Farxiga vs. Trulicity
See how Farxiga and Trulicity compare on approved uses, dosing, side effects, and cost.
Key Takeaways
Farxiga is a once-daily oral tablet, while Trulicity is a once-weekly injection, so the two differ mainly in how they are taken and in their side effect profiles.
Farxiga is FDA-approved for heart failure and chronic kidney disease in addition to type 2 diabetes, while Trulicity's added approval is for reducing cardiovascular events.
Trulicity tends to cause more gastrointestinal side effects like nausea, while Farxiga carries a higher risk of genital and urinary tract infections.
Farxiga vs. Trulicity Drug Summary
Farxiga
Farxiga (dapagliflozin) is an SGLT2 inhibitor that lowers blood sugar by helping the kidneys remove excess glucose through urine. It's taken as a once-daily oral tablet and is also approved to treat heart failure and slow chronic kidney disease. The FDA approved it in 2014 for adults and children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes.
Trulicity
Trulicity (dulaglutide) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that helps control blood sugar by boosting insulin release and slowing digestion. It's given as a once-weekly injection using a prefilled pen and is also approved to lower cardiovascular risk in adults with heart disease. The FDA approved it in 2014 for adults and children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes.
Farxiga vs. Trulicity Side Effects
Farxiga
Trulicity
Farxiga vs. Trulicity Dosage
Farxiga
Trulicity
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 5 mg once daily | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 10 mg once daily | If needed |
| Dose changes | 1 increase | As tolerated |
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 0.75 mg once weekly | Weeks 1-4 |
| Maximum dose | 4.5 mg once weekly | If needed |
| Dose changes | 3 increases | Every 4 weeks |
Farxiga
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 5 mg once daily | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 10 mg once daily | If needed |
| Dose changes | 1 increase | As tolerated |
Trulicity
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 0.75 mg once weekly | Weeks 1-4 |
| Maximum dose | 4.5 mg once weekly | If needed |
| Dose changes | 3 increases | Every 4 weeks |
Farxiga vs. Trulicity Indications
Farxiga
Farxiga is approved to improve blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes and to treat heart failure, reduce heart failure hospitalization risk, and slow chronic kidney disease progression. These extra approvals make it useful for people managing diabetes alongside heart or kidney conditions.
Blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes (adults and children 10+)
Reduce heart failure hospitalization risk
Treat heart failure to lower cardiovascular death risk
Trulicity
Trulicity is approved to improve blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes and to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events in adults with heart disease or multiple risk factors. It's sometimes used off-label for weight loss in people without diabetes.
Blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes (adults and children 10+)
Reduce major cardiovascular event risk
Off-label: weight loss in people without diabetes
Farxiga vs. Trulicity Pros and Cons
Farxiga
Farxiga offers broader FDA approval across diabetes, heart failure, and kidney disease, and comes as a convenient once-daily pill. It carries risks of genital and urinary infections and isn't suitable for people with advanced kidney disease.
Pros
Oral tablet, no injections needed
Approved for heart failure and chronic kidney disease, not just diabetes
Roughly $400 to $785 per month without insurance, lower than Trulicity
Cons
Higher risk of genital yeast infections and UTIs
Rare risk of Fournier's gangrene, a serious genital infection
Not recommended for advanced kidney disease or dialysis patients
Can trigger ketoacidosis even with near-normal blood sugar
Trulicity
Trulicity has strong evidence for reducing cardiovascular events and tends to produce more weight loss than Farxiga. It requires a weekly injection and carries a boxed warning for thyroid tumors seen in animal studies.
Pros
Associated with more significant weight loss
Only needs to be taken once a week
Strong clinical trial data for reducing cardiovascular events
Cons
Common gastrointestinal side effects like nausea and vomiting
Boxed warning for thyroid C-cell tumors seen in animal studies
Roughly $987 to $1,065 per month without insurance, higher than Farxiga
Requires injection instead of a pill
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