Choosing the right medicine for you isn’t just a matter of cost, but also of how long the medication will last, the side effects, and whether the medication will help you lose weight. Here’s a look at a few different options.
Cost varies by version
Various studies have been published in recent years to evaluate the cost of control of various drugs used for the treatment of diabetes. In this context, this article aims to add to the existing body of evidence by evaluating the cost of oral semaglutide (OZempic), a once-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist, versus dulaglutide (Venexa), an insulin receptor blocker. In addition to its efficacy, the oral semaglutide was found to be more cost-effective than the insulin receptor blocker, as well as other weight-loss drugs, including phentermine-topiramate and naltrexone-bupropion.
A cohort-based Markov model was developed to compare semaglutide 2.4 mg to other AOMs and to relevant alternatives. The cost-effectiveness of these treatments was evaluated using a prespecified WTP threshold. In a subset of obese patients with class II or III obesity, the cost-effectiveness of semaglutide 2.4 mg was particularly striking. The results are not without their limitations, as some of the parameters used to evaluate the cost of control of semaglutide 2.4 mg were subject to variation. Nonetheless, the results of this study are still important, as they are the first such studies to be conducted in the United States. Moreover, this study is a good proof of concept, which should be followed up by larger, more thorough studies.
The cost of control of semaglutide vs that of other treatments was estimated to be in the vicinity of USD 11367. This amount was largely made up of needle costs, with the estimated cost of control of semaglutide ranging from USD 144 to USD 6999. The aforementioned costs were offset by the savings associated with the lower risk of hypoglycemia and diabetes-related complications. The incremental cost per QALY gained from semaglutide 2.4 mg ranged from $23,556 to $144,296, compared with $8094 to $85,024 for liraglutide 3 mg.
Weight loss vs type 2 diabetes
During a clinical trial, people who took semaglutide lost an average of 15% of their body weight, while people who took a placebo only lost 3.4 percent. It’s unclear whether or not this is a good or bad thing.
Semaglutide is one of a group of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists that are good for weight loss. The drug works by slowing down the movement of food from the stomach to the small intestine. This may make you feel fuller and eat less. It can also lower your blood sugar. Semaglutide works best when combined with exercise and a healthy diet.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2021 studied 2,000 adults with obesity who did not have type 2 diabetes for more than five years. The patients had a mean age of 49.3 years and a mean body mass index of 41.3 years. They were randomly assigned to receive either 2.4 or 1.7 mg of semaglutide injections. In addition, one-third of the patients were assigned a placebo injection.
The primary end point of the study was the percentage of weight loss in the group taking semaglutide. The secondary end point was the proportion of patients who achieved weight loss of 15% or more.
The trial included 175 patients, including 132 women. The average age was 49.3 years and the average body mass index was 41.3 years. During the trial, everyone received regular support to improve their eating habits.
The drug was also found to be cost-effective when compared to other diabetes drugs. The cost of semaglutide was found to be lower when compared to liraglutide, empagliflozin, and sitagliptin. The drug was also associated with a lower cost to achieve clinically relevant treatment targets.
Side effects
Taking Semaglutide can affect your body. It is best to know what to expect before starting. If you experience any side effects, talk to your prescriber right away. You may also want to ask to change to another medication if the side effects are bothersome.
Semaglutide is a prescription medicine used to treat obesity, or overweight, in adults with a BMI of 30 or greater. It is also used in combination with other treatments, such as a low-calorie diet and exercise. Taking Semaglutide may reduce weight, improve blood sugar levels, and improve the health of your eyes, kidneys, and gallbladder. It may also be helpful in treating sleep apnea.
Some of the side effects of Semaglutide are mild and can be treated with a doctor’s advice. Others, however, require immediate medical attention.
A mild allergic reaction is characterized by itching, redness at the injection site, and swelling of the face. Severe allergic reactions, on the other hand, may result in swelling of the tongue or throat, shortness of breath, and other symptoms.
Semaglutide is usually taken once a day, with plain water. It should not be taken with any other beverages.
In addition to the effects on your body, Semaglutide may also affect your oral medication. If you take any other medicine, wait 30 minutes before taking Semaglutide. You should also avoid taking it with insulin or herbal products.
If you experience severe vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain, seek immediate medical help. Semaglutide can cause dehydration, and dehydration can cause kidney problems. You should also drink plenty of water to help soften your stool.
Semaglutide can also cause gallbladder problems. You should inform your health care provider of any history of gallbladder disease.
QALY
Several studies have been conducted on the QALY cost of semaglutide. This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of semaglutide from a societal perspective in the Netherlands. The results indicate that once-weekly semaglutide is cost-effective in the majority of analyses. However, there are some cost-effectiveness analyses that are not applicable. These analyses include the 20-year time horizon, smokers, and 0.1% annual HbA1c drift. The results of these analyses are presented in the online supplementary tables.
Once-weekly semaglutide is cost-effective against lixisenatide in patients uncontrolled on basal insulin. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) is 4,811 EUR/QALY. This is lower than the common cost-effectiveness thresholds of 30-50 EUR/QALY. However, the higher cost of empagliflozin seems to be compensated by the benefits on outcomes.
In addition, the SUSTAIN 7 trial found greater reductions in body mass index (BMI) with semaglutide than lixisenatide. These benefits are likely to increase the cost-effectiveness of semaglutide. The SUSTAIN 6 trial found that once-weekly semaglutide increased QALYs and improved clinical outcomes, while also reducing the incidence of cardiovascular events. The results of this study indicate that semaglutide is a cost-effective treatment in patients with BMI over 35 kg/m2.
Once-weekly semaglutide also has positive effects on clinical outcomes, such as improved life expectancy and reduced incidence of diabetes-related complications. These benefits are also associated with indirect cost savings. The cost savings are attributable to the reduction in lost productivity due to fewer diabetes-related complications. These indirect cost savings are estimated at EUR835 per patient.
Once-weekly semaglutide was also cost-effective against dulaglutide, another oral glucose-lowering drug. In this study, the costs associated with dulaglutide were higher than those associated with semaglutide, as a result of higher pharmacy costs and higher treatment costs.
Taking semaglutide before and after meals and at bedtime
Taking Semaglutide before and after meals and at bedtime is a good way to control diabetes. However, there are some side effects you should be aware of. You should also read the Medication Guide and ask questions to your physician.
Semaglutide is a drug that reduces levels of glucagon in the blood. Glucagon causes the liver to produce more sugar. When glucagon is reduced, the liver produces less sugar. The less sugar in the blood, the less likely you are to have low blood sugar.
Semaglutide can be taken orally as a tablet or as an injection. The tablets come in three different strengths. You can start at 7 mg daily for one month and increase to 14 mg daily for another month.
You should also remember to take Semaglutide on the same day of the week each week. You can also use a pre-filled pen to give you the drug. You should keep the pen in a cool, dry place. You should not store it in a freezer.
If you have liver or kidney problems, you should not take semaglutide. You should also not use semaglutide if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. You should also report any vomiting or diarrhea to your doctor.
If you need to be on insulin, you may need to modify your dosage. Also, semaglutide may affect the absorption of other drugs. You should also test your blood sugar often and report any low blood sugar to your doctor.
You should also be careful when you drive. You should drink the recommended amounts of fluids each day. You may also be advised to bring a snack on long trips. Also, be careful when using alcohol.
