Content
Designed by doctors, shaped by you
Side-by-side medication summaries to compare approved uses, side effects, interactions, and more.
Content
The information provided here is NOT MEDICAL ADVICE and is for informational and educational purposes only. The drug comparison tool does not determine eligibility for medications or treatments provided via the Hims/Hers platform. Consultation with a healthcare provider is required to assess suitability for any medical treatment based on individual health and medical history. All product names and associated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Metformin
Trulicity
Metformin is an oral medication commonly prescribed to manage blood sugar levels in individuals with type 2 diabetes. It works by decreasing glucose production in the liver, improving the body's sensitivity to insulin, and reducing the amount of sugar absorbed by the intestines. Metformin is often used as a first-line treatment due to its efficacy, safety profile, and additional benefits, such as weight stabilization and low risk of low blood sugar. Common side effects include gastrointestinal issues like nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort.
Trulicity® (dulaglutide) is an injectable medication used to improve blood sugar control in adults and pediatric patients aged 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes, alongside diet and exercise. It acts as a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, enhancing insulin secretion, slowing gastric emptying, and reducing glucagon production. Additionally, Trulicity is indicated to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, such as heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death in adults with type 2 diabetes who have established cardiovascular disease or multiple cardiovascular risk factors. Administered once weekly, Trulicity can be used alone or with other diabetes medications. Common side effects include gastrointestinal issues like nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. It should be used cautiously in individuals with a history of pancreatitis.
Prescription
Prescription
Biguinide
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist
Metformin hydrochloride tablets are indicated:
As an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients 10 years of age and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Trulicity (dulaglutide) is indicated:
As an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients 10 years of age and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
To reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus who have established cardiovascular disease or multiple cardiovascular risk factors
Typically taken orally once, twice, or three times daily
Comes in 500 mg, 850 mg, and 1,000 mg tablets
Typically taken as an injection once weekly
Comes in 0.75 mg, 1.5 mg, 3 mg, and 4.5 mg per 0.5 mL single-dose pens
For metformin hydrochloride, the most common adverse reactions (>5%) are:
Diarrhea
Nausea/vomiting
Flatulence
Weakness
Indigestion
Abdominal discomfort
Headache
Most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥5%) are:
Nausea
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Abdominal pain
Decreased appetite
Severe renal impairment (eGFR below 30 mL/min/1.73 m2)
Hypersensitivity to metformin
Acute or chronic metabolic acidosis, including diabetic ketoacidosis, with or without coma
Drug interactions: Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, drugs that reduce metformin clearance (such as ranolazine, vandetanib, dolutegravir, and cimetidine), alcohol
Patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2
Patients with a serious hypersensitivity reaction to dulaglutide or any of the product components
Drug interactions: Trulicity delays gastric emptying and has the potential to reduce the rate of absorption of concomitantly administered oral medications
Lactic acidosis: See Boxed Warning
Vitamin B12 deficiency: Metformin may lower vitamin B12 levels
Low blood sugar with concomitant use with insulin and insulin secretagogues
Females and males of reproductive potential: Potential for an unintended pregnancy
Thyroid C-cell tumors
Pancreatitis
Low blood sugar: Concomitant use with an insulin secretagogue or insulin may increase the risk of low blood sugar, including severe low blood sugar
Hypersensitivity reactions
Acute kidney injury
Severe gastrointestinal disease
Diabetic retinopathy complications
Acute gallbladder disease
Pregnancy: Should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to fetus
WARNING: LACTIC ACIDOSIS
Postmarketing cases of metformin-associated lactic acidosis have resulted in death, hypothermia, hypotension, and resistant bradyarrhythmias. Symptoms included malaise, myalgias, respiratory distress, somnolence, and abdominal pain. Laboratory abnormalities included elevated blood lactate levels, anion gap acidosis, increased lactate/pyruvate ratio; and metformin plasma levels generally >5 mcg/mL.
Risk factors include renal impairment, concomitant use of certain drugs, age >65 years old, radiological studies with contrast, surgery and other procedures, hypoxic states, excessive alcohol intake, and hepatic impairment. Steps to reduce the risk of and manage metformin-associated lactic acidosis in these high risk groups are provided in the Full Prescribing Information.
If lactic acidosis is suspected, discontinue metformin hydrochloride tablets and institute general supportive measures in a hospital setting. Prompt hemodialysis is recommended.
WARNING: RISK OF THYROID C-CELL TUMORS
Dulaglutide causes thyroid C-cell tumors in rats. It is unknown whether Trulicity causes thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), in humans as the human relevance of dulaglutide-induced rodent thyroid C-cell tumors has not been determined.
Trulicity is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC and in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Counsel patients regarding the potential risk of MTC and symptoms of thyroid tumors.
*This information is from the metformin hydrochloride label used by Epic Pharma, LLC. See the Full Prescribing Information for more complete information. Metformin is also the active ingredient in brand-name medications, including Glucophage® and Glumetza®, and this information may not be accurate for all medications that include the active ingredient metformin.
*This information is from the label for brand name Trulicity®. See the Full Prescribing Information for more complete information.