.

Semaglutide Injection

Semaglutide Injection- Picture courtesy: Los Angeles Time

On the other hand, the injection form of semaglutide directly enters your blood circulation from subcutaneous tissues. With this route of administration, the semaglutide skips the harsh gastric environment and avoids liver first-pass metabolism.

Subsequently, a higher proportion of injected semaglutide is absorbed into your bloodstream. Hence, more of it reaches the intended site to deliver its effects.

b.Which One is More Effective?

This question is a hot topic for debate among the scientific community and many researchers have tried to answer it in their studies.

Semaglutide Pills

Semaglutide Pills- Picture courtesy: Medical News Today

To answer you shortly, semaglutide pills might not have more or equal effectiveness than injection semaglutide for weight loss and waist circumference decrease. Now you would probably be wondering why. This is due to their bioavailability. Since more injectable semaglutide reaches its target destination, hence you get better results if you’re on injection semaglutide.

This is proved also by research supported by Novo Nordisk in diabetic individuals that on injection treatment, the individuals experience 10 pounds reduction. Whereas those individuals who took the semaglutide pill had a weight loss of over 8 pounds.

Semaglutide Injection

Semaglutide Injections- Picture courtesy: The Telegraph

Semaglutide injections have better efficacy in diabetic people because they lower Hb1Ac levels more successfully and increase glycemic controls. Although you can reduce weight and have better diabetic management on the semaglutide pill, still it is about 80% as effective as the injection version.

c.Which Is Easier to Use?

Semaglutide Pills

Semaglutide Pills- Picture courtesy: GoodRx

Patients are always curious about the answer to this question. Generally, semaglutide pills are easier to use than injections and win points for ease of administration. You just have to take this pill first thing in the morning with a simple sip of water. It doesn’t require hectic preparation or need qualified person to administer it.

Semaglutide Injection

Semaglutide Injection- Picture courtesy: AirSculpt

However, semaglutide injection induces fear of needles in some nervous or anxious people. If you’re afraid of hurting or pricking yourself, then you should choose oral semaglutide. Moreover, if self-administering or getting shot by other individuals seems daunting to you, then you should consult your doctor to switch your injection form.

Moreover, injection is quite painful for sensitive patients, so the semaglutide pill is a better option for them.

d.Which One Easily Fits Daily Routine?

It is a fair question when you’re picking semaglutide pills or injections for your treatment. It’s a matter of what suits your personal preferences and how you live your life. It is a well-known fact that semaglutide pills are taken once daily first after waking up. While injections are usually administered once weekly.

Semaglutide Pills

Semaglutide Pills- Picture courtesy: Healthcentral

Oral consumption is more convenient for some as it doesn’t involve a huge fuss. Semaglutide pills are taken just like other oral pills but have a strict consumption routine. It is easier to include semaglutide injections in your daily routine.

Semaglutide Injection

Semaglutide Injection- Picture courtesy: NOVOMedlink

A semaglutide injection requires a shot every week at the same time. For this, you’ve to set your reminder for remembering your dose time. Another thing about injection is that you’ve to keep track of your injection sites. It matters because repeated injections at the same time could lead to scarring. Furthermore, if you’re taking insulin with semaglutide, then it is advised to maintain a gap between both these injection areas, otherwise, you’ll have low effectiveness of medication.

In short, you can easily fit semaglutide pills in your routine, if you follow a regimented morning schedule. Otherwise, go for an injection, if your morning time is chaotic and full of flurry.

e.Which is Easy to Store?

Proper storage goes a long way in ensuring the potency of medications. And semaglutide is no different in this aspect. If you’re comparing which one of the semaglutide pills or injections has an easy storage requirement then semaglutide pills are sure winners.

Semaglutide Pills

Semaglutide Pills- Picture courtesy: Pacific Sound Plastic

You simply have to store it at room temperature of about 68–77°F or 20–25°C. Also, it is best to keep your pills in original blister packaging as the latter acts as an impermeable barrier and protects the pills from moisture. There is no need for refrigeration for tablets. Nevertheless, you should keep them in a cool and low-humidity environment.

Semaglutide Injection

Semaglutide injection- Picture courtesy: News- Medical

Before first use, semaglutide injections should be kept in refrigeration where temperature is around 36–46°F or 2–8°C). After first use, you can place the injection pen at room temperature. However, this form of semaglutide must not be exposed to high temperatures for a longer period as it may lose its effectiveness.

Furthermore, if you’re traveling, you can easily take semaglutide pills with you. Whereas, the injection forms require careful handling if you are on the go. The shot is more convenient for those of you who have easy access to refrigeration.

f.Which Has More Dietary Restriction?

Dietary restriction with medications is there to ensure their proper working. It’s natural to wonder about your dietary schedule whenever your doctor prescribes you semaglutide medication. If you’re speculating dietary requirements of both semaglutide forms, then there is no doubt that semaglutide pills need stringent dietetic control.

Semaglutide Pills

Semaglutide Pills- Picture courtesy: Pharmaceutical Tech

You have to take this pill with a small sip of plain water before eating breakfast or drinking a beverage of any sort. Then you have to wait for about 30 minutes before taking any food or drink. You can’t swallow this tablet with any beverage except water nor you can consume it with any medications.

It is best to consult your physician if you take other medications on an empty stomach prior to starting the semaglutide pill.

Semaglutide Injection

In contrast, there are no strict food specifications when having a semaglutide injection. You can have it any time of day- before or after the meal- it doesn’t matter. However, you should follow a meal plan to obtain the maximum weight loss benefits of this injection.

g.Which has Better Tolerability?

Tolerance- Picture courtesy: Obesityreporter

Tolerability means how well a certain therapy is accepted by the body. Better tolerability means a lower rate of adverse events. Side effects are typically the main source of concern for many patients.

Both semaglutide pills and injections have the same mode of action and almost cause the same type of side effects in the body for instance, gastrointestinal discomfort, abdominal cramps and pain, gassiness, indigestion, vomiting, nausea, constipation, low sugar level, blurred vision, high heartbeat, and, dizziness.

In some rare instances, semaglutide might have some severe adverse reactions like pancreatitis or thyroid tumors.

However, gastric-associated side effects are frequent with semaglutide pills. Weekly dosing of injections aids your body in slowly adjusting to the dose. Hence, you have mild adverse events on injection.

Plus, oral semaglutide pills might interact with your other morning pills. This tablet doesn’t mix well with drugs consumed for thyroid problems or bisphosphonates (bone health). These meds have the same empty stomach requirement as semaglutide pills. This can cause too much thyroid hormones or decrease the absorption of other medications.

Injectable semaglutide also has a risk of injection site reactions. You may get rashes, lumps, irritation, itching, swelling, or redness at injection sites with repeated shots.

h.Which One is More Affordable?

Affordability- Picture courtesy: bmi Doctor

Another thing to consider is the price tag because you want to know which one fits your budget better pill or injection. Let’s not beat the bush, both types of semaglutide (pills and injections) are quite expensive. However, they have the same retail price of around $997.58 according to Novo Nordisk.

But their cost can vary vastly depending upon what form of semaglutide you’re purchasing, your insurance coverage, and the pharmacy or website from where you’re buying. It is worth mentioning that semaglutide pill or injection price tag differs significantly, with monthly expenses of anywhere from $200 to $2,000.

Moreover, if you’ve diabetes type 2 only then your insurance will cover the expense of semaglutide, otherwise, you’ll have to foot the bill yourself.

But with Novo Nordisk saving programs and your insurance policy, you could pay as little as $25 per injection of semaglutide per prescription. Conversely, with the above-mentioned options, you can decrease your monthly expense to only $10 for a semaglutide pill.

i.Which is Commonly Available?

Availability- Picture courtesy: Daily Montanan

Concerns about ease of access often arise when you or other patients are deciding between semaglutide pills or injections. You have probably watched the semaglutide shortage updates on your social media or newsfeed. Indeed, there was a substantial shortage of semaglutide in 2022 when it was first approved for weight loss. Still, now you may experience a shortage of this medication, however; semaglutide injections are usually the ones short in supply.

The reason behind this is that the injection forms are more popular among patients due to their convenience and weekly dose regime. This causes injection supply constraints in pharmacies and on online websites. In contrast, semaglutide pills are manufactured in large quantities and remain in stock throughout the year.

Conclusion

Semaglutide is considered a miracle drug due to its high effectiveness in improving glycemic levels and shedding extra pounds. Depending upon your preference, comfort level, and doctor's suggestion, you can either have semaglutide pills or injections. These forms are similar in their key ingredients but have diverse modes of administration, dosage quantities and scheduling, and absorption and bioavailability. This blog post highlighted the key differences between semaglutide pills and injections to aid you in making an informed choice. If there are more questions in your mind regarding semaglutide pills and injections, then you should expert at AIPAK Engineering.