Key takeaways:
Trulicity (dulaglutide) is a once-weekly injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist medication. It’s used to treat Type 2 diabetes in adults and children ages 10 and older.
The starting Trulicity dosage is 0.75 mg once weekly for 4 weeks. After that, your dose may be raised to 1.5 mg weekly. This is the maximum Trulicity dosage for children. For adults, your dosage may be raised every 4 weeks to a maximum of 4.5 mg weekly.
There are ways to save on Trulicity. If you’re eligible, a manufacturer savings card can help you access Trulicity for as little as $25 per month. A patient assistance program is also available.
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Trulicity (dulaglutide) is a once-weekly injection used to manage blood glucose (sugar) levels in adults and children ages 10 and older with Type 2 diabetes. It’s a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, similar to Ozempic (semaglutide). Certain adults with Type 2 diabetes may also be prescribed Trulicity to lower the risk of serious cardiovascular problems.
In this guide, we’ll go over typical Trulicity dosages. Keep in mind that these are recommendations from the manufacturer. Your prescriber might have you use Trulicity differently.
If you have questions about your dose, speak to your pharmacist or prescriber.
What’s the typical Trulicity dosage for adults?
Trulicity comes as a single-use pen that’s injected once a week and then thrown away. You can inject it under the skin on your abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. But don’t use the exact same spot each week. It can be injected at any time of day, without regard to meals. So, pick a day and time that’s convenient for you.
The starting Trulicity dosage is 0.75 mg once weekly. Unlike Ozempic, it’s not meant to be a warm-up dosage. You should see a difference in your blood sugar levels within a few days.
Based on how you respond, your dosage may be increased in 4-week (1 month) intervals to reach the one that works best for you.
A typical Trulicity dosage schedule may look like this:
Month 1: 0.75 mg injected once weekly for 4 weeks
Month 2: 1.5 mg injected once weekly for 4 weeks (optional)
Month 3: 3 mg injected once weekly for 4 weeks (optional)
Month 4 and beyond: 4.5 mg injected once weekly (optional)
Your typical Trulicity dosage may be between 0.75 mg and 4.5 mg once weekly (maximum dose). Your prescriber will let you know how much you should inject each week.
Follow the directions given to you, which may be different from those shown above.
What’s the typical Trulicity dosage for children?
Trulicity is also approved to treat Type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents ages 10 to 17. Similar to adults, the starting dosage is 0.75 mg injected once weekly.
If more blood sugar reduction is needed, the dosage may be raised to 1.5 mg weekly after 4 weeks. The highest dosage approved for this age group is 1.5 mg weekly.
Trulicity side effects: Do you experience nausea after injecting Trulicity (dulaglutide)? Here’s a list of Trulicity side effects and tips for managing them.
How to use Trulicity: Pharmacists explain how to inject Trulicity, plus other tips for getting the most out of your medication.
Trulicity for weight loss: Learn more about how and why Trulicity causes weight loss in people using the medication.
Are there any dosage adjustments for medical conditions?
If you have kidney or liver problems, you don’t need to inject an adjusted Trulicity dosage. But, kidney damage has been reported in some people using Trulicity. If you have a history of kidney problems, your prescriber may help you watch your kidneys more closely.
Common Trulicity side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, can cause dehydration. This can put you at higher risk for kidney problems. So, it’s important to keep hydrated if you’re experiencing them.
Trulicity’s digestive side effects are most noticeable when first starting the medication, or after a dose increase. They usually improve within a few weeks. Let your prescriber know if these side effects are severe, or if you notice dark urine, a fast heartbeat, or dizziness.
What happens if you miss a dose of Trulicity?
If you miss your weekly Trulicity dose, inject it as soon as you remember if there are at least 3 days until your next regularly scheduled dose.
Example: Your regular Trulicity injection day is on Friday. If you forget to inject Trulicity and remember on Sunday, go ahead and administer your dose since it is more than 3 days until the next Friday.
But if your next dose is scheduled sooner than 3 days, skip that dose and wait for your usual injection day.
Example: Your regular Trulicity injection day is on Friday. If you forget to inject it and don’t remember until next Wednesday, skip that dose. It’s best to wait for Friday and get back on schedule since there are less than 3 days until your next planned dose.
Don’t double up on any Trulicity injections. This could result in too much medication in your body. If this happens, you may be more likely to experience side effects, including low blood sugar. We’ll address this later.
If you need help remembering to inject your weekly Trulicity dose, calendar alerts or medication reminder apps can make this easier.
Can you change your Trulicity injection day?
Yes, you can change the day you inject Trulicity.
But if you do, keep in mind that all doses must be separated by at least 3 days. If you’ve been injecting Trulicity on Saturday, for example, you can move it to Tuesday or any day after that.
Check with your prescriber or pharmacist first if you’d like to change your Trulicity injection day. They can help you make the change safely.
What should you do if you inject too much Trulicity?
If you use too much Trulicity, you may experience nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Abdominal pain and loss of appetite are also possible.
Because Trulicity works to lower blood sugar, too much of it could cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). If this happens, you may feel shaky, nauseated, or hungry. You may also notice that you’re sweating more than usual or feel confused.
If this happens to you, check your blood sugar levels. Be sure to follow the directions you’ve been given to bring them back into a safe range. Let your prescriber know if this happens.
If you think you’ve injected too much Trulicity, contact your healthcare team or contact Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or online. If any side effects feel severe or life-threatening, call 911 or go to the nearest ER.
How to save on Trulicity
There are ways to save on Trulicity, which is only available as a brand-name medication. GoodRx can help you navigate between copay savings cards and patient assistance programs to save money on your prescription.
Save with a copay savings card. If you have commercial insurance, you may be eligible to pay as little as $25 for 12 Trulicity pens using a savings card from the manufacturer.
Save with patient assistance programs. If you’re uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for Trulicity’s patient assistance program, which offers the medication free of cost.
Frequently asked questions
Trulicity is intended to be used long term. If you stop using it, your blood sugar levels will likely go back up. As long as Trulicity is working well for you and not causing too many side effects, your prescriber will likely recommend continuing it. If you’re interested in stopping Trulicity, talk to your prescriber first. They’ll likely discuss oral or injectable diabetes medications that you can use instead.
You should wait at least 4 weeks between each Trulicity dose increase. This means it may take 4 months or more to reach the maximum 4.5 mg adult dose. Keep in mind that you should only raise your dosage if your prescriber has told you to do so. Some people may not need to inject more than the starting 0.75 mg dose.
After injecting your dose, dispose of your Trulicity pen in a needle disposal container, often called a sharps container. Don’t throw pens away in your normal trash. Trulicity pens come ready to use with a needle already attached to them.
Trulicity is intended to be used long term. If you stop using it, your blood sugar levels will likely go back up. As long as Trulicity is working well for you and not causing too many side effects, your prescriber will likely recommend continuing it. If you’re interested in stopping Trulicity, talk to your prescriber first. They’ll likely discuss oral or injectable diabetes medications that you can use instead.
You should wait at least 4 weeks between each Trulicity dose increase. This means it may take 4 months or more to reach the maximum 4.5 mg adult dose. Keep in mind that you should only raise your dosage if your prescriber has told you to do so. Some people may not need to inject more than the starting 0.75 mg dose.
After injecting your dose, dispose of your Trulicity pen in a needle disposal container, often called a sharps container. Don’t throw pens away in your normal trash. Trulicity pens come ready to use with a needle already attached to them.
The bottom line
Trulicity (dulaglutide) is a once-weekly injection used to treat Type 2 diabetes. The typical Trulicity dosage starts at 0.75 mg injected once a week. The starting dosage takes effect within a couple of days to lower your blood glucose (sugar). After 4 weeks, your prescriber may raise your dosage to 1.5 mg per week. This is the maximum Trulicity dosage for children ages 10 to 17. For adults, your prescriber may increase your dose every 4 weeks to a maximum of 4.5 mg weekly.
Talk to your prescriber or pharmacist if you have any questions about your Trulicity dosage.
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References
Eli Lilly. (2025). Trulicity- dulaglutide injection, solution [package insert].
MedlinePlus. (2023). Dulaglutide injection.
