Trulicity vs. Byetta

• Are Trulicity and Byetta the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Trulicity?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Byetta?
• What Is Trulicity?
• What Is Byetta?
• What Drugs Interact with Trulicity?
• What Drugs Interact with Byetta?
• How Should Trulicity Be Taken?
• How Should Byetta Be Taken?

Trulicity (dulaglutide) and Byetta (exenatide) are human GLP-1 receptor agonists used as adjuncts to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Side effects of Trulicity and Byetta that are similar include nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, indigestion/heartburn, diarrhea, constipation, and low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

Side effects of Trulicity that are different from Byetta include abdominal pain or discomfort, frequent bowel movements, fatigue, gas, bloating, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), weakness/lack of energy, feeling unwell (malaise), and belching.

Side effects of Byetta that are different from Trulicity include upset stomach, weight loss, dizziness, and headache.

Trulicity may interact with other oral medications taken at the same time.

Byetta may interact with oral diabetes medications that can lower blood sugar, levothyroxine, lithium, lovastatin, pimozide, cyclosporine, sirolimus, tacrolimus, theophylline, birth control pills, blood thinners, diuretics (water pills), ergot medicines, pain medications, seizure medications, or heart or blood pressure medications.

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).

Common side effects of Byetta include:

• nausea,
• vomiting,
• upset stomach,
• diarrhea,
• constipation,
• weight loss,
• loss of appetite,
• heartburn,
• dizziness, or
• headache.

Although Byetta by itself usually does not cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), low blood sugar may occur if this drug is prescribed with other anti-diabetic medications. Symptoms of low blood sugar include sudden sweating, shaking, fast heartbeat, hunger, blurred vision, dizziness, or tingling hands/feet.

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.

Byetta (exenatide) is an injectable diabetes medicine that helps control blood sugar levels. Exenatide is used to treat type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes.

Trulicity may interact with other oral medications. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. During pregnancy, Trulicity should be taken only if prescribed; it is unknown if it would affect a fetus. It is unknown if Trulicity passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Byetta may interact with oral diabetes medications that can lower blood sugar, levothyroxine, lithium, lovastatin, pimozide, cyclosporine, sirolimus, tacrolimus, theophylline, birth control pills, blood thinners, diuretics (water pills), ergot medicines, pain medications, seizure medications, or heart or blood pressure medications. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using Byetta; it is unknown it will harm a fetus. Byetta can make birth control pills less effective. If you take birth control pills, take your pill at least 1 hour before your Byetta injection. It is unknown if Byetta passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

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

Byetta is administered as a subcutaneous injection, and should be initiated at a 5 mcg dose administered twice daily at any time within the 60-minute period before the morning and evening meals.