Does Trulicity cause weight loss?
- Trulicity is not a weight loss drug, but some people may lose weight.
- People lost, on average, two to six pounds while taking Trulicity. However, 15 to 30% gained weight.
- One of the ways Trulicity works is by helping to make you feel full after a meal.
- People more likely to lose weight include those with a higher starting weight and a longer duration of gastrointestinal side effects.
Trulicity (dulaglutide) is an injectable medicine that is used to improve blood sugar control in adults over the age of 18 with type 2 diabetes. It may also be given to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (such as a heart attack or stroke) occurring in adults with type 2 diabetes who already have cardiovascular disease or are at high risk of cardiovascular disease.
Trulicity is injected under the skin once a week, preferably on the same day each week at the same time. Each injection will help control blood sugar levels for one week. Trulicity is only effective in people with type 2 diabetes.
How much weight loss occurs with Trulicity?
Research has shown that many people lose, on average, two to six pounds while taking Trulicity. However, some people gained weight.
Specific studies have shown that dulaglutide, the active ingredient of Trulicity:
- Was associated with a greater weight loss (3.23kg on average) compared to insulin glargine in 588 patients also taking insulin lispro. 49% of people in the study administered dulaglutide did not gain weight compared with only 19% administered insulin glargine
- In the AWARD-1 trial, people gained an average of 0.2kg in weight with dulaglutide 0.75mg
- In the AWARD-3 trial weight loss with dulaglutide was similar to metformin
- In the AWARD -4 trial, weight loss with dulaglutide 1.5mg was 0.87kg, while dulaglutide 0.75mg was weight neutral at 26 weeks
- In the AWARD-6 trial, average weight loss was 2.8kg with dulaglutide 1.5mg compared to 3.6kg with liraglutide
- In the AWARD-11 trail, the average weight loss after 36 weeks was 4.7kg (10.4 pounds) with dulaglutide 4.5mg; 4kg (8.8 pounds) with dulaglutide 3mg; and 3kg (6.8 pounds) with dulaglutide 1.5mg.
Although overall treatment with GLP-1 receptor agonists is associated with weight loss, this varies among individuals, and 15 to 30% of people will gain weight.
People more likely to lose weight include those with a higher starting weight and a longer duration of gastrointestinal side effects.
Related questions
- Does Trulicity need to be refrigerated?
- How do you use/inject Trulicity?
- Can Trulicity be injected cold?
How does Trulicity work?
Trulicity belongs to a class of medicines called GLP-1 receptor agonists. It may also be called an incretin mimetic.
Trulicity works by mimicking the functions of natural incretin hormones in the body that help keep blood sugar levels under control, especially immediately following a meal. Incretin hormones are gut peptides that are secreted from the stomach when food is eaten. They also stimulate the secretion of insulin in response to high blood glucose levels.
Two incretin hormones are known as GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1). In people with type 2 diabetes, this natural incretin effect is diminished or no longer present. However, it can be stimulated with pharmacological agents, such as Trulicity.
Trulicity shares 90% of the same structure as human GLP-1 but is man-made. It has been modified so that it can last in the body for a long time (approximately one week) and not be broken down by an enzyme naturally present in the blood, called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 or DPP-4.
Trulicity acts like GLP-1 and binds to GLP-1 receptors, stimulating insulin release from the pancreas, reducing the amount of glucose that the liver produces, and making you feel full by slowing gastric emptying.
References
- Trulicity (dulaglutide) Lilly Feb 2020 https://www.drugclasses.com/pro/trulicity.html
- FDA Approves Additional Doses of Trulicity (dulaglutide) for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes 09/2020 https://www.drugclasses.com/newdrugs/fda-approves-additional-doses-trulicity-dulaglutide-type-2-diabetes-5346.html
- Trulicity (dulaglutide) Approved to Reduce Cardiovascular Events in Adults With and Without Established Cardiovascular Disease Feb 21 2020 drugclasses.com News https://www.drugclasses.com/newdrugs/trulicity-dulaglutide-approved-reduce-cardiovascular-events-adults-without-established-5358.html
Read next
Can Trulicity be used with insulin?
Trulicity can be used with insulin, but because the combination of Trulicity and insulin increases the risk of low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia), the dosage of insulin may need to be reduced. Continue reading
How does Trulicity work?
Trulicity mimics the action of GLP-1, a naturally occurring hormone that helps to regulate blood glucose levels. It binds to GLP-1 receptors, stimulating insulin secretion and lowering glucagon secretion from the liver. It also slows stomach emptying. Continue reading
Is Trulicity a form of insulin?
Trulicity is not a form of insulin, it mimics the effects of GLP-1 a naturally occurring hormone that stimulates insulin secretion. Trulicity is only suitable for people with type 2 diabetes who still have functioning insulin-producing cells in their pancreas. Continue reading
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