Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsOverviewEfficacyTaking Trulicity vs. OzempicSide EffectsInteractionsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Overview
Efficacy
Taking Trulicity vs. Ozempic
Side Effects
Interactions
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common type of diabetes,type 2 diabetes mellitus, happens whenblood glucose levels (blood sugar)become too high.
As a consequence of type 2 diabetes, your body doesn’t make enoughinsulin(a hormone found in the pancreas that allows you to turn carbohydrates into energy) or doesn’t use insulin efficiently. Therefore, too much glucose remains in your blood, and not enough reaches your cells.
To manage this condition, healthcare providers may recommend Trulicity (dulaglutide) or Ozempic (semaglutide):glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonistsused to treat high blood sugar levels associated with type 2 diabetes.
While these drugs are generally similar, notable differences between Trulicity and Ozempic include dosage strengths, packaging, and differences in proven efficacy and cardiovascular benefit.
In some cases, the route of administration may also be different, as in the case of Rybelsus (semaglutide).
This article will compare and contrast Trulicity and Ozempic, focusing on the crucial characteristics of each drug that will help you decide if either medicine is potentially appropriate for you or a loved one.
Getty Images / Mario Tama.
Overview: Trulicity vs. Ozempic
Both Trulicity and Ozempic are available only as brand-name products and are given as once- weeklysubcutaneous (under the skin) injections.
As GLP-1 agonists, these medications tell your body to produce insulin after you eat, signal the liver to stop making extra sugar, and slow down the speed at which food moves through your stomach. These all contribute to keeping your blood sugar in check.
Additionally, Trulicity and Ozempic are further classified asincretinmimetics, drugs used to help the pancreas release a healthy amount of insulin when blood sugar levels are high.
Trulicity
Trulicity contains the active ingredientdulaglutide.
Specifically, it is Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for adults (people 18 and older) and children 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes, along withdiet/exercise to improve blood sugar.
Trulicity is also used in adults with type 2 diabetes to reduce the chances of cardiovascular events (problems with the heart and blood vessels), includingheart attackandstrokein people with heart disease or multiple cardiovascular risk factors.
Trulicity comes in a carton of four different pen injectors, having one dose per pen each week. One carton of four cells will make up your month’s supply of medication. The starting dose is 0.75 milligrams (mg) weekly and can be adjusted to a maximum of 4.5 mg weekly.
Trulicity is also approved for blood sugar control in children 10 and older at the same starting dose as adults and can be increased up to 1.5 mg per week.
Ozempic
Ozempic contains the active ingredient semaglutide. This drug, along with diet and exercise, is FDA-approved to improve blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Ozempic is also used to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes with known heart disease. Ozempic comes as one pen injector containing all four quantities for the month, so you will use the same pen every week for a month’s supply of Ozempic.
Dosing starts at 0.25 mg and can go as high as 2 mg weekly. It should be noted that Ozempic is only approved for use in adults.
Efficacy: Trulicity vs. Ozempic
While both drugs are considered safe and tolerable, some differences exist regarding their ability to lower heart disease effectively.
Per clinical trials of Trulicity, results showed an average reduction inhemoglobin A1C(HbA1C; a blood test showing your average blood sugar level over the past several months) ranges from 0.7% to 1.8% as the dose increases.
Both drugs can also help lower your risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), which includes heart attack, stroke, and death related to heart disease.
Ozempic has been found to provide a 26% risk reduction, but only in people with established heart disease.
Administration: Trulicity vs. Ozempic
Trulicity and Ozempic are injections given subcutaneously right under the skin of your stomach, upper arm, or thigh.
If you don’t experience side effects, or if they’re minimal and tolerable, your healthcare provider may continue slightly increasing your dose every four weeks to maximizeblood sugar control.
Both medications come in prefilled pen injectors that should be stored in the fridge. They can be given with or without food. Constantly rotate injection sites each week and follow proper injection techniques.
Trulicity comes in a package of four single-dose pens, so you will only use one pen each week, then discard it. Store pens in their original packaging in the refrigerator (36 to 46 degrees F) and remove one at a time each week.
Ozempic comes as a single pen containing four doses per pen, each lasting one month. Before first use, keep it in the refrigerator (36 to 46 F). After first use, it can be stored at room temperature (59 to 86 F) for up to 56 days.
Rybelsus is typically given as a 3 mg tablet once daily for 30 days. The 3 mg dosage is intended for treatment initiation (to ween a person safely onto the medication) and is not initially used for glycemic control.
However, after 30 days on the 3-mg dosage, the dose is typically increased to 7 mg daily. Overall, Rybelsus is used alongside diet/exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes.
A Guide to Your Ozempic Dosage
Which Drug Lasts Longer in the Body?
Ahalf-lifeis the time it takes for half of the drug to clear from your body. Half-lives refer to the time it takes for the medicine to remove entirely from your body, not how long it remains effective.
Ozempic has a half-life of one week, so it will stay in your body for about five weeks.Trulicity’s half-life is five days, so that it will stick around for about three and a half weeks.
Therefore, as a measure of half-lives, Ozempic lasts longer in your body than Trulicity.
Both medications use once weekly dosing for convenience and to maintain necessary levels of the drugs to ensure they continue working to control blood sugar.
Potential for Side Effects
Do not take these drugs if you have thyroid cancer or a family history.
Other potentially serious side effects include:
Know that pancreatitis and gallbladder problems may feel similar to more common, less stomach-related severe side effects of these medications, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, or abdominal pain.
If the symptoms seem extreme, inform your healthcare provider immediately.
How Long Do Ozempic Side Effects Last?
Interactions: Trulicity vs. Ozempic
Medications like Trulicity and Ozempic do not have pervasive drug interactions, but there are a few to be aware of:
Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you have questions about the timing of your injections relative to other medicines you take.
Summary
Managing type 2 diabetes can be challenging, but prescription medications can be helpful.
Trulicity and Ozempic are two GLP-1 agonists that work similarly to treat type 2 diabetes and to modestly lower the risk of heart-related events such as stroke or heart attack. They are both given once weekly as injections under the skin.
However, despite the occasional off-label prescription, neither drug is formally approved for weight loss management.
The main differences between Trulicity and Ozempic include dosage strengths and packaging, plus minor differences in efficacy and cardiovascular benefit.
Deciding between Trulicity and Ozempic will likely come down to you and your healthcare provider’s preference, cost, and insurance coverage.
Frequently Asked QuestionsOut of pocket, a month’s supply of Trulicity costs around $930, and Ozempic is similarly priced at about $935.Free coupons and patient assistance programs are available for both drugs, and your copay will vary widely based on your insurance plan.Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for help determining what you can expect to pay monthly for either of these drugs.Neither Trulicity nor Ozempic is FDA-approved for weight loss, but both may help you lose weight.If this is your primary goal, your healthcare provider may learn toward a higher-dose version of Ozempic called Wegovy (semaglutide; another GLP-1 agonist) which is FDA-approved specifically for this purpose.
Out of pocket, a month’s supply of Trulicity costs around $930, and Ozempic is similarly priced at about $935.Free coupons and patient assistance programs are available for both drugs, and your copay will vary widely based on your insurance plan.Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for help determining what you can expect to pay monthly for either of these drugs.
Out of pocket, a month’s supply of Trulicity costs around $930, and Ozempic is similarly priced at about $935.
Free coupons and patient assistance programs are available for both drugs, and your copay will vary widely based on your insurance plan.
Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for help determining what you can expect to pay monthly for either of these drugs.
Neither Trulicity nor Ozempic is FDA-approved for weight loss, but both may help you lose weight.If this is your primary goal, your healthcare provider may learn toward a higher-dose version of Ozempic called Wegovy (semaglutide; another GLP-1 agonist) which is FDA-approved specifically for this purpose.
Neither Trulicity nor Ozempic is FDA-approved for weight loss, but both may help you lose weight.
If this is your primary goal, your healthcare provider may learn toward a higher-dose version of Ozempic called Wegovy (semaglutide; another GLP-1 agonist) which is FDA-approved specifically for this purpose.
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Diabetes type 2.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Type 2 diabetes.DailyMed.Label: Trulicity- dulaglutide injection, solution.DailyMed.Label: Ozempic- semaglutide injection, solution.DailyMed.Label: Rybelsus- oral semaglutide tablet.Shah M, Vella A.Effects of GLP-1 on appetite and weight.Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2014;15(3):181-187. doi:10.1007/s11154-014-9289-5U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Trulicity label.U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Ozempic label.Prescribers' Digital Reference.Dulaglutide - drug summary.Prescribers' Digital Reference.Semaglutide - drug summary.Bosco E, Hsueh L, McConeghy KW, Gravenstein S, Saade E.Major adverse cardiovascular event definitions used in observational analysis of administrative databases: a systematic review.BMC Med Res Methodol. 2021;21(1):241. doi:10.1186/s12874-021-01440-5Smith DA, Beaumont K, Maurer TS, Di L.Relevance of half-life in drug design.J Med Chem. 2018;61(10):4273-4282. doi:10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b00969Food and Drug Administration.Wegovy (semaglutide) injection prescribing information.
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Diabetes type 2.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Type 2 diabetes.DailyMed.Label: Trulicity- dulaglutide injection, solution.DailyMed.Label: Ozempic- semaglutide injection, solution.DailyMed.Label: Rybelsus- oral semaglutide tablet.Shah M, Vella A.Effects of GLP-1 on appetite and weight.Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2014;15(3):181-187. doi:10.1007/s11154-014-9289-5U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Trulicity label.U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Ozempic label.Prescribers' Digital Reference.Dulaglutide - drug summary.Prescribers' Digital Reference.Semaglutide - drug summary.Bosco E, Hsueh L, McConeghy KW, Gravenstein S, Saade E.Major adverse cardiovascular event definitions used in observational analysis of administrative databases: a systematic review.BMC Med Res Methodol. 2021;21(1):241. doi:10.1186/s12874-021-01440-5Smith DA, Beaumont K, Maurer TS, Di L.Relevance of half-life in drug design.J Med Chem. 2018;61(10):4273-4282. doi:10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b00969Food and Drug Administration.Wegovy (semaglutide) injection prescribing information.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Diabetes type 2.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Type 2 diabetes.DailyMed.Label: Trulicity- dulaglutide injection, solution.DailyMed.Label: Ozempic- semaglutide injection, solution.DailyMed.Label: Rybelsus- oral semaglutide tablet.Shah M, Vella A.Effects of GLP-1 on appetite and weight.Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2014;15(3):181-187. doi:10.1007/s11154-014-9289-5U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Trulicity label.U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Ozempic label.Prescribers' Digital Reference.Dulaglutide - drug summary.Prescribers' Digital Reference.Semaglutide - drug summary.Bosco E, Hsueh L, McConeghy KW, Gravenstein S, Saade E.Major adverse cardiovascular event definitions used in observational analysis of administrative databases: a systematic review.BMC Med Res Methodol. 2021;21(1):241. doi:10.1186/s12874-021-01440-5Smith DA, Beaumont K, Maurer TS, Di L.Relevance of half-life in drug design.J Med Chem. 2018;61(10):4273-4282. doi:10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b00969Food and Drug Administration.Wegovy (semaglutide) injection prescribing information.
MedlinePlus.Diabetes type 2.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Type 2 diabetes.
DailyMed.Label: Trulicity- dulaglutide injection, solution.
DailyMed.Label: Ozempic- semaglutide injection, solution.
DailyMed.Label: Rybelsus- oral semaglutide tablet.
Shah M, Vella A.Effects of GLP-1 on appetite and weight.Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2014;15(3):181-187. doi:10.1007/s11154-014-9289-5
U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Trulicity label.
U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Ozempic label.
Prescribers' Digital Reference.Dulaglutide - drug summary.
Prescribers' Digital Reference.Semaglutide - drug summary.
Bosco E, Hsueh L, McConeghy KW, Gravenstein S, Saade E.Major adverse cardiovascular event definitions used in observational analysis of administrative databases: a systematic review.BMC Med Res Methodol. 2021;21(1):241. doi:10.1186/s12874-021-01440-5
Smith DA, Beaumont K, Maurer TS, Di L.Relevance of half-life in drug design.J Med Chem. 2018;61(10):4273-4282. doi:10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b00969
Food and Drug Administration.Wegovy (semaglutide) injection prescribing information.
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