Trulicity, a once-weekly injectable, is used to handle blood sugar and weight in folks with kind 2 diabetes.
This text explores the whole lot it is advisable to learn about this remedy, together with its advantages and unwanted effects.
What’s Trulicity?
Trulicity is a name-brand prescription remedy for adults and kids 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 forestall stroke, coronary heart assault, and untimely demise 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 energetic ingredient.
It’s typically 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 remedy slows digestion, suppressing urge for food and selling weight reduction.
By constantly decreasing blood sugar ranges and A1c, it helps cut back the chance of coronary heart assault, stroke, and untimely demise.
What are the advantages of taking Trulicity?
Trulicity presents a number of advantages for diabetes administration, together with weight reduction.
In randomized management trials (RCTs), individuals misplaced a median 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 lowered threat of main cardiovascular occasions, equivalent to coronary heart assault, stroke, and demise.
The prescription is handiest 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 sometimes 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 may cause unwanted effects, particularly while you first begin taking it as your physique adjusts. Widespread unwanted effects are often delicate to average and will embrace:
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Abdomen ache
- Redness on the injection web site
- Suppressed urge for food
- Weight reduction
- Low blood sugar (significantly if mixed with insulin remedy)
Uncommon however severe unwanted effects can embrace:
- Acute pancreatitis,
- Extreme allergic reactions,
- Impaired kidney operate, and
- Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC)
Keep away from this remedy if in case you have a private or household historical past of MTC or a number of endocrine neoplasia, or if you’re allergic to dulaglutide.
The FDA has issued a black field warning about an elevated threat of thyroid most cancers with Trulicity use. In case you have gastroparesis or power kidney illness (CKD), seek the advice of your physician, as the medication might worsen these circumstances.
Learn extra in: Trulicity Aspect Results: What You Must Know.
What are the everyday doses?
Medical doctors usually begin sufferers on a low dose, 0.75 milligrams (mg) as soon as weekly, to reduce 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 drugs and food plan in: Meals to Keep away from When Taking Trulicity.
If wanted, the dose might improve to 1.5 mg after 4 weeks. For youngsters, the utmost dose is 1.5 mg weekly, whereas adults might 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 improve by 1.5 mg increments after at the very least 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 differ primarily based on particular person well being components, together with medical historical past, well being objectives, physique weight, life-style, and insulin resistance.
At all times comply with your prescribed dosage and seek the advice of your physician earlier than making any modifications.
Be taught extra in: Trulicity Dosing: How A lot Ought to You Take?
What occurs should you take an excessive amount of Trulicity?
The utmost weekly dose is 4.5 mg.
Taking two doses inside 72 hours may 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 might embrace:
- Dizziness
- Shakiness
- Confusion
- Fast heartbeat
- Shallow respiratory
- Nervousness
- Lethargy
- Fatigue
- Unconsciousness or diabetic coma
For those who suspect an overdose, contact your physician or emergency companies instantly.
Can I miss a dose?
For those who 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 vital to take your remedy constantly for the most effective outcomes. Set a reminder in your cellphone to assist make sure you take your dose on the identical day every week.
For those who’re inside 3 days of the missed dose, you’ll be able to 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 drugs is on the market in a pen type and is injected subcutaneously (below the pores and skin).
Select an injection web site with fatty tissue, such because the higher thighs, higher arms, or abdomen. Rotate your injection web site every week, utilizing a unique spot throughout the identical space (e.g., a unique a part of your abdomen).
To inject, first wash your fingers 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 remedy.
Preserve the needle in your pores and skin for about 10 seconds to make sure the complete dose is run.
After injecting, discard the complete pen in a sharps container, wipe away any extra remedy or blood with an alcohol swab, and also you’re executed.
Who shouldn’t take Trulicity?
This remedy ought to solely be taken if prescribed by a healthcare skilled.
It’s not really helpful for many who are pregnant, planning to change into pregnant, or breastfeeding.
The remedy just isn’t appropriate for folks with out diabetes, or for these with prediabetes or kind 1 diabetes, with out a physician’s steering.
Keep away from this drug should you or your loved ones have a historical past of MTC or A number of Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome kind 2 (MEN 2), or if you’re allergic to dulaglutide.
For those who’re allergic to dulaglutide however considering a GLP-1 agonist, contemplate 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 power kidney illness (CKD) or gastroparesis, as it could worsen these circumstances.
At all times discuss to your physician if in case you have any questions or considerations about taking this remedy.
How do I cease taking Trulicity?
By no means cease taking this or any prescribed remedy with out consulting your physician.
Your physician will possible suggest steadily petering out the remedy to keep away from opposed unwanted effects equivalent to weight achieve, a pointy improve in blood sugar ranges, larger A1c, or worsening insulin resistance.
For those who’re contemplating stopping, converse together with your physician for steering on the suitable subsequent steps.
Can Trulicity exchange insulin?
No, this drugs and different GLP-1 agonists don’t exchange insulin.
Whereas Trulicity might cut back your want for insulin over time, it’s meant to complement insulin remedy if you’re prescribed insulin.
By no means cease taking your insulin with out your physician’s steering and advice.
Can I take Trulicity with different diabetes medicines?
Sure, but it surely is dependent upon the remedy. Trulicity will be safely mixed with insulin or metformin.
Nevertheless, you must by no means take it with different GLP-1 agonists, equivalent to Ozempic, Victoza (liraglutide), or Mounjaro (tirzepatide), as this could result in severe unwanted effects like low blood sugar, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
In case you have considerations about potential interactions between your present diabetes medicines and Trulicity, converse together with your healthcare supplier. They’ll recommend alternate options if there are any contraindications.
Does Trulicity should be refrigerated?
Sure, it must 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 price?
The price every month, or your co-pay, will rely in your particular insurance coverage plan. To search out out your co-pay quantity, use your prescription or medical card and seek the advice of together with your insurance coverage supplier.
Trulicity is often coated by main well being plans, together with Medicare and Medicaid. In case you have questions on protection or co-pay prices, you’ll be able to contact Lilly Cares at 1-800-LILLYRX (1-800-545-5979).
For eligible people, the Lilly Cares Basis Affected person Help Program might supply the medication for gratis. To study extra about this program and see should you qualify, name 1-800-545-6962. A Trulicity financial savings card can also be accessible to eligible people.
How do I get a prescription for Trulicity?
Communicate together with your healthcare supplier should you’re considering 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 might assist enhance insulin sensitivity.
For those who shouldn’t have diabetes however are looking for to shed weight, talk about together 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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