How to Take Trulicity: 6 Pharmacist Tips for Trulicity Injections
Key takeaways:
Trulicity (dulaglutide) is a once-weekly injection for Type 2 diabetes in adults and children ages 10 and older. It comes as a single-use injection pen.
Trulicity can be taken any time of day, with or without food. But it should be taken on the same day each week. Pick a day that works best for you. Talk to your prescriber or pharmacist if you want to change your injection day.
There are ways to manage Trulicity side effects, such as injection-site reactions, nausea, and constipation. But if you experience severe or bothersome side effects, ask your healthcare team for guidance.
There are many ways to save on Trulicity. If you’re eligible, a manufacturer savings card can help you access Trulicity for as little as $25. A patient assistance program is also available.
Access savings on related medications
Table of contents
Trulicity (dulaglutide) is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist for people with Type 2 diabetes. Unlike insulin, another injectable diabetes medication, Trulicity is injected once a week. And Trulicity comes in an easy-to-use, single-dose pen.
If you’re considering using Trulicity, there are some important things to keep in mind. Taking it as prescribed is key, but there are a few tips that can help you maximize its benefits. Here are six pharmacist-backed tips for taking Trulicity.
1. How to take Trulicity
When you start Trulicity, your healthcare team will show you how to inject your dose. If you need a refresher, here are a few general steps to follow:
Select your injection site. You can pick one of three body areas to inject Trulicity: the front of either thigh, at least 2 inches from your belly button on your stomach, or on your upper arm. There’s no “best” place to inject Trulicity, but you may prefer one spot. It’s ideal to have someone else inject Trulicity in the upper arm since it’s harder to reach. For each dose, choose a different injection site.
Gather your supplies. If your Trulicity pen is in the refrigerator, take it out 30 minutes before your dose to make the injection more comfortable. Make sure the pen isn’t expired and that the liquid inside doesn’t look cloudy or discolored. Air bubbles are OK. Grab an alcohol swab and a sharps container, then wash and dry your hands. Use the alcohol swab to clean the injection site.
Uncap and unlock the pen. Remove the black base cap from the pen by pulling it straight off. Throw the cap away. Then use one hand to firmly press the clear base flat against your skin where you plan to inject. With your other hand, turn the lock ring to unlock the pen.
Inject your dose. When you’re ready to inject, press and hold the green button on the top of the pen. You’ll hear one click when the injection has started. You’ll hear a second click once the injection is complete. Hold the pen against your skin until you hear the second click (5 to 10 seconds).
Throw the pen away. Remove the pen from your skin, and put it into a sharps container. Each Trulicity pen contains one dose, so you shouldn’t try to reuse it.
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2. Inject Trulicity once a week, on the same day each week
Trulicity should be injected once a week, on the same day every week. Pick a day that works best for you. It doesn’t make a difference whether you inject it in the morning or at night. But sticking to a consistent time may help you remember.
Does your injection day no longer fit your schedule or lifestyle? You can change your injection day, as long as it has been at least 3 days since your last dose. But it’s best to have your prescriber or pharmacist help you do this safely.
3. You can inject Trulicity with or without food
According to Trulicity’s manufacturer, you can inject your dose with or without food. Some GLP-1 medications, such as Byetta (exenatide), need to be timed around meals. But this isn’t the case for Trulicity. Even so, timing your dose around a meal may help you remember to take it (such as every Friday morning with breakfast).
4. You don’t need to separate Trulicity from other medications
Trulicity can interact with certain medications. But you don’t need to worry about taking these medications at a different time from your Trulicity dose. Instead, many Trulicity interactions can be managed through monitoring and dosage adjustments.
For example, Trulicity and insulin can be given as back-to-back injections — no need to wait. Just be sure to inject them into different spots that aren’t close together. Your prescriber may lower your insulin dose when you start Trulicity to avoid low blood glucose (sugar). This is also the case with other diabetes medications, such as sulfonylureas and glinides.
Trulicity may interfere with how your body absorbs oral medications because of its effects on your gut. Your prescriber or pharmacist can help determine if this is a concern for your oral medications. Share your medication list so they can check for interactions.
5. Steps you can take if you miss a Trulicity dose
If you miss a dose of Trulicity, inject it as soon as you remember. You can inject a missed dose up to 72 hours (3 days) before your next dose. In this case, you should resume the once-weekly schedule starting from the day you took the missed dose.
If you miss a dose of Trulicity and your next dose is in 24 to 48 hours (1 to 2 days), you should skip the missed dose. Resume your regular timetable at the next scheduled dose.
You may not have noticeable symptoms if you miss your Trulicity dose by a couple of days. It’s possible that your blood glucose could be a bit higher, depending on how long it has been. You may also notice an increased appetite. But this should resolve as long as you get back on schedule.
Trulicity side effects: Do you experience nausea after injecting Trulicity? Here’s a list of Trulicity side effects and tips for managing them.
How to store Trulicity: Trulicity pens last longest if you keep them in the refrigerator. Learn how to store Trulicity to ensure it stays safe and effective.
How they compare: Learn about the key differences between Trulicity and Ozempic for Type 2 diabetes.
6. How to avoid or minimize Trulicity side effects
You may experience side effects from Trulicity, especially when beginning treatment and after your dose is increased. These can often be managed at home with some changes to your routine. Ways to avoid or minimize Trulicity side effects include:
Pain, redness, or lumps from the injection: Change where you inject Trulicity each time. You can stick with the same body area (such as the upper thigh). But don’t use the exact same spot for every dose. To lessen pain, let Trulicity come to room temperature before injecting.
Nausea, bloating, and indigestion: Trulicity can make you feel full sooner than usual. Listen to your body during meals, and stop eating when you start feeling full. It’s also a good idea to minimize high-fat, spicy, and gas-producing foods that can worsen these side effects.
Diarrhea or constipation: Some people using Trulicity experience diarrhea, constipation, or both. In these situations, be sure to drink enough fluids throughout the day. You can also slowly introduce more fiber-rich foods if you’re constipated. Avoid fried foods, dairy products, and fatty or greasy foods, which can worsen these side effects.
Tell your prescriber if you have side effects that are getting worse or won’t go away. They may lower your Trulicity dose if you’re not able to tolerate it. In some cases, they may have you stop Trulicity.
Severe stomach pain with nausea, vomiting, or yellowing of the skin and eyes can be signs of something more serious. This can include pancreatitis (inflammation of your pancreas) and gallbladder problems (like gallstones). In this case, contact your prescriber right away.
Allergic reactions are also possible with Trulicity. Get immediate medical attention if you have a serious reaction after a Trulicity dose. These can include shortness of breath and swelling of your face, tongue, or throat.
Tips for how to save money with your Trulicity prescription
There are ways to save on Trulicity, which is available as a brand-name medication. GoodRx can help you navigate between patient assistance programs and copay savings cards to save money on your prescription.
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.
Save with a copay savings card. If you have commercial insurance, you may be eligible to pay as little as $25 for Trulicity using a savings card from the manufacturer.
Save with GoodRx. The price of Trulicity is as low as $863.85 at certain pharmacies with a free GoodRx coupon.
Frequently asked questions
You don’t need to avoid certain foods entirely with Trulicity. But there are a few that are best to minimize during treatment. That’s because some foods can increase your blood glucose or raise the risk of side effects. Examples of these foods and drinks include:
Sweetened beverages like regular soda
Sugary foods like candy and sweets
Fried and high-fat foods
Baked goods, such as cakes and cookies
Trulicity isn’t approved for weight loss. But many people lose weight when taking it, especially with higher doses. In clinical studies, people taking Trulicity 4.5 mg lost about 10 lbs after 9 months.
Trulicity works to lower your blood glucose in a few ways. These include:
Increasing the amount of insulin your pancreas releases when you eat
Slowing the passage of food out of your stomach
Reducing glucose production in the liver
Targeting areas of the brain involved in appetite and feelings of fullness
There are several medications that work like Trulicity for Type 2 diabetes. Your healthcare team can suggest which alternatives are best for you since there are differences to consider. Examples of Trulicity alternatives include:
The bottom line
Trulicity (dulaglutide) is a once-weekly injection for people with Type 2 diabetes. You can inject it anytime of day, with or without food. But be sure it’s on the same day each week. Change the spot where you inject each time.
Trulicity is available as a brand-name medication. But there are many ways to save and make your prescription more affordable. These include copay savings cards and patient assistance programs. Talk to your prescriber or pharmacist to learn more.
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References
Eli Lilly and Company. (2024). Trulicity- dulaglutide injection, solution [package insert].
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