Semaglutide and Metformin: Is It Safe? Label, Studies
Commonly used together; Semaglutide was tested alongside metformin in its trials.
- Verdict
- Generally fine to take together
- Label names it
- 0 of 3
- General caution
- Pills absorbed more slowly
Check a GLP-1 interaction
Wegovy in brief
Its half-life is about 1 week: after 7 d, half is gone, and about 3% remains after five half-lives (35 d).
STEP 1 over 68 weeks: 14.9% of body weight, versus 2.4% on placebo.
Monthly price points, in US dollars: the list price, self-pay offers, each one taken from the price page posted by the maker.
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed), healthsystemtracker.org, prnewswire.com 1 2.
Semaglutide and metformin: the verdict
Generally fine to take together
The Ozempic label includes this exact statement in its drug interactions section:
“OZEMPIC causes a delay of gastric emptying, and thereby has the potential to impact the absorption of concomitantly administered oral medications. In clinical pharmacology trials,”
Source: FDA DailyMed label.
What the semaglutide label says
Metformin is not listed on the Ozempic label. The parts listed below still apply to it.
| Named in the label | The risk | What the label tells doctors |
|---|---|---|
| Insulin or sulfonylureas | Low blood sugar | If you use this drug with insulin or any sulfonylurea, including glipizide or glimepiride, your risk of low blood sugar goes up. Your doctor may reduce the doses of those medicines. |
| Oral medicines | Pills absorbed differently | Your stomach empties more slowly, so the way other pills are absorbed can change. |
Source: Ozempic label (DailyMed).
What the studies show
- clinical trials looked at use with metformin
- clinical trials looked at use with metformin
- metformin levels did not change
Source: FDA DailyMed label.
A practical-use rule
- Keep taking both medicines as prescribed, and if stomach upset continues, contact your doctor.
- Mention each pill you take, including this one, to your GLP-1 prescriber.
- Ask your pharmacist whether any of the pills you take needs a steady level in the blood. Checks may be needed when you start the drug or raise the dose.
- Check your blood sugar more frequently during the first weeks and each time the dose increases.
Source: FDA DailyMed label.
Metformin with other GLP-1s
None of the 10 GLP-1 labels includes Metformin in a drug interaction section. Every medicine has the same general caution for pills you swallow, so this answer stays the same for the whole class.
The question also covers Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus, Mounjaro, Zepbound, Trulicity.
Source: FDA DailyMed label.