Trulicity is a once-weekly injectable medicine designed for adults with sort 2 diabetes, accepted to assist handle blood sugar ranges extra successfully.
It not solely helps with managing diabetes but in addition helps weight reduction and helps stop stroke, coronary heart assaults, and untimely demise in these with preexisting coronary heart circumstances.
However what are the uncomfortable side effects of this medicine, and the way will it influence your each day life? This text will examine every little thing you want to learn about Trulicity’s uncomfortable side effects
How does Trulicity work?
Trulicity, a medicine containing the lively ingredient dulaglutide, shouldn’t be a type of insulin nor does it change insulin. Nevertheless, it’s often used alongside insulin to enhance diabetes administration.
The medicine works by attaching to particular receptors on pancreatic cells, prompting the discharge of extra insulin, which helps decrease blood sugar ranges.
Moreover, Trulicity reduces glucagon manufacturing within the liver, stopping spikes in blood sugar after meals and enhancing insulin sensitivity. It additionally slows digestion, which suppresses urge for food and may result in weight reduction over time.
Study extra in: The whole lot You Have to Know About Trulicity.
What are the uncomfortable side effects of Trulicity?
Trulicity might trigger a spread of uncomfortable side effects, sometimes minor to reasonable, that are regular particularly when starting remedy.
Frequent uncomfortable side effects embrace:
- Suppressed urge for food
- Weight reduction
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdomen ache
- Redness, swelling, and bruising on the injection web site
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea
- Low blood sugar (particularly for those who additionally use insulin)
Learn extra in: Trulicity and Weight Loss: Can Trulicity Assist You Lose Weight?
A couple of uncommon however severe and/or long-term uncomfortable side effects have been famous, together with:
- Acute pancreatitis
- Extreme allergic response
- Diabetic retinopathy (the medication can worsen diabetic retinopathy if you have already got the situation)
- Gallbladder illness
- Impaired kidney operate
- Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC, a sort of thyroid most cancers)
The FDA has additionally issued a black field warning linking Trulicity to an elevated danger of thyroid most cancers.
Folks with circumstances like gastroparesis or continual kidney illness (CKD) ought to seek the advice of their physician earlier than utilizing Trulicity, as it might worsen these circumstances.
If uncomfortable side effects final for quite a lot of weeks or change into debilitating, affecting work, college, or social life, focus on together with your physician the potential of adjusting the dosage or switching to an alternate medicine.
How lengthy do Trulicity uncomfortable side effects final?
Nausea is probably the most generally reported facet impact of Trulicity, affecting 8 to 29 % of customers, in line with the producer. Whereas this facet impact usually resolves throughout the first two weeks for most individuals, it might probably last more in some circumstances.
Moreover, fewer than 2 % of customers discover it essential to discontinue Trulicity resulting from nausea.
It’s necessary to notice that different uncomfortable side effects similar to diarrhea, vomiting, and decreased urge for food may additionally happen, however these sometimes lower because the physique adjusts to the medicine over an analogous timeframe. If uncomfortable side effects persist or worsen, seek the advice of your healthcare supplier.
How will you mitigate the uncomfortable side effects of Trulicity?
Managing the uncomfortable side effects of Trulicity entails a number of methods to keep up consolation and security. In the event you expertise nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, it’s necessary to remain hydrated. Consuming loads of water and consuming electrolytes, similar to these present in coconut water, might help.
Monitoring your blood sugar ranges can be important; if they’re constantly too excessive, you might be in danger for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a probably life-threatening situation.
Equally, low blood sugar will be harmful, particularly if you’re additionally taking insulin, and requires cautious administration.
To cut back nausea, eat bland meals like toast, rice, bananas, and applesauce, and make sure you drink clear liquids. If nausea prevents you from retaining meals or drink down, search medical consideration instantly.
Consuming smaller, extra frequent meals might help handle gastrointestinal signs. Cease consuming when you’re full, even when the quantity appears lower than normal.
For persistent nausea, think about over-the-counter cures like Dramamine (dimenhydrinate), or focus on prescription choices like Zofran (ondansetron) together with your physician.
Does taking extra Trulicity make the uncomfortable side effects worse?
Growing the dose of Trulicity can certainly increase the chance of experiencing uncomfortable side effects.
Scientific research reveal that greater doses lead to elevated uncomfortable side effects. As an illustration, about 16 % of contributors in a single research reported worsened nausea, main roughly 1 % to discontinue the medicine.
Subsequently, it is very important stick strictly to your physician’s prescribed dosage of Trulicity, notably when beginning the medicine. Your physician will fastidiously regulate your dose primarily based on how your physique responds, guaranteeing the perfect steadiness between effectiveness and tolerability.
See extra in: Trulicity Dosing: How A lot Ought to You Take?
Do you need to take Trulicity with meals?
No, Trulicity doesn’t require meals when taken, which differs from many insulin therapies.
It steadily lowers blood sugar ranges with out inflicting the acute lows that may happen with insulin. Consistency in taking your dose is essential, so it’s greatest to take the medication at a time that’s simple so that you can keep in mind.
Nevertheless, for those who expertise nausea after taking your dose, consuming a small quantity of meals beforehand may assist cut back this discomfort, though it’s not crucial.
Learn extra in: Meals to Keep away from When Taking Trulicity.
How do I do know if I ought to cease taking Trulicity?
If Trulicity’s uncomfortable side effects change into debilitating and disrupt your each day life, focus on this together with your physician. Do you have to each resolve to cease the remedy, your physician will possible taper your dose steadily over a number of weeks, quite than discontinuing it abruptly.
Endurance is necessary for those who’re contemplating stopping resulting from a scarcity of quick enhancements in blood sugar ranges or weight reduction. It’s frequent for these adjustments to take time with any medicine, together with Trulicity.
Usually, docs suggest permitting a number of months for the medicine to attain its full impact earlier than deciding to discontinue it.
Who mustn’t use Trulicity?
Trulicity shouldn’t be appropriate for everybody. Folks allergic to dulaglutide, the lively ingredient in Trulicity, ought to keep away from it. It is usually contraindicated for these with a private or household historical past of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or a number of endocrine neoplasia.
Moreover, Trulicity shouldn’t be accepted for kids below 18 years outdated except prescribed by a doctor. It isn’t really helpful for people who’re pregnant, planning to change into pregnant, or breastfeeding.
You probably have continual kidney illness (CKD) or gastroparesis, converse together with your physician earlier than utilizing Trulicity, as it might worsen these circumstances. Additionally, Trulicity shouldn’t be designed to deal with prediabetes or sort 1 diabetes.
Are there options to Trulicity?
In the event you’re experiencing detrimental uncomfortable side effects with Trulicity, it’s necessary to seek the advice of your physician about doable various drugs that may be higher tolerated. Some potential options to Trulicity embrace:
- Ozempic (semaglutide) and Ryebelsus (semaglutide): Each include the identical lively ingredient however are administered otherwise. (Study extra in: Trulicity vs. Ozempic: Which Remedy Is Proper for You?)
- Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Victoza (liraglutide): These drugs additionally purpose to enhance blood sugar administration in sort 2 diabetes.
- Farxiga (dapagliflozin), Jardiance (empagliflozin), and metformin: These supply further mechanisms of motion and could also be appropriate relying in your well being profile and particular wants.
Study extra about this medicine in The whole lot You Have to Know About Trulicity. Did you discover this text useful? Click on Sure or No under to tell us!