Trulicity, a once-weekly injectable, is used to handle blood sugar and weight in folks with kind 2 diabetes.
This text explores every thing you’ll want to find out about this remedy, together with its advantages and unwanted effects.
What’s Trulicity?
Trulicity is a name-brand prescription medicine for adults and youngsters ages 10 and up with kind 2 diabetes, used to assist handle blood sugar ranges, A1c (a measure of glucose management over the earlier 2 to three months), and weight.
It might additionally assist stop stroke, coronary heart assault, and untimely loss of life in these with kind 2 diabetes and pre-existing coronary heart illness.
Taken as soon as weekly by way of injection, this drug belongs to the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1) agonist class, with dulaglutide as its lively ingredient.
It’s generally used alongside insulin and different diabetes medicines.
How does Trulicity work?
Trulicity binds to particular receptors within the pancreas, inflicting it to launch extra insulin, which naturally lowers blood sugar ranges.
It additionally reduces glucagon manufacturing within the liver (glucagon is a storage type of glucose), stopping after-meal blood sugar spikes and enhancing insulin sensitivity.
Moreover, the medicine slows digestion, suppressing urge for food and selling weight reduction.
By constantly reducing blood sugar ranges and A1c, it helps scale back the chance of coronary heart assault, stroke, and untimely loss of life.
What are the advantages of taking Trulicity?
Trulicity gives a number of advantages for diabetes administration, together with weight reduction.
In randomized management trials (RCTs), individuals misplaced a mean of 6.6 kilos over 6 months.
One other examine discovered that the medication, in comparison with a placebo (inactive remedy), helped decrease blood sugar ranges and A1c, and promoted weight reduction.
Moreover, in medical trials, individuals with kind 2 diabetes noticed a decreased danger of main cardiovascular occasions, equivalent to coronary heart assault, stroke, and loss of life.
The prescription is best when used alongside a nutritious diet, common bodily exercise, and different prescribed diabetes medicines.
Why would you be prescribed Trulicity?
This remedy could also be prescribed if in case you have kind 2 diabetes and are combating insulin resistance or managing blood sugar ranges.
It will also be prescribed for folks with out kind 2 diabetes who need assistance with insulin resistance or managing blood sugar with different diabetes medicines.
Resulting from its cardiovascular advantages, the remedy is usually given to folks with present coronary heart illness.
Whereas not FDA-approved for weight reduction, it’s often prescribed off-label to assist with weight administration.
Be taught extra in: Trulicity and Weight Loss: Can Trulicity Assist You Lose Weight?
Solely take Trulicity if it has been prescribed to you by a healthcare skilled.
What are the unwanted effects?
Trulicity could cause unwanted effects, particularly while you first begin taking it as your physique adjusts. Widespread unwanted effects are normally gentle to average and should embody:
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Abdomen ache
- Redness on the injection website
- Suppressed urge for food
- Weight reduction
- Low blood sugar (notably if mixed with insulin remedy)
Uncommon however severe unwanted effects can embody:
- Acute pancreatitis,
- Extreme allergic reactions,
- Impaired kidney operate, and
- Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC)
Keep away from this medicine if in case you have a private or household historical past of MTC or a number of endocrine neoplasia, or in case you are allergic to dulaglutide.
The FDA has issued a black field warning about an elevated danger of thyroid most cancers with Trulicity use. When you have gastroparesis or continual kidney illness (CKD), seek the advice of your physician, as the medication could worsen these situations.
Learn extra in: Trulicity Facet Results: What You Must Know.
What are the standard doses?
Medical doctors sometimes begin sufferers on a low dose, 0.75 milligrams (mg) as soon as weekly, to attenuate unwanted effects. The drugs will be taken at any time of day, with or with out meals. To make it simpler to recollect your dose, follow the identical time every week.
Learn extra about this medication and eating regimen in: Meals to Keep away from When Taking Trulicity.
If wanted, the dose could enhance to 1.5 mg after 4 weeks. For kids, the utmost dose is 1.5 mg weekly, whereas adults could use 1.5 mg, 3 mg, or 4.5 mg weekly.
At all times seek the advice of your healthcare supplier earlier than adjusting your dose, and solely enhance by 1.5 mg increments after no less than 4 weeks on the present dose.
See extra in: Trulicity Dosing: How A lot Ought to You Take?
What’s the most weekly dose?
The utmost weekly dose is 1.5 mg for youngsters and 4.5 mg for adults.
Upkeep doses range based mostly on particular person well being elements, together with medical historical past, well being targets, physique weight, way of life, and insulin resistance.
At all times comply with your prescribed dosage and seek the advice of your physician earlier than making any adjustments.
Be taught extra in: Trulicity Dosing: How A lot Ought to You Take?
What occurs in case you take an excessive amount of Trulicity?
The utmost weekly dose is 4.5 mg.
Taking two doses inside 72 hours could cause extreme unwanted effects, together with nausea, vomiting, and dangerously low blood sugar, which will be life-threatening if not handled.
Signs of very low blood sugar could embody:
- Dizziness
- Shakiness
- Confusion
- Speedy heartbeat
- Shallow respiratory
- Nervousness
- Lethargy
- Fatigue
- Unconsciousness or diabetic coma
In case you suspect an overdose, contact your physician or emergency providers instantly.
Can I miss a dose?
In case you miss a dose, don’t fear — you received’t expertise elevated insulin resistance, larger blood sugar, or weight achieve from lacking one week.
Nevertheless, it’s necessary to take your medicine constantly for the most effective outcomes. Set a reminder in your telephone to assist make sure you take your dose on the identical day every week.
In case you’re inside 3 days of the missed dose, you may take it. If greater than 5 days have handed, skip the missed dose and take your subsequent dose as scheduled.
See extra in: Trulicity Dosing: How A lot Ought to You Take?
How do I inject Trulicity?
This medication is offered in a pen kind and is injected subcutaneously (beneath the pores and skin).
Select an injection website with fatty tissue, such because the higher thighs, higher arms, or abdomen. Rotate your injection website every week, utilizing a unique spot throughout the identical space (e.g., a unique a part of your abdomen).
To inject, first wash your palms and clear the injection space with an alcohol swab.
Pinch an inch of pores and skin, insert the needle perpendicular to the pores and skin, and press the highest of the pen to launch the medicine.
Preserve the needle in your pores and skin for about 10 seconds to make sure the total dose is run.
After injecting, discard the complete pen in a sharps container, wipe away any extra medicine or blood with an alcohol swab, and also you’re achieved.
Who shouldn’t take Trulicity?
This remedy ought to solely be taken if prescribed by a healthcare skilled.
It’s not advisable for many who are pregnant, planning to turn out to be pregnant, or breastfeeding.
The medicine is just not appropriate for folks with out diabetes, or for these with prediabetes or kind 1 diabetes, with no physician’s steerage.
Keep away from this drug in case you or your loved ones have a historical past of MTC or A number of Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome kind 2 (MEN 2), or in case you are allergic to dulaglutide.
In case you’re allergic to dulaglutide however curious about a GLP-1 agonist, think about alternate options like Ozempic, which incorporates semaglutide.
See extra in: Trulicity vs. Ozempic: Which Medicine Is Proper for You?
Seek the advice of your physician earlier than beginning Trulicity, particularly if in case you have continual kidney illness (CKD) or gastroparesis, as it might worsen these situations.
At all times discuss to your physician if in case you have any questions or considerations about taking this medicine.
How do I cease taking Trulicity?
By no means cease taking this or any prescribed medicine with out consulting your physician.
Your physician will possible advocate step by step really fizzling out the medicine to keep away from opposed unwanted effects equivalent to weight achieve, a pointy enhance in blood sugar ranges, larger A1c, or worsening insulin resistance.
In case you’re contemplating stopping, communicate along with your physician for steerage on the suitable subsequent steps.
Can Trulicity change insulin?
No, this medication and different GLP-1 agonists don’t change insulin.
Whereas Trulicity could scale back your want for insulin over time, it’s meant to complement insulin remedy in case you are prescribed insulin.
By no means cease taking your insulin with out your physician’s steerage and suggestion.
Can I take Trulicity with different diabetes medicines?
Sure, however it relies on the medicine. Trulicity will be safely mixed with insulin or metformin.
Nevertheless, it’s best to by no means take it with different GLP-1 agonists, equivalent to Ozempic, Victoza (liraglutide), or Mounjaro (tirzepatide), as this will result in severe unwanted effects like low blood sugar, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
When you have considerations about potential interactions between your present diabetes medicines and Trulicity, communicate along with your healthcare supplier. They’ll counsel alternate options if there are any contraindications.
Does Trulicity must be refrigerated?
Sure, it needs to be saved within the fridge at a temperature between 36°F to 46°F (2°C to eight°C). It may be used for as much as 56 days after opening. Don’t freeze it or expose it to excessive warmth.
How a lot does Trulicity value?
The fee every month, or your co-pay, will rely in your particular insurance coverage plan. To seek out out your co-pay quantity, use your prescription or medical card and seek the advice of along with your insurance coverage supplier.
Trulicity is often lined by main well being plans, together with Medicare and Medicaid. When you have questions on protection or co-pay prices, you may contact Lilly Cares at 1-800-LILLYRX (1-800-545-5979).
For eligible people, the Lilly Cares Basis Affected person Help Program could supply the medication for gratis. To be taught extra about this program and see in case you qualify, name 1-800-545-6962. A Trulicity financial savings card can also be out there to eligible people.
How do I get a prescription for Trulicity?
Communicate along with your healthcare supplier in case you’re curious about a prescription.
Chances are you’ll be eligible if in case you have kind 2 diabetes and are coping with weight administration or insulin resistance.
For these with prediabetes or kind 1 diabetes, the remedy could assist enhance insulin sensitivity.
In case you shouldn’t have diabetes however are looking for to drop some pounds, focus on along with your physician different FDA-approved weight reduction medicines that could be safer and extra appropriate, with out the unwanted effects related to this drug.
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