All pharmaceutical companies try to market their drugs in the most simple and appealing ways possible.
Often, the side-effects of the drugs fail to be mentioned, or major side-effects are written off as being no big deal. It is the customers then, that have to suffer through the consequences. In this article, we will talk about all aspects of the medication ‘Trulicity’. It is not uncommon for there to be Trulicity complaints regarding the drug.
Trulicity is the brand name of the medication Dulaglutide, an injectable drug used to manage blood glucose levels in patients with Diabetes Mellitus Type 2. It is given as per the prescription of a doctor, and is always used in conjunction with a balanced diet and exercise.
A major benefit is the fact that it has been shown to decrease the risk of cardiovascular diseases including heart attacks and strokes in sufferers of diabetes. However, it cannot be used for patients who are dealing with Diabetes Mellitus Type 1.
What Drugs Interact With Trulicity?
Taking Trulicity may interfere with the absorption of other medicines that you are consuming, especially via an oral route. Among these are certain diabetic medications, such as glyburide, metformin and insulin degludec.
Other drugs at risk include estrogens, antipsychotics (clozapine), diuretics (indapamide) and corticosteroids like dexamethasone.
Further examples involve medicines given to treat HIV, hypertension and asthma. When combined with Trulicity, they can lead to heart problems.
If you are having any of these medicines, do not stop on your own accord. Consult a doctor. They may be able to advise you on the best way to approach the consumption of such two conflicting medicines.
Other drugs not mentioned in the list may also interact with Trulicity and cause an adverse reaction, so it is always best to talk to a doctor about your previous medical history before making any decision.
Such lists of drugs are given in order to avoid any Trulicity complaints from consumers.
Trulicity and Alcohol
Alcohol does not directly interact with Trulicity, but is known to cause low blood sugar by increasing the secretion of insulin. Instead of focusing primarily on managing glucose levels, the liver has to work to remove the alcohol toxins from the body.
The low glucose levels, known as hypoglycemia, result in dizziness and fatigue, which is dangerous if not taken care of. Trulicity works to oppose these effects, and drinking alcohol only makes it a lot harder to do so.
Patients with Type 2 Diabetes should limit the consumption of alcohol in general, but more care needs to be taken while ingesting the medicine, so that there are no Trulicity complaints.
One principle to stick with is: do not drink on an empty stomach or immediately after exercise, as it increases the risk of hypoglycemia. Avoid alcohol in cases where the diabetes is not well-controlled.
Be sure to consult a physician about whether or not it is safe to take other medicines that contain alcohol along with Trulicity.
Trulicity and Caffeine
Caffeine is a natural stimulant that helps you to stay more awake and alert. It may be gotten from either tea or coffee.
The exact relationship between caffeine and blood sugar is still a topic of debate.
Does caffeine raise blood sugar in type 2 diabetes? It can be said that yes, drinking such beverages will raise glucose levels.
For some time after the consumption of caffeine, the body’s insulin sensitivity falls. In the diabetic condition, there is already a problem with the cells being unable to either release or respond to insulin.
The effect is the same whether tea or coffee is drunk. But this does not mean that diabetics cannot have these beverages at all! Choose to have coffee with a low quantity of caffeine and without sugar, and all should be well.
The combination of Trulicity and caffeine is not a good one, so care must be taken while using this drug. By raising blood sugar levels, caffeine may decrease the effectiveness of Trulicity, and lead to Trulicity complaints.
Trulicity and Vitamin B12
According to recent research, no significant interaction has been found between Trulicity and Vitamin B12.
B12 is safe to take with other medications that treat diabetes, such as Metformin, since it is said that this drug is reducing B12 levels in patients.
B12 is important for healthy development of the brain and nervous system, and when deficient, it leads to nervous degeneration, memory loss and constipation.
Just because there is no current evidence of a relationship between Trulicity and the vitamin does not mean that one does not exist, and so they should not be taken together, to be on the safe side.
Trulicity and Nausea
No drug is free from side-effects and Trulicity is no exception. A common Trulicity complaint is the feeling of nausea. Studies have shown that an estimated 8%-29% of people experienced nausea after the first dose.
Feelings of nausea are due to certain gastric problems that the medicine causes in some consumers. It may also include abdominal pain.
However, the nausea subsides with continuous intake of the drug. Generally it takes 2 weeks for this effect to wear off. It was also discovered that when patients increased the dosage, they suffered from an increased bout of nausea.
While consultation with a doctor is the best option, here are some basic things that can be done to manage the nauseated feelings:
- Take smaller meals and space them well throughout the day.
- Lower/ completely stop the intake of fatty foods.
- Eat foods that are less heavy, such as toast and rice.
Trulicity Fatigue
Fatigue is one of the common symptoms experienced after taking this drug, but the detail behind this reason is not well known.
The fatigue should go away in a couple of weeks. If it does not, take advice from a physician.
Trulicity and Pancreatic Cancer
Inflammation of the pancreas, known as pancreatitis, is a serious side effect and one of the Trulicity complaints. However, it is rare.
Clinical trials indicate that 1.4 cases of pancreatitis developed among 1000 people who took the drug for a year. This number is high when compared with the 0.88 cases that occurred when patients took other diabetes medications.
The connection between cancer and diabetics is found in the fact that pancreatic cancer causes an insulin resistance, and also prevents the insulin-producing cells from making more of the hormone to overcome the resistance. This results in the development of Diabetes Mellitus Type 2.
As far as cancer is concerned, there is no conclusive evidence of a link between pancreatic cancer and Trulicity.
In one study, a tumor that covered most of the body and tail of the pancreas was discovered within a patient. They were exposed to Trulicity for only 5 months. Given the short duration and the size of the mass, doctors suspected that this condition was pre-existing. The drug was not to be blamed for it.
In contrast, pancreatic carcinomas were found in males above the age of 60, who had taken the drug for a time period between 1 and 6 months.
As it is, the chance of pancreatic cancers forming in patients who have suffered from diabetes for more than 5 years is quite likely as compared to others. Consult your physician to know more.
Foods to Avoid With Trulicity
There is no particular list of foods that needs to be avoided while taking the drug. However, there are some foods to avoid with trulicity.
- Alcohol:
As discussed in the sections above, alcohol and Trulicity are not the best combination to be taken together.
Depending on how much and what kind of alcohol you drink, it can either raise blood sugar (drinking alcohol prepared with sweetners) or lower it (drinking on an empty stomach.)
- Added Sugars:
These include molasses, raw sugar, maple syrup and coconut sugar. They are present in foods that include:
- Crackers
- Bread
- Non-Dairy Milk
The danger arises when the quantity of sugar consumption increases more than nutrient intake. Be sure to check the amount of added sugars before eating any food.
- Fatty Foods:
Saturated fat and trans fats are found in animal products such as meat, butter, cheese and margarine. These fats increase the chances of cardiovascular diseases arising in a patient.
It is safer to replace them with unsaturated fats specific to plant products, like olive oil or sunflower oil.
Fatty foods are also harder for the system to digest, and so should be avoided in conjunction with Trulicity since it already causes digestive disturbances.
There are some food items which are completely safe, and in fact recommended, for those patients taking diabetic medication.
Among these are fruits and vegetables, legumes, eggs and low-fat milk or yogurt.
Trulicity: Long-Term Side Effects
Serious side effects were reported more often in people who used Trulicity longer than most other people did. If you are using Trulicity at home and you have any of these problems call your healthcare provider right away: high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), signs of infection such as fever or chills; rash or itching; new or worsening numbness or tingling in your hands and feet; severe stomach pain; unusual bruising or bleeding; muscle weakness.
Thyroid Cancer
Perhaps the most severe complication that can potentially arise as a consequence of consuming Trulicity is Thyroid Cancer. So dangerous is this threat that the drug comes with a cancer warning on the product.
Animals tested with the drug developed thyroid cancer. It is not known whether humans will give the same response. However, it is safe to assume that the risk is high.
Trulicity should not be taken by those who have a history of medullary thyroid carcinoma.
If you feel your condition worsening as you continue to take Trulicity, call a doctor instantly. Some symptoms of developing thyroid cancer are:
- Difficulty while swallowing
- A lump in the throat
- Shortness of breath
Kidney Problems
It is widely known that administration of Trulicity causes kidney damage. It may also worsen a previously existing kidney condition.
The drug causes vomiting, nausea and diarrhea. These 3 things result in the loss of water from the body tissues, which can injure kidneys already under stress.
You will probably be recommended a different treatment if you are suffering from kidney issues. The physician may also decide to monitor you very closely.
Allergic Reactions
Some trials have shown patients developing allergic reactions to some of the compounds used to make the medication.
An allergic reaction is when the body displays sensitivity towards certain substances, and cannot tolerate them within its systems.
Symptoms are:
- Formation of a rash
- Swelling of the tongue or throat, making it hard to breathe
- Deepening of skin color
Talk to your doctor before starting treatment to ensure that you do not have an allergy to any of the ingredients. This will also help avoid a medical emergency.
Warnings:
A warning is issued to pregnant or breast-feeding mothers who are using this drug. Harm was caused to animal offspring during experimentation. This effect is not necessarily going to be replicated in humans.
It is better to be on the safe side. More research is needed to determine whether it is safe to take Trulicity while breast-feeding. It is not obvious whether or not the drug enters into breast milk and causes adverse effects on the baby.
How Long Does Trulicity Stay In Your System?
Trulicity helps to control blood sugar levels by assisting the pancreas with the release of insulin. It activates specific receptors within the pancreas to cause them to release insulin, thus lowering the glucose levels.
Generally, it has been discovered that it takes 5 days for half of a dose of Trulicity to be lost from the body. This value is the half-life. In total, around 25 days are required for the drug to be completely removed from the system (this amounts to 5 half-lives.)
For a more personalized estimate of the time taken to rid the body of the drug, it is best to consult your physician.
FAQs
Are there any good reviews for Trulicity?
Trulicity is considered a highly effective drug when it comes to managing blood sugar levels. Occasionally, it helps with the loss of body weight (although this is not its primary purpose.) It is easily administered only once a week. However, only 37% of consumers voted for a positive experience. This is in contrast to the 41% that reported a negative experience. Mostly the complaints were regarding the awful side-effects that patients have to go through.
What are the dangers of taking Trulicity?
Complications that are widely experienced are tiredness, vomiting, digestive issues, abdominal pain, and a reduced appetite. Severe problems fall in the range of kidney diseases, liver problems, pancreatitis and thyroid cancer, as discussed in the article.
Is Trulicity a high-risk medication?
The medicine does not come without its adverse drawbacks. The box contains printed warnings for a higher risk of thyroid cancer. The warning was issued by the FDA. This is a testament to its severity. You should use different injection sites each time to avoid the risk of an infection spreading in the area that is repeatedly used. For many consumers, the horrible feelings that accompany the side-effects are not worth it. Thus, they tend to go for other medications that are easier to handle.
When should Trulicity be stopped?
It is vital that no medication be stopped without talking to your doctor about it first. This could be with respect to Trulicity or any other drug. If you are experiencing drastic symptoms, such as stomach pain, that do not alleviate after a short while, schedule an emergency visit with the doctor. Do not take the dose of medicine in that instant.
If you witness the development of a severe allergic reaction that makes it difficult to breathe, stop the medication and call your healthcare provider.
Conclusion
The article deals with Trulicity complaints and shows that, while it is a drug that can be beneficial to diabetics in the long run, it is not without its fair share of consequences. Trulicity is readily available in the market, and its most appealing aspect is the fact that it can be self-administered.
On the other hand, it is still steeped in controversy. Both doctors and consumers remain unsure of certain potential issues that may arise with consumption of the drug. More clinical trials on human volunteers are needed for more conclusive proof.
In the end, it is entirely up to you and your healthcare practitioner as to what approach suits your body best. You should balance the pros and cons against each other, and decide whether the benefits outweigh the risks.
