Trulicity Nausea: How Common, How Long It Lasts, What Helps
Yes. In the Trulicity trials, 21.1% of people on 1.5 mg had nausea, against 5.3% on placebo: about 4 times the placebo rate. It is the most common side effect in that table. Smaller, slower meals help most.
- In the Trulicity label
- Yes, with a rate
- On Trulicity 1.5 mg
- 21.1%
- On placebo
- 5.3%
- Rank in the label table
- 1 of 7
Trulicity overview
Its half-life is about 5 days: by 5 d half has cleared, and after five half-lives (25 d) about 3% remains.
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed).
Trulicity vs placebo: how often it shows up
The label trials report Trulicity nausea for each dose group. In that same trial, the placebo serves as the comparison group.
| Medicine and dose | Nausea | Placebo | More than placebo | People in the trials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trulicity 0.75 mg | 12.4% | 5.3% | +7.1 points | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
| Trulicity 1.5 mg | 21.1% | 5.3% | +15.8 points | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
| Trulicity 1.5 mg | 13.4% | Not listed | Not listed | Adults with type 2 diabetes (higher-dose trial without placebo) |
| Trulicity 3 mg | 15.6% | Not listed | Not listed | Adults with type 2 diabetes (higher-dose trial without placebo) |
| Trulicity 4.5 mg | 16.4% | Not listed | Not listed | Adults with type 2 diabetes (higher-dose trial without placebo) |
Source: Trulicity label (DailyMed)
Comparing Trulicity with other GLP-1s for Nausea
Each label covers separate trials with different groups of people. Think of it as a rough guide.
Pill forms covered in the table include Rybelsus and Foundayo.
| Medicine | Highest rate in the label | Dose group | Placebo | People in the trials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Wegovy | 44% | 2.4 mg | 16% | Adults with obesity or overweight (weight management) |
| Byetta | 44% | all doses | 18% | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
 Saxenda | 39.3% | all doses | 13.8% | Adults with obesity or overweight (weight management) |
 Foundayo | 35% | 17.2 mg | 10% | Adults with obesity or overweight (weight management) |
 Zepbound | 29% | 10 mg | 8% | Adults with obesity or overweight (weight management) |
| Trulicity | 21.1% | 1.5 mg | 5.3% | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
 Ozempic | 20.3% | 1 mg | 6.1% | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
 Rybelsus | 20% | 14 mg | 6% | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
 Victoza | 20% | 1.8 mg | 5% | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
 Mounjaro | 18% | 15 mg | 4% | Adults with type 2 diabetes |
Sources: Ozempic label (DailyMed), Wegovy label (DailyMed), Rybelsus label (DailyMed), Mounjaro label (DailyMed), Zepbound label (DailyMed), Foundayo label (DailyMed), Trulicity label (DailyMed), Saxenda label (DailyMed), Victoza label (DailyMed), Byetta label (DailyMed).
Source: DailyMed FDA label.
Why it happens on Trulicity
These medicines make the stomach empty more slowly. Food stays longer, so nausea may occur, most often after meals that are large or fatty.
Source: health.clevelandclinic.org.
Information in the Trulicity label
Here, the label mentions nausea word for word:
“majority of the reported events occurred in patients who experienced gastrointestinal reactions leading to dehydration such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)].”
Source: DailyMed FDA label.
What helps, step by step
- Sip ginger or peppermint tea without sweetener.
- After eating, remain upright instead of lying down.
- Talk with your prescriber about a nausea medicine you can keep available.
- Eat smaller meals and stop once you feel full. These medicines make the stomach empty more slowly.
- Eat slowly. Your brain needs time to know when you are full.
- Cut back on fatty, greasy, and sugary foods, because they often lead to symptoms.
- If the symptoms do not ease, tell your prescriber. They may make the dose increases go more slowly or suggest a different GLP-1.
Before you take anything from the drugstore, check the GLP-1 interactions checker.
Source: health.clevelandclinic.org.