Trulicity

Trulicity is a once-weekly injection containing the active ingredient dulaglutide, a medicine in the GLP-1 receptor agonist class.

Trulicity is used, alongside diet and exercise, to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes. In adults with type 2 diabetes who have heart disease or several cardiovascular risk factors it may also be used to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events.

Trulicity lowers blood sugar (HbA1c) in a convenient once-weekly injection and, in eligible people, can reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events.

Dulaglutide mimics the natural hormone GLP-1. It prompts the pancreas to release insulin when blood sugar is high (glucose-dependent), reduces glucagon and slows stomach emptying, which together help control blood sugar after meals.

Trulicity is injected under the skin (subcutaneously) into the abdomen, thigh or upper arm once a week, on any day, with or without food, rotating the injection site. Treatment usually starts at 0.75 mg weekly and may be increased to 1.5 mg for additional control, with further steps if needed under your prescriber's guidance.

The most common side effects affect the digestive system, including nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, tummy pain, reduced appetite and indigestion, along with tiredness. They are usually mild and most common during dose increases.

Like other GLP-1 medicines, this medicine carries a boxed warning about the risk of thyroid C-cell tumours (including medullary thyroid carcinoma, MTC). These tumours were seen in rodent studies; the relevance to humans is not established. Do not use Trulicity if you or a family member have had medullary thyroid cancer or MEN 2, or if you have had a serious allergic reaction to dulaglutide. It is not for type 1 diabetes. Seek urgent advice for severe, persistent tummy pain (possible pancreatitis).

Use with caution if you have a history of pancreatitis, severe digestive problems (such as severe gastroparesis) or kidney problems, as dehydration from vomiting or diarrhoea can affect the kidneys. If you also take insulin or a sulfonylurea, your risk of low blood sugar is higher and those doses may need lowering. Discuss pregnancy or breastfeeding with your prescriber.

Store pens in a refrigerator at 2-8°C; do not freeze. If needed, a pen can be kept at room temperature (below 30°C) for up to a total of 14 days. Keep in the original carton to protect from light.

If you miss a dose and there are at least 3 days (72 hours) until your next scheduled dose, take it as soon as possible. If less than 3 days remain, skip the missed dose and take the next one on your usual day. Then continue your normal once-weekly schedule.