Key takeaways

  • Trulicity is a prescription drug used to help manage blood sugar levels and lower the risk of heart problems in certain adults.
  • It is available as a liquid solution in prefilled injection pens. Trulicity is typically given as an injection under the skin once per week.
  • Trulicity can cause side effects, such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

It’s a prescription drug that’s used in adults with type 2 diabetes to:

Trulicity may not be prescribed in certain situations. To learn more about how Trulicity is used, see the “What is Trulicity used for?” section.

Trulicity basics

Trulicity comes as a liquid solution inside single-dose, prefilled injection pens. You’ll give yourself injections of the drug under your skin.

Trulicity belongs to a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. (A class of drugs is a group of medications that work in a similar way.)

Trulicity contains the active drug dulaglutide, which is a biologic medication. A biologic is made from parts of living organisms.

Trulicity isn’t available as a biosimilar. (Biosimilars are like generic drugs. But unlike generics, which are made for nonbiologic drugs, biosimilars are made for biologic drugs.) Instead, dulaglutide is available only as the brand-name drug Trulicity.

Trulicity has a boxed warning. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details, see the “Precautions” section.

Like most drugs, Trulicity may cause mild or serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects. These lists don’t include all possible side effects.

Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:

  • your age
  • other health conditions you have
  • other medications you take

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Trulicity. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medications safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking Trulicity and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Mild side effects

Here’s a list of some of the mild side effects Trulicity can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Trulicity’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Trulicity that have been reported include:

Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Trulicity can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from Trulicity, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects of Trulicity that have been reported include:

For more information about side effects related to boxed warnings, see the “Precautions” section.

Allergic reaction

Some people may have an allergic reaction to Trulicity.

Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:

A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet. They can also include swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat, which can cause trouble breathing.

Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to Trulicity. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.

Trulicity images

VIEW GALLERY2

Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Trulicity that’s right for you. Below are commonly used dosages, but always follow the dosing instructions your doctor provides.

Form and strengths

Trulicity comes as a liquid solution inside single-dose, prefilled injection pens.

It’s available in the following strengths, which are described here as milligrams (mg) of drug per milliliter (mL) of solution:

  • 0.75 mg/mL
  • 1.5 mg/mL
  • 3 mg/mL
  • 4.5 mg/mL

Each Trulicity pen holds one dose of the drug. You’ll use a new pen for each weekly dose.

Recommended dosage

The dosing schedule for Trulicity is one injection taken once a week. You’ll give yourself Trulicity injections on the same day each week.

The usual starting dose of Trulicity is 0.75 mg. Your doctor may increase your Trulicity pen dosage over time. Your exact dosage will depend on your blood sugar levels and how well the drug is working to treat your condition.

The maximum dose of Trulicity is 4.5 mg.

You can also refer to this article for detailed information about Trulicity’s recommended dosage.

How to use Trulicity

Trulicity comes as a liquid solution inside single-dose, prefilled injection pens. You’ll give yourself injections of the drug under your skin.

Each Trulicity pen holds one dose of the drug. You’ll use a new pen for each weekly dose.

There isn’t a best time of day to take Trulicity. You’ll take injections of Trulicity once per week. It’s best to use the medication on the same day each week. You should also try to inject it at about the same time on those days.

Your doctor or pharmacist will show you how to give yourself Trulicity injections. For more information about how to inject Trulicity, you can read these step-by-step instructions or watch this video.

Trulicity injection sites

You’ll inject Trulicity into your abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. It’s important to inject the drug into a new site for each dose.

Using Trulicity with other drugs

Your doctor may prescribe Trulicity along with other diabetes drugs. Some examples include metformin (Fortamet, Glumetza) and empagliflozin (Jardiance).

Keep in mind that Trulicity can interact with certain diabetes drugs. For details, see the “What should be considered before taking Trulicity?” section.

If you’d like to learn more about taking Trulicity with metformin, you can visit this page. And if you have questions about taking Trulicity with other drugs, talk with your doctor.

About using Trulicity

Below are answers to some common questions about using Trulicity.

  • What if I miss a dose of Trulicity? What you’ll do if you miss a dose of Trulicity depends on a few factors. If it’s at least 3 days before your next dose is due, take your missed dose of Trulicity. But if your next dose is due in less than 3 days, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at its usual time. If you aren’t sure whether to skip or take a missed dose of Trulicity, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
  • Will I need to use Trulicity long term? Yes, most likely. Your doctor will decide if Trulicity is working for you. If it’s not causing bothersome side effects, they may prescribe Trulicity long term.
  • How long does Trulicity take to work? Trulicity starts working to treat your diabetes right after you inject it. But it may take a few weeks before you notice the drug helping to manage your blood sugar levels.
  • Should I take Trulicity with food? You can inject Trulicity whether you’ve eaten or not.

Overdose

Do not take more Trulicity than your doctor prescribes. Using more than this can lead to harmful effects.

Symptoms caused by an overdose can include:

What to do in case you take too much Trulicity

Call your doctor if you think you’ve taken too much Trulicity. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. Or go to the nearest emergency room.

Whether you have health insurance or not, cost may be a factor when you’re considering Trulicity. What you’ll pay for Trulicity may depend on several things, such as your treatment plan and the pharmacy you use.

If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. A savings card may also be available. Visit the manufacturer’s site for details.

You can also refer to this article for more information about the cost of Trulicity.

Trulicity works in a few ways to help manage blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. The drug also helps lower the risk of heart problems in people with diabetes and heart disease.

Trulicity does this by attaching to certain receptors (attachment sites) on the cells of your pancreas. These cells tell your pancreas to release insulin when your body’s blood sugar level is high. By attaching to the cells, Trulicity helps your pancreas release more insulin, which lowers your blood sugar.

Trulicity also increases the time it takes food to move through your stomach. This keeps your blood sugar level from suddenly spiking after you eat.

Plus, Trulicity blocks glucagon. Glucagon is a hormone that tells your liver to break down sugar and release it into your blood. By blocking glucagon, Trulicity helps lower your blood sugar level.

By lowering your blood sugar in all these ways, Trulicity also helps lower your risk of heart problems.

Trulicity’s half-life and how long it stays in your system

The half-life of Trulicity is about 5 days. (This means it takes about 5 days for your body to get rid of half of a dose of Trulicity.) Typically, it takes about 5 half-lives for a drug to leave your system.

So Trulicity will stay in your system for about 25 days after your last dose.

Find answers below to some commonly asked questions about Trulicity.

Can Trulicity be used for weight loss?

Trulicity is not prescribed for weight loss or management. It’s approved for use in adults with type 2 diabetes to:

But there may be situations where your doctor may prescribe Trulicity off-label for weight loss. (Off-label use is when doctors prescribe a drug for a purpose other than what it’s approved for.)

Researchers compared changes in weight between people who took Trulicity and those who took other diabetes drugs. People taking Trulicity lost an average of several pounds more than those taking other diabetes medications.

Some people have loss of appetite or other mild problems with digestion from Trulicity, such as nausea and vomiting. These side effects could also lead to weight loss.

For guidance on how to manage a weight that is healthy for you, talk with your doctor.

Is Trulicity a type of insulin?

No, Trulicity isn’t an insulin. Insulin is given to increase or replace the insulin that’s made naturally in your body. Trulicity, on the other hand, helps your body release more of its own insulin. (For more information, see the “How does Trulicity work?” section.)

If you have more questions about the differences between Trulicity and insulin, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

How does Trulicity compare with metformin, Saxenda, Byetta, and glipizide?

You may wonder how Trulicity compares with other drugs used to treat diabetes.

Examples of some of these medications include:

Trulicity, Saxenda, and Byetta are given as injections. But glipizide and metformin come as tablets you swallow. Metformin is also available as a liquid solution that you swallow.

For details about how Trulicity compares with the drugs listed above, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

How do you store Trulicity? Does it need to be refrigerated?

Yes, Trulicity should be refrigerated for long-term storage.

Trulicity pens can be kept in the refrigerator at temperatures from 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C). The pens can be stored in the refrigerator until the expiration date on their packaging.

But if needed, Trulicity can be kept unrefrigerated for up to 14 days. The storage temperature for Trulicity when kept out of the refrigerator should be no higher than 86°F (30°C).

Does Trulicity cause hair loss, joint pain, back pain, or depression?

It’s not likely. Hair loss, joint pain, back pain, and depression weren’t reported in studies of the drug.

But keep in mind that hair loss and depression can happen with diabetes, which Trulicity is used to treat.

So you may have hair loss or depression while using the drug. But these could be related to diabetes and not Trulicity.

Joint pain is a possible side effect of other diabetes drugs, such as sitagliptin (Januvia). Sometimes Trulicity is prescribed together with other diabetes drugs, including Januvia. This combination isn’t recommended by the American Diabetes Association, though.

Back pain may be a symptom of pancreatitis (swelling in the pancreas). And pancreatitis is a rare but serious side effect of Trulicity.

Talk with your doctor about any hair loss, joint pain, back pain, or depression you have while using Trulicity. They can suggest ways to manage these side effects.

What should I know about stopping Trulicity? Are there side effects from stopping it ‘cold turkey’?

Trulicity isn’t known to cause any side effects if you stop taking it “cold turkey” (suddenly).

But your blood sugar level may increase after you stop using the drug.

If you’d like to stop using Trulicity, talk with your doctor first. They’ll advise when it’s safe to stop using the drug. They’ll likely want to prescribe another treatment for your condition.

Both Trulicity and Ozempic are used to help manage blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. Both drugs are also used to help lower the risk of heart problems in people with diabetes and heart disease.

Both Trulicity and Ozempic belong to a group of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists.

Read on to find out how Trulicity compares with other drug options. Be sure to talk with your doctor about which medication is right for you.

Trulicity vs. Victoza

Trulicity and Victoza are prescription drugs prescribed to lower blood sugar levels and certain cardiovascular risks. Both drugs come as liquid solutions that are given as injections.

If you have type 2 diabetes, your doctor may prescribe Trulicity.

It’s a prescription drug that’s used in adults with type 2 diabetes. Trulicity is used along with diet and exercise to help manage blood sugar levels. Trulicity isn’t used to treat type 1 diabetes.

It’s also used to help lower the risk of heart problems in people with diabetes, heart disease, and at risk of heart disease. Conditions that can increase your risk of heart disease include:

Type 2 diabetes is a condition that causes high blood sugar. Blood sugar is the primary source of energy for cells in your body. To help sugar get from your blood into your cells, the pancreas releases a hormone called insulin.

But with type 2 diabetes, your body can’t effectively use the insulin it makes. Over time, this can cause too much sugar to stay in the blood. And a high level of blood sugar over a long period of time can cause serious problems, including heart disease.

Trulicity works to lower blood sugar levels by attaching to certain receptors (attachment sites) on the cells of your pancreas. These cells tell your pancreas to release insulin. By attaching to the cells, Trulicity helps your pancreas release more insulin, which lowers your blood sugar.

Trulicity can interact with several other medications. It can also interact with certain supplements as well as certain foods.

Before taking Trulicity, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also, tell them about any vitamins, herbs, or supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

For more information, see this Trulicity interactions article.

Interactions with drugs or supplements

Trulicity can interact with certain diabetes drugs. These include:

Trulicity may also affect your body’s ability to absorb medications or supplements that are taken by mouth. This includes any liquid solution, capsule, or tablet. If you’re taking any medications by mouth, your doctor may check the effects of these drugs while you’re using Trulicity.

This list does not contain all types of drugs that may interact with Trulicity. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about these interactions and any others that may occur with Trulicity.

Q:

Are there any foods I should avoid while using Trulicity?

Anonymous

A:

No, there aren’t any specific foods you need to avoid while you’re using Trulicity.

But keep in mind that Trulicity is meant to be used together with a balanced diet and exercise. This helps improve blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. And the foods you eat can affect your blood sugar, which may impact how well Trulicity works.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about the best foods to eat for managing your blood sugar levels. You can also discuss finding a registered dietitian or nutritionist to help develop an eating plan that works for you.

The Healthline Pharmacist TeamAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Trulicity and alcohol

There aren’t any known safety issues with drinking alcohol while using Trulicity.

But alcohol can affect your blood sugar levels. And this could make it difficult for you to manage your blood sugar levels if you have diabetes. So you may need to limit the amount of alcohol you drink while using Trulicity.

It’s important to remember that some liquid drugs contain a small amount of alcohol as an inactive ingredient. Liquid NyQuil is an example of a drug that contains alcohol. Talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe for you to take medications that contain alcohol while using Trulicity.

Before starting Trulicity, tell your doctor about all the medications you take. They can tell you if those medications contain alcohol. If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how much is safe for you to drink while using Trulicity.

This section describes the warnings and precautions for Trulicity.

FDA warning: Risk of thyroid cancer

Trulicity has a boxed warning. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about drug effects that may be dangerous.

Trulicity may increase the risk of thyroid cancer. This side effect wasn’t reported in human studies of Trulicity. Animal studies have shown a risk for this side effect, but animal studies don’t always predict what will happen in humans.

Possible symptoms of thyroid cancer include:

What might help

Tell your doctor if you develop any of the symptoms listed above while you’re taking Trulicity. They can check to see what’s causing your symptoms.

Also, be sure to tell your doctor about your medical history. And tell them about any major health conditions that your close family members have had.

If you or a family member have a history of thyroid cancer, your doctor may prescribe a different treatment for your type 2 diabetes. Or they may watch you closely for symptoms of thyroid cancer while you use Trulicity.

But if you or your family has ever had a certain type of thyroid cancer, it’s recommended that you do not take Trulicity.

Other precautions

Trulicity may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Trulicity. Factors to consider include those in the list below.

  • Diabetic retinopathy: Before you start using Trulicity, tell your doctor if you have diabetic retinopathy. (This condition is caused by damaged blood vessels in the eye, which may lead to vision loss.) Trulicity may worsen diabetic retinopathy. Your doctor will watch you closely during your Trulicity treatment to make sure your condition doesn’t get worse.
  • Gastroparesis or other problems with digestion: Before using Trulicity, tell your doctor if you have any problems with digestion. This includes gastroparesis (a condition that happens when the stomach empties its contents more slowly than usual). Trulicity may worsen these conditions. If you have severe problems with digestion, your doctor may prescribe a treatment other than Trulicity for your condition.
  • History of gallbladder disease: Trulicity may cause acute (short-term) gallbladder disease. This can include cholecystitis (inflammation in the gallbladder) and gallstones. It isn’t known whether gallbladder side effects are more likely in people with gallbladder problems or a history of them. It’s possible that taking Trulicity could worsen your existing gallbladder problems or cause new ones. Talk with your doctor to learn more about whether Trulicity is safe for you to take.
  • Kidney problems: Tell your doctor if you have any kidney problems before starting Trulicity. If you do, Trulicity may worsen this condition. Your doctor will order tests to monitor your kidney function and watch for this side effect while you’re taking Trulicity. Your doctor may prescribe a treatment other than Trulicity if it causes you kidney problems.
  • Liver problems: It isn’t known if Trulicity is safe for people with liver problems. If your doctor prescribes Trulicity for you, they may want to monitor your liver function more closely than usual. And they may have you stop taking Trulicity if your liver problems worsen while you’re taking the medication.
  • Pancreatitis: Tell your doctor if you currently have pancreatitis (swelling in the pancreas), or if you’ve had it in the past. This drug hasn’t been studied in people who’ve had this condition. But Trulicity may cause pancreatitis. So if you’ve had pancreatitis in the past, you may be at higher risk of this condition while using Trulicity. In this case, your doctor may prescribe a treatment other than Trulicity.
  • Pulmonary aspiration: Trulicity slows down how fast food leaves your stomach. Sometimes leave food in your stomach, even if you follow fasting instructions before a surgery. During procedures that use anesthesia, this may raise the risk of breathing in food. Before any planned surgery or sedation, tell your doctor or healthcare professional that you use Trulicity.
  • Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Trulicity or any of its ingredients, you should not take Trulicity. Ask your doctor what other medications are better options for you.

The following is important information to consider and discuss with your doctor or pharmacist before using Trulicity.

Pregnancy

It’s not known whether Trulicity is safe to use during pregnancy. But there are also risks with having unmanaged diabetes while pregnant. (Trulicity is used for managing diabetes.)

If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before using this drug.

Breastfeeding

It’s not known whether Trulicity should be used while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before using this drug.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.