Trulicity weight loss online

Trulicity isn’t an FDA-approved weight-loss drug, but some people may lose weight while taking it. And providers can prescribe it off-label for weight loss. 

GLP-1 medications, including Trulicity, mimic the GLP-1 hormone, which is naturally released in the body after we eat. This hormone stimulates the release of insulin to regulate blood glucose levels and curbs hunger. 

GLP-1 medications may help people lose weight in several ways. First, they decrease appetite. They also slow down the amount of time it takes for food to leave the stomach. People may eat less because they feel satisfied more quickly and stay fuller for longer.

GLP-1 medications also trigger the production of insulin to keep blood-sugar levels stable. When insulin and blood glucose are in balance, the body is better able to burn fat and manage hunger, which can lead to weight loss.

In clinical trials, some patients with type 2 diabetes who took Trulicity lost weight and some didn’t. A 2020 randomized controlled trial found patients taking higher doses of Trulicity lost more weight than those taking lower ones. Over 36 weeks, patients lost an average of 6.6 pounds taking the 1.5-milligram dose of Trulicity, 8.4 pounds taking the 3.0-milligram dose, and 10.1 pounds taking the 4.5-milligram dose.

Trulicity comes in a box with 4 single-dose pens with dosage strengths of 0.75, 1.5, 3.0, or 4.5 milligrams.

There’s no specific dosage for weight loss, as Trulicity is FDA-approved only for lowering blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. The recommended starting dosage for adults and children with type 2 diabetes is 0.75 milligrams.

After 4 weeks, your provider may increase your dosage to 1.5 milligrams once a week for additional glycemic control. If additional glycemic control is needed, they can increase the dosage in 1.5-milligram increments after at least 4 weeks on the current dosage. The maximum recommended dosage is 4.5 milligrams injected subcutaneously once weekly.

Your healthcare provider will prescribe the dosage they think is appropriate for you. You’ll likely start on the lowest dose to decrease the risk of side effects with Trulicity.

Trulicity is self-administered once a week with a single-use injector pen. You inject it into the skin of your abdomen, thigh, or upper arm and want to change your injection site each time to minimize the risk of skin irritation. You can take it any time of day, either with or without food.

Store Trulicity in the refrigerator, but don’t freeze it. If needed, you can keep it at room temperature for up to 14 days. Protect it from light and keep it in its original packaging.

A 2021 clinical study found semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus) was more effective for weight loss than dulaglutide (the active ingredient in Trulicity). Patients who took 1.0 milligrams of semaglutide had lower blood sugar levels and lost more weight than those taking either 3.0 or 4.5 milligrams of dulaglutide.

Ozempic is an injectable GLP-1 medication that’s FDA-approved to treat type 2 diabetes and to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events in adults with known heart disease and with either obesity or overweight. Clinical trials found people taking Ozempic lost between 5 and 10% of their body weight in 40 weeks.

Wegovy is the semaglutide medication FDA-approved for weight loss and to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events in adults with known heart disease and with either obesity or overweight. In clinical trials, people lost an average of 14.9% of their body weight in 68 weeks on Wegovy.

Mounjaro works in similar ways to Trulicity and Ozempic, and it’s also FDA-approved to treat type 2 diabetes. Mounjaro’s active ingredient is tirzepatide. It’s a glucagon-like peptide-1/gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GLP-1/GIP) dual agonist medication, similar to  GLP-1 drugs. Clinical trials found people taking Mounjaro lost 13.9% of their body weight in 104 weeks. 

Zepbound is the tirzepatide medication that’s FDA-approved for weight loss. In clinical trials, people lost 20.9% of their body weight in 88 weeks on Zepbound.

Wegovy, Zepbound, Ozempic, and Mounjaro all have side effects that may include but aren’t limited to, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, and headaches. They all have an FDA-boxed warning for the risk of possible thyroid tumors, including cancer. Before taking any of them talk to your pharmacist or provider and read the medication guide so you understand all possible side effects, drug interactions, and warnings.

You and your healthcare provider can work together to determine which weight loss medication, if any, is right for you.