Skip to main content

Trulicity Side Effects

Generic name: dulaglutide

Medically reviewed by Philip Thornton, DipPharm. Last updated on Jan 7, 2024.

Note: This document contains side effect information about dulaglutide. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Trulicity.

Applies to dulaglutide: subcutaneous solution.

Warning

Subcutaneous route (Solution)

In male and female rats, dulaglutide caused a dose-related and treatment-duration-dependent increase in the incidence of thyroid C-cell tumors (adenomas and carcinomas) after lifetime exposure. It is unknown whether dulaglutide causes thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), in humans as human relevance of dulaglutide-induced rodent thyroid C-cell tumors has not been determined. Dulaglutide is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC and in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Counsel patients regarding the potential risk of MTC with use of dulaglutide and inform them of symptoms of thyroid tumors (eg, mass in the neck, dysphagia, dyspnea, persistent hoarseness). Routine monitoring of serum calcitonin or using thyroid ultrasound is of uncertain value for early detection of MTC in patients treated with dulaglutide.

Serious side effects of Trulicity

Along with its needed effects, dulaglutide (the active ingredient contained in Trulicity) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking dulaglutide:

Less common

Incidence not known

Other side effects of Trulicity

Some side effects of dulaglutide may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Less common

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to dulaglutide: subcutaneous solution.

General

The most common adverse reactions included nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and decreased appetite.[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

During clinical trials, a greater number of pancreatitis related adverse reactions were reported in patients exposed to this drug versus non-incretin comparators (12 cases vs 3 cases). Analyses of adjudicated events revealed 5 cases of confirmed pancreatitis in dulaglutide-exposed patients compared with 1 case in the non-incretin comparator group.

Gastrointestinal events occurred more frequently with the higher dose. Cases were graded as mild, moderate, or severe in 58% and 48%, 35% and 43%, and 7% and 11%, of patients receiving the 0.75 mg dose and the 1.5 mg dose, respectively. The severity of events was graded by clinical trial investigators.[Ref]

Very common (10% or more): Nausea (up to 21.1%), diarrhea (up to 13.7%), vomiting (up to 11.5%)

Common (1% to 10%): Abdominal pain, dyspepsia, constipation, flatulence, abdominal distention, gastroesophageal reflux disease, eructation, lipase and/or pancreatic amylase increases from baseline (up to 20%)

Frequency not reported: Pancreatitis[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Systemic hypersensitivity including severe urticaria, systemic rash, facial edema, lip swelling

Postmarketing reports: Anaphylactic reactions, angioedema[Ref]

Oncologic

Very rare (less than 0.01%): Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma[Ref]

One case of Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma (MTC) has been reported in a patient treated with this drug. Prior to receiving treatment, this patient had calcitonin levels approximately 8 times the upper limit of normal.[Ref]

Metabolic

Hypoglycemia occurred more frequently when this drug was used in combination with a sulfonylurea or insulin. In combination with prandial insulin, hypoglycemia occurred in 85% and 80% of patients receiving 0.75 mg and 1.5 mg; severe hypoglycemia in 2.4% and 3.4% of patients, respectively. In combination with a sulfonylurea, symptomatic hypoglycemia occurred in 39% and 40%. As add-on therapy to metformin or metformin plus pioglitazone, symptomatic hypoglycemia occurred in up to 5.6% of patients, with no reports of severe hypoglycemia.[Ref]

Very common (10% or more): Hypoglycemia (up to 85% when combined with prandial insulin)

Common (1% to 10%): Decreased appetite[Ref]

Cardiovascular

During clinical trials, a mean increase in heart rate of 2 to 4 beats per minute was observed. Sinus tachycardia was reported in 2.8% and 5.6% of patients receiving 0.75 mg and 1.5 mg of dulaglutide (the active ingredient contained in Trulicity) compared with 3% in placebo. Persistent sinus tachycardia defined as occurring at more than 2 visits was reported in 0.4%, 1.6%, and 0.2% of patients receiving dulaglutide 0.75 mg, 1.5 mg, or placebo. Episodes of sinus tachycardia associated with an increase of 15 or more beats per minute from baseline occurred in 1.3%, 2.2%, and 0.7% of patients, respectively.

During clinical trials, a 2 to 3 millisecond mean increase from baseline in PR interval was observed in dulaglutide-treated patients compared to a mean decrease of 0.9 milliseconds in placebo-treated patients. AV block occurred more frequently compared with placebo (0.9%, 1.7% and 2.3% for placebo, 0.75 mg and 1.5 mg, respectively). On electrocardiograms, a PR interval increase to at least 220 milliseconds was observed in 0.7%, 2.5% and 3.2% of patients treated with placebo, 0.75 mg, 1.5 mg, respectively.[Ref]

Common (1% to 10%): First degree AV block, sinus tachycardia, PR prolongation on ECG

Frequency not reported: Increased heart rate[Ref]

Renal

Postmarketing reports: Increased serum creatinine, acute renal failure or worsening of chronic renal failure (sometimes requiring hemodialysis)

Immunologic

In clinical studies 1.6% (n=64) of patients developed anti-drug antibodies (ADAs). Half of the patients had dulaglutide-neutralizing antibodies and half developed antibodies against native GLP-1.[Ref]

Common (1% to 10%): Anti-drug antibodies[Ref]

Local

Common (1% to 10%): Injection site reactions[Ref]

Other

Common (1% to 10%): Fatigue[Ref]

Frequently asked questions

References

1. Cerner Multum, Inc. UK Summary of Product Characteristics.

2. Cerner Multum, Inc. Australian Product Information.

3. Product Information. Trulicity (dulaglutide). Eli Lilly and Company. 2014.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.

Medical Disclaimer