Ozempic (semaglutide) and Trulicity (dulaglutide) are brand-name subcutaneous injections. They’re both prescribed for adults with type 2 diabetes who may or may not have certain cardiovascular problems. Each drug is also approved for other uses.
The active ingredient in Ozempic is semaglutide, and the active ingredient in Trulicity is dulaglutide.
Both of these drugs belong to a class of medications called glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. They work in similar ways when used by people with a condition that both drugs are approved to help treat.
This article explains some of the key differences between Ozempic and Trulicity. If you’re thinking about taking one of these drugs, this information can help you consider whether one of these drugs may be right for you.
Key differences between Ozempic and Trulicity
These are a couple of the main differences between Ozempic and Trulicity:
- Use in children: For all the conditions Ozempic is used for, Ozempic is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in adults only. Trulicity is FDA approved for managing blood sugar levels in adults and children ages 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes. (See the “Warnings of Ozempic and Trulicity” section.)
- Administration: Ozempic and Trulicity both come as a solution in a prefilled pen for subcutaneous injection. Ozempic pens can be used multiple times, while each Trulicity pen is for single use only. (See the “Dosage, forms, and administration” section.)
You might be interested in switching from Trulicity to Ozempic or vice versa. For instance, if one drug doesn’t manage your blood sugar well enough, you may wonder whether 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. If your blood sugar is still too high while taking one of them, it’s unlikely to be lowered with a switch to the other drug. You can learn more about how these drugs compare in the “Effectiveness of Ozempic vs. Trulicity” section.
If your blood sugar isn’t well managed 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. For more information, see the “Side effects of Ozempic vs. Trulicity” section.
If you’re worried about side effects or whether your treatment is working, talk with your doctor. They can let you know whether switching to Ozempic or Trulicity is a good option for you.
It’s important that you do not stop, start, or switch any of your drug treatments without your doctor’s recommendation.
- help manage blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes, along with diet and exercise
- reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems such as heart attack in adults with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD)
Ozempic is also FDA approved to:
- reduce the risk of worsening kidney disease and serious heart-related problems in adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic (long-term) kidney disease, which in turn helps lower the risk of decreased kidney function and death due to cardiovascular events such as stroke
Trulicity is also FDA approved to:
- reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems in adults with type 2 diabetes and multiple risk factors for CVD, such as smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or obesity
Neither drug is approved to treat type 1 diabetes.
Use in children
Trulicity is FDA approved to help manage blood sugar levels in adults and children ages 10 years and older with type 2 diabetes. It’s approved for use in combination with diet and exercise. Ozempic is approved for this purpose in adults only.
Neither Ozempic nor Trulicity are FDA approved for weight loss. However, both drugs may cause weight loss in some people. Moderate weight loss was commonly seen in clinical trials of Ozempic and Trulicity.
Some doctors may prescribe Ozempic and Trulicity off-label for weight loss. Off-label drug use is when an FDA-approved drug is prescribed for a purpose other than what the FDA has approved it for.
Can you switch from Ozempic to Trulicity for weight loss?
If you currently use Ozempic off-label for weight loss and want to switch to Trulicity (or vice versa), talk with your doctor. They can give you more information about how these drugs compare. For example, a
Other drugs that are similar to Ozempic and Trulicity have been approved specifically for weight loss. These include drugs such as Wegovy (semaglutide) and Saxenda (liraglutide). If you’re interested in losing weight, talk with your doctor about Wegovy, Saxenda, or other treatments that might be helpful for you. Some of them may be better than Ozempic for weight loss.
Note: You should not use Ozempic or Trulicity for weight loss without your doctor’s guidance.
The cost of cost of Ozempic or Trulicity depends on the treatment plan your doctor prescribes, your insurance plan, and your pharmacy. You can visit Optum Perks for price estimates of many drugs, including Ozempic. (Optum Perks is a sister site of Medical News Today.)
Both Ozempic and Trulicity are brand-name drugs. Neither medication comes in a generic form. Brand-name medications are often more expensive than generics.
Here’s a quick look at the dosage and administration of Ozempic and Trulicity for the conditions that both drugs treat.
Dosage details
The following table shows the recommended doses of Ozempic and Trulicity for either of these conditions:
- to help manage blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes
- to reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems in adults with both type 2 diabetes and CVD
Strengths are in milligrams per milliliter (mg/mL) of solution.
| Ozempic | Trulicity | |
|---|---|---|
| Form | subcutaneous injection | subcutaneous injection |
| Strengths | • 2 mg/3 mL • 4 mg/3 mL • 8 mg/3 mL | • 0.75 mg/0.5 mL • 1.5 mg/0.5 mL • 3 mg/0.5 mL • 4.5 mg/0.5 mL |
| Dose | 0.5 mg, 1 mg, or 2 mg | 0.75 mg, 1.5 mg, 3 mg, or 4.5 mg |
| Frequency | once weekly | once weekly |
| Given by | self | self |
Administration
Ozempic injection pens come with disposable, single-use needles. You’ll need to attach a new needle to the pen each time you administer a dose. You’ll turn the dose selector on the pen to select your dose. The number of doses you can get from each pen depends on your prescribed dose and the strength of the pen you use.
Trulicity injection pens come with a needle attached. Each pen is for single use only. It delivers one dose of medication. You’ll use a new pen each time you administer a dose.
Your doctor or another healthcare professional will show you or a caregiver how to give Ozempic or Trulicity injections at home. Doses can be injected in the following areas:
- thigh
- abdomen (at least 2 inches away from your belly button)
- upper arm
To learn more about administering either of these drugs, see the step-by-step instructional Ozempic video or Trulicity video. And to learn about Trulicity dosages for children, talk with your child’s doctor or refer to the drug’s prescribing information.
Ozempic and Trulicity are from the same drug class: glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. For this reason, Ozempic’s side effects are very similar to Trulicity’s side effects. Here are some examples of these side effects.
For more details, you can refer to the Ozempic prescribing information and Trulicity prescribing information.
Mild side effects
The following table lists some of the more commonly reported mild side effects of Ozempic or Trulicity, as well as some that both drugs share.
| Mild side effects | Ozempic | Trulicity |
|---|---|---|
| fatigue | ✓ | ✓ |
| nausea | ✓ | ✓ |
| vomiting | ✓ | ✓ |
| diarrhea | ✓ | ✓ |
| constipation | ✓ | ✓ |
| flatulence (gas) | ✓ | ✓ |
| abdominal pain | ✓ | ✓ |
| indigestion | ✓ | ✓ |
| mild allergic reaction | ✓ | ✓ |
| decreased appetite | ✓ |
An allergic reaction is possible after using Ozempic and Trulicity. This side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials, but it has occurred since both drugs were approved.
Serious side effects
The following table lists the serious side effects of Ozempic or Trulicity, as well as some that both drugs share.
| Serious side effects | Ozempic | Trulicity |
|---|---|---|
| risk of thyroid cancer | ✓ | ✓ |
| pancreatitis | ✓ | ✓ |
| hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) when used with insulin or other diabetes drugs called sulfonylureas | ✓ | ✓ |
| kidney damage | ✓ | ✓ |
| diabetic retinopathy (damage to your retina that’s caused by diabetes complications) | ✓ | ✓ |
| gallbladder disease, including gallstones or cholecystitis | ✓ | ✓ |
| severe digestive system side effects | ✓ | ✓ |
| severe allergic reaction | ✓ | ✓ |
Ozempic and Trulicity both have a boxed warning for risk of thyroid cancer. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. For more information, see the “Warnings of Ozempic and Trulicity” section.
Ozempic and Trulicity are both used to help manage blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. They’re also both used to reduce the risk of certain cardiovascular problems in adults with both type 2 diabetes and CVD. Both drugs have been found to be effective for these uses.
Which is better, Trulicity or Ozempic?
The effectiveness of these drugs for improving blood sugar levels has been directly compared in a
For information about how these drugs performed individually in other clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Ozempic and Trulicity.
American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines recommend using a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, such as Ozempic or Trulicity, in adults with type 2 diabetes who also have one of the following conditions:
- CVD or a risk of developing CVD
- kidney disease
The ADA does not recommend any GLP-1 receptor agonist over another. If your doctor decides to prescribe a GLP-1 receptor 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 here. Before you start using Ozempic or Trulicity, be sure to talk with your doctor to see whether these warnings apply to you.
Boxed warning: Risk of thyroid cancer
These drugs have a boxed warning for the risk of thyroid cancer. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. It alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.
In animal studies, Ozempic and Trulicity increased the risk of thyroid cancer. It’s not known whether these drugs also increase the risk of thyroid cancer in humans.
Do not use Ozempic or Trulicity if you or a family member have ever had medullary thyroid carcinoma. You also should not use 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, difficulty swallowing, or shortness of breath.
Other warnings
In addition to the boxed warning just discussed, Ozempic and Trulicity have other warnings, which are listed in the following table. These drugs may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health.
If any of the following medical conditions or other health factors are relevant to you, talk with your doctor before using Ozempic or Trulicity.
| Precaution | Ozempic | Trulicity |
|---|---|---|
| if you have current or past pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) | ✓ | ✓ |
| if you have kidney problems | ✓ | ✓ |
| if you have diabetic retinopathy | ✓ | ✓ |
| if you have an upcoming medical procedure requiring sedation or general anesthesia | ✓ | ✓ |
| if you have a severe digestive system problem, such as gastroparesis | ✓ | ✓ |
| if you’ve had an allergic reaction to either drug or any of its ingredients | ✓ | ✓ |
| if you’re pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant | ✓ | ✓ |
| if you’re breastfeeding or thinking about breastfeeding | ✓ | ✓ |
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 (if you drink).
Alcohol 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 of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how much, if any, is safe for you to drink during treatment with one of these drugs.
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 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.
