Short answer: Both are GLP-1 injections for type 2 diabetes in adults and children 10 and older, and both lower the risk of major heart events in certain adults.12 Trulicity (dulaglutide) is once a week, from 0.75 mg up to 4.5 mg. Victoza (liraglutide) is once a day, from 0.6 mg up to 1.8 mg. Both carry a boxed warning on thyroid C-cell tumors. Neither label reports a trial against the other.
| Trulicity | Victoza | |
|---|---|---|
| Drug | Dulaglutide1 | Liraglutide2 |
| How often | Once a week, any time of day, with or without food1 | Once a day, any time of day, with or without meals2 |
| Starting dose | 0.75 mg once weekly1 | 0.6 mg daily for one week, a step that does not control blood sugar in adults2 |
| Dose steps and maximum | 1.5 mg after 4 weeks, then 1.5 mg steps at least 4 weeks apart up to 4.5 mg; children up to 1.5 mg1 | 1.2 mg after one week, then 1.8 mg if needed after at least a week on 1.2 mg2 |
| Heart use in adults with type 2 diabetes | Major heart events with heart disease or several heart risk factors1 | Major heart events with established heart disease2 |
| Missed dose | Taken if at least 3 days (72 hours) remain before the next dose; otherwise skipped1 | Skipped, resuming with the next daily dose; restart at 0.6 mg if more than 3 days have passed2 |
| Side effects in label trials | Nausea 12.4% on 0.75 mg and 21.1% on 1.5 mg vs 5.3% on placebo, vomiting 6.0% and 12.7% vs 2.3%1 | Nausea 18% on 1.2 mg and 20% on 1.8 mg vs 5% on placebo, diarrhea 10% and 12% vs 4%2 |
| Boxed warning | Thyroid C-cell tumors1 | Thyroid C-cell tumors2 |
Mostly. Both labels say people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2 must not use them, and both list pancreatitis, low blood sugar with insulin or a sulfonylurea, kidney injury from fluid loss, severe stomach and gut reactions, serious allergic reactions, gallbladder disease and food in the lungs during anesthesia.12 The Trulicity label adds diabetic eye complications: 1.9% vs 1.5% on placebo in its heart outcomes trial.1 The Victoza label adds that pens must never be shared, even with a new needle.2 These numbers come from separate trials with different people, lengths and methods, so they are not a head-to-head comparison.
Which, if either, fits is for your prescriber. More detail: Trulicity side effects, Victoza side effects, the Trulicity and Victoza dosing schedules, the Trulicity and Victoza missed-dose pages, Byetta vs Victoza: how do exenatide and liraglutide differ? and Dulaglutide vs semaglutide: what did the head-to-head trial show?.