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dulaglutide vs semaglutide

Side-by-side comparison of dulaglutide and semaglutide Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

Drug Class
dulaglutide GLP-1 Receptor Agonist
semaglutide GLP-1 Receptor Agonist
Type
dulaglutide Prescription
semaglutide Prescription
Summary
dulaglutide

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.

semaglutide

Ozempic is a medicine that helps lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. It can also lower the risk of heart problems in adults with both type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

What It Treats
dulaglutide

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.

semaglutide

Ozempic is used to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes, along with diet and exercise. It can also reduce the risk of major heart problems like heart attack, stroke, or death in adults who have both type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Ozempic has not been studied in patients with a history of pancreatitis, so other diabetes medicines may be better for you.

How It Works
dulaglutide

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.

semaglutide

Ozempic is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. It works by helping your body release insulin when your blood sugar is high. It also slows down how quickly food leaves your stomach.

Common Side Effects
dulaglutide
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Abdominal pain
  • Decreased appetite
semaglutide
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Abdominal pain
  • Constipation
FAERS Reports
dulaglutide
  • 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
semaglutide
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 10,666
  • Throwing up 6,913
  • Using the medicine for a purpose it's not approved for 6,532
  • Loose, watery stools 6,093
  • Not feeling hungry 4,428
Serious Warnings
dulaglutide

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.

semaglutide

Ozempic may cause thyroid C-cell tumors. Animal studies showed that semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, caused thyroid tumors in rodents. It is not known if Ozempic causes thyroid tumors in humans. You should not take Ozempic if you or your family have a history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or if you have Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Tell your doctor if you notice a lump in your neck, have trouble swallowing, have trouble breathing, or have a hoarse voice that won't go away.

Pregnancy
dulaglutide

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.

semaglutide

There is limited information about the safety of Ozempic during pregnancy. Ozempic may pose a risk to your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.

Also Compare — Nearby Drugs

How to Read This dulaglutide vs semaglutide Comparison

dulaglutide is classified in the GLP-1 Receptor Agonist drug class, while semaglutide 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 semaglutide has 34,632. 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 semaglutide — 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.