Last Updated on November 7, 2022 by
Metformin is an oral medication which assists people in their effort to lose weight. There are numerous prescriptions for this drug and with the recent release of a new type, Metglucagon, more people are turning to metformin in their struggle to lose weight. Do not be discouraged by this; it is actually very useful, especially for diabetics who require something that isn’t as powerful as insulin.
Metformin and Trulicity are two of the most commonly prescribed diabetes drugs and also happen to be two of the best tools available for weight loss . Metformin, a prescription medication from the Big Pharma, is one of the most low-cost and effective drugs sold on the market today. Trulicity is a newer drug that is often prescribed in conjunction with Metformin for optimal weight loss effect. You can learn more about how Metformin And Trulicity For Weight Loss works by visiting my site at https://foodkeg.com/.
Metformin And Trulicity For Weight Loss

Almost half of all U.S. adults try to lose weight each year. Healthy weight loss involves a combination of healthy eating and physical activity. According to the CDC, this usually means losing no more than 1 to 2 pounds per week.
Obesity — defined as having excess body fat — affects over 40% of U.S. adults. Being of a heavier weight can lead to health complications like heart disease, stroke, and Type 2 diabetes. Some people identified as obese experience challenges to losing weight, and healthcare providers may sometimes recommend weight-loss medications.
Trulicity (dulaglutide) is FDA approved to treat Type 2 diabetes when used in combination with diet and exercise. It’s also approved to lower the risk of heart problems in people with Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, or risk factors for heart disease.
Trulicity can help some people lose weight, too. Here, we’ll discuss Trulicity and when it can be a tool for healthy weight loss.
How does Trulicity work for weight loss?
Trulicity is not FDA approved for weight loss specifically. But weight loss can be an added benefit for people taking Trulicity for Type 2 diabetes in combination with a healthy diet and exercise.
Trulicity is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist. GLP-1 is a type of incretin hormone. Incretins are released naturally in the body after you eat. They stimulate insulin release from your pancreas (an organ behind your stomach). This prevents blood sugar (glucose) levels from rising too high. Incretins are also involved in digestion and helping you feel full after eating.
GLP-1 helps release insulin by attaching to GLP-1 receptors (chemical binding sites) on the pancreas. Trulicity works by mimicking the actions of GLP-1. It turns on (activates) the GLP-1 receptor, which sends a signal to your pancreas to release more insulin and less glucagon (a hormone that stimulates the release of glucose in the body). The end result is lowered blood glucose.
Trulicity also slows down how quickly food travels from your stomach to your intestines. This helps regulate your appetite and digestion, which also helps control blood glucose levels. This can lead to weight loss.
What does the research show about Trulicity and weight loss?
Studies have shown that Trulicity can lead to more weight loss than metformin alone. It’s also been shown to cause more weight loss than sitagliptin (Januvia), another popular diabetes medication, when added to metformin.
The amount of weight you can lose with Trulicity may depend on the dose. In 2020, a large randomized controlled trial (the best type of study to see cause and effect) was conducted to see how different doses of Trulicity stacked up against each other. In the study, over 1,800 participants already taking metformin for Type 2 diabetes were started on Trulicity. All participants were started on Trulicity 0.75 mg. Their dose was raised every 4 weeks until they reached their target dose of 1.5 mg, 3 mg, or 4.5 mg.
This study found that the degree of weight loss and improvement in blood glucose levels was dose-related. This means that people on Trulicity 4.5 mg had more weight loss (about 10 lbs) than people on Trulicity 1.5 mg (a little less than 7 lbs) after about 9 months of treatment. Higher doses of Trulicity also lowered blood glucose more than lower doses.
How do I use Trulicity?

Trulicity comes as a single-dose injection pen. There are four pen dosages available:
- 0.75 mg
- 1.5 mg
- 3 mg
- 4.5 mg
The medication can be injected subcutaneously (underneath the skin) in the following areas:
- Upper arm
- Thigh
- Abdomen
You’ll only need to inject Trulicity once a week. You should use a different injection site each week to allow the area to heal.
How is Trulicity dosed?
The starting dose of Trulicity is 0.75 mg once a week. After a week, this can be raised to 1.5 mg if blood glucose is still high.
After reaching the 1.5 mg dose, your dose may be raised by 1.5 mg every 4 weeks if blood glucose is still not controlled. The maximum dose is 4.5 mg once a week.
Does Trulicity cause side effects?
The most common side effects of Trulicity are gastrointestinal (GI) side effects. People most commonly experience GI side effects within the first few weeks of starting Trulicity, such as:
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
A less common but more serious side effect includes low blood glucose (hypoglycemia). Hypoglycemia is typically defined as blood glucose less than 70 mg/dL. Some common signs of hypoglycemia include:
- Shakiness
- Faster heart rate
- Sweating
- Hunger
- Anxiety
- Sleepiness
- Feeling weak
- Tingling
- Confusion
- Dizziness
Check your blood glucose right away if you experience any of these symptoms. Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions to treat hypoglycemia (such as the “15-15 Rule”) and notify them as soon as possible.
Are GI side effects worse with higher doses of Trulicity?
Not usually. You may experience GI side effects with any dose of Trulicity. But most people don’t experience worsening GI side effects as their doses are raised. And severe side effects are uncommon at any dose.
But if you have GI side effects that are bothersome or don’t go away, let your healthcare provider know.
Trulicity vs. Ozempic and other GLP-1 agonists for weight loss
Remember that Trulicity isn’t FDA approved for people without Type 2 diabetes, and we don’t have information about using Trulicity in people without diabetes. But there are other GLP-1 agonists that are FDA approved for weight loss.
Currently, the only GLP-1 agonists approved for weight loss are Wegovy (semaglutide) and Saxenda (liraglutide). Semaglutide is also available as Ozempic and Rybelsus and liraglutide is available as Victoza. But both are only FDA approved for use in people with Type 2 diabetes.
Wegovy and Saxenda are used to promote weight loss in people with a body mass index (BMI) of at least 30 kg/m2. They can also be used in people with a BMI of at least 27 kg/m2 and a weight-related health condition, like high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol.
There are no studies directly comparing Trulicity to any other forms of semaglutide or liraglutide for weight loss. But research has shown that Wegovy is more effective for weight loss than Saxenda. If you’re interested in trying a GLP-1 agonist for weight loss, talk to your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of these medications.
Trulicity is a GLP-1 agonist that treats Type 2 diabetes when combined with diet and exercise. It can also be used to prevent heart problems in people with Type 2 diabetes and existing heart disease or risk factors for heart disease.
While Trulicity isn’t FDA approved for weight loss, it’s been shown to help people lose weight, especially at a dose of 4.5 mg per week. The most common side effects are related to the stomach, like nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Trulicity shouldn’t be used in people without Type 2 diabetes. Other GLP-1 agonists like Wegovy and Saxenda are FDA approved for weight loss in some cases. Talk to your healthcare provider if you’re interested in trying a GLP-1 agonist for weight loss.
Is it safe to take Trulicity and metformin together?
Those who live with diabetes know how it can affect a person’s quality of life. The two types of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2, can both make daily life more stressful. The good news is that treatment for diabetes has vastly improved over the decades. Medications are one of the best treatment options for people with diabetes because they can help regulate blood sugar levels and keep the body healthy. Two of the most popular diabetes medications are Trulicity and metformin. Both treat Type 2 diabetes, and sometimes, they’re taken together.
Are Trulicity and metformin the same thing?
Metformin is a generic anti-diabetic medication that treats Type 2 diabetes by helping control the body’s sensitivity to insulin. It’s meant to be a part of a larger treatment plan for Type 2 diabetes that includes diet and exercise. It is a first-line treatment medication for Type 2 diabetes and can also be combined with other medications that are used to treat Type 2 diabetes.
Trulicity is a brand-name medication that’s used to treat Type 2 diabetes in combination with a healthy diet and physical exercise. Trulicity helps lower blood sugar levels by enhancing insulin secretion. It can be used on its own or with other medications that also treat Type 2 diabetes. It also reduces the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes for Type 2 diabetics with cardiovascular risk factors.
Sometimes Trulicity can be taken at the same time as metformin, which is safe to do under the right circumstances. Let’s take a more in-depth look at Trulicity and metformin to better understand when it’s safe to take them together.
Is Trulicity or metformin better?
The American Diabetic Association recommends metformin as the initial treatment for Type 2 diabetes. In 2014, Trulicity was introduced in the U.S. as an injection that can help improve glycemic control in adults with Type 2 diabetes. Even after Trulicity was put on the market, metformin still held its position as the initial medication of choice for Type 2 diabetes because it’s been proven to be very effective and is inexpensive. Metformin can drop HbA1C (hemoglobin) levels by as much as 1.5%, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. The FDA still doesn’t recommend Trulicity for the initial treatment of Type 2 diabetes, but it is effective at treating the condition and has been shown to drop HbA1C levels by as much as 0.5% to 1.5% in clinical trials.
Drug class
Metformin belongs to a group of medications called biguanides that reduce the amount of glucose that’s absorbed from food and that’s made by the liver. Metformin can be used alone or combined with other medications, including insulin.
Trulicity is the brand name of the generic medication called dulaglutide, which belongs to a group of medications called GLP-1 receptor agonists. These types of medications treat Type 2 diabetes by stimulating the body’s natural production of insulin and by reducing the liver’s ability to make glucose. Trulicity is a non-insulin injectable that’s great for controlling blood glucose levels with a low risk of hypoglycemia. It’s not a substitute for insulin and can’t treat Type 1 diabetes mellitus. In comparison to other GLP-1 receptor agonists like Bydureon (exenatide) and Victoza (liraglutide), Trulicity is just as effective at lowering Hgb-A1c levels.
Standard dosages

Metformin is available as an oral tablet in dosage strengths of 500 mg, 850 mg, and 1000 mg. It’s also available as an extended-release tablet in dosage strengths of 500 mg, 750 mg, 1000 mg, and as an oral solution with the same dosage strength options. The standard dose of metformin for Type 2 diabetes is 500 mg taken twice per day or 850 mg taken once per day with meals. The amount of metformin you’ll need to take will vary based on your unique symptoms and medical history, so it’s always a good idea to talk with a healthcare professional about which dosage strength of metformin is right for you.
Trulicity is only available as an injection but can be given in strengths of 0.75 mg/0.5 mL, 1.5 mg/0.5 mL, 3 mg/0.5 mL, or 4.5 mg/0.5 mL per single dose pen. The recommended initial dose of Trulicity for treating Type 2 diabetes mellitus is 0.75 mg given as a subcutaneous injection once per week. A healthcare provider may increase Trulicity dosing over time for more glycemic control, but higher doses of Trulicity may cause more side effects, especially nausea. Talking with a medical professional is the best way to learn more about what dosage strength of Trulicity is right for you.
Cost
Metformin is a relatively cheap medication that ranges in cost from about $8 to potentially over $150 without insurance. Just like with any medication, the price will go up or down depending on the quantity of tablets purchased. A great way to save money on metformin is by using a metformin coupon that could drop the amount you pay to $4.
Trulicity is a very expensive drug, especially for people who don’t have health insurance. Without health insurance, it costs just over $1,440 for a single injection of Trulicity. Some health insurance plans may help cover the high cost of Trulicity, and online coupons like SingleCare’s Trulicity coupon could drop the price to $771.34 per injection. The manufacturer of Trulicity, Eli Lilly and Company, also offers discounts on Trulicity pens for eligible patients.
Side effects
Metformin can cause certain side effects that are good to be aware of. Here are some of the most common side effects of metformin:
- Nausea
- Gas
- Bloating
- Heartburn
- Constipation
- Weight loss
- Diarrhea
- Weakness
- Chills
Here are the most common side effects of Trulicity that people experience:
- Abdominal pain
- Decreased appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Injection-site reactions like swelling, pain, or itching
Nausea is one of the most common side effects of Trulicity; about 8% to 29% of people who take the medication report feeling nauseous two to three days after receiving a dose. This goes away for most people after their second week of treatment, but for those who still experience some nausea after that, here are some ways to help it go away: Eat smaller meals, eat blander foods, and stop eating when you feel full.
Although it’s rare, both Trulicity and metformin can cause more serious side effects. If you’re taking either medication and start to experience difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or throat, or hives, then you should seek medical advice right away. These are signs of an allergic reaction, which can be life-threatening without prompt treatment.
These side effects of metformin and Trulicity are not comprehensive. A medical professional can provide you with a complete list of side effects that you might experience if you take either medication.
Risks and restrictions
Even though metformin is very effective at treating Type 2 diabetes, it shouldn’t be taken by everyone. Metformin may not be the right medication for people who have:
- Severe renal impairment
- Acute or chronic metabolic ketoacidosis
- Kidney or liver dysfunction
- Heart failure
Metformin comes with a boxed warning for an increased risk of getting lactic acidosis, which is a condition where excess lactic acid accumulates in the bloodstream and causes weakness, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and irregular breathing. You should seek immediate medical attention if you’re taking metformin and have any symptoms of lactic acidosis.
There is limited data regarding whether metformin is safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Studies have not shown a clear enough association between metformin use during pregnancy and birth defects or miscarriages. Clinical studies have shown that metformin presents itself in breast milk, but there’s not enough data to determine how it affects breastfed infants.
Trulicity may not be the right medication for those who have:
- A personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma
- Multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
- Diabetic ketoacidosis
- Pancreas problems such as pancreatitis
Trulicity is not approved for patients younger than 18 years old.
It also has a boxed warning, but for an increased risk of getting thyroid C-cell tumors. GLP-1 receptor agonists like Trulicity have induced thyroid tumors in mice and rats at clinically relevant exposures, but it’s unknown whether or not Trulicity will cause the same thyroid C-cell tumors in humans. Therefore, people with thyroid cancer shouldn’t take Trulicity.
People who take Trulicity may also have an increased risk of pancreatitis, hypoglycemia, acute kidney injury, gastrointestinal disease, and severe stomach problems. There is limited data on how Trulicity affects pregnant and breastfeeding women, but based on animal studies, there may be risks to fetuses exposed to the drug during pregnancy.
Pregnant women should only take Trulicity if its potential benefits outweigh its potential adverse effects, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Your healthcare provider can give you more information on whether or Trulicity is right for you based on your medical history.
Compare Trulicity vs. metformin | ||
---|---|---|
Trulicity | Metformin | |
Drug class | Glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist | Biguanide |
Standard dosage and forms | 0.75 mg injected subcutaneously once per week into the belly, thigh, or upper arm | 500 mg taken twice per day or 850 mg taken once per day with meals |
Risks/restrictions to consider | Not for people with medullary thyroid carcinoma Not for people with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2Increases the risk of getting pancreatitis, hypoglycemia, and acute kidney injury | Potential for lactic acidosis Not for people with liver or kidney problems Not for by people with renal impairment |
Side effects | Nausea DiarrheaAbdominal pain | Nausea DiarrheaGas |
Average cost without insurance | $ 1,440+ per injection | $100+ per month |
Taking Trulicity and metformin together
Some people with Type 2 diabetes may need Trulicity and metformin to reach their blood sugar goals. This is safe to do with a doctor’s approval. “Sometimes patients are prescribed both Trulicity and metformin because they can have a kind of synergistic effect,” says Ben Tanner, PA, founder of fastingwell.com. “Trulicity increases satiety, slows stomach emptying, and increases your body’s insulin production. Metformin generally helps modulate and smooth out your blood sugar levels (by decreasing glucose production in the liver, among other things).”
Taking both drugs at the same time will likely mean taking a daily dose of metformin and a weekly dose of Trulicity. Your healthcare provider may change your doses of each medication based on your blood sugar goals, symptoms, and medical history. Follow your doctor’s guidelines and the manufacturer’s instructions for taking the medications, such as taking metformin with food, to ensure safety and efficacy.
Some studies, such as the AWARD-10 Study, have shown that when Trulicity is combined with metformin and an SGLT-2 inhibitor, that it can be an effective and well-tolerated medication for people with Type 2 diabetes.
It’s important to be aware of potential side effects before taking Trulicity and metformin at the same time. “It is possible to have side effects from taking both at the same time, such as slightly low blood sugar. For that reason, it’s probably better to use a low-dose at first if you’re taking both of them together. Then you can adjust gradually, depending on how your body reacts,” says Tanner.
Talk to your healthcare provider to learn more about taking Trulicity and metformin at the same time. He or she can also tell you if there’s any reason why you shouldn’t be taking the two medications simultaneously.