Trulicity

Trulicity^® (the brand-name form of dulaglutide) is a once-weekly injectable medication used to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes. As a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, it mimics a natural hormone in the body that stimulates insulin release, reduces glucagon (a hormone that raises blood sugar levels), and slows down digestion.

Trulicity has also been shown to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke in people with type 2 diabetes and heart disease. While some people experience moderate weight loss on Trulicity, the drug is not approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for weight-loss treatment.

Trulicity is typically injected in doses starting at 0.75 or 1.5 milligrams (mg), with higher doses (3 or 4.5 mg) available for people who need additional glucose control.

Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and decreased appetite, especially when starting or increasing the dose. Serious but rare side effects include pancreatitis, gallbladder problems, and a potential risk of thyroid tumors.

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

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist

Most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥5%) are:

• Nausea

• Diarrhea

• Vomiting

• Abdominal pain

• Decreased appetite

The cost of Trulicity may vary depending on factors such as the reason you’re taking it, your insurance plan, and which pharmacy you use. The cost of Trulicity without insurance can be about $987 per month, but coupons and discount cards may be available to lower the cost. With insurance, most people pay between $0 and $30 per month.

With the Trulicity Savings Card, eligible people may pay as little as $25 for 12 doses of Trulicity.

• 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

• 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: 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 label for brand name Trulicity^®. See the Full Prescribing Information for more complete information.