Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, warnings, and more.
Key takeaways
Ozempic (semaglutide) and Trulicity (dulaglutide) are both injectable medications used to treat Type 2 diabetes, but have some differences. Both medications can lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death due to heart problems in adults with Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. They are both GLP-1 agonists and control blood sugar levels by telling your body to release more insulin, stopping the release of more sugar into the bloodstream, and slowing down digestion. Both medications are injected once a week and available as prefilled pens, with different doses. Pens can be kept in the refrigerator or at room temperature, but Trulicity pens should be thrown away after 14 days if stored at room temperature. Both medications can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, but Trulicity also commonly causes low appetite and fatigue. Additionally, both medications carry risks of thyroid cancer, pancreatitis, and kidney problems, and neither is recommended for people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
Trulicity (dulaglutide) is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist that helps control blood sugar in people 10 years and older with Type 2 diabetes. It's also approved to lower the risk of heart problems like heart attacks, strokes, and heart-related death in certain adults with Type 2 diabetes. The medication is injected under the skin once a week. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain. When taken with certain diabetes medications like insulin, there's a higher risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
Summary for GLP-1 agonist
Prescription only
Ozempic (semaglutide) is a prescription injection that's used along with a nutritious diet and exercise to treat Type 2 diabetes in adults. It's also proven to lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death due to heart problems in adults with Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Ozempic (semaglutide) belongs to the drug class known as GLP-1 agonists. The dosing is convenient because it's only injected under the skin once per week. Common side effects of this medication include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Indications of Trulicity vs. Ozempic
Indications for
•Manage Type 2 diabetes in people 10 years and older, along with diet and exercise
•Lower the risk of heart problems like heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with Type 2 diabetes who have heart disease or heart-related risk factors