Trulicity

Key highlights to know about Trulicity are:

• Trulicity (dulaglutide) is used to treat type 2 diabetes in adults.
• Trulicity is injected under the skin in the abdomen, thigh, or outer upper arm.
• Trulicity is considered a high cost drug, which is defined in this article as costing more than $100 per month.
• Trulicity pen for injection is available as a brand-name drug only.

People who use Trulicity should be aware of these safety warnings:

• Possible thyroid tumors, including cancer, warning: Tell your doctor if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, or shortness of breath. These may be symptoms of thyroid cancer. Do not use Trulicity if you or anyone in your family has ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma. Also, do not use Trulicity if you have an endocrine system condition called multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2.
• Inflammation in your pancreas warning: Call your doctor right away if you have severe pain in your stomach area that will not go away. You may feel this pain move to your back, and vomiting may or may not be present as well.
• Low blood sugar warning: Administering Trulicity with other drugs that lower blood sugar may cause the blood sugar levels in your body to get too low. Symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) include dizziness, sweating, confusion, and a rapid heartbeat.
• Allergic reactions warning: Serious allergic reactions may occur during treatment with Trulicity. Get medical help right away if you think you have symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including swelling in your face, difficulty breathing, or a severe rash or itching.
• Kidney problems warning: Drugs such as Trulicity may increase your risk of kidney problems. Losing too much fluid from diarrhea or vomiting may increase your risk of kidney problems. Your doctor may monitor how well your kidneys are working if you administer Trulicity and experience vomiting, diarrhea, or dehydration.
• Severe stomach problems warning: Drugs such as Trulicity may cause severe stomach problems. Tell your doctor about any serious stomach problems you have before starting Trulicity. The drug has not been studied in adults with slowed emptying of the stomach (gastroparesis) or problems with digesting food.
• Vision changes warning: A vision problem called diabetic retinopathy can happen if you administer Trulicity. Call your doctor if you experience changes in your vision while administering Trulicity. Your risk of vision changes is higher if you have had diabetic retinopathy in the past.  

Talk with your doctor about these warnings in the context of your individual treatment plan and medical history.

This medication is used to:

• lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes
• lower the chance of heart attack, stroke, or death in certain adults with type 2 diabetes

This medication is not used to treat type 1 diabetes in adults.

Doctors sometimes prescribe medications for different uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for information about other uses for this medication.

Trulicity is a prescription drug that belongs to a class of medications called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. These medications mimic the action of a hormone in your body called GLP-1. After eating, GLP-1 tells your body to release insulin. This is how drugs such as Trulicity lower your blood sugar.

After eating, drugs such as Trulicity can also cause you to feel fuller for longer.

Trulicity comes as a medication pen that you use to inject the medication under your skin. Trulicity is not currently available as a generic medication. It is available as a brand-name drug only.

Trulicity side effects are possible and may go away with continued use.

The more common side effects that occur with Trulicity include:

• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• upset stomach or stomach pain
• decreased appetite

Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Seek emergency care (call 911) if you experience life threatening symptoms, such as:

• difficulty breathing
• chest pain
• loss of consciousness
• sudden vision changes
• swelling of the face, mouth, tongue, or throat

Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:

• Possible thyroid tumors, including cancer. Symptoms include:  
  • a lump or swelling in your neck
  • hoarseness
  • difficulty swallowing
  • shortness of breath
• Inflammation in your pancreas. Symptoms include:  
  • severe pain in your stomach area, including your back
  • vomiting
• Low blood sugar. Symptoms include:  
  • dizziness
  • sweating
  • confusion
  • headache
  • blurred vision
  • slurred speech
  • shakiness
  • a fast heartbeat
  • mood changes
  • hunger
  • weakness
• Serious allergic reactions. Symptoms include:  
  • swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat
  • difficulty breathing or swallowing
  • severe rash or itching
  • fainting or feeling dizzy
  • a rapid heartbeat
• Kidney problems.
• Severe stomach problems.
• Changes in vision.

Other side effects are possible. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have any side effects that bother you or that do not go away.

Without insurance, Trulicity is considered a high cost drug, which is defined in this article as costing more than $100 per month. You can check the out-of-pocket cash pay price for Trulicity on prescription drug discount websites. With insurance, prices can vary considerably. Individual health plans may have preferred drugs with better pricing.

A patient assistance program sponsored by the manufacturer of Trulicity is available to help with out-of-pocket costs if you qualify. If the price of Trulicity on your health plan is too expensive, ask your doctor or pharmacist if there is an equivalent drug that you can substitute.  

Trulicity may interact with other prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, or herbal supplements you may be taking. To help avoid harmful interactions, your doctor should manage all of your medications carefully. Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, or herbal supplements you are taking. To find out how this drug might interact with something else you are taking, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

This is not a complete list of drugs that may interact with Trulicity. However, examples of drugs that may interact with Trulicity include the following.

These include:

• insulin
• sulfonylureas, such as:
  • glimepiride (Amaryl)
  • glipizide (Glucotrol)
  • glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase)

Trulicity slows down how quickly foods and medications you take by mouth travel through your digestive system. If you administer Trulicity and take other medications by mouth, the amount of the other drugs that are absorbed by your body may change. These effects may go away with continued use. However, your doctor may need to monitor drug levels for drugs you take by mouth during treatment with Trulicity.

Disclaimer: Since drugs interact differently in each person, this information is not guaranteed to include all possible interactions. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your healthcare professional about possible interactions with all prescription drugs, vitamins, herbal supplements, and over-the-counter drugs you are taking.

Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Seek emergency care (call 911) if you experience life threatening symptoms, such as:

• difficulty breathing
• chest pain
• loss of consciousness
• sudden vision changes
• swelling of the face, mouth, tongue, or throat

The drug has not been studied in children.

The drug has not been studied in adults with pancreatitis.

The drug is not recommended for adults with severe stomach or intestinal problems.

The drug has not been studied in adults with slowed emptying of the stomach (gastroparesis) or problems with digesting food.

The following sections contain useful information to know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

It is not known with certainty that Trulicity will harm an unborn baby. However, animal studies have shown that administration during pregnancy can cause harm to an unborn baby. Talk with your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.  

It is unknown if this drug passes into breast milk or if this drug has effects on a breastfed infant or on milk production. Talk with your doctor if you breastfeed your child. You may need to decide whether to stop breastfeeding or stop taking this medication.

Trulicity is administered as a subcutaneous (under the skin) injection, usually into the thigh, abdomen (stomach area), or outer upper arm. It can be administered by you or a caregiver. Do not inject this drug into areas of skin that are tender, bruised, red, scaly, or hard or that have moles, scars, or stretch marks. Also, it should be injected into a different site each time.

If you are prescribed Trulicity and insulin, do not mix these medications in the same syringe. You can administer Trulicity and insulin into the same body region, but not directly next to each other.  

All possible dosages and forms may not be included here.

The prefilled pen is available in the following strengths:

• 0.75 milligrams (mg) per 0.5 milliliters (ml)
• 1.5 mg per 0.5 ml
• 3 mg per 0.5 ml
• 4.5 mg per 0.5 ml

This section describes the recommended dosage for adults with type 2 diabetes.

• Initial dosing is 0.75 mg once weekly. Your doctor may increase your dose to 1.5 mg after 1 week.
• The dose may be further increased to 3 mg after at least 4 weeks of administering the 1.5-mg dose.
• The maximum dose of 4.5 mg can be administered after at least 4 weeks of administering the 3-mg dose.

If there are at least 3 days (72 hours) until your next scheduled dose, administer the missed dose as soon as possible.

If there are fewer than 3 days (72 hours) until your next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and administer your next dose on the regularly scheduled day.

Do not take two doses of Trulicity within 3 days of each other.

If you skip or miss doses, your diabetes may worsen.

If you take too much Trulicity, you have a higher risk of having side effects caused by this drug. If you think you have taken too much of this drug, call your doctor or local poison control center at 800-222-1222.

Seek emergency care (call 911) if you experience life threatening symptoms, such as:

• difficulty breathing
• chest pain
• loss of consciousness
• sudden vision changes
• swelling of the face, mouth, tongue, or throat

Keep these considerations in mind if your doctor prescribes Trulicity for you.

• Before using the pen, check the expiration date to make sure that the medication has not expired.
• Always look at the drug solution before injecting it to make sure that there are no visible particles or cloudiness in the solution.
• The syringes and pens are designed for one use only. Discard these devices in an appropriate hard container after use. Do not throw away pens in your household trash.

• Store Trulicity pens in the refrigerator between 36ºF and 46ºF (2ºC and 8ºC) until ready to use.
• If needed, each pen can be kept at room temperature (up to 86ºF [30ºC]) for a total of 14 days.
• Keep in the original carton to protect the drug from light.
• Do not freeze this drug.

There are no known interactions between Trulicity and alcohol. If you are concerned about taking Trulicity while drinking alcohol, talk with your doctor.

Your doctor will write the number of authorized refills on your prescription. Talk with your pharmacist if you have questions about refills.

When planning to travel, keep these tips in mind for packing your medication:

• Bring enough medication for the entire trip based on when your next dose is due.
• Depending on the length of your trip, you may need to pack your medication in an insulated travel cooler with an ice pack and extra Ziploc bags for ice. You should also pack alcohol wipes for your injections.
• For longer trips, use the Ziploc bags for ice once the ice pack is no longer solid.
• When flying, keep your medication with you in a purse or a carry-on bag. Do not put it into a checked bag in case you are separated from your luggage.
• Liquid medications, associated supplies (such as syringes), and ice packs are allowed through security when flying. They are also exempt from the 3-1-1 liquid rule.
• Keep your medications in their original containers, if possible, to reduce delays during airport or security screening. Keep all your medications together to quicken the process.

Not every pharmacy stocks this drug. When filling your prescription, be sure to call ahead to make sure that your pharmacy carries it.

Many insurance companies require a prior authorization for this drug. This means that your doctor will need to get approval from your insurance company before your insurance company will pay for the prescription.

There are a few medications that work like Trulicity. These include:

• exenatide (Byetta)
• exenatide ER (Bydureon BCise))
• liraglutide (Victoza)
• lixisenatide (Adlyxin)
• semaglutide (Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy)

Do not stop taking this drug unless instructed by your doctor.

This information is for educational purposes only. It should not be interpreted as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Healthgrades takes every effort to ensure this information is accurate and up to date. This content is not intended to cover all possible uses, side effects, warnings, precautions, allergic reactions, or drug interactions. Do not assume that the absence of such information means the medication is safe for your personal use. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist, or healthcare professional before taking or discontinuing any medication.