Pronunciation: TRU-li-si-tee
Generic name: dulaglutide
Brand name: Trulicity pen
Dosage form: single-use pen injection for subcutaneous use (0.75 mg/0.5 mL, 1.5 mg/0.5 mL, 3 mg/0.5 mL, 4.5 mg/0.5 mL)
Drug class: Incretin Mimetics (GLP-1 Agonists)

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Dec 23, 2024.

What is Trulicity?

Trulicity is an injectable diabetes medicine that is used together with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults and children 10 years of age and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Trulicity (generic name dulaglutide) is also used to help reduce the risk of serious heart problems such as heart attack or stroke in adults who have established cardiovascular disease or multiple cardiovascular risk factors.

Trulicity is not approved as a weight loss drug, but some people may lose weight while using it. Trulicity belongs to the drug class called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, which includes other medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Ryebelsus, Victoza, Saxenda, and Byetta.

• For more information, see Trulicity vs Ozempic or Trulicity vs Mounjaro.

Trulicity's mechanism of action involves mimicking a natural hormone called GLP-1, that your body makes after eating. Glp-1 helps control blood sugar in type 2 diabetes by increasing insulin when needed, reducing glucose production in the liver, slowing digestion, and decreasing appetite. Unlike your body's natural GLP-1 which works for minutes, Trulicity lasts a week, which means Trulicity injections only need to be given 1 time a week.

Trulicity gained FDA approval on September 18, 2014. There is no Trulicity generic.

Trulicity side effects

The most common side effects of Trulicity are: 

• nausea
• diarrhea
• vomiting
• stomach (abdominal) pain
• decreased appetite.

Serious side effects and warnings

Trulicity carries a Boxed Warning for thyroid C-cell tumors in rats, but it is unknown whether Trulicity would cause this type of cancer in humans. 

Possible thyroid tumors, including cancer. Tell your healthcare provider if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. These may be symptoms of thyroid cancer. In studies with rats or mice, Trulicity and medicines that work like Trulicity caused thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer. It is not known if Trulicity will cause thyroid tumors, or a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in people.

• Do not use Trulicity if you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
• Call your doctor at once if you have signs of a thyroid tumor, such as swelling or a lump in your neck, trouble swallowing, a hoarse voice, or shortness of breath.

Inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis). Stop using Trulicity and call your healthcare provider right away if you have severe pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that will not go away, with or without vomiting. You may feel the pain from your abdomen to your back.

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Your risk of getting low blood sugar may be higher if you use Trulicity with another medicine that can cause low blood sugar, such as a sulfonylurea or insulin. Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar may include:

• dizziness or light-headedness
• sweating
• confusion or drowsiness
• headache
• blurred vision
• slurred speech
• shakiness
• fast heartbeat
• anxiety, irritability, or mood changes
• hunger
• weakness
• feeling jittery.

Serious allergic reactions. Stop using Trulicity and get medical help right away if you have any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction including:

• swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat
• problems breathing or swallowing
• severe rash or itching
• fainting or feeling dizzy
• very rapid heartbeat.

Kidney problems (kidney failure). In people who have kidney problems, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting may cause a loss of fluids (dehydration) which may cause kidney problems to get worse.

Severe stomach problems. Stomach problems, sometimes severe, have been reported in people who use TRULICITY. Tell your healthcare provider if you have stomach problems that are severe or will not go away.

Vision changes. Tell your healthcare provider if you have changes in vision during treatment with Trulicity.

Gallbladder problems. Gallbladder problems have happened in some people who take Trulicity. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get symptoms of gallbladder problems, which may include:

• pain in your upper stomach (abdomen)
• fever
• yellowing of skin or eyes (jaundice)
• clay-colored stools.

Food or liquid getting into the lungs during surgery or other procedures that use anesthesia or deep sleepiness (deep sedation). Trulicity may increase the chance of food getting into your lungs during surgery or other procedures. Tell all your healthcare providers that you are taking Trulicity before you are scheduled to have surgery or other procedures.

Do not use this medicine if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment).

Trulicity is not for treating type 1 diabetes.

Trulicity has not been studied in patients with a history of pancreatitis. Other treatments for type 2 diabetes should be considered.

These are not all the possible side effects of Trulicity. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Related/similar drugs

Before taking 

You should not use Trulicity if you are allergic to dulaglutide, Trulicity, or any of the inactive ingredients in the Trulicity pen. In addition, do not use if you have:

• multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (tumors in your glands)

• a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (a type of thyroid cancer)

• diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment).

Tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions before starting Trulicity, including if you:

• have or have had problems with your pancreas, kidneys or liver.
• have severe problems with your stomach, such as slowed emptying of your stomach (gastroparesis), problems with digesting food, or severe stomach problems
• have a history of diabetic retinopathy
• have type 1 diabetes
• are scheduled to have surgery or other procedures that use anesthesia or deep sleepiness (deep sedation)
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Trulicity is not approved for use by anyone younger than 10 years old with type 2 diabetes. For cardiovascular risk reduction, it is only approved for adults over the age of 18.

Pregnancy

It is not known if Trulicity will harm an unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while using Trulicity.

Breastfeeding

It is not known if Trulicity passes into your breast milk. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you should breastfeed while taking Trulicity.

How should I use Trulicity?

Read the Instructions for Use that come with the Trulicity Package Insert. Use Trulicity exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to.

Use Trulicity 1 time each week on the same day each week at any time of the day.

• You may change the day of the week as long as your last dose was given 3 or more days before.
• Trulicity may be taken with or without food.

Trulicity is injected under the skin (subcutaneously) of your stomach (abdomen), thigh, or upper arm.

• Your healthcare provider will teach you how to inject Trulicity yourself, or you can have a caregiver give it to you.

Do not mix insulin and Trulicity together in the same injection.

• You may give an injection of Trulicity and insulin in the same body area (such as your stomach area), but not right next to each other.
• Change (rotate) your injection site with each weekly injection. Do not use the same site for each injection.

What happens if I miss a dose of Trulicity?

If you miss a dose of Trulicity, take the missed dose as soon as possible if there are at least 3 days (72 hours) until your next scheduled dose.

If there are less than 3 days remaining, skip the missed dose and take your next dose on the regularly scheduled day. Do not take 2 doses of Trulicity within 3 days of each other.

What happens if I take too much Trulicity?

If you take too much Trulicity, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

What happens if I develop low blood sugar on Trulicity?

You may have low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and feel very hungry, dizzy, irritable, confused, anxious, or shaky. To quickly treat hypoglycemia, eat or drink a fast-acting source of sugar (fruit juice, hard candy, crackers, raisins, or non-diet soda).

Your doctor may prescribe a glucagon injection kit in case you have severe hypoglycemia. Be sure your family or close friends know how to give you this injection in an emergency.

Blood sugar levels can be affected by stress, illness, surgery, exercise, alcohol use, or skipping meals. Ask your doctor before changing your dose or medication schedule.

Also, watch for signs of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) such as increased thirst or urination.

Trulicity dosing information

Usual Adult Trulicity Dose for Diabetes Type 2

Initial dose: Trulicity 0.75 mg subcutaneously once a week

• The dose may be increased to 1.5 from 0.75, then in 1.5 mg increments for additional glycemic control; patients should remain on 3 mg 1 time a week dose for at least 4 weeks before increasing the dose to 4.5 mg once a week.

Maintenance dose: 0.75 to 4.5 mg subcutaneously once a week.

Maximum dose: 4.5 mg weekly.

Usual Child 10 years and Older Trulicity Dose for Diabetes Type 2

Initial dose: Trulicity 0.75 mg subcutaneously once a week

• The dose may be increased to 1.5 mg once weekly after at least 4 weeks on the 0.75 mg dosage. 

Maintenance dose: 0.75 to 1.5 mg subcutaneously once a week.

Maximum dose: 1.5 mg weekly.

Usual Adult Trulicity Dose for Cardiovascular Risk Reduction:

Initial dose: Trulicity 0.75 mg subcutaneously once a week

• The dose may be increased to 1.5 from 0.75, then in 1.5 mg increments for additional glycemic control; patients should remain on 3 mg 1 time a week dose for at least 4 weeks before increasing the dose to 4.5 mg once a week.

Maintenance dose: 0.75 to 4.5 mg subcutaneously once a week.

Maximum dose: 4.5 mg weekly.

What should I avoid while using Trulicity?

Never share an injection pen or prefilled syringe with another person, even if the needle has been changed. Sharing these devices can allow infections or disease to pass from one person to another.

What other drugs will affect Trulicity?

Other drugs may interact with Trulicity, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

Trulicity can slow your digestion, and it may take longer for your body to absorb any medicines you take by mouth.

This is not a full list of drug interactions. See the Trulicity Prescribing Information for a full list.

How do I store Trulicity?

Store Trulicity Pens in the refrigerator, protected from light. Do not use past the expiration date on the medicine label. Do not freeze this medicine, and throw away the medicine if it has become frozen.

You may also store Trulicity Pens at room temperature for up to 14 days before use.

Each injection pen or prefilled syringe is for one use only. Throw away after one use, even if there is still medicine left inside. Use a puncture-proof "sharps" container. Follow state or local laws about how to dispose of this container. Keep it out of the reach of children and pets.

Trulicity ingredients

Active ingredient: dulaglutide
Inactive ingredients: citric acid anhydrous, mannitol, polysorbate 80, trisodium citrate dihydrate, in water for injection.

Who makes Trulicity?

Eli Lilly and Company make Trulicity.

Trulicity Biosimilars

Biosimilar and interchangeable products are biological products that are highly similar to and have no clinically meaningful differences from the reference product.

Reference products

These are biological products that have already been approved by the FDA, against which biosimilar products are compared. There is 1 for Trulicity.

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