dulaglutide vs liraglutide
Side-by-side comparison of dulaglutide and liraglutide Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Trulicity
Victoza, Saxenda
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.
Liraglutide is a medicine that helps lower blood sugar levels. It is used with diet and exercise to treat type 2 diabetes in adults and children 10 years and older.
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.
Liraglutide helps manage blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. You should use it along with a healthy diet and regular exercise. It is for adults and children aged 10 and older.
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.
Liraglutide works by mimicking a natural hormone in your body. This hormone helps your pancreas 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
- • Diarrhea
- • Vomiting
- • Decreased appetite
- • Upset stomach
- 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
- Feeling sick to your stomach 7,005
- High blood sugar 3,875
- Throwing up 3,364
- Loose, watery stools 3,263
- Inflammation of the pancreas 2,316
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.
Liraglutide can cause thyroid tumors in animals. It is not known if it can cause thyroid cancer in humans. You should not take this medicine if you or your family have a history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or if you have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2. Tell your doctor if you notice a lump in your neck, have trouble swallowing or breathing, or your voice becomes hoarse.
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.
Liraglutide may harm your unborn baby. You should only use it during pregnancy if the benefit outweighs the risk. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
Also Compare — Nearby Drugs
Compare dulaglutide with
Compare liraglutide with
How to Read This dulaglutide vs liraglutide Comparison
dulaglutide is classified in the GLP-1 Receptor Agonist drug class, while liraglutide 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 liraglutide has 19,823. 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 liraglutide — 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.