Tresiba vs. Trulicity

Tresiba (insulin degludec injection) and Trulicity (dulaglutide) are used to improve glycemic control in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Tresiba is used to treat both type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Trulicity is only used to treat type 2 diabetes.

Tresiba and Trulicity belong to different drug classes. Tresiba is a long-acting human insulin analog and Trulicity is a human GLP-1 receptor agonist.

Side effects of Tresiba and Trulicity that are similar include low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), upset stomach or stomach pain, and diarrhea.

Side effects of Tresiba that are different from Trulicity include allergic reactions, injection site reactions, body fat redistribution, itching, rash, swelling, weight gain, runny or stuffy nose, upper respiratory tract infection, headache, and sinusitis.

Side effects of Trulicity that are different from Tresiba include nausea, frequent bowel movements, vomiting, decreased appetite, indigestion, fatigue, constipation, gas, bloating, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), weakness/lack of energy, feeling unwell (malaise), and belching.

Tresiba may interact with other insulin products, beta-blockers, clonidine, guanethidine, reserpine, other antidiabetic agents, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blocking agents, disopyramide, fibrates, fluoxetine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, pentoxifylline, pramlintide, propoxyphene, salicylates, somatostatin analogs, sulfonamide antibiotics, GLP-1 receptor agonists, DDP-4 inhibitors, SGLT-2 inhibitors, atypical antipsychotics, corticosteroids, danazol, diuretics, estrogens, glucagon, isoniazid, niacin, oral contraceptives, phenothiazines, progestogens, protease inhibitors, somatropin, sympathomimetic agents, thyroid hormones, alcohol, lithium salts, and pentamidine.

Trulicity may interact with other oral medications.

Side effects of Tresiba include:

• low blood sugar (hypoglycemia),
• allergic reactions,
• injection site reactions,
• body fat redistribution (lipodystrophy),
• itching,
• rash,
• swelling,
• weight gain,
• runny or stuffy nose,
• upper respiratory tract infection,
• headache,
• sinusitis,
• upset stomach or stomach pain, and
• diarrhea.

Common side effects of Trulicity include:

• nausea,
• diarrhea,
• frequent bowel movements,
• vomiting,
• abdominal pain or discomfort,
• decreased appetite,
• indigestion,
• fatigue,
• constipation,
• gas,
• bloating,
• gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD),
• weakness/lack of energy,
• feeling unwell (malaise),
• belching, and
• low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

Tresiba (insulin degludec injection) is a long-acting human insulin analog indicated to improve glycemic control in adults with diabetes mellitus.

Trulicity (dulaglutide) is a human GLP-1 receptor agonist used as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Tresiba may interact with other insulin products, beta-blockers, clonidine, guanethidine, reserpine, other antidiabetic agents, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blocking agents, disopyramide, fibrates, fluoxetine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, pentoxifylline, pramlintide, propoxyphene, salicylates, somatostatin analogs, sulfonamide antibiotics, GLP-1 receptor agonists, DDP-4 inhibitors, SGLT-2 inhibitors, atypical antipsychotics, corticosteroids, danazol, diuretics, estrogens, glucagon, isoniazid, niacin, oral contraceptives, phenothiazines, progestogens, protease inhibitors, somatropin, sympathomimetic agents, thyroid hormones, alcohol, lithium salts, or pentamidine. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while taking Tresiba. During pregnancy, Tresiba should only be taken if prescribed. It is unknown if Tresiba passes into breast milk. Women with diabetes who are nursing may require adjustments in insulin dose, meal plan, or both. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Trulicity may interact with other oral medications. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

The dose of Tresiba is individualized based on type of diabetes, metabolic needs, blood glucose monitoring results, and glycemic control goal.

The recommended initiating dose of Trulicity is 0.75 mg once weekly. The maximum recommended dose is 1.5 mg once weekly.