Trulicity vs. Ozempic
What is Trulicity?
Trulicity (dulaglutide) is a medicine you inject once a week to manage type 2 diabetes. It’s part of a class of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. These drugs help your body make insulin while keeping glucagon in check and slowing digestion. Glucagon is a hormone that raises your blood sugar levels.
Another effect of Trulicity is weight loss.
What is Ozempic?
Like Trulicity, Ozempic (semaglutide) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist for treating type 2 diabetes. It helps your body make more insulin and less glucose and slows digestion to lower blood sugar levels. The weekly injection may also help you lose weight.
Dulaglutide vs. Semaglutide
The main ingredients in Ozempic (semaglutide) and Trulicity (dulaglutide) both work well to treat type 2 diabetes and have other benefits, but there are some key differences.
How dulaglutide and semaglutide are similar:
How they work. Both drugs belong to the same class of diabetes medication. They both act to lower blood glucose and glucagon levels in your blood. This helps your body release insulin, slows digestion, and lowers appetite.
Heart health benefits. Both medications have shown benefits for people with heart issues. Semaglutide can lower your chances of major heart-related problems, while dulaglutide helps lower the chance of heart problems in people who are already more likely to have them.
Convenience. You inject both medications once a week, which makes them easier to use compared to drugs that you need to take one or more times a day.
How dulaglutide and semaglutide are different:
How well they work. Studies show that semaglutide generally works better than dulaglutide in lowering blood sugar and helping with weight loss.
Following treatment. People seem to stick with dulaglutide better than semaglutide, probably because it has fewer side effects and is easy to use.
Trulicity vs. Ozempic for Weight Loss
Besides controlling type 2 diabetes, both Trulicity and Ozempic could also help you to lose weight. Neither drug is approved for this purpose alone. But your doctor may prescribe them “off label” (for a purpose other than what the medication is approved for) for weight loss.
What is the average weight loss with Trulicity?
With dulaglutide (Trulicity) alone, you could lose about 2 to 5 pounds. If taken with metformin (medicine to lower blood sugar), weight loss may be around 6 to 7 pounds. Higher doses of dulaglutide usually lead to more weight loss.
What is the average weight loss with Ozempic?
Researchers studied semaglutide (Ozempic) in patients with type 2 diabetes. At a maximum dose of 2.0 milligrams (mg) weekly, the average weight loss was 6.3% (14 pounds). But in other studies aiming specifically to treat obesity using a maximum dose of 2.4 mg weekly, the average weight loss was 15% (35 pounds) after 15 months. Semaglutide is branded under the name Wegovy when it is used specifically for weight loss.
Ozempic vs. Trulicity Side Effects
Side effects with Trulicity and Ozempic are rare but may include:
Trulicity side effects
If you have signs of an allergic reaction, go to the emergency room right away.
Ozempic side effects
Common side effects of Ozempic include:
- Feeling sick
- Diarrhea
- Throwing up
Less often, you may have:
- Diabetic eye disease that gets worse
- Low blood sugar (when combined with other diabetes medications)
Trulicity vs. Ozempic Dosage
Both Trulicity and Ozempic are once-weekly injections. This makes them convenient for people with diabetes compared to some other medicines that require daily or twice-daily doses. There are differences in dosage between the two medicines:
- Ozempic. The starting dose is 0.25 mg once weekly for 4 weeks, and then your doctor will typically increase it to 0.5 mg. If needed, you can take a maximum dose of 2.0 mg a week.
- Trulicity. The starting dose is 0.75 mg once weekly, with a possible increase to a maximum of 1.5 mg weekly.
Trulicity vs. Ozempic Cost
How much you could pay for Trulicity or Ozempic depends on whether you have health insurance. Both medications cost several hundred dollars per month if you pay out of pocket, but there are ways to lower your costs.
Public or private health insurance may cover Trulicity and Ozempic if your doctor prescribes them for diabetes but not specifically for losing weight. Check with your insurance provider.
Your doctor or pharmacist can also help you navigate insurance coverage and find financial assistance programs to address cost concerns.
Switching From Trulicity to Ozempic
You and your doctor may decide to switch to a different drug for several reasons: to better control your blood sugar and medication side effects, to meet your treatment or weight loss goals, or because you prefer one over the other.
If you’re not having side effects from the medicine you’re currently taking, you’ll likely start your first dose of the new medication the day after you finish taking the first one. If you’re changing medications due to side effects, your doctor may have you wait until your symptoms have cleared up, and then start your new medication at the lowest dosage.
It’s possible that you may have digestive symptoms for a brief time after you’ve made the switch, even if you didn’t have them on your first medication. Let your doctor know if they don’t clear up.
Can you switch from Ozempic to Trulicity to lose weight?
Trulicity is prescribed to help people who have type 2 diabetes lower their blood sugar levels in combination with diet and exercise. Although it may be prescribed off-label for weight loss, your doctor may not recommend Trulicity for weight loss alone. They may suggest another semaglutide medication called Wegovy, which is approved for weight management. Talk to your doctor to see what may be right for you.
Does Ozempic work better than Trulicity?
Studies show that Ozempic may work better for blood sugar control and weight loss than Trulicity.
Which Should I Take?
Ozempic and Trulicity are similar in many ways – they’re both GLP-1 receptor agonists that you take once a week as an injection. They both help control your blood sugar and help you lose weight. Which medication you should take depends on the following:
- Your treatment goals
- Cost and health insurance coverage
- Potential side effects
Based on these things, your doctor can help you decide which medication is best for you.
Takeaways
Trulicity and Ozempic are both medications used to treat type 2 diabetes. They belong to the class of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists, which help the body produce insulin, slow digestion, and control blood sugar levels. Both are once-weekly injections and may also help you lose weight.
Trulicity contains dulaglutide, while Ozempic contains semaglutide. Studies suggest that Ozempic works better at lowering blood sugar and promoting weight loss compared to Trulicity. But people may stick with Trulicity longer because it tends to have fewer side effects.
Both medications have similar side effects, like stomach issues and diarrhea. But these may be more common or severe with Ozempic. Ozempic also has extra risks, such as worsening of diabetic eye disease and low blood sugar.
The costs for each medication are similar. Insurance may cover part of the expense for either one.
Choosing between Trulicity and Ozempic will depend on your treatment goals, possible side effects, and your insurance coverage. Always check with your doctor to decide which is better for you.
Trulicity vs. Ozempic FAQs
What is the downside of Trulicity?
Studies show that Trulicity may be less effective at blood sugar control and weight loss than Ozempic. There’s also the potential for side effects such as stomach pain, upset stomach, diarrhea, loss of appetite, allergic reaction, and pancreatitis.
What is the best alternative to Ozempic?
Like Ozempic, Trulicity is part of a class of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists. It helps your body make insulin, keeps glucagon in check, and slows digestion. The best alternative to Ozempic for you will depend on your treatment goals, how you respond to medication, and other things.
How should you switch from Ozempic to Trulicity?
Talk to your doctor about whether switching medication is right for you based on your treatment goals.
Depending on whether you had side effects with Ozempic, your doctor may have you wait until your symptoms are gone before starting you on the lowest dose of Trulicity.
