Trulicity vs Mounjaro: How These GLP-1 Drugs Compare for Weight Loss
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists like Trulicity and Mounjaro represent an exciting new class of Type 2 diabetes medications that also facilitate weight loss. Both drugs share similarities but have key differences as well. Understanding how these two GLP-1 receptor agonists stack up can help determine which medication may work best for losing weight.
What is Trulicity?
Trulicity (dulaglutide) is a once-weekly injectable prescription anti-diabetic medication. It mimics the glucose-regulating incretin hormone GLP-1 to manage blood sugar levels. Trulicity for weight loss works by slowing digestion, suppressing appetite, and increasing insulin production.
What is Mounjaro?
Like Trulicity, Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a new GLP-1 receptor agonist administered via injection that boosts insulin secretion. It was actually approved in 2022 as a treatment for Type 2 diabetes. But it quickly gained attention for its dramatic weight loss results.
How Do They Work?
Both of these medications work as GLP-1 receptor activators. The GLP-1 hormone releases insulin to lower blood glucose but also impacts appetite regulation. So Trulicity and Mounjaro stimulate insulin secretion in response to high blood sugar levels.
They also slow stomach emptying so nutrients take longer to digest. This leads to increased feelings of fullness and satisfaction. Plus, these drugs bind to receptors in the brain that reduce appetite and curb food cravings.
Weight Loss Effects
Promising research reveals that receptor agonists like Trulicity and Mounjaro do double duty by managing diabetes and helping with sustainable weight loss. Participants in studies lost anywhere from 5% to 15% of body weight over 3-9 months.
Mounjaro in particular shows incredible weight loss results. In clinical trials, people with obesity or diabetes using the 5mg weekly dose lost up to 22.5 pounds over 68 weeks. Some even dropped up to 15% total body weight.
Experts credit Mounjaros efficacy to its unique dual-acting mechanism that makes it more potent. The drug simultaneously activates two key receptors involved in blood sugar regulation and body weight control.
Trulicity also reliably leads to weight reduction but seems less potent overall. Still, users generally shed 5-10% of body weight. Losing just 5% confers meaningful health gains like lower blood pressure and cholesterol.
Administration and Dosage Differences
Both Trulicity and Mounjaro come in prefilled single dose autoinjector pens for weekly self-administration. But some key differences exist between the two GLP-1 drugs when it comes to dosage flexibility and ramp-up schedule.
Trulicity only has one dosage level - 1.5mg injected once weekly. All users receive the same amount regardless of their needs or individual response.
Whereas Mounjaro offers much more customization with dosages of 2.5mg, 5mg, 7.5mg, 10mg and 15mg. Patients start low then gradually increase every 4 weeks allowing the body to adjust.
This dose escalation combined with multiple strengths gives providers more control tailoring Mounjaro to maximize benefits while minimizing side effects. Patients who fail to lose weight on low doses can safely try higher strengths for amplified results.
Cost and Availability
Currently most insurance policies cover Trulicity since it meets guidelines for approved Type 2 diabetes drugs. This means many diabetics can access Trulicity affordably through typical prescription plans. Out-of-pocket costs range from $15-$150 monthly.
Whereas insurance coverage does NOT yet include Mounjaros off-label use for weight loss. Those using it solely to lose weight must pay high retail pricing ranging from $1000 to $1500 per month.
However, patients with a diabetes diagnosis can sometimes obtain coverage for Mounjaro. In these cases using the medication off-label for weight control costs much less, around $25-$150 with insurance.
Side Effects
Both drugs may cause similar gastrointestinal issues like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or decreased appetite initially. These symptoms often resolve within a month as the body adjusts.
Rare but serious side effects include inflammation of the pancreas and gallbladder disease. Users should notify their doctor of persistent severe abdominal pain, light colored stools, dark urine or yellowing skin and eyes.
A few cases of thyroid tumors have also occurred. Patients with personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 shouldnt use these medications.
The Takeaway: Which GLP-1 Drug Promotes More Weight Loss?
For managing Type 2 diabetes, both injectable GLP-1 drugs Trulicity and Mounjaro enhance the bodys own insulin production to lower blood sugar. But based on numerous studies, Mounjaro achieves much greater weight loss results by also binding to a second receptor affecting appetite and metabolism.
In addition, the dose escalation schedule and wider range of strengths with Mounjaro allow for more personalized calibration to maximize weight control for each patient. Although quite costly for purely cosmetic weight loss currently, Mounjaro provides unparalleled efficacy among anti-diabetic medications used off-label for dropping excess pounds.
FAQs
Which drug causes more weight loss, Trulicity or Mounjaro?
In clinical trials, Mounjaro leads to significantly greater weight loss than Trulicity, likely due to Mounjaro's unique dual mechanism of action. People lost up to 15% of body weight on Mounjaro compared to 5-10% typically with Trulicity.
Can I take both Trulicity and Mounjaro together?
No, combining both GLP-1 drugs is not recommended since they work very similarly. Providers would prescribe one medication or the other based on treatment goals and response, but there is no added benefit to taking both.
Do I have to be diabetic to take Mounjaro or Trulicity?
You don't have to be diabetic to use them, but insurance will only cover on-label use for diabetes. People without diabetes want the meds for weight loss benefits, but must pay high out-of-pocket costs in that case.
What are the risks or side effects?
Common temporary side effects are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and decreased appetite. Less common but serious risks are pancreas inflammation, gallbladder disease or thyroid tumors. Notify your doctor of severe, persistent abdominal pain or yellowing skin/eyes.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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