Trulicity And Dumping Syndrome: What To Know

Trulicity is a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes.

While this drug can be very effective, Trulicity and other medications in the same drug class can cause side effects, particularly related to your stomach and digestion.  

Dumping syndrome is a condition where your stomach empties too rapidly, leading to unpleasant digestive side effects. 

In this article, we’ll explain more about what dumping syndrome is, what causes it, if Trulicity is known for causing dumping syndrome, and more.

Can Trulicity cause dumping syndrome? 

Taking Trulicity does not typically lead to dumping syndrome. Dumping syndrome causes symptoms due to rapid digestion, while Trulicity can have similar side effects but as a result of slowed digestion. 

Due to some overlapping side effects with dumping syndrome, Trulicity may occasionally be mistaken as a cause of this condition.

Trulicity, classified as a GLP-1 receptor agonist, reduces blood sugar and facilitates weight loss. Trulicity boosts satiety by slowing down digestion. 

When digestion is slowed, food stays in your stomach longer, which makes you feel less hungry. That’s one of the main ways medications like Trulicity can cause weight loss.

Some of the potential side effects of Trulicity that are similar to the signs of dumping syndrome (which we’ll cover next) include:

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Fatigue

Signs of dumping syndrome

The symptoms of dumping syndrome can depend on the type of dumping syndrome you have – early or late. 

Early dumping syndrome usually happens within 30 minutes after you finish a meal, while late dumping syndrome typically occurs anywhere from one to three hours after you eat a meal.

Symptoms of early dumping syndrome

• Diarrhea
• Feeling very full
• Bloating
• Nausea
• Stomach pain or cramping
• Increased bowel sounds (stomach gurgling and growling)
• Lightheadedness, with or without fainting
• Fatigue
• Fast or irregular heartbeat
• Sweating
• Headache
• Flushing (reddening of your skin, especially on your face or neck)

Symptoms of late dumping syndrome

Late dumping syndrome symptoms are usually caused by low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Late dumping syndrome is rarer than early dumping syndrome. 

The exact cause of late dumping syndrome isn’t quite clear but is thought to be caused by a rapid release of carbohydrates and subsequent release of insulin (the hormone that lowers blood sugar).

Some of the signs of late dumping syndrome can include:

• Lightheadedness, with or without fainting
• Feeling shaky or jittery
• Fatigue
• Fast or irregular heartbeat
• Sweating
• Weakness

Why does dumping syndrome cause these symptoms?

When food is released (or “dumped”) into your intestines too soon, your body releases digestive hormones to help digest the food and increases the amount of fluid directed to your intestines.

When blood flow and fluid are diverted to your stomach, it causes changes in fluid balance, which can result in dizziness. 

The digestive hormones released can also impact your heart rate and blood pressure, which is why some people become lightheaded and even experience fainting.

Dumping syndrome is more likely to occur if you:

• Eat large meals
• Drink fluids with meals
• Eat meals high in simple starches (carbs) and sugars

Foods high in sugars are more likely to cause dumping syndrome than protein, fiber, and fat. 

Eating a sugar-rich meal causes your body to pull more fluid into your digestive tract, which can cause some of the symptoms of dumping syndrome, like diarrhea.

What to do during a dumping syndrome episode

If you feel a dumping syndrome episode starting, sit or lie down if you’re feeling dizzy or like you might faint. 

There’s not much you can do once you’re experiencing dumping syndrome, so the most important aspect of managing dumping syndrome is prevention, which we’ll cover soon.

Treatment for dumping syndrome

Dumping syndrome is treated by focusing on prevention, which is the most effective form of treatment. 

Because dumping syndrome is often a result of weight loss surgery, there isn’t much to be done other than reversing the surgery, which can be risky and not usually recommended to treat dumping syndrome.

Your healthcare provider might suggest certain medications to treat dumping syndrome, such as anti-diarrheal medications or octreotide, a medication that has been used to treat dumping syndrome in some people. 

For late dumping syndrome, medications like acarbose (a diabetes medication) might be used to help slow the rate of carbohydrate digestion.

How to avoid dumping syndrome while taking Trulicity 

If you experience dumping syndrome while taking Trulicity, the most effective way to avoid it is by changing your diet. 

Some of the most effective dietary modifications to reduce the incidence of dumping syndrome include:

Eating smaller meals

Avoiding large meals is one of the best defenses to prevent dumping syndrome. 

Eating smaller, more frequent meals reduces the volume of food in your stomach at one time, which can help prevent the “dumping” of the food into your intestines. 

Increasing your fiber intake

Fiber is a type of carbohydrate that takes longer to digest than simple starches and sugars. 

Increasing your fiber intake can help slow the rate of digestion and prevent dumping syndrome. Fiber is found in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and legumes.

Drink fluids between meals, not with meals

Drinking liquids with meals can increase the likelihood of dumping syndrome. Instead of drinking fluids with meals, drink them in between meals.

Avoid simple sugars and starches

Eating simple carbs like white bread, white rice, and refined flour can increase your risk of dumping syndrome. 

Simple sugars from sweetened foods and drinks also raise the risk, so avoiding or limiting these foods can help.

Eat protein and fat with meals (balanced plate)

If you tend to eat carb-heavy meals, try adding in some protein and fat. These nutrients are digested more slowly than carbs, so incorporating them into your meals can help slow digestion and prevent dumping syndrome. 

Avoid dairy if it worsens symptoms

Some people with dumping syndrome are more sensitive to dairy products like milk and yogurt. 

If you notice that milk products worsen your dumping syndrome, then you might consider avoiding them to ease your symptoms.

Should you stop taking Trulicity if you have dumping syndrome?

If your dumping syndrome symptoms are severe and aren’t going away despite dietary and lifestyle changes, your healthcare provider might advise you to stop taking Trulicity to see if it helps. 

Trulicity isn’t known to cause dumping syndrome, so the more likely course of action would be to adjust your dietary habits.

Does dumping syndrome go away?

Whether or not your dumping syndrome goes away depends on its root cause. For dumping syndrome that occurs soon after weight loss surgery, you might find that the symptoms diminish over time, especially with diet changes.

If you’re unsure why you’re experiencing dumping syndrome (e.g., if you’ve never had bariatric surgery before), then you should consult your healthcare provider to assess the cause.

If you’re experiencing typical Trulicity side effects that are similar to dumping syndrome, then those may or may not go away as your body gets used to taking Trulicity. 

In most cases, side effects of a medication are the most severe upon starting a new medication or after increasing your dose.

If you’re experiencing side effects from Trulicity that are severe, causing other health issues, or preventing you from doing the things you’re normally able to do, then reach out to your healthcare provider.

Is dumping syndrome dangerous?

Dumping syndrome isn’t usually dangerous. In most cases, symptoms can be unpleasant and disruptive but rarely lead to serious health issues. 

The good news is that dumping syndrome usually responds well to dietary management. 

With more severe cases of dumping syndrome, unintentional weight loss and dehydration might occur, which could become problematic. 

If you experience fainting from dumping syndrome, your risk of injury from falling is higher and a more potentially dangerous situation.

Dumping syndrome after bariatric surgery

Dumping syndrome occurs when your stomach empties too quickly. It’s most common after having surgery on your stomach or esophagus, with the most common cause being weight loss (bariatric) surgery.

Dumping syndrome can impact as many as 85% of patients following bariatric surgery. The severity and duration of dumping syndrome depend on the type of weight loss surgery (there are several different weight loss surgery procedures, but they all fall under the general ‘bariatric surgery’ umbrella). 

Dumping syndrome typically occurs post-bariatric surgery because the stomach size is reduced, which can lead to premature stomach emptying since your stomach can’t hold as much volume.

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Conclusion

• Dumping syndrome often occurs as a result of weight loss surgery. It happens when food is emptied from your stomach to your intestines too quickly, leading to symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain, and lightheadedness.
• Trulicity has potential side effects that are similar to dumping syndrome (like nausea and diarrhea) but isn’t known to cause dumping syndrome.
• The most effective treatment for dumping syndrome is prevention through dietary modifications.

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