Trulicity, a once-weekly injectable, is used to handle blood sugar and weight in folks with sort 2 diabetes.
This text explores all the pieces it’s essential learn about this therapy, together with its advantages and unintended effects.
What’s Trulicity?
Trulicity is a name-brand prescription treatment for adults and youngsters ages 10 and up with sort 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 dying in these with sort 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 drugs.
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 treatment slows digestion, suppressing urge for food and selling weight reduction.
By persistently reducing blood sugar ranges and A1c, it helps scale back the danger of coronary heart assault, stroke, and untimely dying.
What are the advantages of taking Trulicity?
Trulicity affords 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 therapy), helped decrease blood sugar ranges and A1c, and promoted weight reduction.
Moreover, in scientific trials, individuals with sort 2 diabetes noticed a diminished danger of main cardiovascular occasions, akin to coronary heart assault, stroke, and dying.
The prescription is only when used alongside a nutritious diet, common bodily exercise, and different prescribed diabetes drugs.
Why would you be prescribed Trulicity?
This remedy could also be prescribed you probably have sort 2 diabetes and are combating insulin resistance or managing blood sugar ranges.
It will also be prescribed for folks with out sort 2 diabetes who need assistance with insulin resistance or managing blood sugar with different diabetes drugs.
On account of its cardiovascular advantages, the therapy is usually given to folks with current coronary heart illness.
Whereas not FDA-approved for weight reduction, it’s often prescribed off-label to assist with weight administration.
Study 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 unintended effects?
Trulicity could cause unintended effects, particularly whenever you first begin taking it as your physique adjusts. Frequent unintended effects are normally delicate to reasonable 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 unintended effects can embrace:
- Acute pancreatitis,
- Extreme allergic reactions,
- Impaired kidney operate, and
- Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC)
Keep away from this treatment you probably 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 danger of thyroid most cancers with Trulicity use. In case you have gastroparesis or continual kidney illness (CKD), seek the advice of your physician, as the medication might worsen these situations.
Learn extra in: Trulicity Aspect Results: What You Have to Know.
What are the everyday doses?
Medical doctors usually begin sufferers on a low dose, 0.75 milligrams (mg) as soon as weekly, to attenuate unintended effects. The medication might 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 eating regimen in: Meals to Keep away from When Taking Trulicity.
If wanted, the dose might enhance to 1.5 mg after 4 weeks. For kids, the utmost dose is 1.5 mg weekly, whereas adults might use 1.5 mg, 3 mg, or 4.5 mg weekly.
All the time seek the advice of your healthcare supplier earlier than adjusting your dose, and solely enhance by 1.5 mg increments after a minimum of 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 fluctuate primarily based on particular person well being elements, together with medical historical past, well being targets, physique weight, way of life, and insulin resistance.
All the time observe your prescribed dosage and seek the advice of your physician earlier than making any adjustments.
Study extra in: Trulicity Dosing: How A lot Ought to You Take?
What occurs when you take an excessive amount of Trulicity?
The utmost weekly dose is 4.5 mg.
Taking two doses inside 72 hours could cause extreme unintended effects, together with nausea, vomiting, and dangerously low blood sugar, which might be life-threatening if not handled.
Signs of very low blood sugar might embrace:
- Dizziness
- Shakiness
- Confusion
- Speedy heartbeat
- Shallow respiration
- Nervousness
- Lethargy
- Fatigue
- Unconsciousness or diabetic coma
When you suspect an overdose, contact your physician or emergency companies instantly.
Can I miss a dose?
When you miss a dose, don’t fear — you received’t expertise elevated insulin resistance, increased blood sugar, or weight acquire from lacking one week.
Nonetheless, it’s essential to take your treatment persistently 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.
When 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 drugs is out there in a pen type and is injected subcutaneously (beneath 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 distinct spot inside the similar space (e.g., a distinct 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 treatment.
Maintain the needle in your pores and skin for about 10 seconds to make sure the total dose is run.
After injecting, discard the whole pen in a sharps container, wipe away any extra treatment or blood with an alcohol swab, and also you’re achieved.
Who shouldn’t take Trulicity?
This therapy ought to solely be taken if prescribed by a healthcare skilled.
It’s not advisable for many who are pregnant, planning to change into pregnant, or breastfeeding.
The treatment is just not appropriate for folks with out diabetes, or for these with prediabetes or sort 1 diabetes, and not using a physician’s steering.
Keep away from this drug when you or your loved ones have a historical past of MTC or A number of Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome sort 2 (MEN 2), or if you’re allergic to dulaglutide.
When you’re allergic to dulaglutide however occupied with a GLP-1 agonist, contemplate alternate options like Ozempic, which comprises semaglutide.
See extra in: Trulicity vs. Ozempic: Which Medicine Is Proper for You?
Seek the advice of your physician earlier than beginning Trulicity, particularly you probably have continual kidney illness (CKD) or gastroparesis, as it could worsen these situations.
All the time speak to your physician you probably have any questions or considerations about taking this treatment.
How do I cease taking Trulicity?
By no means cease taking this or any prescribed treatment with out consulting your physician.
Your physician will doubtless suggest regularly truly fizzling out the treatment to keep away from antagonistic unintended effects akin to weight acquire, a pointy enhance in blood sugar ranges, increased A1c, or worsening insulin resistance.
When you’re contemplating stopping, communicate along with your physician for steering on the suitable subsequent steps.
Can Trulicity change insulin?
No, this drugs and different GLP-1 agonists don’t change insulin.
Whereas Trulicity might scale back your want for insulin over time, it’s supposed 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 drugs?
Sure, however it is dependent upon the treatment. Trulicity might be safely mixed with insulin or metformin.
Nonetheless, it is best to by no means take it with different GLP-1 agonists, akin to Ozempic, Victoza (liraglutide), or Mounjaro (tirzepatide), as this will result in severe unintended effects like low blood sugar, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
In case you have considerations about potential interactions between your present diabetes drugs and Trulicity, communicate along with your healthcare supplier. They will counsel 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 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. In case 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 might provide the medication for free of charge. To be taught extra about this program and see when you qualify, name 1-800-545-6962. A Trulicity financial savings card can be obtainable to eligible people.
How do I get a prescription for Trulicity?
Converse along with your healthcare supplier when you’re occupied with a prescription.
Chances are you’ll be eligible you probably have sort 2 diabetes and are coping with weight administration or insulin resistance.
For these with prediabetes or sort 1 diabetes, the therapy might assist enhance insulin sensitivity.
When you should not have diabetes however are looking for to drop some pounds, talk about along with your physician different FDA-approved weight reduction drugs which may be safer and extra appropriate, with out the unintended effects related to this drug.
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