Ozempic vs. Trulicity

See how Ozempic and Trulicity compare on approved uses, dosing, side effects, and cost.

Key Takeaways

  • Ozempic and Trulicity are both once-weekly GLP-1 injections for type 2 diabetes, but only Ozempic is approved to slow chronic kidney disease progression.

  • Trulicity is approved for children as young as 10, while Ozempic is approved only for adults with type 2 diabetes.

  • Both drugs share the same boxed warning for thyroid tumors and list nausea as their most common side effect, though Trulicity's other GI side effects occur more often.

Ozempic vs. Trulicity Drug Summary

Ozempic

Ozempic (semaglutide) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist used to manage blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. It also carries approvals to reduce cardiovascular risk in patients with known heart disease and to slow chronic kidney disease progression. It's given as a once-weekly injection, starting at a low dose that increases over several weeks.

Trulicity

Trulicity (dulaglutide) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist used to manage blood sugar in adults and children 10 and older with type 2 diabetes. It's also approved to reduce cardiovascular risk in adults with heart disease or multiple risk factors. It's given as a once-weekly injection via a prefilled pen, starting at a low dose that increases over several weeks.

Ozempic vs. Trulicity Side Effects

Ozempic

Most common
nausea (up to 20.3%)
vomiting (up to 9.2%)
diarrhea (up to 8.8%)
abdominal pain (up to 7.3%)

Trulicity

Most common
nausea (up to 21.1%)
vomiting (up to 13%)
diarrhea (up to 13%)
abdominal pain (up to 13%)

Ozempic vs. Trulicity Dosage

Ozempic

Dosage
Dosage Table
STAGE DOSE WHEN
Starting dose 0.25 mg once weekly Weeks 1-4
Maximum dose 2 mg once weekly If needed
Dose changes 3 increases Every 4 weeks

Trulicity

Dosage
Dosage Table
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

Ozempic vs. Trulicity Indications

Ozempic

Ozempic treats type 2 diabetes and also carries specific approvals for reducing cardiovascular risk and slowing kidney disease. It's not FDA-approved for weight loss, though many people use it off-label for that purpose.

  • Blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes (with diet and exercise)

  • Reduce cardiovascular risk in adults with known heart disease

  • Slow chronic kidney disease progression in type 2 diabetes

Trulicity

Trulicity treats type 2 diabetes in both adults and children 10 and up, and also reduces cardiovascular risk in people with heart disease or multiple risk factors. It's not FDA-approved for weight loss, though many people use it off-label for that purpose.

  • Blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes (adults and children 10+)

  • Reduce cardiovascular risk in adults with CVD or risk factors

  • Off-label: weight loss in people without diabetes

Ozempic vs. Trulicity Pros and Cons

Ozempic

Ozempic stands out for its kidney-protective indication and lower rates of GI side effects beyond nausea. Both drugs share a boxed warning for thyroid tumors and similar list prices.

Pros

  • Only GLP-1 shown to slow chronic kidney disease progression in type 2 diabetes

  • Cardiovascular benefit specifically proven in patients with existing heart disease

  • Lower rates of diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain than Trulicity in trials

Cons

  • Not approved for children or teens, unlike Trulicity's age 10+ approval

  • Cardiovascular indication limited to established heart disease, not broader risk factors

  • Newer to market (approved 2017), with a shorter track record than Trulicity

Trulicity

Trulicity stands out for its pediatric approval and broader cardiovascular indication covering risk factors alone. Both drugs share a boxed warning for thyroid tumors and similar list prices.

Pros

  • Approved for children and teens with type 2 diabetes, starting at age 10

  • Cardiovascular indication also covers patients with multiple risk factors alone

  • On the market since 2014, a longer real-world track record than Ozempic

Cons

  • No FDA-approved use for chronic kidney disease, unlike Ozempic

  • Higher rates of diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain than Ozempic in trials

  • No generic version available, unlike some other GLP-1 options

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