Weed and Trulicity: Can You Mix the Two?
Article written by
Melissa CampbellSEO Content Writer
Content reviewed by
Dr. Lewis JasseyMedical Director - Pediatric Medicine
Trulicity (dulaglutide) is a prescription drug used to decrease blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems in adults with type 2 diabetes.
The medicinal properties of cannabis are also thought to be useful in addressing symptoms associated with this medical condition.
Although both may play a part in the treatment of diabetes, the question remains as to whether it’s safe to mix weed and Trulicity.
While there’s no definitive research on their combined effects on the human body, limited evidence suggests that it may be safe to consume cannabis products with Trulicity.
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What Is Trulicity?
According to the CDC, 37.3 million people have some form of diabetes in the United States (about 11% of the U.S. population), including 28.7 million adults diagnosed and an estimated 8.5 million undiagnosed. To counteract this rising epidemic, pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly developed dulaglutide, which gained FDA approval in 2014.
Commonly known as Trulicity, dulaglutide is prescribed to lower blood glucose levels for people with type 2 diabetes. It belongs to a class of medications called glucagon-like peptide-receptor agonists (or GLP1s).
Trulicity helps to manage blood sugar levels and decreases the risk of heart issues (such as heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular disease-related deaths) in adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease or people with elevated cardiovascular risk factors.
Uses and How It Works
Trulicity is used to treat adults with type 2 diabetes.
Along with a healthy, active lifestyle, Trulicity can be used to manage blood sugar levels, decrease the risk of heart problems for those with diabetes and heart conditions, and lower the risk of cardiovascular-related deaths caused by cardiac disease.
And while the FDA has not approved it as a weight loss drug, the appetite suppressant effects of GLP-1 agonists have led some doctors to prescribe Trulicity off-label for adults with obesity.
Trulicity works in a few different ways. First, it triggers the GLP-1 receptors in your pancreas to increase insulin secretion when glucose levels rise, thereby reducing blood sugar levels. Trulicity also blocks glucagon, a hormone that helps the liver break down sugar as it enters your bloodstream, which also lowers blood sugar levels.
Additionally, Trulicity slows digestion and prevents your blood sugar from spiking after meals. It’s also known to increase the sensation of fullness, which may result in weight loss.
Trulicity is administered as a once-weekly injection. Each dose is contained in a single-use pen. While it should be taken on the same day each week, it can be injected on a full or empty stomach at any time of the day.
Trulicity can be injected under the skin in the stomach area, upper arms, or thighs. To prevent lumps from forming, it’s best to alternate the injection site every week.
Potential Benefits and Risks of Mixing Cannabis and Trulicity
If you have type 2 diabetes and are considering taking weed with Trulicity, you may have questions about the potential interaction between the two.
Although there’s no available research examining the risks posed when taken together, limited studies regarding medical marijuana and diabetes-related conditions may provide some insight.
Potential Benefits
Scientific evidence indicates that marijuana’s effect on appetite and metabolism may result in lower insulin levels, which is beneficial for people with type 2 diabetes.
Another clinical trial suggests that cannabis use is associated with decreased fasting insulin levels in adults with obesity, as opposed to participants without obesity.
Additional research found lower rates of diabetes and obesity in marijuana consumers compared to those who had never used cannabis.
These findings indicate a correlation between the metabolic system and active ingredients within medical marijuana.
THCV and CBD are two cannabinoids (compounds of the cannabis plant, aka “phytocannabinoids”) that, when used together, may lower blood sugar levels, prevent insulin resistance, and potentially help maintain a healthy body mass index (BMI).
These cannabinoids are also thought to ease diabetic neuropathic pain (nerve pain).
Although there are no definitive human studies on mixing cannabis with Trulicity, there is a consensus among some users that it’s safe to combine the two.
Moreover, anecdotal reports suggest that people who consume both substances find that marijuana is helpful in staving off common side effects of Trulicity, including nausea, lightheadedness, and dizziness.
Ultimately, while existing scientific and anecdotal evidence suggests cannabis is beneficial to those with type 2 diabetes, definitive studies on the effects of GLP-1s and marijuana in humans are necessary to draw definitive conclusions.
Potential Risks
Although it may be relatively safe to use cannabis while taking Trulicity, knowing the risks and side effects associated with each can greatly inform your decision should you choose to combine them.
Trulicity is a potent prescription drug that is effective in treating type 2 diabetes, but it’s linked with a variety of side effects ranging from mild to severe:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Indigestion
- Abdominal pain
- Decreased appetite
- Tachycardia
- Fatigue
- Low blood sugar
- Pancreatitis
- Acute kidney injury
- Changes in vision
- Liver damage
- Gallbladder disease
Additionally, the FDA assigns a boxed warning label to medications that pose major risks or life-threatening side effects. All GLP-1s, including Trulicity, have been issued this warning for their risk of medullary thyroid carcinoma (thyroid cancer).
Medical marijuana offers a range of therapeutic benefits, but it is associated with a list of side effects as well, including:
- Sleepiness or lethargy
- Hot and cold flashes
- Anxiety or paranoia
- “Cotton” or “dry” mouth (i.e., a lack of saliva)
- Extreme hunger pangs (the “munchies”)
- Dry, red eyes
- Dizziness and nausea
- Increased heart rate
- Sense of a loss of self; dissociation from the body
- Short-term memory loss
- Psychotic episodes (in rare cases)
While some of these reactions could exacerbate side effects of Trulicity, there is currently no evidence of serious risks involved with combining them.
To avoid unwanted complications, talk to your doctor before consuming cannabis products with Trulicity or any prescription drug.
Additionally, you should not cease using Trulicity in favor of the medical use of marijuana. Seeing medical advice is imperative before stopping the use of any pharmaceutical drug.
The Bottom Line
Trulicity is an injectable prescription medication primarily used with a healthy diet and regular exercise to treat type 2 diabetes.
It’s a glucagon-like peptide-receptor agonist, a class of drugs that also lowers the risk of heart events like stroke and heart attack for people with cardiac disease.
Trulicity has also been prescribed off-label for weight loss for those with obesity. Cannabis, too, is thought to hold therapeutic promise as a plant-based alternative to treating certain symptoms related to type 2 diabetes.
There is no known negative interaction (contraindication) when cannabis and dulaglutide are utilized together, and some suggest that medical cannabis may be useful for mitigating some of the negative side effects of the medication. However, these reports are anecdotal, and more comprehensive research in the future may yield different results.
If you have type 2 diabetes and would like to learn more about the interaction between marijuana and Trulicity, talk to your doctor. By sharing your concerns, and cannabis habits, you can develop a diabetes care plan that safeguards your health and sense of well-being.
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