Warnings

Trulicity

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Harshi Dhingra, M.D.

Last Reviewed: Aug 03, 2022

Warnings

Trulicity Risks, Warnings, and Complications

Trulicity can cause serious health problems, especially in certain high-risk patients. Some of the risks of Trulicity use include:

Thyroid Cancer: Using Trulicity can increase your risk of developing certain thyroid tumors, including thyroid C cell cancers and medullary thyroid carcinoma. This is based on studies done in lab animals that showed Trulicity caused thyroid tumors in mice and rats. Due to the risk of thyroid cancer, Trulicity is not given to people with a personal or family history of thyroid tumors, specifically medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), or a history of multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Call your healthcare provider right away if you notice a mass in your neck, have trouble breathing or swallowing or have persistent hoarseness while using Trulicity, as these could potentially be signs of thyroid C cell tumors.
Pancreatitis: Rarely patients treated with Trulicity can develop a severe gastrointestinal disease called pancreatitis (swelling and inflammation in the pancreas). Tell your doctor immediately if you develop persistent severe abdominal pain with or without vomiting while using Trulicity.
Severe Hypoglycemia: Using Trulicity with other diabetes medicines that increase insulin levels can increase your risk of severe hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). The risk of this happening is higher in people taking insulin or other diabetes medicines taken by mouth. You should learn to recognize the signs of low blood sugar and know what to do if it occurs. Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar may include shakiness, dizziness, sweating, confusion, and blurred vision. Tell your healthcare provider if this occurs - they might want to adjust the doses of your diabetes medications.
Kidney Problems: Trulicity can affect the functioning of the kidneys and worsen kidney problems. The risk of this occurring is higher in people with pre-existing kidney disease, such as severe renal impairment, acute kidney injury, acute renal failure, or chronic renal failure. The risk is also higher in people taking other medications that affect the kidneys (such as diuretics or water pills, ACE inhibitors, and NSAIDs). Kidney damage is more likely if you have nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or are dehydrated. Stay well hydrated while using Trulicity. If you have pre-existing kidney problems, your doctor may want to keep a check on kidney function. Keep all your appointments for lab tests and doctor’s visits.
Serious Allergic Reactions: In a small number of people, using Trulicity can cause a serious allergic reaction. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include swelling of the eyes, face, throat, tongue, or lips; trouble swallowing or breathing; severe rash or itching; dizziness or fainting; and very rapid heartbeat. Stop using Trulicity and seek medical advice promptly if you think you are having an allergic reaction.
Severe Gastrointestinal Disease: Trulicity can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and severe pain in the stomach. This medication may not be suitable for people with certain gastrointestinal conditions like gastroparesis. Give your healthcare professionals a complete medical history before starting Trulicity to ensure that this medication is safe for you.
Diabetic Retinopathy Complications: People who use Trulicity may be at risk of diabetic retinopathy complications. The risk of eye problems is higher in people who have a history of diabetic retinopathy, poorly controlled diabetes, or heart disease. If you have diabetic retinopathy, your doctor will monitor your vision more closely while on Trulicity. Call your doctor immediately if you experience eye pain or vision changes while on this medication.
Serious Infections: Sharing your Trulicity pen or needles with others can put you at risk of developing serious infections. Dispose of used needles carefully, and never share your Trulicity pen with others.

If you are at a high risk of complications from Trulicity use, your doctor or pharmacist can help you find other drugs for your condition.

Precautions Before Starting Trulicity

Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had an allergic reaction to Trulicity, any ingredients in Trulicity injections, or any other medications. Your pharmacy can give you a list of ingredients.

Give your healthcare provider a complete medical history. Trulicity may not be right for people with certain medical conditions such as pancreatitis, diabetic retinopathy, severe gastrointestinal disease, gastroparesis, liver disease, or kidney disease. Also, tell your healthcare provider if you have recently had nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or inability to drink fluids by mouth, which can lead to dehydration.

Give your doctor a complete list of all your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products. This can help avoid serious interactions between Trulicity and other drugs.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, could be pregnant, plan to get pregnant, or are breastfeeding.

Precautions During Use of Trulicity

Keep all your medical and lab appointments while on Trulicity. Your doctor may want to perform dose adjustment based on how well the medication works to improve glycemic control (blood sugar levels). They may also order certain tests to keep a check on your kidneys and/or eyes.

Tell your doctor if there are any big changes in your diet, exercise levels, or weight; if you become dehydrated or if you are eating or drinking less due to an illness that causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea; if you are undergoing surgery, have an infection and/or fever, are experiencing unusual stress, or have suffered an injury. These conditions can lead to fluctuations in blood sugar levels and may affect the amount of Trulicity you need.

Call your doctor if you become pregnant while using Trulicity.

Trulicity Drug Interactions

Taking Trulicity with some other medications can affect how the medications work. Interactions between medications can also increase the risk of serious side effects. Your physician may choose different diabetes medications for you, change the dose or frequency of one or both medicines, and/or closely monitor you for side effects if there are known interactions between Trulicity and your other medications.

Remember that Trulicity can interact with concomitantly administered oral medications (medicines that you take by mouth) and change how your body absorbs these medicines.

There can be potential interactions between Trulicity and the following medications:

Insulin
Concomitantly administered insulin secretagogues (medications that increase insulin secretion)
Oral diabetes medications, especially sulfonylureas such as glimepiride (Amaryl, in Avandaryl, in Duetact), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glyburide (DiaBeta, in Glucovance), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide, and tolazamide

This list does not describe all possible Trulicity interactions. Give your healthcare professionals a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products. Also, tell your health care provider if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs because some of these substances can cause serious health complications when used with prescription drugs.

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