Trulicity

What is Trulicity?

Trulicity is a medication prescribed to adults who have type 2 diabetes. It helps to reduce blood sugar levels, when used alongside exercise and diet changes, and to reduce the risk of serious heart problems, like strokes or heart attacks, in people with heart disease or who are at risk of heart problems. If you have type 2 diabetes, you may not produce enough insulin, or you may even become resistant to insulin. If this happens, you will absorb less sugar from your blood, resulting in your blood sugar levels remaining too high. Trulicity can help you lower your blood sugar: it encourages your pancreas to secrete more insulin and reduces how much sugar is released into your blood. This can help to reduce your diabetes symptoms and the likelihood of developing other serious health conditions if taken alongside changes to your daily life like increased exercise and a healthier diet.

How it works

When you take Trulicity, the active ingredient dulaglutide is absorbed into your digestive system where it has two effects. It binds with areas on some of your cells called GLP1R receptors, which encourages your pancreas to make more insulin. This allows other cells in your body to more effectively remove sugar from your blood. At the same time, dulaglutide also reduces how much sugar your pancreas secretes into your blood. The combination of these two processes can reduce your blood sugar levels.

Typical dosing

• Trulicity is usually taken once a week by injecting it under your skin using a pre-filled injection pen.

This is general dosing information, not a prescription. Only your provider determines the dose that’s appropriate for you.

Safety information

Common Trulicity side effects include feeling sick (nausea), being sick (vomiting), diarrhea, abdominal (stomach) pain, and reduced appetite. Less common and rarer Trulicity side effects include severe allergic reactions to the medication; thyroid tumors and a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma; inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis); kidney problems, including kidney failure; hypoglycemia (your blood sugar falling too low), particularly when used with other medications like insulin or sulfonylurea; severe stomach problems; and changes in your vision. If you take any of the following medications, they can interact with Trulicity and potentially impact its effectiveness. Let your physician know about all other medications you take: any other diabetes medications, like insulin or sulfonylureas; other medications that can lower your blood sugar levels, like diuretics, corticosteroids, estrogens, oral contraceptives, nicotinic acid, and calcium channel blocking drugs; and any medications absorbed through your stomach, as Trulicity may increase the absorption of these drugs by keeping them in your stomach for longer. Don't take Trulicity if you: are allergic to the active ingredient dulaglutide; are allergic to any of the other ingredients in Trulicity; have type 1 diabetes (Trulicity is for type 2 diabetes only); have diabetic ketoacidosis (a potentially life-threatening condition caused by diabetes where you break down body fat too quickly); have a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma, or a family member has or had this; have an endocrine system condition called multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2; or are under 18 years of age. Talk to your physician before taking Trulicity if you: are taking any of the medications that could interact with Trulicity; have or have had any problems with your pancreas; have or have had any problems with your liver; have or have had any problems with your kidneys; have severe stomach or intestinal problems; have a history of diabetic retinopathy (a complication of diabetes that affects your eyes); are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant; or are breastfeeding or are planning to breastfeed.