Dulaglutide,Trulicity
Description: Antidiabetic Agent, Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) Receptor Agonist
“ALERT: US Boxed Warning
[US Boxed Warning] Thyroid C-cell tumors have developed in animal studies with GLP-1 receptor agonists; it is not known if dulaglutide causes thyroid C-cell tumor, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in humans. Routine monitoring of serum calcitonin or using thyroid ultrasound monitoring is of uncertain value for early detection of MTC in patients treated with dulaglutide. Patients should be counseled on the potential risk of MTC with the use of dulaglutide and informed of symptoms of thyroid tumors (eg, neck mass, dysphagia, dyspnea, persistent hoarseness). Use is contraindicated in patients with a personal or a family history of MTC and in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome types 2.
CSA NA – FDA Approved – REMS (N) – Can Ship
How Does It Work
Dulaglutide is a mimetic hormone or an analog of human glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor and has been shown to increase insulin secretion when glucose levels are elevated, decrease glucagon secretion, and slows gastric emptying in an effort to lower postprandial glucose levels.
Indications For Use
Diabetes mellitus, Type 2
Precautions
Before starting Dulaglutide, Trulicity makes sure your physician is aware of any allergies or medications you currently take if you have gallbladder disease, any previous hypersensitivity reactions, history of pancreatitis, gastrointestinal disease, and any signs of renal and hepatic impairment.
Usual Dosing
Inject subcutaneously 0.75mg (0.5ml) to 1.5mg (0.5ml) once weekly
Pharmacist Tips On Using
How to Take: Follow instructions provided by physician/pharmacy label, inject subcutaneously into the upper arm, thigh, or abdomen; when administering within the same body region, use a different injection site each week. Administer once weekly on the same day each week, without regard to meals or time of day. The day of weekly administration may be changed, as long as the last dose was administered ≥3 days before. If using concomitantly with insulin, administer as separate injections (do not mix); may inject in the same body region as insulin, but not adjacent to one another.
Side Effects
Hypoglycemia (highest incidence seen when used in conjunction with insulin glargine, prandial insulin, and sulfonylurea), diarrhea, nausea, vomiting.
Note this is not a complete list of side effects for Dulaglutide, Trulicity only common ones
Frequently Asked Questions
What is hypoglycemia?
Hypoglycemia is a condition of low blood sugar (>3.9mmol/L-Canada; 70mg/dL-US) which is considered a medical emergency whereas hyperglycemia is a slowly progressive condition. It generally occurs with irregularities in diet, exercise, and medications in diabetic patients. It is preferably treated with simple sugars such as dextrose; regular table sugar can work but is slower acting as it needs to be digested and if blood sugar is extremely low this delay can be a problem. Hypoglycemia has a large host of progressive symptoms from hunger, headache, nausea, sweating, palpitations, mood swings, irritability to seizure, coma and in severe cases, death.