TRULICITY® (Dulaglutide)

Trulicity® is also used for weight loss when clinically appropriate

Trulicity® is the brand name for dulaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist (or GLP-1) medication. It is a once-weekly injectable medication. In September, 2014, Trulicity® became FDA-approved primarily for the management and treatment of type-2 diabetes. Trulicity® helps lower blood sugar by stimulating timely insulin release, improving satiety and slowing down digestion (so you feel fuller). All these effects help patients attain better control over their glucose levels.

Although Trulicity® is primarily FDA-approved for treating type-2 diabetes, Trulicity® can also be used (as off-label) for treating obesity and overweight. Recently several clinical studies have shown that this drug can assist in weight loss for those with overweight and obesity.

Trulicity® (dulaglutide) like other GLP-1 medications mimic a natural hormone that your body already produces (called GLP-1 hormone) to assist in managing type 2 diabetes by stimulating insulin release, slowing digestion, and reducing glucagon secretion, ultimately helping lower blood sugar levels and helping you achieve weight loss.

If you are 10 years old or older and have type 2 diabetes, you qualify to be on Trulicity® (dulaglutide).

Trulicity® (dulaglutide) can also be used (as off-label) for treating obesity and overweight if you meet the following criteria:

1. BMI 30 or more.
2. BMI of 27 or greater with a related health problem such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, prediabetes, sleep apnea, fatty liver and other weight related health conditions.
3. No personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2.
4. No history of pancreatitis.

Trulicity® (dulaglutide) is primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes. Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of Trulicity®, reports that type 2 diabetes patients treated with Trulicity® 4.5mg, experienced a mean weight loss of approximately 10lbs over a 35-week period. At Worthy Weight Loss clinic, some of our patients lose 4%-7% of their initial weight when Trulicity® (dulaglutide) is combined with a proper diet and exercise plan.