Ozempic and Trulicity are both medications prescribed to people with type 2 diabetes. These drugs help improve your blood sugar levels. They also help lower your risk for heart attack, stroke, and death from heart disease. Type 2 diabetes is commonly associated with heart disease.
Both Ozempic and Trulicity are brand-name prescription drugs. There’s not currently a generic version of either drug.
This article explains some of the key differences between Ozempic and Trulicity. If you have type 2 diabetes, this information can help you consider if one of these drugs may be right for you.
Note: For more comprehensive information about these two drugs, visit our Ozempic and Trulicity articles.
The active drug in Ozempic is semaglutide, and the active drug in Trulicity is dulaglutide.
Both of these drugs belong to a class of medications called glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists. They work in the same way to improve blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
Ozempic and Trulicity both have Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to improve blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. They’re approved for use in combination with diet and exercise.
Ozempic and Trulicity are also FDA-approved to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death from heart disease. For these uses, both drugs are approved for adults with both type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Trulicity is also approved for adults with type 2 diabetes and multiple risk factors for heart disease. These risk factors include smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and obesity.
Neither drug is approved for treating type 1 diabetes.
Use for weight loss
Neither Ozempic nor Trulicity are FDA-approved for weight loss. But both drugs can reduce appetite, so many people who take them can lose weight. This can be beneficial for people with type 2 diabetes who are overweight.
Some doctors may prescribe Ozempic and Trulicity off-label for weight loss. But you shouldn’t take Ozempic or Trulicity for weight loss without your doctor’s guidance.
A drug that’s similar to Ozempic and Trulicity is approved specifically for weight loss. This drug is called Saxenda. If you’re interested in losing weight, talk with your doctor about Saxenda or other treatments that might be helpful for you.
How much Ozempic or Trulicity costs depends on the treatment plan your doctor prescribes, your insurance plan, and your pharmacy. Both Ozempic and Trulicity are brand-name drugs. Neither medication comes in a generic form. Brand-name medications are often more expensive than generics.
There aren’t any foods in particular that you need to avoid while taking Ozempic or Trulicity. But you may need to limit your alcohol intake. See below for details.
Alcohol use with Ozempic or Trulicity
Drinking large amounts of alcohol can cause low blood sugar, sometimes several hours after you stop drinking. Ozempic and Trulicity can also lower your blood sugar. For this reason, you should avoid drinking too much alcohol while you’re taking one of these drugs, as this could raise your risk for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how much is safe for you to drink while taking one of these drugs.
Ozempic and Trulicity both come as a liquid solution that’s available in a prefilled pen.
Each Trulicity pen is for single use only, while Ozempic pens can be used multiple times. The number of doses you can get from each pen depends on your dose and the strength of pen you use. With Ozempic, you’ll need to attach a new needle to the pen to take each dose.
With both Ozempic and Trulicity, you’ll self-inject your dose under your skin (subcutaneously) once weekly.
Your dosage for either drug will depend on the treatment plan your doctor prescribes for you.
Ozempic and Trulicity are from the same drug class: glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists. For this reason, they cause very similar side effects. Below are some examples of these side effects.
Mild side effects
The following lists address some of the more commonly reported mild side effects of Ozempic or Trulicity, as well as some that both drugs share. For more information about the mild side effects of these two drugs, see Ozempic’s medication guide and Trulicity’s medication guide.
- Can occur with Ozempic:
- few unique common mild side effects
- Can occur with Trulicity:
- decreased appetite
- Can occur with both Ozempic and Trulicity:
- fatigue (low energy level)
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- constipation
- gas
- abdominal pain
- upset stomach
Serious side effects
The following lists address the serious side effects of Ozempic or Trulicity, as well as some that both drugs share.
- Can occur with Ozempic:
- few unique serious side effects
- Can occur with Trulicity:
- severe gastrointestinal disease, including gastroparesis (a condition in which your stomach can’t empty normally)
- Can occur with both Ozempic and Trulicity:
- thyroid cancer*
- pancreatitis
- hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) when used with insulin or other diabetes drugs called sulphonylureas
- kidney damage
- diabetic retinopathy (damage to your retina that’s caused by diabetes complications)
- severe allergic reactions
Note: For more information about mild and serious side effects, see the side effects sections in our Ozempic and Trulicity articles.
*Ozempic and Trulicity both have a
Effectiveness of Ozempic vs. Trulicity
(Video) Pros and Cons of Trulicity, Ozempic, and Rybelsus
Effectiveness of Ozempic vs. Trulicity
Ozempic and Trulicity are both used to help improve blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. They’re also both used to reduce the risk for heart attack, stroke, and death from heart disease in people with both type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Both drugs have been found to be effective for these uses.
The effectiveness of these drugs for improving blood sugar levels has been directly compared in a
For information about how these drugs performed in other clinical studies, see the prescribing information for Ozempic and Trulicity.
Guidelines from the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommend using a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist, such as Ozempic or Trulicity, in adults with type 2 diabetes who also have one of the following conditions:
- cardiovascular disease (CVD) or a high risk for developing CVD
- kidney disease
The ADA doesn’t recommend any GLP-1 agonist over another. If your doctor decides to prescribe a GLP-1 agonist for you, you’ll work together to determine the one that’s best for you.
Ozempic and Trulicity share some of the same warnings, but they also have different ones. Some of these warnings are mentioned below. Before you start using Ozempic or Trulicity, be sure to talk with your doctor to see if these warnings apply to you.
Boxed warning for both Ozempic and Trulicity: Risk of thyroid tumors
These drugs have a boxed warning. This is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A
In animal studies, Ozempic and Trulicity increased the risk of thyroid tumors. It’s not known if these drugs also increase the risk for thyroid tumors in humans.
Don’t take Ozempic or Trulicity if you or a family member have ever had medullary thyroid carcinoma. You also shouldn’t take these drugs if you have a rare form of cancer called multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2.
See your doctor right away if you have symptoms of thyroid cancer while taking Ozempic or Trulicity. These symptoms may include a lump in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath.
Other warnings
In addition to the boxed warning above, Ozempic and Trulicity have other warnings. These drugs may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health.
Warnings for Ozempic and Trulicity include:
- Pancreatitis. Both of these drugs can cause pancreatitis. If you’ve had pancreatitis in the past, you shouldn’t take Ozempic or Trulicity.
- Kidney problems. Both these drugs can cause kidney damage. If you already have kidney problems, these drugs could make these problems worse. Your doctor will want to monitor your kidney function if you take one of these drugs.
- Diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is an eye condition that’s related to diabetes. If you’ve received a diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy in the past, taking Ozempic or Trulicity could make your condition worse. Your doctor will want to monitor your eye health more often if you take one of these drugs.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding. It’s not known if these drugs are safe to use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Talk with your doctor about the best way to treat your diabetes if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding
Warnings for Trulicity include:
- Severe gastrointestinal disease. Trulicity can sometimes cause serious side effects in your stomach or intestines. These include gastroparesis (a condition in which your stomach can’t empty normally). Trulicity hasn’t been studied in people with severe gastrointestinal disease. It’s not recommended for these people.
You might be interested in switching from Ozempic to Trulicity or vice versa. For instance, if one drug doesn’t control your blood sugar well enough, you may wonder if switching to a different drug would help. You might also wonder about switching if you have troublesome side effects from one of these drugs.
Switching between these drugs is possible, but your doctor might not recommend it. That’s because these drugs work in the same way, so if your blood sugar is still too high while taking one of them, it’s unlikely to improve with a switch to the other drug.
If your blood sugar isn’t well controlled with one of these drugs, your doctor is more likely to recommend adding a different type of medication to your treatment schedule. But switching between these drugs might be an option if one of these drugs is working for you but is causing certain side effects.
If you’re worried about side effects or whether your treatment is working, talk with your doctor. They can let you know if switching to Ozempic or Trulicity is a good option for you.
Never switch your medications without your doctor’s approval and guidance.
If you’re interested in taking Ozempic or Trulicity for type 2 diabetes, talk with your doctor. They can help you decide if one of these medications, or a different one, is right for you. You can discuss the information in this article as well as your full health history.
In general, Ozempic and Trulicity are very similar. But some people may find Trulicity pens easier to use than Ozempic pens.
Also, one key difference between the drugs is that Trulicity can sometimes cause serious side effects in your stomach or intestines. So, if you have a severe gastrointestinal condition, Ozempic might be more suitable for you. Your doctor can advise you on your treatment options.
If you’d like to learn more about Ozempic or Trulicity, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about these drugs.
Note: For more information on type 2 diabetes, see our list of diabetes articles.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
FAQs
Which is better for you Trulicity or Ozempic? ›
In the SUSTAIN 7 trial, Ozempic® was proven superior to Trulicity® in A1C reduction, A1C control, and weight reduction in adults with type 2 diabetes. Ozempic® is not indicated for weight loss.
Is it safe to switch from Trulicity to Ozempic? ›Switching between these drugs is possible, but your doctor might not recommend it. That's because these drugs work in the same way, so if your blood sugar is still too high while taking one of them, it's unlikely to improve with a switch to the other drug.
Does Ozempic and Trulicity have the same side effects? ›Common side effects of Ozempic vs. Trulicity. The most common side effects of Ozempic are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and constipation. The most common side effects of Trulicity are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, constipation, decreased appetite, fatigue, and indigestion.
What medicine is better than Ozempic? ›- Bydureon or Byetta (exenatide) ...
- Victoza or Saxenda (liraglutide) ...
- Tanzeum or Eperzan (albiglutide) ...
- Trulicity (dulaglutide) ...
- Mounjaro (tirzepatide)
Ozempic can be used for as long as it facilitates weight loss or maintenance and does not cause significant side effects. Ozempic's safety and efficacy were studied in four 68-week trials, according to the FDA. Ozempic should thus be safe to use for up to 68 weeks.
What are the complaints of Trulicity? ›With the higher dose options, about 16% of people experienced nausea and about 1% of people needed to stop taking Trulicity because of it. The most common adverse reactions experienced with Trulicity are nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, decreased appetite, indigestion and fatigue.
What foods should I avoid with Trulicity? ›Avoid fried or fatty foods and foods high in sugar: These tend to be the toughest for your body to digest and the most likely to cause nausea while taking a GLP-1 medication. Eat slowly, and eat smaller meals. Eat foods that are light and bland. Drink clear or ice-cold drinks (like water or unsweetened tea).
Is hair loss a side effect of Trulicity? ›No, you shouldn't experience hair loss from using Trulicity. Hair loss was not a side effect seen in studies of Trulicity. However, hair loss may be more common in people with diabetes.
Is there a Trulicity shortage in 2023? ›The current Trulicity (dulaglutide) supply situation
Eli Lilly has informed the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) that there will be limited availability of Trulicity (dulaglutide) until 31 March 2023.
Trulicity has an average rating of 5.1 out of 10 from a total of 918 reviews on Drugs.com. 36% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 42% reported a negative experience.
What is the difference between Ozempic and Trulicity? ›
Is Ozempic the same as Trulicity? Both Ozempic and Trulicity are GLP-1 medications that are indicated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, Ozempic has also been approved by the FDA to support chronic weight management. Trulicity is only approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in adults.
What is better than Ozempic for weight loss? ›Mounjaro reduced the A1C by 2% to 2.3% compared to a 1.9% reduction for participants in the semaglutide (Ozempic) 1 mg group. Mounjaro led to weight loss of 7.7 kg (17 lb) to 11.4 kg (25 lb), on average, compared to 5.9 kg (13 lb) for semaglutide (Ozempic).
What is the biggest side effect of Ozempic? ›Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus) can cause side effects that some people are unable to tolerate. Following dosing guidelines can help manage these side effects. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are the most common semaglutide side effects.
What foods should be avoided in Ozempic diet? ›- Fried, greasy foods. Many of the most common side effects of Ozempic are gastrointestinal—things like nausea, bloating, and gas. ...
- Sugary foods and drinks. ...
- Refined carbohydrates. ...
- High-glycemic vegetables. ...
- Alcohol.
A study found that a majority of people who take semaglutide — branded as Ozempic and Wegovy — gain most of the weight back within a year of stopping the medication.
Is there a lawsuit against Trulicity? ›The lawsuits claim that type 2 diabetes drugs in the incretin class caused patients to develop pancreatic cancer. These drugs include Januvia, Victoza, Janumet, Byetta, Bydureon, Trulicity and Tradjenta.
Is Trulicity like metformin? ›Like Trulicity, metformin is a diabetes drug used to control blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. It comes as a tablet that's taken either once or twice a day. Your doctor may prescribe both medications for you if you need additional help lowering your blood sugar.
Why does Trulicity make you lose weight? ›Trulicity also slows down how quickly food travels from your stomach to your intestines. This helps regulate your appetite and digestion, which also helps control blood glucose levels. This can lead to weight loss.
Who should not use Ozempic? ›Do not use Ozempic® if you or any of your family have ever had MTC, or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
Will Ozempic get rid of belly fat? ›Ozempic medication can help you lose weight and lower your risk of developing diabetes. The key features of Ozempic for weight loss include: Reducing body fat – Ozempic helps to break down the stored fat in the body, which can lead to weight loss. Reducing body fat is important for many reasons.
Is Ozempic bad for your heart? ›
Ozempic® lowers the risk of major CV events such as stroke, heart attack, or death in adults also with known heart disease. People with type 2 diabetes and known heart disease are at a greater risk of major CV events such as stroke, heart attack, or death. Ozempic® is proven to significantly lower those risks.
What are the long term effects of taking Trulicity? ›Kidney damage
But some cases of acute kidney damage have also been reported. Most commonly, kidney damage appears to happen in people experiencing severe nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea from Trulicity. These side effects can result in dehydration, which can lead to kidney damage or worsen existing kidney problems.
For patients receiving Trulicity 4.5 milligrams (n=228), the mean reduction was 1.8% points from 8.4% to 6.6%. For patients who have an A1C baseline between 9% and 10% receiving Trulicity 1.5 milligram (n=125), the mean reduction in A1C was 2.1% points from 9.4% to 7.3%.
Does Trulicity affect blood pressure? ›This drug has a long-term effect on cardiovascular outcomes and other outcomes, including a modest weight loss and modest lowering of blood pressure and blood sugar.
Can you drink coffee while taking Trulicity? ›There is no direct interaction between Trulicity and caffeine.
Does Trulicity cause extreme fatigue? ›Common side effects of Trulicity include: diarrhea, frequent bowel movements, nausea, and retching. Other side effects include: abdominal distress, abdominal pain, abdominal tenderness, asthenia, dyspepsia, fatigue, gastrointestinal pain, lower abdominal pain, upper abdominal pain, decreased appetite, and malaise.
Is pancreatitis a side effect of Trulicity? ›However, you should stop using Trulicity and call your healthcare provider if you have symptoms of pancreatitis such as severe pain in your stomach or abdomen, with or without vomiting, that will not go away.
Which has less side effects Ozempic or Trulicity? ›There are important differences between Trulicity and Ozempic. Some research suggests that Ozempic (semaglutide) may offer the best weight reduction and reduction in A1C (a measure of blood glucose levels), but that there are lower rates of gastrointestinal side effects with Trulicity and other GLP-1 medications.
What foods should you avoid when taking Trulicity? ›- Sugary snacks such as cakes, cookies, candy. ...
- High sugar drinks such as soda pop, fruit drinks, sweet tea. ...
- Refined carbohydrates like white bread, potatoes, white rice. ...
- High fat content foods such as fast food, ice cream, and milkshakes.
Ozempic for weight loss: which is better? In a clinical trial that compared weekly use of semaglutide 1 mg and 2.4 mg, semaglutide 2.4 mg (the maximum dose of Wegovy) caused more significant weight loss than semaglutide 1 mg (the typical maintenance dose of Ozempic) (Davies, 2021; Singh, 2022).
Is Trulicity a high risk medication? ›
FDA Warning: Risk of thyroid cancer
This drug has a boxed warning. This is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A. In animal studies, Trulicity increased the risk of thyroid tumors.
This drug has a boxed warning about possible risk of thyroid cancer. This is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A boxed warning alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous. In animals, Ozempic can increase the risk of thyroid tumors.
Is there a problem with Ozempic? ›“Overall, Ozempic is a very safe medication,” explains Dr. McGowan. “The most common side effects are gastrointestinal in nature: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation.”
Is Trulicity hard on the liver? ›Trulicity is not recommended in some cases of serious digestive diseases. Liver problems. It's not known if having liver problems affects the way Trulicity works in your body. If you have any liver conditions, be sure to tell your doctor before you start using Trulicity.
Does Trulicity cause lack of energy? ›Fatigue is also possible while taking Trulicity. You may feel like you have low energy and feel tired. This may be related to eating fewer calories. Over time, your body may adjust to the new level of caloric intake.
Why do I feel better on Ozempic? ›This is because Ozempic mimics a natural hormone (GLP-1) which slows your stomach from emptying and helps you feel fuller for longer, decreasing your appetite [2].
Why am I losing so much weight on Ozempic? ›The injectable medication acts just like this natural hormone to make you feel fuller for longer and reduces your cravings for more food. Enhancing the way your body regulates blood sugar levels and the storage of fat can help patients lose weight.