| Diabetes Mellitus, Non-Insulin-Dependent
Trulicity vs Welchol
Side-by-side clinical, coverage, and cost comparison for diabetes mellitus, non-insulin-dependent.Deep comparison between: Trulicity vs Welchol with Prescriber.AI
AI compares prescribing info and payer-specific access barriers across 1,200+ formularies. Here's a preview of what prescribers are already asking.Safety signalsWelchol has a higher rate of injection site reactions vs Trulicity based on FDA-approved prescribing information
Coverage gaps3 major payers require step therapy for Welchol but not Trulicity, including UnitedHealthcare
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Category
Trulicity
Welchol
At A Glance
SC injection
Once weekly
GLP-1 receptor agonist
Oral
Daily
Bile acid sequestrant
Indications
- Diabetes Mellitus, Non-Insulin-Dependent
- Familial hyperlipidemia
- Familial hypercholesterolemia - heterozygous
- Diabetes Mellitus, Non-Insulin-Dependent
Dosing
Diabetes Mellitus, Non-Insulin-Dependent (Adults) Starting dose 0.75 mg SC once weekly; may increase to 1.5 mg after 4 weeks; further increases in 1.5 mg increments after at least 4 weeks on current dose; maximum 4.5 mg SC once weekly.
Diabetes Mellitus, Non-Insulin-Dependent (Pediatric, >=10 years) Starting dose 0.75 mg SC once weekly; if additional glycemic control needed, increase to maximum 1.5 mg SC once weekly after at least 4 weeks.
Familial hyperlipidemia, Familial hypercholesterolemia - heterozygous 3.75 grams daily; 6 tablets once daily or 3 tablets twice daily with a meal and liquid, or one packet oral suspension once daily with a meal.
Diabetes Mellitus, Non-Insulin-Dependent 3.75 grams daily; 6 tablets once daily or 3 tablets twice daily with a meal and liquid, or one packet oral suspension once daily with a meal.
Contraindications
- Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
- Serious hypersensitivity reaction to dulaglutide or any product component
- Serum TG concentrations >500 mg/dL
- History of hypertriglyceridemia-induced pancreatitis
- History of bowel obstruction
Adverse Reactions
Most common (>=5%) Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, decreased appetite, dyspepsia, fatigue
Serious Thyroid C-cell tumors, acute pancreatitis, hypoglycemia (with insulin secretagogues or insulin), hypersensitivity reactions, acute kidney injury, severe gastrointestinal reactions, diabetic retinopathy complications, acute gallbladder disease, pulmonary aspiration
Postmarketing Hemorrhagic and necrotizing pancreatitis, ileus, intestinal obstruction, severe constipation, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, cholestasis, elevated liver enzymes, hepatitis, anaphylactic reactions, angioedema, dysgeusia, dysesthesia, acute renal failure, alopecia
Most common (>=2%) Constipation, dyspepsia, nausea, asthenia, pharyngitis, myalgia (primary hyperlipidemia); constipation, dyspepsia, nausea, hypertension, back pain (type 2 diabetes)
Serious Hypertriglyceridemia, pancreatitis, gastrointestinal obstruction, vitamin K and fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies
Postmarketing Bowel obstruction, dysphagia, esophageal obstruction, fecal impaction, pancreatitis, hypertriglyceridemia, increased transaminases
Pharmacology
Dulaglutide is a human GLP-1 receptor agonist with 90% amino acid sequence homology to endogenous human GLP-1 (7-37) that activates the GLP-1 receptor in pancreatic beta cells, stimulating glucose-dependent insulin release, decreasing glucagon secretion, and slowing gastric emptying.
Colesevelam hydrochloride is a non-absorbed bile acid sequestrant that binds bile acids in the intestine, depletes the bile acid pool, upregulates hepatic cholesterol 7-alpha-hydroxylase, increases LDL receptor expression, and thereby lowers serum LDL-C; the mechanism by which it improves glycemic control in type 2 diabetes is unknown.
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Most Common Insurance
Anthem BCBS
Trulicity
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (12/12) · Step Therapy (10/12) · Qty limit (11/12)
Welchol
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (10/12) · Step Therapy (0/12) · Qty limit (9/12)
UnitedHealthcare
Trulicity
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (8/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (8/8)
Welchol
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (0/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
Humana
Trulicity
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (3/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · Qty limit (3/3)
Welchol
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (1/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · Qty limit (2/3)
Coverage data sourced from MMIT. Updated monthly.
Savings
$25/momo
Trulicity Savings CardCommercial or private insurance
Medicare, Medicaid, VA, TRICARE
Final cost depends on formulary coverage
No savings programs available for Welchol.
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TrulicityView full Trulicity profile
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Clinical data sourced from FDA-approved labeling. Coverage data via MMIT. Updated monthly.