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).
