The Ultimate Showdown: A Comparison of Trulicity vs. Ozempic for Diabetes Management

If you have diabetes, managing the disease can often feel overwhelming. According to the American Diabetes Association, approximately 38.4 million Americans, or 11.6 percent of the population had diabetes as of 2021.

Fortunately, new developments in medication have made diabetes management easier.

Let’s examine the ultimate showdown for diabetes management by comparing Trulicity vs Ozempic to help you determine which one is right for you.

Trulicity vs Ozempic Effectiveness

Both Trulicity and Ozempic are formulated for patients with type 2 diabetes. These medications are also both once-weekly injectable pharmaceuticals, which means you’d need to self-inject them once per week for them to be effective.

So, what about Trulicity vs Ozempic effectiveness? One study compared the two medications to determine how much each lowered blood ALC levels or the average blood sugar levels of patients over a three-month period.

Overall, Ozempic lowered A1C more effectively than Trulicity. Additionally, patients who took Ozempic lost more weight by the end of the study.

For both medications, taking a higher dose lowered A1C more effectively. Make sure you talk to your doctor to determine your individual blood sugar goals to help you decide which one is best for you.

Interestingly, the lowest dose of Ozempic, which is 0.25 mg, was not effective in lowering A1C. However, Trulicity’s lowest dose, which is 0.75 mg, provided an A1C reduction of between -0.7 to -1.6 percent.

How Does it Work?

Both Trulicity and Ozempic are part of a specific medication type called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists. These agonists help to lower blood sugar in several ways, including stimulating your pancreas to release insulin into the blood after you eat.

GLP-1 agonists also tell the liver to stop making extra sugar. They also slow down the pace at which food moves through your stomach, which helps you feel fuller for longer while also keeping your blood sugar levels under control.

Many patients also experience another benefit from these medications, which is weight loss. A higher-dose version of Ozempic called Wegovy is an FDA-approved medicine prescribed specifically for weight loss. 

Dosage

When it comes to the differences between Trulicity vs. Ozempic dosage, the medications vary based on milligrams. Trulicity is available to patients as a single-use injection pen, which means you dispose of each pen after you receive the dose. It comes in four different dosages: 0.75 mg/0.5 mL, 1.5 mg/0.5 mL, 3 mg/0.5 mL, and 4.5 mg/0.5 mL.

Ozempic comes as a multiple-dose injection pen. This means you can change the dosage of one pen based on your unique needs. The four Ozempic doses are 0.25 mg, 0.5  mg, 1 mg, and 2 mg.

In most cases, your doctor will start you on the lowest dose of medication, regardless of which brand you use. Over time, they will likely ask you to increase the dose, which is a term known as titration.

Both medications are given once per week and are injected under the skin of the upper arm, thigh, or stomach. Doctors tend to start patients on the lowest dose so they can adapt to the medicine and adjust to the side effects.

Most patients start using Trulicity at 0.75 mg once per week. It can be adjusted after a period of four weeks to 1.5 mg once per week. Depending on your circumstances, your doctor may keep adjusting the dose every four weeks until you reach the maximum dose of 4.5 mg a week.

The starting dose for Ozempic is 0.25 mg once per week, but it’s important to note this dose will not improve your blood sugar levels. After four weeks, your doctor will raise the dose to 0.5 mg every week and it may be adjusted every four weeks thereafter until you reach 2 mg every week.

Trulicity vs Ozempic Side Effects

Trulicity and Ozempic both have an FDA-boxed warning, which is the strictest warning regarding thyroid C-cell tumors. Although this warning is included, it’s still not certain how it affects humans since the tumors were detected in and studied in animals. If you or your family has a history of specific types of thyroid cancer, you should not take Trulicity or Ozempic.

Most of the side effects of these medications are mild and usually go away within the first few weeks. Some rare side effects may include pancreatitis, which is the inflammation of the pancreas. 

Since the medicine is formulated to slow down the digestion of food in your stomach, many patients report side effects like upset stomach, heartburn, constipation, or diarrhea. Others may have gallbladder problems, hypoglycemia or low blood sugar, kidney injury, or rare allergic reactions. Some patients who took Trulicity also reported dealing with severe gastrointestinal disease. 

If you notice any of these side effects and they are becoming more severe, talk to your doctor right away. Many of these side effects are similar to the symptoms of pancreatitis and gallbladder problems, so it’s important to seek medical attention if you don’t feel better after a period of time.

Cost

What about Trulicity vs Ozempic cost? Both of these medications are currently only sold as name-brand products, so they tend to be expensive. 

The average price for each is approximately over $1,000 for a one-month supply. If your health insurance covers the medication, you may only need to pay your prescription co-pay. You can check your formulary to find out whether or not this medication is covered under your current plan.

Patients with commercial insurance may be able to pay as little as $25 using a copay savings card directly from the manufacturer. Uninsured and underinsured patients might qualify for a patient assistance program that can help them receive the medication at a low or no cost.

Manage Your Diabetes Today

When it comes to Trulicity vs Ozempic, both do an excellent job of helping patients manage their diabetes. Talk to your doctor to find out which of these two popular prescription meds is right for you.

Canadian Pharmacy Online understands the importance of being able to access affordable and convenient prescription medications. If you’d like to learn more or have any questions, contact us today to find out how we can help you.