About 1 out of every 5 people taking Trulicity during clinical trials felt nauseous¹. This weekly injectable helps manage type 2 diabetes but has side effects. Knowing these risks is key to staying healthy.

Trulicity (dulaglutide) is a common treatment for type 2 diabetes. It helps by making the pancreas release more insulin and slows down food movement². While it helps control blood sugar, it can also cause side effects, some of which are serious.

Key Takeaways

• Nausea and vomiting are common side effects, especially when starting Trulicity, but often decrease over time.
• Diarrhea, stomach pain, and decreased appetite are other frequently reported Trulicity side effects.
• Rare but serious side effects include pancreatitis, thyroid tumors, and kidney damage.
• Trulicity may interact with other diabetes medications, increasing the risk of low blood sugar.
• Patients should talk to their healthcare provider about the potential risks and benefits of Trulicity.

Introduction to Trulicity and Its Side Effects

Overview of Trulicity as a Type 2 Diabetes Treatment

Trulicity (dulaglutide) is a type 2 diabetes treatment approved by the FDA³. It helps manage blood sugar levels in adults. This drug is part of a group called GLP-1 agonists, which improve blood sugar, heart health, and weight⁴. It’s also used to lower the risk of serious heart and blood vessel problems in those with type 2 diabetes and heart disease or risk of it⁴.

Common and Rare Side Effects Associated with Trulicity

Many people find Trulicity tolerable, but it can cause side effects³. Common mild side effects include digestive issues, stomach pain, less hunger, tiredness, reactions at the injection site, and rash⁴. Serious side effects include low blood sugar, pancreatitis, kidney damage, severe stomach problems, and thyroid cancer risk³. Side effects differ from person to person and can depend on the dose, with higher doses increasing the risk in studies³.

Trulicity doesn’t usually cause weight gain but might make you eat less, which could lead to losing weight⁴. Hair loss, dizziness, and headaches are not common side effects of Trulicity⁴⁵. Side effects can start and last differently, with injection-site reactions often going away in a few days and nausea improving after 2 weeks⁴.

Trulicity has a warning about thyroid cancer risk from the FDA⁵. The highest dose is 4.5 mg, given once a week⁵. The cost of Trulicity can change based on insurance and pharmacy, and there might be support from the manufacturer⁵.

“Trulicity is a prescription drug used in adults with type 2 diabetes to manage blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of heart problems.”⁵

Gastrointestinal Side Effects of Trulicity

Trulicity (dulaglutide) often causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain or indigestion⁶. These symptoms can be tough, especially when starting the drug or when the dose goes up⁷.

Nausea and Vomiting

About 21.1% of patients felt nausea during clinical trials⁶. Vomiting was less common, happening in up to 11.5%⁶. Doctors may increase the Trulicity dose slowly to help your body adjust⁷. Eating smaller meals and avoiding high-fat foods can also help⁷. If nausea and vomiting don’t go away, you might need a different treatment⁷.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea affects up to 13.7% of patients, less than nausea and vomiting⁶. Constipation is also possible⁶. Diarrhea usually gets better over time⁷. Drinking plenty of water and avoiding foods that make diarrhea worse can help⁷. If diarrhea is severe or doesn’t get better, tell your doctor⁷.

Stomach Pain and Indigestion

Stomach pain is a common side effect of Trulicity⁶. Eating smaller meals and avoiding high-fat foods can ease this⁷. If stomach pain is severe or doesn’t go away, it could be a sign of a serious problem⁶. Indigestion, or a burning feeling in the upper stomach, is also possible⁶. Over-the-counter meds and changing your diet might help with indigestion⁷.

“Less than 4% of Trulicity patients discontinued the drug due to severe gastrointestinal side effects in clinical trials.”⁷

Decreased Appetite and Weight Loss

Trulicity, a common type 2 diabetes drug, affects your appetite and weight. It slows down how fast food moves through your stomach, making you feel full longer. This can lead to eating less⁸. Your doctor might give it to you to help you lose weight⁹.

Studies show that people taking the highest dose of Trulicity lost more than 10 pounds on average. Those on the 3.0 mg dose lost about 9 pounds, and the 1.5 mg dose around 6.5 pounds⁹. Switching from insulin to Trulicity also greatly improved HbA1c levels and weight over six months⁹.

Trulicity’s effects on appetite and weight can be big. Talk to your healthcare team if you notice big appetite changes, as they can adjust your treatment if needed⁶.

Trulicity Dosage	Average Weight Loss
4.5 mg	Over 10 pounds
3.0 mg	Around 9 pounds
1.5 mg	Approximately 6.5 pounds

Your healthcare provider can help manage the side effects of Trulicity. They can guide you on how to handle these changes and keep your diabetes treatment working well⁶.

“Up to 90% of Trulicity prescriptions cost less than $30 per month for those with commercial insurance, with an average remaining cost of $239 per month. With Medicare Part D, approximately 70% of Trulicity prescriptions cost between $0 and $100 per month, with the remaining 30% averaging around $207 per month.”⁹

Knowing about the possible appetite and weight changes with Trulicity helps you work with your healthcare team. Together, you can manage these effects and keep your diabetes treatment effective⁸.

Fatigue and Low Energy Levels

Some people taking Trulicity may feel more tired and have less energy¹. This could be because they eat fewer calories due to a smaller appetite¹. As the body gets used to eating less, the tiredness and low energy should go away¹.

If you’re still feeling very tired and low on energy, talk to your doctor¹. They might suggest ways to help, like changing how much Trulicity you take or giving advice on how to feel more energetic¹.

Many people taking Trulicity say they feel more tired and less energetic⁴. In studies, feeling tired was a common side effect seen with this drug⁴.

The exact reason for feeling tired and low on energy isn’t fully known¹⁴. But it’s thought to be linked to eating fewer calories and changes in metabolism from using Trulicity¹⁴. By working with your doctor, you can find ways to deal with these side effects and stay well while on Trulicity.

“Fatigue and low energy levels can be frustrating side effects to deal with, but there are often ways to manage them. Don’t hesitate to have an open discussion with your healthcare provider about your experiences.”

Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia)

Trulicity (dulaglutide) usually doesn’t cause low blood sugar or hypoglycemia¹⁰. But, it might raise the risk when used with other diabetes drugs that lower blood sugar, like insulin¹¹. About 8% of people taking Trulicity alone or with metformin might get hypoglycemia in a year¹¹. Severe hypoglycemia happens to about 0.2% of patients over one to two years¹¹.

Symptoms and Risk Factors

Signs of low blood sugar with Trulicity include shakiness, sweating, fast heartbeat, hunger, and confusion¹⁰. Your doctor will watch your blood sugar levels closely when you start Trulicity. They might adjust your other diabetes medicines to prevent low blood sugar.

Managing Hypoglycemia with Trulicity

If you show signs of low blood sugar, check your blood glucose and treat it¹⁰. You might need to eat fast-acting carbs like glucose tablets or juice. Your healthcare team will teach you how to handle low blood sugar¹⁰. They might also change your diabetes treatment plan to prevent future episodes.

In summary, Trulicity doesn’t usually cause low blood sugar on its own¹¹. But, it can when combined with other diabetes drugs¹¹. It’s key to know the signs, check your blood sugar, and follow your doctor’s advice on managing low blood sugar with Trulicity¹⁰¹²¹¹.

Trulicity Side Effects

Trulicity (dulaglutide) is an injectable medicine for type 2 diabetes⁸. It can help manage the disease, but it might also cause side effects. Knowing about these side effects helps patients make better choices for their health.

Trulicity can cause stomach issues, affect appetite and energy, and lead to low blood sugar⁶. It may also cause gallbladder disease, pancreatitis, kidney damage, thyroid tumors, and allergic reactions⁶. These side effects are not common, but it’s good to know the signs. This way, you can tell your doctor right away if you notice anything unusual⁶.

Gallbladder Disease and Pancreatitis

Using Trulicity might increase the risk of gallbladder disease and pancreatitis⁶. Signs of gallbladder disease include stomach pain, feeling sick, and throwing up. Pancreatitis can cause a lot of stomach pain, feeling sick, and throwing up too⁶. If you have had these problems before or are at risk, your doctor should keep a close eye on you when you’re taking Trulicity.

Kidney Damage and Dehydration

Trulicity might also raise the chance of kidney damage and dehydration⁶. Kidney damage signs are less urine, swelling, and feeling very tired⁶. Dehydration can make you very thirsty, your mouth feel dry, and you might feel dizzy⁶. If you have kidney issues or are at risk of dehydration, be extra careful with Trulicity.

Thyroid Tumor Risk

Studies show Trulicity might increase thyroid tumor risk in animals⁶. The risk in people is not clear yet. If you have thyroid cancer in your family or have MEN2, you should not use Trulicity⁶.

Allergic Reactions

Allergic reactions with Trulicity are rare but possible⁶. Look out for a rash, itching, swelling, or trouble breathing⁶. If you have any of these symptoms, get medical help right away.

Not all people will have these side effects, and how bad they are can vary⁶. Talking often with your doctor, watching your health closely, and telling them about any issues is key to managing Trulicity well⁸.

“Staying informed about the potential side effects of Trulicity is an important part of managing your diabetes treatment. Be sure to discuss any concerns or questions with your healthcare provider.”

⁸⁶¹³

Gallbladder Disease and Pancreatitis

Trulicity (dulaglutide), a type 2 diabetes drug, can raise the risk of gallbladder disease and pancreatitis¹⁴. These issues can be serious and need quick medical help if they happen.

Symptoms and Risk Factors

Gallbladder disease, like gallstones and inflammation, can cause a lot of stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, and yellow skin or eyes¹⁴. Pancreatitis, or pancreas inflammation, is another risk from Trulicity and brings on severe stomach pain¹⁴.

Even though rare, dulaglutide can cause pancreatitis. Other GLP-1 agonists might increase this risk more. For instance, exenatide is six times more likely to cause pancreatitis than dulaglutide¹⁴. In Trulicity trials, there was about 1.4 cases of pancreatitis per 1,000 people taking the drug for a year¹⁴.

Trulicity might also slightly raise serum amylase and lipase levels, which show how well the pancreas is working¹⁴. These changes depend on the dose. For the 0.75 mg dose, lipase levels changed by 3.0 to 6.0 units/L. For the 1.5 mg dose, they changed by 5.0 to 7.0 units/L¹⁴.

People taking Trulicity should watch for signs of gallbladder and pancreatitis. If they see any worrying symptoms, they should get medical help right away⁸. Doctors might also suggest regular check-ups and monitoring of pancreatic enzymes to catch and manage these serious side effects⁸¹⁴¹⁵.

Kidney Damage and Dehydration

Trulicity is usually safe for your kidneys, but rare cases of sudden kidney damage have been seen¹⁶. This is more likely in people with bad stomach issues like ongoing nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. These problems can cause dehydration and make kidney issues worse⁶.

It’s key to drink plenty of water if you have these stomach problems while on Trulicity¹⁶. Tell your doctor if these symptoms don’t go away, as they might need to check your kidney health more or change your treatment¹⁶.

Trulicity can also help your kidneys over time¹⁶. But, if you have chronic kidney disease, you might face a higher risk of low blood sugar with this drug¹⁶.

If you see signs of kidney trouble, like changes in how much you pee, swelling, or feeling very tired, talk to your doctor right away. Talking to your doctor early and keeping them updated is crucial to handle kidney side effects from Trulicity.

“Staying hydrated and reporting persistent gastrointestinal issues to your healthcare provider can help mitigate the risk of kidney damage while taking Trulicity.”

¹⁶⁷⁶

Thyroid Tumor Risk

Trulicity is a common medicine for type 2 diabetes with a strong FDA warning about thyroid C-cell tumors¹⁷. Animal studies link Trulicity to thyroid cancer, but human risks are not as clear¹⁷. Only 27% of human thyroid cancer cases have GLP-1 receptors¹⁷.

Don’t use Trulicity if you or your family has thyroid cancer or MEN-2¹⁷. People with thyroid nodules might also face a higher cancer risk¹⁷. One case showed a patient with thyroid cancer linked to Trulicity, but surgery helped them recover¹⁷.

Studies haven’t proven a direct link between Trulicity and thyroid cancer in people¹⁷. Yet, experts believe the risk is low¹⁸. Be careful if you have thyroid cancer or MEN-2 history before taking Trulicity¹⁸.

Boxed Warning and Precautions

Trulicity has a strong FDA warning about thyroid C-cell tumors¹⁷. Tell your doctor right away if you notice any thyroid symptoms like a neck lump or trouble swallowing while on Trulicity¹⁷.

GLP-1 receptor agonists like Trulicity are usually safe for type 2 diabetes¹⁸. But, be extra careful if you or your family has thyroid cancer or MEN-2 history¹⁸.

“The risk for developing medullary thyroid cancer with GLP-1 therapy is difficult to quantify but considered low, leading to the recommendation against routine monitoring of calcitonin levels in patients taking GLP-1 agonists.”

¹⁸

Allergic Reactions to Trulicity

Allergic reactions to Trulicity, a type 2 diabetes drug, are rare but possible¹⁹. Signs include swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, trouble breathing or swallowing, severe rash or itching, fainting, or a fast heartbeat²⁰. If you notice these signs of an allergic reaction, get medical help right away. This could be very serious.

Trulicity has a warning from the FDA about thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer²⁰. It can also cause serious side effects like pancreatitis, severe stomach issues, and worsening diabetic eye problems²⁰. People taking Trulicity should watch for these risks and talk to their doctor if they notice anything worrying.

If you do experience symptoms of an allergic reaction to Trulicity, act fast. You should get medical help right away. Your doctor might change your medication or suggest another treatment for your type 2 diabetes²¹.

“Allergic reactions to Trulicity, while rare, can be life-threatening. It’s important to be aware of the signs and to seek immediate medical care if you experience any concerning symptoms.”

In summary, Trulicity is usually safe, but watch for allergic reactions. Always work closely with your doctor to manage your type 2 diabetes safely and well¹⁹²⁰²¹.

When to Contact Your Healthcare Provider

If you’re taking Trulicity (dulaglutide) for type 2 diabetes, watch for side effects and know when to call your healthcare provider²². This medication helps control blood sugar and lowers heart risks in adults with type 2 diabetes²².

Side effects from Trulicity are usually mild, like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, less appetite, and feeling tired²². But, tell your doctor about any side effects, even if they seem small. They can adjust your treatment if needed²².

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have serious side effects from Trulicity:

• Ongoing pain in the upper stomach area, which could be a sign of pancreatitis²²
• Severe vomiting²²
• Rash, hives, or difficulty breathing, which may indicate an allergic reaction²²
• Changes in vision or a fast heartbeat, which could be symptoms of thyroid tumors²³
• Dizziness, confusion, or other signs of low blood sugar²²

Your healthcare provider can figure out the cause of these side effects and give you the right treatment²². They might change your Trulicity dose or switch you to another medicine if the side effects are bad or don’t go away²².

Tell your healthcare provider about any health changes, even if they’re not related to Trulicity²². They can check if the changes are from the medicine or something else²².

By talking about Trulicity side effects with your healthcare provider, you can keep your diabetes under control and quickly address any problems²². Your provider is there to help you manage your type 2 diabetes, so don’t hesitate to ask about your Trulicity treatment²².

Conclusion

Trulicity is a medication for type 2 diabetes that can have side effects, some common and others not so much²⁴. Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, less appetite, stomach pain, and vomiting²⁴. These side effects are usually mild and go away quickly. But, Trulicity can also cause serious side effects like pancreatitis, kidney damage, and thyroid tumors²⁵.

People taking Trulicity should know about these side effects and talk to their doctors about them²⁵. It’s key to report any side effects to keep patients safe and well²⁵. Many people have filed lawsuits against Eli Lilly, the maker of Trulicity, for side effects²⁵.

The summary of Trulicity side effects shows the need to weigh its risks and benefits carefully²⁶. Patients and their healthcare teams must monitor and report side effects closely²⁶. By understanding Trulicity safety information, people with type 2 diabetes can make better choices and manage their health well²⁶.

FAQ

What are the most common side effects of Trulicity?

Trulicity often causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and less appetite. You might also feel tired, have indigestion, and lose weight.

How can I manage the gastrointestinal side effects of Trulicity?

To ease nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, eat smaller meals and avoid high-fat foods. Drink plenty of water and use over-the-counter meds if it helps. If problems don’t go away, your doctor might change your dose or suggest a different medicine.

Can Trulicity cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)?

Trulicity doesn’t usually cause low blood sugar on its own. But, when taken with other diabetes drugs like insulin, it can raise the risk. Always check your blood sugar and follow your doctor’s advice on handling low levels.

What are the serious side effects associated with Trulicity?

Serious but rare side effects include gallbladder disease, pancreatitis, kidney damage, thyroid tumors, and allergic reactions. If you have severe stomach pain, trouble breathing, or a fast heartbeat, get medical help right away.

When should I contact my healthcare provider about Trulicity side effects?

Call your doctor immediately if you have severe, lasting, or getting worse side effects. This includes signs of pancreatitis or allergic reactions. They might change your Trulicity dose or switch you to a different medicine.

Source Links

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