dulaglutide vs exenatide
Side-by-side comparison of dulaglutide and exenatide Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Trulicity
Byetta, Bydureon
Trulicity is a medicine to help control blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. It can also lower the risk of heart problems in adults with both type 2 diabetes and heart disease or heart risk factors.
Byetta is a medicine that helps adults with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar. It works along with diet and exercise.
Trulicity helps adults and children 10 years and older manage their type 2 diabetes. It works along with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control. Trulicity can also reduce the risk of major heart problems like heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes who also have heart disease or risk factors for it.
Byetta helps adults with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels. It should be used with a healthy diet and regular exercise. This medicine helps to keep your blood sugar in a normal range.
Trulicity is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. It mimics a natural hormone in your body. This helps your body release insulin when your blood sugar is high and lowers the amount of sugar your liver makes.
Byetta is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. It works by helping your body release insulin when your blood sugar is high. It also lowers the amount of sugar your liver makes.
- • Nausea
- • Diarrhea
- • Vomiting
- • Abdominal pain
- • Decreased appetite
- • Nausea
- • Low blood sugar
- • Vomiting
- • Diarrhea
- • Feeling jittery
- Feeling sick to your stomach 9,986
- Pain where you injected the medicine 9,796
- High blood sugar 9,762
- Loose, watery stools 5,737
- Wrong dose given 5,444
- High blood sugar 15,473
- Weight loss 12,125
- Feeling sick to your stomach 12,038
- Reduced appetite 5,644
- Low blood sugar 5,517
Trulicity may cause thyroid tumors, including a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). You should not use Trulicity if you or your family have ever had MTC, or if you have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Tell your doctor if you have a lump in your neck, trouble swallowing, trouble breathing, or a hoarse voice that doesn't go away.
Byetta may cause serious side effects, including pancreatitis. If you have severe stomach pain that won't go away, stop using Byetta and call your doctor right away. Never share your Byetta pen with anyone else, even if you change the needle.
There is not enough information about Trulicity in pregnant women to know if it will harm an unborn baby. Trulicity should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Byetta should only be used during pregnancy if the benefit outweighs the risk to the baby. It is not known if Byetta passes into breast milk.
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How to Read This dulaglutide vs exenatide Comparison
dulaglutide is classified in the GLP-1 Receptor Agonist drug class, while exenatide sits within the GLP-1 Receptor Agonist class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, dulaglutide has 40,725 submissions while exenatide has 50,797. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between dulaglutide and exenatide — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.