Trulicity is a once-weekly injection used to handle blood sugar ranges and weight in individuals with sort 2 diabetes.
This text explains every thing you must learn about this therapy, together with its results and negative effects.
What’s Trulicity?
Trulicity is a name-brand prescription drug for adults and kids 10 years and older with sort 2 diabetes that’s used to handle blood sugar ranges, A1c (a measure of blood sugar management over the previous two to 3 months), and weight.
It might additionally assist forestall strokes, coronary heart assaults, and untimely dying in individuals with sort 2 diabetes and pre-existing coronary heart illness.
This drug is taken by injection as soon as per week, belongs to the glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1) agonist class, and has dulaglutide because the energetic ingredient.
It might even be used with insulin and different diabetes medicines.
How does Trulicity work?
Trulicity binds to particular receptors within the pancreas, inflicting the discharge of extra insulin and naturally decreasing blood sugar ranges.
It additionally reduces glucagon manufacturing within the liver (glucagon is the storage type of glucose), prevents postprandial blood sugar spikes, and improves insulin sensitivity.
Moreover, this drug slows down digestion, suppresses urge for food, and promotes weight reduction.
By constantly decreasing blood sugar ranges and A1c, you cut back your threat of coronary heart assault, stroke, and untimely dying.
What are the advantages of taking Trulicity?
Trulicity gives a number of advantages for diabetes administration, together with weight reduction.
In a randomized managed trial (RCT), contributors misplaced a mean of 6.6 kilos over six months.
One other research discovered that the drug helped decrease blood sugar ranges and A1c and promoted weight reduction in comparison with a placebo (inactive therapy).
Moreover, scientific trials discovered that contributors with sort 2 diabetes had a diminished threat of main cardiovascular occasions similar to coronary heart assault, stroke, and dying.
This prescription is best when used along with a nutritious diet, common bodily exercise, and different prescribed diabetes medicines.
Why is Trulicity prescribed?
This remedy could also be prescribed when you’ve got sort 2 diabetes and have insulin resistance or issue managing your blood sugar ranges.
It may also be prescribed to individuals who shouldn’t have sort 2 diabetes however have insulin resistance or need assistance managing blood sugar with different diabetes medicines.
Due to its cardiovascular advantages, this therapy is usually given to individuals who have already got coronary heart illness.
Though it isn’t FDA authorised for weight reduction, it’s generally prescribed off-label to assist with weight administration.
See under for extra data. Trulicity and Weight Loss: Can Trulicity Assist You Lose Weight?
Trulicity ought to solely be taken if prescribed by a well being care skilled.
What are the negative effects?
Trulicity may cause negative effects, particularly whenever you first begin taking it as your physique will get used to it. Widespread negative effects are normally gentle to reasonable and should embrace:
- nausea
- diarrhea
- vomiting
- abdomen ache
- Redness on the injection web site
- urge for food suppression
- weight reduction
- Hypoglycemia (particularly when mixed with insulin remedy)
Though uncommon, severe negative effects might happen, together with:
- acute pancreatitis,
- extreme allergic response,
- Kidney operate declines,
- Medullary thyroid most cancers (MTC)
Keep away from this drug when you’ve got a private or household historical past of MTC or a number of endocrine tumors, or in case you are allergic to dulaglutide.
The FDA has issued a black field warning in regards to the elevated threat of thyroid most cancers with using Trulicity. Inform your physician when you’ve got gastroparesis or power kidney illness (CKD), as medicines can worsen these circumstances.
See under for extra data. Trulicity negative effects: what you must know.
What’s the typical dose?
Medical doctors usually begin sufferers on a low dose of 0.75 milligrams (mg) as soon as per week to attenuate negative effects. This drugs could be taken at any time, with or with out meals. Attempt to stick with the identical time every week that will help you keep in mind your consumption.
See under for extra details about this drugs and weight loss plan. Meals to keep away from when taking Trulicity.
If vital, the dose could be elevated to 1.5 mg after 4 weeks. For kids, the utmost dose is 1.5 mg weekly, however adults can use 1.5 mg, 3 mg, or 4.5 mg weekly.
At all times seek the advice of your well being care skilled earlier than adjusting your dose and enhance by 1.5 mg increments solely after you might have been in your present dose for a minimum of 4 weeks.
For extra data, see: Trulicity Dosage: How A lot Ought to I 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 fluctuate based mostly on private well being elements similar to medical historical past, well being objectives, weight, life-style, and insulin resistance.
At all times observe the prescribed dosage and seek the advice of your physician earlier than making any modifications.
See under for extra data. Trulicity Dosage: How A lot Ought to I Take?
What occurs in case you take an excessive amount of Trulicity?
Most weekly dose is 4.5 mg.
Taking two doses inside 72 hours may cause severe negative effects, together with nausea, vomiting, and harmful hypoglycemia, which could be life-threatening if untreated.
Signs of very low blood sugar embrace:
- dizziness
- trembling
- confusion
- quick coronary heart price
- shallow respiratory
- nervous
- lethargy
- fatigue
- unconsciousness or diabetic coma
If you happen to suspect an overdose, contact your physician or emergency providers instantly.
Is it okay if I neglect to take it?
If you happen to neglect to take a dose, don’t fret. Lacking a dose for per week won’t trigger elevated insulin resistance, elevated blood sugar ranges, or weight acquire.
Nonetheless, for greatest outcomes, it is very important take the treatment constantly. Set a reminder in your cellphone to make sure you take it on the identical day every week.
You’ll be able to take it inside 3 days of lacking a dose. If greater than 5 days have handed, skip the missed dose and take your subsequent scheduled dose.
For extra data, see: Trulicity Dosage: How A lot Ought to I Take?
How you can inject Trulicity?
This treatment is obtainable in pen type and is injected subcutaneously (beneath the pores and skin).
Select injection websites which have fatty tissue, such because the higher thighs, higher arms, or abdomen. Rotate the injection web site weekly, utilizing totally different areas throughout the similar space (similar to totally different components of the abdomen).
To inject, first wash your palms and clear the injection web site with an alcohol swab.
Pinch the pores and skin 1 inch, insert the needle perpendicular to the pores and skin, and press the highest of the pen to launch the treatment.
Maintain the needle within the pores and skin for about 10 seconds to make sure the complete dose is run.
After the injection, merely discard your complete pen right into a sharps container and wipe off any extra treatment or blood with an alcohol swab.
Who shouldn’t take Trulicity?
This therapy ought to solely be taken if prescribed by a medical skilled.
Not really useful for many who are pregnant, planning to develop into pregnant, or breastfeeding.
This treatment will not be appropriate for individuals who shouldn’t have diabetes or who’ve prediabetes or sort 1 diabetes until directed by a health care provider.
Keep away from this drug in case you or your loved ones has a historical past of MTC or a number of endocrine neoplasia syndrome sort 2 (MEN 2), or in case you are allergic to dulaglutide.
If you’re allergic to dulaglutide however are excited by a GLP-1 agonist, contemplate alternate options similar to Ozempic, which accommodates semaglutide.
For extra data, see: Trulicity vs. Ozempic: Which drug is best for you?
Ask your physician earlier than beginning Trulicity, particularly when you’ve got power kidney illness (CKD) or gastroparesis, as it might worsen these signs.
At all times seek the advice of your physician when you’ve got any questions or considerations about taking this treatment.
How do I cease taking Trulicity?
By no means cease taking this or any prescription treatment with out speaking to your physician.
Your physician will seemingly advocate truly fizzling out your treatment regularly to keep away from negative effects similar to weight acquire, fast spikes in blood sugar, elevated A1c, and worsening insulin resistance.
If you’re contemplating stopping, discuss to your physician about applicable subsequent steps.
Can Trulicity exchange insulin?
No, this drug or different GLP-1 agonists usually are not a substitute for insulin.
Trulicity reduces the necessity for insulin over time, however is meant to complement insulin remedy if insulin is prescribed.
By no means cease taking insulin until directed and really useful by your physician.
Can I take Trulicity with different diabetes medicines?
Sure, however it is dependent upon the drug. Trulicity could be safely used with insulin or metformin.
Nonetheless, it ought to by no means be utilized in mixture with different GLP-1 agonists, similar to Ozempic, Victoza (liraglutide), or Munjaro (tirzepatide), as they’ll trigger severe negative effects similar to hypoglycemia, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
You probably have considerations about attainable interactions between your diabetes medicines and Trulicity, please seek the advice of your healthcare supplier. If there are contraindications, we are able to additionally counsel alternate options.
Does Trulicity must be refrigerated?
Sure, retailer within the fridge at a temperature of 36°F to 46°F (2°C to eight°C). It may be used for 56 days after opening. Don’t freeze or expose to excessive warmth.
How a lot does Trulicity price?
Your month-to-month prices, or out-of-pocket prices, fluctuate relying in your particular insurance coverage plan. To search out out your out-of-pocket prices, examine together with your insurance coverage firm utilizing your prescription or medical card.
Trulicity is usually coated by main medical insurance plans similar to Medicare and Medicaid. You probably have questions on protection or copays, please contact Lilly Cares at 1-800-LILLYRX (1-800-545-5979).
For eligible people, the LillyCare Basis Affected person Help Program might present medicines for free of charge. To study extra about this program and see in case you qualify, name 1-800-545-6962. The Trulicity Financial savings Card can also be accessible to eligible people.
How do I get a prescription for Trulicity?
If you’re excited by a prescription, please discuss to your well being care supplier.
You probably have sort 2 diabetes and are coping with weight administration or insulin resistance, it’s possible you’ll qualify.
For individuals with prediabetes or sort 1 diabetes, this therapy might assist enhance insulin sensitivity.
If you happen to shouldn’t have diabetes however need to reduce weight, discuss together with your physician about different FDA-approved weight reduction medicine which may be safer and extra appropriate for you with out the negative effects related to this drug.
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