Ozempic® Vs. Simvastatin: Drug Comparison

Ozempic^® (semaglutide) is an injectable medication used to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes, to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events in individuals with established heart disease, and to reduce the risk of kdiney problems in certain populations. It works by mimicking the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which increases insulin secretion, decreases glucagon release, and slows gastric emptying. Administered once weekly, Ozempic is often part of a comprehensive treatment plan that includes diet and exercise. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, and it should be used with caution in patients with a history of pancreatitis​.

Simvastatin is the active ingredient in the brand-name medication Zocor^®. The information below is about brand name Zocor. According to the FDA, “Generic medicines use the same active ingredients as brand-name medicines and work the same way, so they have the same risks and benefits as the brand-name medicines.”

Zocor (simvastatin) is a statin medication used to lower cholesterol by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme involved in cholesterol production in the liver, which helps reduce LDL cholesterol and triglycerides while increasing HDL cholesterol. Its FDA-approved indications include the treatment of hyperlipidemia and the prevention of cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes in individuals at risk. Zocor is available in oral tablet form, typically taken once daily in the evening. Common side effects include muscle pain, headache, and digestive issues, while serious risks include liver damage and rare but severe muscle breakdown. Caution is advised when using Zocor with certain medications that can increase the risk of muscle-related side effects.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin)

Ozempic (semaglutide) is indicated:

• As an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus

• To reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and established cardiovascular disease

• To reduce the risk of sustained eGFR decline, end-stage kidney disease and cardiovascular death in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease

Zocor (simvastatin) is indicated:

• To reduce the risk of total mortality by reducing risk of coronary heart disease death, non-fatal myocardial infarction and stroke, and the need for coronary and non-coronary revascularization procedures in adults with established coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, and/or diabetes, who are at high risk of coronary heart disease events.

• As an adjunct to diet to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C):

  • In adults with primary hyperlipidemia

  • In adults and pediatric patients aged 10 years and older with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH)

• As an adjunct to other LDL-C-lowering therapies to reduce LDL-C in adults with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH)

• As an adjunct to diet for the treatment of adults with:

  • Primary dysbetalipoproteinemia

  • Hypertriglyceridemia

• Typically taken as an injection once weekly

• Comes in single-patient-use pens that deliver 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, or 2 mg per injection

• Typically taken orally once daily

• Comes as 10 mg, 20 mg, and 40 mg tablets

The most common adverse reactions, reported in ≥5% of patients are:

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Abdominal pain

• Constipation

Most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥5%) are:

• Upper respiratory infection

• Headache

• Abdominal pain

• Constipation

• Nausea

• Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2

• Serious hypersensitivity reaction to semaglutide or any of the excipients in Ozempic

• Drug interactions: Ozempic delays gastric emptying and may impact the absorption of concomitantly administered oral medications

• Concomitant use of strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (select azole anti-fungals, macrolide antibiotics, anti-viral medications, and nefazodone)

• Concomitant use of cyclosporine, danazol or gemfibrozil

• Acute liver failure or decompensated cirrhosis

• Hypersensitivity to simvastatin or any excipient in Zocor

• Drug interactions: coumarin anticoagulants, digoxin

• See full prescribing information for details regarding concomitant use of Zocor with other drugs or grapefruit juice that increase the risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis

• Pancreatitis

• Diabetic retinopathy complications

• Never share an Ozempic pen between patients, even if the needle is changed

• Low blood sugar: Concomitant use with an insulin secretagogue or insulin may increase the risk of low blood sugar, including severe low blood sugar

• Acute kidney injury

• Hypersensitivity reactions

• Acute gallbladder disease

• Females and males of reproductive potential: Discontinue Ozempic in women at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy due to the long washout period for semaglutide

• Myopathy and rhabdomyolysis

• Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM)

• Liver dysfunction

• Pregnancy: May cause fetal harm

• Breastfeeding: Breastfeeding not recommended during treatment with Zocor

WARNING: RISK OF THYROID C-CELL TUMORS

In rodents, semaglutide causes thyroid C-cell tumors. It is unknown whether Ozempic causes thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), in humans as the human relevance of semaglutide-induced rodent thyroid C-cell tumors has not been determined.

Ozempic is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC or in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Counsel patients regarding the potential risk of MTC and symptoms of thyroid tumors.

*This information is from the label for brand name Ozempic^®. See the Full Prescribing Information for more complete information. Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, may also be the active ingredient in other medications, and this information may not be accurate for all medications that include the active ingredient semaglutide.

*This information is from the label for brand name Zocor^®. See the Full Prescribing Information for more complete information. Simvastatin, the active ingredient in Zocor, may also be the active ingredient in other medications, and this information may not be accurate for all medications that include the active ingredient simvastatin.