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Home > Drug Category > Diabetic Medications and Products > Trulicity and Equivalent

Trulicity Information

Trulicity (dulaglutide) is a prescription medication primarily used to improve blood sugar (glycemic) control in adults and pediatric patients 10 years of age and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus, as an adjunct to diet and exercise. It is also used to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (such as cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or non-fatal stroke) in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus who have established cardiovascular disease or multiple cardiovascular risk factors. Trulicity works as a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. GLP-1 is a natural hormone that helps regulate blood sugar. Trulicity acts by increasing insulin secretion when blood glucose levels are high, decreasing glucagon secretion (which helps prevent the liver from releasing too much sugar), and slowing down gastric emptying. These actions help to lower blood glucose levels, particularly after meals, and contribute to their cardiovascular benefits.

Trulicity Side Effects

The most common side effects of Trulicity may include abdominal pain, decreased appetite, diarrhea, dyspepsia (indigestion), fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. Call your doctor right away if you have any of the serious side effects, such as:
• Acute kidney injury or worsening of existing kidney problems (can be caused by dehydration from severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea);
• Acute gallbladder disease (e.g., gallstones, inflammation of the gallbladder);
• Diabetic retinopathy complications (worsening of vision problems in people with diabetes);
• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), mainly when used with insulin or sulfonylureas, with symptoms like dizziness, light-headedness, confusion, headache, blurred vision, slurred speech, fast heartbeat, sweating, hunger, shakiness, feeling jittery, weakness, anxiety, irritability, or mood changes;
• Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), with symptoms such as severe abdominal pain (with or without vomiting) that does not go away, possibly radiating to the back;
• Severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis or angioedema, with symptoms such as swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, problems breathing or swallowing, severe rash or itching, fainting, feeling dizzy, or very rapid heartbeat;
• Severe gastrointestinal disease (e.g., gastroparesis);
• Thyroid C-cell tumours, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), with symptoms such as a lump or swelling in the neck, trouble swallowing, hoarseness, or shortness of breath.

Trulicity Precautions

Do not use Trulicity if you are allergic to dulaglutide or any of its ingredients. Do not use Trulicity if you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), or if you have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Before you start using this medication, tell your doctor about your medical history, including if you have or have had problems with your pancreas, kidneys, or liver; severe issues with your stomach, such as slowed emptying of your stomach (gastroparesis) or other severe gastrointestinal disease; diabetic retinopathy; a history of seizures or conditions that lower the seizure threshold. Tell your doctor about all your medications, including prescription, OTC, herbal supplements, and vitamins. Trulicity may interact with certain medications, and some medicines may affect the way Trulicity works. Certain medications, especially those taken orally, may have their absorption affected by Trulicity due to delayed gastric emptying. Be sure to discuss all medications with your doctor or pharmacist to ensure a safe and effective treatment plan. Suppose you are taking insulin or a sulfonylurea. In that case, your doctor may need to adjust your dosage to minimize the risk of hypoglycemia. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant before using Trulicity. It is not known if Trulicity will harm your unborn baby. Based on animal studies, there may be risks to the fetus. Poorly controlled diabetes during pregnancy can increase risks to both mother and baby. If you become pregnant, inform your doctor immediately, and consider switching to insulin for glycemic control. Inform your doctor if you are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed before using Trulicity. It is unknown if dulaglutide passes into breast milk or if it may harm a nursing infant. Weigh the benefits of breastfeeding against the potential risks to the infant. The safety and effectiveness of Trulicity in children under 10 years of age have not been established.

Use your medicine exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Trulicity comes as a solution in a single-dose pen for subcutaneous injection. Administer it once weekly at any time of day, with or without food. You can inject the medicine into your abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. Rotate your injection site each week; you may use the same area of your body, but be sure to choose a different injection site within that area. Do not inject into skin that is tender, bruised, scaly, stiff, or scarred. Do not mix Trulicity with insulin in the same syringe. Administer them as separate injections, even if in the same body region, ensuring they are not adjacent to each other. Store Trulicity pens in the refrigerator between 2°°C and 8°°C (36°F and 46°F). Do not freeze Trulicity. If refrigeration is not possible, you can keep your pen at room temperature (below 30°°C or 86°F) for up to a total of 14 days. Protect from light by storing in the original carton. Keep all medicines out of reach of children.

Do I need a prescription to order Trulicity?

Yes, a prescription is required from your physician to order Trulicity.