Trulicity is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medicine for management of type II diabetes mellitus in adults. Trulicity has been shown to help individuals lose weight when combined with diet and exercise lifestyle changes.
If eligible, Alfie providers may prescribe you Trulicity to help you lose weight.
Read more to understand how Trulicity works for certain individuals to maximize weight loss.
Trulicity is a GLP-1 medication which is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of diabetes in adults. It is a potent selective GLP-1 receptor agonist that has been shown to reduce blood glucose levels as well as the feeling of hunger hunger and increase the feeling of fullness in subjects with high BMI. Trulicity is one of the weight loss medications that may be prescribed by an Alfie healthcare provider for weight loss or a weight-related medical condition. It is produced by Eli Lilly.
Trulicity should not be taken by individuals with a personal or family history of MTC or in patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2), in patients with a prior serious hypersensitivity reaction to dulaglutide or to any of the ingredients in Trulicity, or in patients with a history of pancreatitis.
The active ingredient in Trulicity is dulaglutide. Dulaglutide is a synthetic peptide that acts like a naturally occurring hormone in the body called GLP-1. Dulaglutide works by slowing the stomach from emptying, which helps you feel full after eating. It also slows down the rate at which sugar is absorbed into the bloodstream, which helps keep blood sugar levels under control.
GLP-1 is a natural hormone in your body that acts on your brain to regulate your appetite and food intake. By acting like GLP-1, Trulicity lowers your appetite and how much food you eat to help you lose weight.
GLP-1s lead the pancreas to produce insulin after meals to bring down blood sugar. They also bind to receptors in the brain to suppress appetite. These receptors release chemicals that help diminish the desire to eat, reducing your hunger. GLP-1s are natural chemicals, but don't last long within the human body. That's why taking GLP-1s can help reduce your weight even though your body already produces its own.
Dulaglutide, the active ingredient in Trulicity, has been shown to be a reliable method to help you lose weight quickly and safely, but is not as effective as other medications that contain semaglutide. When combined with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity, compared to participants who took a placebo, an average weight loss of over 10 pounds was seen.
Trulicity is not a weight loss drug. In studies with other diabetes medications, weight change was about 10.1 lbs (4.5 mg) maximum. Individual results may vary. In one study, many people lost some weight over the course of 6 months, and they were able to keep it off for the remainder of the study.
Trulicity may be an expensive medication, with an out of pocket cost above $1,000. Alfie works with the vast majority of commercial and employer insurance plans in order to get coverage for your doctor-prescribed medication.
Trulicity is not covered by Medicare or Medicaid.
Coupons for Trulicity are available thought Eli Lilly's website.
Trulicity is injected under the skin via a simple pen injector syringe. Trulicity can be injected from the comfort of your own home without a healthcare provider or clinician present, and are simple to use. Shots of Trulicity are injected into the fatty tissue just beneath the skin's surface and should be injected once weekly at the same time of day. You should store Trulicity in a refrigerator between 36°F to 46°F.
If your doctor prescribes Trulicity, he or she will walk you through the process of injecting it into your belly or upper thigh. Someone else can inject the medicine into your upper arm if you are unable to do it yourself.
If you are prescribed Trulicity, you can visit their webpage here for instructions on how to administer the medication, or visit the quick start guide here.
GLP-1 injectable medications are offered via a step-up approach, meaning your Alfie healthcare professionals (either an MD or NP) will prescribe a higher dose as your progress through the program until you are at the full dose. This helps minimize the risk of any side effects of taking the medication.
Trulicity comes in 4 different dose strengths. You start Trulicity at a dose of 0.75 mg once daily and increase the dose until you reach the full dose of 4.5 mg. It’s important to follow the dosing schedule as recommended by your health care provider.
Side effects of Trulicity are extremely rare and over 95% of individuals who take these medications do not experience side effects. In those that do, nausea or indigestion is often the most common and typically resolves within the first month of being on the medication.
Other common side effects of Trulicity mediations include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, headache, fatigue, dyspepsia, dizziness, abdominal distention, eructation, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in patients with type 2 diabetes, flatulence, gastroenteritis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Taking GLP-1 medications may also put you at serious risk of hypoglycemia or acute kidney injury if you are taking another similar medication at the same time.
The GLP-1 class of drugs isn't recommended if you have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2). They're also not recommended if you've had pancreatitis. If you have any concerns about your family history and ability to take a GLP-1 receptor agonist medication, talk to your primary care provider.
Victoza is one of multiple weight-loss drugs which fit into the GLP-1 category. Other GLP-1 medications include:
At Alfie Health, we're more than a weight loss clinic. We're partners in your health journey, providing personalized care and constant support.
