Trulicity is a once-weekly injection belonging to the GLP-1 agonist class that helps handle blood glucose (sugar) in kind 2 diabetes and reduces the chance of coronary heart issues and coronary heart illness.
More and more, additionally it is being prescribed for weight reduction, although it isn’t FDA-approved for this function.
What’s Trulicity?
Trulicity (dulaglutide) is a brand-name remedy used to deal with kind 2 diabetes. Permitted by the FDA in 2014, it helps handle blood sugar ranges, usually alongside insulin remedy.
It really works by:
- Serving to the pancreas make extra insulin
- Stopping after-meal blood sugar spikes by inhibiting glucagon manufacturing from the liver
- Slowing digestion, which might result in feeling fuller for longer
Comparable medicine embody Ozempic (semaglutide), Mounjaro (tirzepatide), and Victoza (liraglutide), that are additionally famous for his or her weight reduction advantages.
Can Trulicity make it easier to drop some weight?
Technically, sure. GLP-1 agonists like Wegovy (semaglutide) are authorised particularly for weight reduction. Whereas Trulicity isn’t FDA-approved for this function, many individuals taking it for diabetes administration do expertise weight reduction.
In randomized managed trials (RCTs), the remedy helped the typical individual lose round 6.6 kilos over 6 months.
One other research confirmed that dulaglutide, the energetic ingredient in Trulicity, led to decrease blood sugar ranges, decrease A1c ranges, and weight reduction in comparison with a placebo (inactive therapy).
It’s only when mixed with a nutritious diet, elevated bodily exercise, and as a complement to prescribed diabetes medicines.
Since it isn’t FDA-approved for weight reduction, there isn’t any really useful dose for this function. Nevertheless, research point out that weight reduction is dose-dependent — that’s, the upper the dose, the extra weight reduction folks skilled sustainably.
Learn extra in: Trulicity Dosing: How A lot Ought to You Take?
How shortly can I drop some weight on Trulicity?
Trulicity isn’t really useful for fast weight reduction.
Sustainable weight reduction happens progressively over a number of months. The remedy works by suppressing urge for food and enhancing insulin sensitivity, resulting in gradual weight reduction.
For the most effective outcomes, mix Trulicity with a nutritious diet and elevated train.
How a lot weight are you able to lose with Trulicity?
Analysis exhibits that it helps folks lose a mean of 6.6 kilos, with this weight reduction sustained for over 6 months.
The remedy’s results are dose-dependent: at 1 mg, customers usually lose about 6.6 kilos; at 3.0 mg, they lose round 8.4 kilos; and on the most dose of 4.5 mg, they lose roughly 10.1 kilos.
Nevertheless, most weight reduction is normally regained after stopping the remedy.
What are the uncomfortable side effects?
Trulicity could trigger antagonistic uncomfortable side effects, particularly whenever you first begin taking the remedy. These could embody:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Decreased urge for food
- Abdomen ache and bloating
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Redness and swelling on the injection web site
- Low blood sugar (particularly if on insulin)
Uncommon however critical uncomfortable side effects embody:
- Acute pancreatitis
- Extreme allergic response
- Impaired kidney perform
- Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC)
Keep away from this medication you probably have a private or household historical past of MTC or a number of endocrine neoplasia. The FDA has issued a black field warning about its elevated danger of thyroid most cancers.
Who mustn’t take Trulicity?
Don’t take this remedy and not using a prescription.
Keep away from it if you’re at a upkeep weight or are underweight.
Don’t use it for weight reduction if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to turn into pregnant.
Trulicity could trigger critical (however uncommon) uncomfortable side effects, together with thyroid C-cell tumors and medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC).
In case you are on insulin, remember that Trulicity could enhance the chance of low blood sugar. Think about using a steady glucose monitor (CGM) when you take care of frequent hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), particularly hypoglycemia unawareness.
Can Trulicity change insulin?
No, this drug isn’t an insulin alternative. It really works otherwise and doesn’t shortly decrease blood sugar like insulin. If you happen to’ve lately been prescribed Trulicity, don’t cease taking your different diabetes medicines until directed by your healthcare supplier.
The remedy lowers blood sugar ranges over time, however you’ll nonetheless have to take insulin when you usually do. Whereas Trulicity could progressively scale back your insulin wants, it not often eliminates the necessity for insulin completely.
If you happen to expertise frequent low blood sugars whereas taking this medication, it seemingly means your insulin sensitivity has elevated, and also you’ll have to lower your insulin dose. Speak to your physician about adjusting your medicines to keep away from hypoglycemic occasions.
Can I take Trulicity if I don’t have diabetes?
You need to by no means take any remedy that hasn’t been prescribed to you.
Trulicity is simply FDA-approved for treating kind 2 diabetes, however it’s more and more prescribed “off-label” (in a way not formally authorised by the FDA) for weight reduction in folks with persistent insulin resistance, kind 1 diabetes, prediabetes, or those that are obese or overweight.
If you happen to do not need diabetes, remember that this remedy could cause antagonistic uncomfortable side effects, together with low blood sugar and low blood strain, each of which could be harmful if not handled accurately.
For weight reduction, ask your physician about FDA-approved medicines which may be a better option.
Is Trulicity best for you? Ask your physician
No healthcare resolution is one-size-fits-all. Converse along with your healthcare supplier to find out if a Trulicity prescription is the fitting weight-loss methodology for you.
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