Jack Health Weight Loss
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This webpage overviews the most important information about your Trulicity® prescription:
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Here’s a quick breakdown of your medication:
Trulicity® is an injection with a very small needle (like a pinprick) taken weekly that helps control appetite and blood sugar levels. Trulicity® is the brand name of dulaglutide which is a type of drug known as a GLP-1 (Glucagon-Like Peptide-1). It works by helping the pancreas release a controlled amount of hormones, which slows the rate of food leaving the stomach, leaving you fuller for longer. This helps prevent overeating and hunger pangs.
The longer you keep at it, the more success you’ll see.
In order to see results, it’s important to take it around the same time on the same day each week. When you combine Trulicity®with dietary and exercise changes, you’ll find successful weight loss even quicker. Soon, you’ll be hitting your goals with no fear of falling back into old habits. Consistency is always the key.
Here’s how to use the medication
Inject 1 dose of Trulicity® once a week (on the same day each week) into the fat of your upper arm, abdomen, or thigh. Each pen has enough medication for one dose.
Dispose of the used pen in a sharps container once you complete your injection.
Your dosage will slowly increase until you hit a maintenance dose as set by your health care provider. Your prescription of Trulicity® contains enough medicine for 28 days. We will ship out your refill around when you’re taking your final dose. Please make sure you stay on top of your bloodwork to ensure there is no delay in receiving your medication.
Below is a dosing schedule to guide you through the starting dosage of 0.75 mg to the dosage of 1.5 mg (max maintenance dose).
Note: If you are switching from another medication you may start on a different dose.
Take only your prescribed dose. If you think you’ve taken more, contact your doctor or a hospital immediately, even with no symptoms.
If it’s been 3 days or less since your missed dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it’s been 4 or more days, skip the dose and take it at your normal date and time.
New and unused Trulicity®should be stored in the fridge.
Once at room temperature, Trulicity® will last 14 days. We’d recommend taking the weekly pen out of the fridge a few hours before you intend on injecting. You may find it more comfortable to inject the medication once it has reached room temperature.
If you are taking Insulin, in addition to Trulicity®, you may be at a higher risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Please reach out to our medical team or your family doctor as your dose of insulin may need to be adjusted.
Make vitamins fun again: get exactly what you need in a daily dose. Nothing more, nothing less.
We’ve curated daily vitamin & supplement packs: add them onto your treatments for an extra boost, or take them on their own.
Protect Trulicity® from excessive heat and light. Do not freeze and do not use Trulicity® if it has been frozen. We will package your medication so it stays safe and protected from cold temperatures while in transit.
Recommended Storage Conditions for Trulicity®
| Prior to first use | Refrigerated 2°C to 8°C until expiration date |
| Once taken out of the fridge | 14 days at room temperature |
New and unused Trulicity® should be stored in the fridge. Once taken out of the fridge, it is safe to use for up to 14 days at room temperature.
Visually inspect Trulicity®before use. It should appear clear and colourless. If not, do not use.
If you are worried about the look or temperature of your medication please call us at 905-291-7970. If there is a manufacturing defect with the product (i.e particulate matter, discolouration, pen doesn’t work) reach out to Eli Lilly Canada’s Customer Response Centre at 1-888-545-5972 (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding holidays).
Feeling really unwell? Get relief from side effects
Weight loss medications can be tough to adjust to, that’s why we’re tackling any medication side effects.
Remember, this medication is just for you.
Side effects can occur, but not everyone gets them.
Side effects may include: nausea, diarrhea, constipation, low blood sugar, tiredness, fast heartbeat, and/or stomach pain.
If you experience these side effects to an extreme degree or for an extended period of time, stop taking the medication and contact us.
Most common side effects:
- Abdominal pain
- constipation
- diarrhea
- nausea and vomiting
These effects occur most often with a dose increase and usually go away over time.
Other side effects:
- low blood sugar, headache, tiredness, fast heartbeat, feeling nervous/anxious/weak, dizziness and/or stomach pain.
Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia): trembling or shaking hands, fast heartbeat, cool pale skin, sweating, anxiety, hunger, nausea and tingling, difficulty concentrating, confusion, weakness, blurry vision, headache and dizziness.
If you notice a few of these symptoms eat a small snack with at least 15g of carbs (e.g. 1 small apple, 1/2 a banana, 1 slice of toast, 1/2 cup of orange juice) and they should resolve in 15-20 minutes. If your symptoms fail to resolve, please visit for nearest ER immediately.
Serious side effects:
- Change in the way food or drink tastes
- Severe low blood sugar (confusion, passing out)
- Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
- Severe allergic reactions like anaphylaxis and swelling
Signs and symptoms of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas): persistent intense stomach pain (usually right below your rib cage, and may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea). If you experience these, please proceed to your local emergency room and let them know you are taking Trulicity.
Signs and symptoms of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis): breathing problems, swelling of face lips, tongue and/or throat with difficulty swallowing and a fast heartbeat. Seek immediate medical attention if you get any of these symptoms.
Trulicity® should not be taken if you have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), if you have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MENS2) or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
If you are sick, (i.e. have a cold, the flu, Covid, Gastro/stomach flu), please skip your dose until you are feeling better.
Alcohol: If you are going to be having more than a drink or two in one day, we recommend skipping your dose for that day as alcohol also decreases your blood sugar along with the medication.
Drug interactions:
Since Trulicity® causes an increase in heart rate, be cautious when taking Trulicity® with other drugs that also increase heart rate. It is not known how Trulicity® interacts with drugs that prolong the PR interval (the time it takes for a signal to travel from the upper to lower chambers of your heart), such as antiarrhythmics, calcium channel blockers, beta blockers, and HIV protease inhibitors. As a result, be cautious when taking Trulicity® with these drugs.
Join a live group session to talk about medication side effects and how to manage them with our Pharmacist Sarah.
How to get a refill:
When you receive your first prescription, the pharmacy team will contact you via email to ask you for consent to be enrolled in auto-fill for your next refills every 1-3 months as long as you remain on the program. Alternatively you can email the pharmacy team at pharmacy@jackhealth.ca, or by reach them by phone at 905-291-7970 to request a refill. Please do so 1 week before your next refill is due to ensure you receive your medication on time.
Follow up:
Every month you will have an online check-in, but you can reach out anytime on the medical chat through your account if you have questions about the medication, dosage, side effects etc. We encourage you to book your 30 minutes with the Wellness team to take advantage of their expertise.
Every three months you’ll also get your bloodwork completed, so the medical team can monitor your liver, kidneys and other key indicators.
Generally, it is recommended that clients that start with medications should stay on the medication for 6 months to 1 year to stabilize weight maintenance before coming off of medication. There is no set date to stop the medication, but in the clinical trials studying these treatments, the medications were taken for 1 year. After 1 year, some people may choose to continue to take the medications for weight maintenance. Our medical team can help you transition to a maintenance program once you achieve your goal weight.
Can I drink alcohol while on this medication?
If you are going to be having more than a drink or two in one day, it is recommended to skip your dose for that day as alcohol also decreases your blood sugar along with the medication. If you generally go out for dinner or parties on weekends, we’d recommend doing your injection during the week.
What if I get sick with a flu or flu like symptoms while on treatment?
If you are sick, with cold, flu, or covid like symptoms, please skip your dose until you are feeling better. If you’re off Trulicity®for more than three days with a bad cold, drop down to your starting dose and increase back up to where you were over the next few days/week.
What is the monthly subscription for? Can I unsubscribe to the program and still get the prescription?
The monthly subscription includes your bloodwork requisition and review of the results by a Nurse Practitioner or Doctor, access to the Wellness team (includes a Registered Dietician, Registered Kinesiologist, Registered Psychotherapist and/or Registered Social Worker) for group and 1-on-1 sessions, and assistance with special authorization forms for your insurance. As you progress through the program they will help you with your weight loss goals and address any questions or concerns you may have. You need to stay subscribed to the program in order to get the prescription.
Can I switch medications if it doesn’t work?
We usually do not change medication within the first three months unless a client has developed severe allergies or side effects. This is because it is too early to know if the medication is truly working before the three month mark. At your three month bloodwork review, the medical team will assess the effects of your medication.
It’s important to remember diet and exercise must be combined with the medication in order to see results and optimizing these should be done before considering a medication switch.
Do I need to exercise?
Yes, exercise is very important to ensure that the weight does not rebound back after discontinuing Trulicity®. You must continue to eat healthy and maintain your exercise routine. If you haven’t started some form of exercise, this is very helpful for helping maintain your weight loss.
For general questions, you can reach us at: hello@jack.health or by chatting with us on our website.
If you have questions about your prescription or dosage, you can contact our pharmacists at pharmacy@jackhealth.ca or by phone at 905-291-7970.
For other medical questions, like side effects, log into your account and head to the Medical Chat tab.
If you’d like to read the full product instruction booklet from the manufacturer, click here.
Trulicity® Patient Medication Information
Instructions for Use – Trulicity® Single-Use Pen, 0.75 mg/0.5 mL
(US)
Subscription plan auto-renews every three months - cancel anytime
