GLP-1: Trulicity (dulaglutide)

A real, FDA-approved weekly shot for type 2 diabetes. It also lowers heart risk in some adults. It is not approved for weight loss.

AI illustration of an autoinjector labeled Dulaglutide — AI illustration

FDA statusFDA approved

The FDA approved it as a prescription medicine for certain uses.

Proof it works in people for type 2 diabetes and heart riskStrong

A trial of nearly 10,000 people showed fewer heart events.

Safety data in peopleWell studied

Thousands of people for years.

These are 3 different questions. FDA status is about the law. Proof is about whether it works. Safety data is about how much we know about its risks. A lack of safety data does not mean it does not work, and "not approved" does not mean "illegal."

By the Peptide Science Desk Editorial TeamFact-checked against FDA and official sources · Oct 18, 2026Not yet reviewed by a licensed clinician. How we check facts

What is it?

Dulaglutide is a medicine made from a peptide. It is in the same family as semaglutide (GLP-1 medicines). The brand is Trulicity. You need a prescription.

Why do people use it?

Doctors use Trulicity, with diet and exercise, to control blood sugar in adults and kids 10 and older with type 2 diabetes. It also lowers the risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart death in some adults with type 2 diabetes.

Does it really work?

This one is proven. The FDA first approved it in 2014. It is not approved as a weight-loss medicine.

Studies in people

Study	People	What they found	Limits
Randomized trial (REWIND)	9,901	Heart attack, stroke, or heart death: 12.0% vs 13.4% on placebo.	About 5 years. People 50 and older with type 2 diabetes.

We only list studies we read on PubMed or ClinicalTrials.gov. Checked October 18, 2026.

The numbers in a chart

Fewer heart attacks, strokes and heart deaths

% of people who had one of these, drug vs placebo, in 2 big heart trials

Semaglutide 2.4 mg (Wegovy)SELECT · 17,604 adults with heart disease and extra weight, no diabetes · about 40 months

6.5%

8.0%

Dulaglutide (Trulicity)REWIND · 9,901 adults with type 2 diabetes

12.0%

13.4%

Different trials and different people. Lower is better.

Show the numbers as a table

Fewer heart attacks, strokes and heart deaths: % of people who had one of these, drug vs placebo, in 2 big heart trials
Trial	Drug	Placebo
Semaglutide 2.4 mg (Wegovy) SELECT · 17,604 adults with heart disease and extra weight, no diabetes · about 40 months	6.5%	8.0%
Dulaglutide (Trulicity) REWIND · 9,901 adults with type 2 diabetes	12.0%	13.4%

Main result of each trial: heart attack, stroke, or death from heart causes. In SELECT, 20% fewer people had one (hazard ratio 0.80). Sources: Lincoff et al., NEJM 2023 (SELECT) (PMID 37952131); Gerstein et al., Lancet 2019 (REWIND) (PMID 31189511).

More charts: Peptides by the numbers

Is it safe? Side effects

The most common side effects on the label are feeling sick, diarrhea, throwing up, belly pain, and less hunger.
The label has a boxed warning: it caused thyroid tumors in rats. Nobody knows if this happens in people.
People with a personal or family history of a rare thyroid cancer (MTC) or MEN 2 should not use it.

Is it legal in the US?

Yes. Trulicity is FDA-approved. (The FDA is the US agency that checks if medicines are safe and work.)

What "not approved" does and does not mean

With a prescription, it is legal to use for the uses on its FDA label.
Doctors may also prescribe an approved drug for other uses ("off-label") when they think it is right for you. (FDA)
Copies made by a pharmacy (compounded) are not FDA approved. The FDA does not check them before they are sold. State boards of pharmacy oversee most pharmacies. (FDA)
Products sold online "for research" or "not for human use" are not the approved medicine. The FDA has warned companies that sold them to people. (FDA)

Banned in sports? Drug tests

Not banned in sports.

No. USADA says GLP-1 drugs like dulaglutide (Trulicity) are not banned in sport, and no special medical exemption is needed.

Check work, NCAA, and military rules for Trulicity

Talk to your doctor

Do not start any peptide on your own. Ask a doctor first. We never share doses or tell you where to buy. Print our doctor questions sheet.

Check any peptide in 1 secondFree FDA Status Checker: approved, being tested, or not proven.

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Not medical advice. Medical disclaimer.