Key takeaways
- Trulicity helps lower blood sugar in adults and children ages 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes. It also may reduce major heart risks in adults with type 2 diabetes who have or are at risk for heart disease.
- The usual starting dose of Trulicity is 0.75 milligrams (mg) weekly. Your doctor may adjust it up to 4.5 mg for adults or 1.5 mg for children, based on individual needs and blood sugar levels.
- If you miss a Trulicity dose, take it promptly if it’s at least 72 hours (3 days) before your next dose. Otherwise, skip it and continue your schedule, ensuring not to take more than one dose within 72 hours.
Trulicity is a prescription drug used to help lower blood sugar levels and certain cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) risks. The drug comes as a liquid solution inside prefilled, disposable pens. You’ll inject the drug under your skin.
Specifically, doctors prescribe Trulicity to:
- lower blood sugar levels in adults and certain children with type 2 diabetes, along with exercise and a healthful diet.
- reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death in adults with type 2 diabetes who also have heart disease or are at risk for heart disease.
The active ingredient in Trulicity is dulaglutide. (An active ingredient is what makes a medication work.)
Trulicity belongs to a group of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. Trulicity is a
The dosage of Trulicity you’re prescribed may depend on several factors. These include:
- the type and severity of the condition you’re using Trulicity to treat
- other medications you may be taking
- any side effects of Trulicity you may experience
The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended for Trulicity. But be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. They’ll determine the best dosage to fit your needs. In some cases, doctors may adjust your dosage from those shown here.
Trulicity’s form
Trulicity comes as a liquid solution inside prefilled, disposable pens. You’ll give yourself doses of Trulicity via subcutaneous injection (an injection under your skin) once per week.
There is one dose per pen, and each pen delivers the entire dose in one injection. For each new dose, you’ll need a new pen.
Trulicity strengths
Trulicity is available in four strengths:
- 0.75 milligrams (mg) per 0.5 milliliters (mL) of liquid solution
- 1.5 mg per 0.5 mL of liquid solution
- 3 mg per 0.5 mL of liquid solution
- 4.5 mg per 0.5 mL of liquid solution
What are the typical dosages of Trulicity in adults?
The typical dosage range for Trulicity is 0.75 mg to 4.5 mg once per week. The usual starting dose is 0.75 mg. After you start using Trulicity, your doctor will monitor your blood sugar levels to see how the drug is working. If needed, they may suggest a dose increase to help with lowering your blood sugar levels.
The highest dose of Trulicity is 4.5 mg, given once per week.
Typically, your doctor will start you on a low dosage. Then they’ll adjust your dosage over time to reach the right amount for you. Your doctor will ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect.
The information below describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.
Dosage for lowering blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes
Trulicity is prescribed to help lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. The medication is used with a diet and exercise plan for this purpose.
The typical starting dosage of Trulicity for this use is 0.75 mg once per week. During treatment, your doctor will monitor your blood sugar levels. They may increase your dosage if needed to better manage your condition. The maximum Trulicity dosage to help lower blood sugar is 4.5 mg once per week.
The dosing guide below shows typical increases for Trulicity.
| Factors affecting dosage | Trulicity dosage |
|---|---|
| starting Trulicity treatment for high blood sugar | 0.75 mg once per week |
| if blood sugar needs to be lowered more | increase to 1.5 mg once per week |
| if blood sugar is still too high after 4 weeks of the 1.5-mg dose | increase to 3 mg once per week after at least 4 weeks of the 1.5-mg dose |
| if blood sugar is still too high after 4 weeks of the 3-mg dose | increase to 4.5 mg once per week after at least 4 weeks of the 3-mg dose |
Dosage for lowering the risk of major heart problems in adults with type 2 diabetes
Trulicity is also prescribed to lower the risk of major heart problems in adults with type 2 diabetes. This use is for people who have heart disease or are at risk for heart disease, in addition to having type 2 diabetes.
The dosage for this use is the same as it is for lowering blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes (see above).
What’s the dosage of Trulicity for children?
Trulicity is used to help lower blood sugar in children ages 10 years and older. The medication is used with a diet and exercise plan for this purpose.
The typical starting dosage of Trulicity for children is 0.75 mg once per week. During treatment, your child’s doctor will monitor their blood sugar levels. After at least 4 weeks of treatment with the starting dose, your child’s doctor may recommend a higher dosage if needed to better manage their condition.
The maximum Trulicity dosage to help lower blood sugar in children is 1.5 mg once per week.
For more information about Trulicity’s dosage for children, talk with your child’s doctor or a pharmacist.
Trulicity is given as a subcutaneous injection (an injection under the skin) once per week. Your doctor or another healthcare professional can show you how to give yourself these injections.
You’ll inject Trulicity under the skin of your abdomen, upper arm, or thigh. You should rotate the injection site (change the location of your injection) every week. This helps prevent hard lumps or fatty deposits from forming in the area of the injection.
For more information about how to use Trulicity correctly, see these step-by-step instructions and this video. If you have questions about using Trulicity, you can also ask your doctor or pharmacist.
How long do you take Trulicity?
Trulicity is usually a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that it’s safe and effective for your condition, you’ll likely use it long term.
You’ll use Trulicity once per week. It’s best to have your Trulicity injection on the same day every week.
If you miss a dose of Trulicity, and it’s at least 72 hours (3 days) before your next scheduled dose, take the missed dose.
If your next scheduled dose is within 72 hours, skip the dose you missed. Take your next scheduled dose when you typically would.
Do not take more than one dose in 72 hours. Using too much Trulicity too soon can increase your risk for side effects, like nausea or diarrhea. If you use other medications for diabetes and take too much Trulicity too soon, you could increase your risk for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which can be serious.
It’s possible to change the day of the week you take your Trulicity dose. But make sure there are at least 72 hours between your doses. Your doctor can help guide you on changing your injection to a different day.
It’s important to follow the dosing schedule your doctor prescribes for you. If you need help remembering to take your dose of Trulicity on time, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm, downloading a reminder app, or setting a timer on your phone. A kitchen timer can work, too.
If you have questions about what to do if you miss a dose of Trulicity, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Do not use more Trulicity than your doctor prescribes, as this can lead to harmful effects.
Symptoms of Trulicity overdose
Symptoms caused by an overdose of Trulicity can include:
- vomiting
- nausea
- low blood sugar
What to do in case you use too much Trulicity
Call your doctor right away if you think you’ve used too much Trulicity. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately or go to the nearest emergency room.
The following are answers to some commonly asked questions about Trulicity’s dosage.
Is Trulicity used for weight loss? If so, what’s the dosage?
No, Trulicity isn’t a weight-loss drug. But some people using Trulicity did report weight loss.
If you have questions about managing your weight or using Trulicity, talk with your doctor.
Where can I find dosage instructions for Trulicity?
The manufacturer of Trulicity has step-by-step instructions and a video to help you learn how to use Trulicity correctly.
If you have questions about the correct way to use Trulicity, your doctor or pharmacist should also be able to help you.
How do the dosages of Trulicity and Ozempic compare?
Ozempic is a drug that’s used to treat the same conditions as Trulicity. The dosages of Trulicity and Ozempic vary depending on your individual treatment plan.
Like Trulicity, Ozempic comes as a liquid solution inside a disposable pen. And each medication is given as a subcutaneous injection (an injection under the skin) once per week.
Trulicity comes in single-dose, disposable pens. You need a new pen for each dose of Trulicity. Ozempic comes in multidose disposable pens. This means you use the same pen for more than one dose.
Trulicity’s starting dosage is 0.75 mg once per week. Your doctor may increase your weekly dose to a maximum of 4.5 mg if needed. For children, the maximum Trulicity dosage is 1.5 mg once per week.
Ozempic’s starting dosage is 0.25 mg once per week. Your doctor may increase your weekly dose to a maximum of 2 mg if needed. (Ozempic is approved for use in adults only.)
Keep in mind that the dosages of Trulicity or Ozempic vary depending on your individual treatment plan. If you have questions about the right dosage for you, talk with your doctor.
For details on Trulicity’s dosage, see the “Trulicity dosage overview” section of this article.
The sections above describe the typical dosages provided by the drug’s manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Trulicity for you, they will prescribe the dosage that’s right for you.
Remember, you should not change your dosage of Trulicity without your doctor’s approval. Only use Trulicity exactly as prescribed. Talk with your doctor if you have questions or concerns about your current dosage.
Here are some examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- Would a different dosage affect my risk for side effects from Trulicity?
- How will you tell if my current dosage of Trulicity isn’t working well enough for me?
- I’d like to start taking a certain supplement. Will my dosage of Trulicity need to be adjusted?
To learn more about Trulicity, see these articles:
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Disclaimer: Healthline 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 another 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.
