Key takeaways
Rybelsus (semaglutide) and Trulicity (dulaglutide) are both medications in the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist class used to treat Type 2 diabetes. They help control blood sugar by mimicking the natural GLP-1 hormone in your body. However, they differ in several ways. Rybelsus is taken orally once a day, while Trulicity is injected subcutaneously (under the skin) once a week. Rybelsus is only approved for Type 2 diabetes, whereas Trulicity is also approved to lower the risk of heart problems in adults with Type 2 diabetes. Neither medication has a generic version available. Common side effects for both include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Both medications carry a risk of thyroid tumors and pancreatitis, and they can cause low blood sugar when used with certain diabetes medications.
