{"id":49756,"date":"2022-03-09T09:26:37","date_gmt":"2022-03-09T14:26:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=49756"},"modified":"2026-01-28T14:01:40","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T19:01:40","slug":"trulicity-weight-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/trulicity-weight-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"Trulicity for weight loss. Does it work?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Trulicity<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>dulaglutide<\/span>) is a prescription antidiabetic injectable medication that belongs to a class of drugs known as <\/span>glucagon-like peptide-1<\/span> receptor agonists (<\/span>GLP-1<\/span><\/a>).<\/span>GLP-1 receptor agonists<\/span> have been shown to lower hemoglobin A1C, an indicator of long-term blood <\/span>glucose<\/span> control, by up to 1.6%. Other <\/span>biological effects<\/span> of <\/span>GLP-1 receptor agonists<\/span> related to the treatment of <\/span>Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus <\/span><\/a>include improved insulin sensitivity, decreased glucagon concentrations, delayed <\/span>gastric emptying<\/span>, increased satiety (feeling of fullness), and decreased <\/span>body weight<\/span>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Not all GLP-1 medications have approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be used for weight loss, but many will still be used off-label, or without approval, to help with weight loss. <\/span>Trulicity<\/span> is officially approved for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes in combination with diet and exercise and for the reduction of cardiovascular mortality. The big question is\u2014is there any evidence that Trulicity is effective for <\/span>weight loss,<\/span> and can your doctor prescribe it for weight loss?<\/span><\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tTrulicity 1.5mg\/0.5mL (4 Pens)\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t23666 - Hampton, VA\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\"Walmart\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t$825.15\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\ti<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\tPrice with signup<\/a>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tGet free coupon<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\"Walmart\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t$825.15\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\ti<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\tPrice with signup<\/a>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tGet free coupon<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\tSee Trulicity prices at all pharmacies<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n

RELATED: <\/b>Wegovy vs. Trulicity: Differences, similarities & side effects<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Not every <\/span>GLP-1 receptor agonist<\/span> has sought approval from the <\/span>FDA<\/span> to list <\/span>weight loss<\/span> as an indication. Despite this, many healthcare professionals will prescribe them for <\/span>weight loss<\/span>, making this use \u201coff-label.\u201d <\/span>Off-label<\/span><\/a> use refers to utilizing a drug for a purpose not approved by the <\/span>FDA<\/span>. <\/span>Trulicity<\/span> is officially approved for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes in combination with diet and exercise and for the reduction of cardiovascular mortality. The big question is\u2014is there any evidence that Trulicity is effective for <\/span>weight loss<\/span>?<\/span><\/p>\n

What is Trulicity used for?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Eli Lilly and Company is the manufacturer of Trulicity. Trulicity is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for two specific indications. The first is treating Type 2 diabetes mellitus as an adjunct to diet and exercise. The second indication is reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with Type 2 diabetes mellitus with established cardiovascular disease or multiple cardiovascular risk factors. You may have seen reports of Trulicity being used for weight loss. This indication is not approved by the FDA, even though use for this purpose may be relatively common. This is an example of off-label use.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>Is Trulicity insulin?<\/b><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How does <\/span>Trulicity<\/span> work for <\/span>weight loss<\/span>?<\/span><\/h2>\n

So how does this mechanism help with <\/span>weight loss<\/span>? Incretin hormones, along with the chemically similar GLP-1 receptor agonists, slow gut motility and, therefore, slow the emptying of the gastrointestinal tract.<\/span>\u00a0This leads to food remaining in the intestinal tract longer and, therefore, increased and prolonged feelings of satiety, or feeling full.<\/span>\u00a0The feeling of being full leads to appetite suppression, which is thought to be the primary way <\/span>GLP-1 receptor agonists<\/span> like <\/span>Trulicity<\/span> aid with <\/span>weight loss<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lilly<\/span> USA, the makers of <\/span>Trulicity<\/span>, reported the <\/span>results<\/span><\/a> of a 36-week observation of patients with a BMI greater than or less than 33.2 or higher. <\/span>Doses of Trulicity<\/span> 1.5 mg, 3.0 mg, and 4.5 mg were evaluated. Patients with higher BMI taking <\/span>higher doses of Trulicity<\/span> experienced the most <\/span>weight loss<\/span> as measured in pounds lost from baseline. The <\/span>average weight loss<\/span> from the highest <\/span>Trulicity<\/span> dose of 4.5 mg was 10.1 pounds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The results of the <\/span>AWARD-11<\/span><\/a> trial concur that <\/span>weight loss<\/span> occurs most frequently in patients with the highest starting BMI on the highest <\/span>doses of Trulicity<\/span>. While most patients do lose some weight, there is a chance they will not lose weight or may even gain weight. Other factors, such as diet and exercise, will affect weight loss success.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Trulicity<\/span> and other <\/span>GLP-1 receptor agonists<\/span> were designed to mimic the structure of naturally occurring hormones in the human body known as incretin hormones. When you eat food, your stomach releases these hormones, which, in turn, stimulate insulin release from the <\/span>pancreas<\/span>. Insulin helps control <\/span>blood sugar levels<\/span> by helping cells absorb <\/span>glucose<\/span> for energy. Type 2 diabetes patients often lack enough incretin hormones to stimulate this process, which is why the <\/span>GLP-1 receptor agonists<\/span> are effective at helping them <\/span>manage their <\/span>blood sugar<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n