Trulicity and Weight Loss: Can Trulicity Help You Lose Weight?

Trulicity is a once-weekly injection belonging to the GLP-1 agonist class that helps manage blood glucose (sugar) in type 2 diabetes and reduces the risk of heart problems and heart disease.

Increasingly, it is also being prescribed for weight loss, though it is not FDA-approved for this purpose. 

What is Trulicity?

Trulicity (dulaglutide) is a brand-name medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. Approved by the FDA in 2014, it helps manage blood sugar levels, often alongside insulin therapy. 

It works by:

• Helping the pancreas make more insulin
• Preventing after-meal blood sugar spikes by inhibiting glucagon production from the liver
• Slowing digestion, which can lead to feeling fuller for longer

Similar drugs include Ozempic (semaglutide), Mounjaro (tirzepatide), and Victoza (liraglutide), which are also noted for their weight loss benefits.

Can Trulicity help you lose weight?

Technically, yes. GLP-1 agonists like Wegovy (semaglutide) are approved specifically for weight loss. While Trulicity is not FDA-approved for this purpose, many people taking it for diabetes management do experience weight loss.

In randomized controlled trials (RCTs), the medication helped the average person lose around 6.6 pounds over 6 months. 

Another study showed that dulaglutide, the active ingredient in Trulicity, led to lower blood sugar levels, lower A1c levels, and weight loss compared to a placebo (inactive treatment).

It is most effective when combined with a healthy diet, increased physical activity, and as a supplement to prescribed diabetes medications. 

Since it is not FDA-approved for weight loss, there is no recommended dose for this purpose. However, studies indicate that weight loss is dose-dependent — that is, the higher the dose, the more weight loss people experienced sustainably.

Read more in: Trulicity Dosing: How Much Should You Take?

How quickly can I lose weight on Trulicity?

Trulicity is not recommended for quick weight loss. 

Sustainable weight loss occurs gradually over several months. The medication works by suppressing appetite and improving insulin sensitivity, leading to gradual weight loss. 

For the best results, combine Trulicity with a healthy diet and increased exercise.

How much weight can you lose with Trulicity?

Research shows that it helps people lose an average of 6.6 pounds, with this weight loss sustained for over 6 months. 

The medication’s effects are dose-dependent: at 1 mg, users typically lose about 6.6 pounds; at 3.0 mg, they lose around 8.4 pounds; and at the maximum dose of 4.5 mg, they lose approximately 10.1 pounds. 

However, most weight loss is usually regained after stopping the medication.

What are the side effects?

Trulicity may cause adverse side effects, especially when you first start taking the medication. These may include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Decreased appetite
• Stomach pain and bloating
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Redness and swelling at the injection site
• Low blood sugar (especially if on insulin)

Rare but serious side effects include:

• Acute pancreatitis
• Severe allergic reaction
• Impaired kidney function
• Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC)

Avoid this medicine if you have a personal or family history of MTC or multiple endocrine neoplasia. The FDA has issued a black box warning about its increased risk of thyroid cancer.

Who should not take Trulicity?

Do not take this medication without a prescription.

Avoid it if you are at a maintenance weight or are underweight.

Do not use it for weight loss if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant.

Trulicity may cause serious (but rare) side effects, including thyroid C-cell tumors and medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC).

If you are on insulin, be aware that Trulicity may increase the risk of low blood sugar. Consider using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) if you deal with frequent hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), especially hypoglycemia unawareness.

Can Trulicity replace insulin?

No, this drug is not an insulin replacement. It works differently and does not quickly lower blood sugar like insulin. If you’ve recently been prescribed Trulicity, do not stop taking your other diabetes medications unless directed by your healthcare provider.

The medication lowers blood sugar levels over time, but you will still need to take insulin if you normally do. While Trulicity may gradually reduce your insulin needs, it rarely eliminates the need for insulin entirely.

If you experience frequent low blood sugars while taking this medicine, it likely means your insulin sensitivity has increased, and you’ll need to decrease your insulin dose. Talk to your doctor about adjusting your medications to avoid hypoglycemic events.

Can I take Trulicity if I don’t have diabetes?

You should never take any medication that hasn’t been prescribed to you. 

Trulicity is only FDA-approved for treating type 2 diabetes, but it is increasingly prescribed “off-label” (in a manner not officially approved by the FDA) for weight loss in people with chronic insulin resistance, type 1 diabetes, prediabetes, or those who are overweight or obese.

If you do not have diabetes, be aware that this medication can cause adverse side effects, including low blood sugar and low blood pressure, both of which can be dangerous if not treated correctly. 

For weight loss, ask your doctor about FDA-approved medications that may be a better choice.

Is Trulicity right for you? Ask your doctor

No healthcare solution is one-size-fits-all. Speak with your healthcare provider to determine if a Trulicity prescription is the right weight-loss method for you.

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