Brand: Trulicity
Generic: Dulaglutide
Trulicity injection is used for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is also used together with good diet and exercise as a way of controlling the blood sugar levels. The medicine is only available with a doctor’s prescription.
Before using Trulicity, you must know all about the risks and complications associated with it. This is a decision that must be reached between you and your doctor. In making a decision; consider the following factors such as the presence of allergies when using this medicine.
Inform your medical doctor if you have allergies to the drug or to any other form of medicine to food, dyes, preservatives or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of dulaglutide injection in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.
Geriatric Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of dulaglutide injection in the elderly.
Use of dulaglutide has shown the adverse effect and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women or animal studies have been conducted. Similarly, there are no adequate studies in pregnant women.
There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.
Drug interactions may also occur when used together with other medicines. However, other medicines may be used together even with the possibility of a potential interaction. In these case, your medical doctor may want to change the dose of other precautions may be applied as necessary.
When using this medicine, It is important that your healthcare professional know what medicine you are using and if they are listed below. The interactions with these medicines are listed on the basis of potential interactions and significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
The use of these medicines with dulaglutide injection is not recommended. Your medical doctor will decide to treat you with the medicines or change some of the medicines that will be administered to you. They include:
Use of this medicine with other drugs may present an increased risk of side effects, however, in other cases, the use of this drugs may the best treatment for you.
When these medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose and how often you can use both of the medicines. They include:
It is possible for other drug interactions to occur when used at or around times of eating food or eating certain types of food. In addition, use of alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause other interactions to occur.
If you have to use either alcohol or tobacco, discuss this with your medical doctor. Other medical problems may present and may affect the use of this medicine. It is important that one informs a medical doctor if you have any of the medical problems such as diabetic ketoacidosis characterized by ketone bodies in the blood), type I diabetes.
Dulaglutide injection should not be used in this condition. Insulin may be needed to control these conditions. It should also not be used in people that have gastroparesis when the stomach does not empty food in the normal way, severe or multiple endocrines, neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN-2) or Medullary thyroid carcinoma which is a severe form of thyroid cancer.
Severe personal or family history of stomach or bowel disease must also not be allowed to use dulaglutide injection. It must also not be used in patients with severe kidney disease or thyroid tumor. Use this medicine with caution since it may make this condition worse.
Moreover, it must not be used in case of pancreatitis or inflammation of the pancreas or history of the disease of the pancreas. It has not been established if this medicine is safe for use with patients suffering from the disease of the pancreas.
To use Trulicity properly, you must follow all instructions given by your doctor. Regular checking of your blood sugar is necessary when using this medicine. It is best done before and after meals and at bedtime. This will help in lowering of the low blood sugar.
This medicine comes with a medication guide. It is necessary to read and follow the instructions provided carefully. Always ask your doctor if you have any medical questions.
Dulaglutide may be used with or without food. This medicine can also be used at home. The doctor can train you on how the dulaglutide injection can be administered.
The medicine is administered as a shot under the skin of your stomach, thighs or upper arm. Always use a different part of the body every time the shot has to be administered. Ensure you keep track of where you give a shot every time it has to be done.
When using them together with insulin, never mix insulin with dulaglutide in the same syringe. However, it is acceptable to inject this medicine and insulin in the same body area, but the shots should not be right next to each other.
In addition, always allow the medicine to warm at room temperature before it can be injected. When the medicine changes color, looks cloudy or see particles in it and never use it. It is also advisable that a new syringe is used every time you inject your medicine.
The medicine is known to works best when it has a constant concentration in blood. Hence, it is advisable to always take drugs in time without missing any dose. It is therefore recommended that the doses be taken at the same day and time each time of the week. Do not share the medicines pens with other people since it is not safe and can result to transmissions of infections between people.
Used needles need to be disposed of away appropriately in a closed container so that the needles cannot be poke through the containers. The needle container needs to be kept away from the children and pets.
Stick to the advice of the meal plan created by your doctor. This is important in the control of your medical condition and allows the medicine to work as required to effect the required treatment.
A good exercise regime is also recommended and regular testing will be required as directed by your medical doctor. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label.
The information provided here is only an average dose of this medicine. Never change your dose unless advised by your medical doctor. Often, the amount of medicine that you take varies with the strength of the medicine that you require to manage your condition.
It also relies on the number of doses that you are required to take every day, the time between doses and the length of time you will be required to take the medicine so as to manage the medical problem.
In administration of the dosage for managing diabetes Mellitus in adults; a dose of 0.75 milligrams (mg) is injected under the skin one a week. However, the dose can be increased to as high as 1.5 mg once a week when required and as determined by your medical doctor until when the blood sugar levels is controlled and completely managed.
In children, the use of this medicine is not recommended. Missed doses need to be taken as soon as possible. However, when it is almost the time for your next dose, skip the dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Never take double doses for this drug.
When a dose is missed, use the medicine as soon as possible within 3 days after it was missed. However, when it is missed for more than 3 days, one will be required to wait until the next regular weekly dose.
The medicine has to be kept out of reach of children. Outdated medicines that are no longer required are to be disposed of. The proper procedures for disposal of the medicine can request from the medical doctors.
Always store the new or unused medicines pen or prefilled syringe in the refrigerator while still in the original carton and protected from direct light. The medicines are not supposed to be frozen and used when frozen. The opened medicine pen or prefilled syringe in the refrigerator or at room temperature for up to a maximum of 14 days.
In using Trulicity, you must be careful and take some precautions as advised by your doctor. Progress after using the medicine needs to be done on a regular basis. This is to make sure that the medicine is working properly.
Both blood and urine tests may be required in checking for the unwanted effects. It is important that the instructions provided by the medical health professionals are followed strictly.
Use of alcohol is prohibited when using this drug. This is because drinking alcohol may cause severe low blood sugar. In the case of any problem, it is recommended that you discuss the problem with the health care team.
It is advisable not to take other medicines when using dulaglutide unless you have been advised by your healthcare professional or medical doctor. This includes the use of both prescription medicines such as aspirin and medicine for the management of appetite, asthma, colds, cough, hay fever, or sinus problems
Other family members may need to learn how to prevent side effects or help with side effects if they occur. People suffering from diabetes may also need special counseling about diabetes medicine and dosing changes that might occur because of lifestyle changes through activities such as changes in exercise and diet.
Proper counseling on contraception and pregnancy may be needed because of the problems that may occur during pregnancy in patients with diabetes. Always keep a recent prescription and your medical history with you. Be prepared for an emergency as you would normally. Make allowances for changing time zones and keep your meal times as close as possible to your usual meal times.
Sometimes, there may be a time when you need emergency help for a problem caused by your diabetes. You need to be prepared for these emergencies. It is a good idea to wear a medical identification (ID) bracelet or neck chain at all times. Also, carry an ID card in your wallet or purse that says that you have diabetes and a list of all of your medicines.
These may be symptoms of a serious thyroid problem. Pancreatitis may occur while you are using this medicine. Tell your doctor right away if you have sudden and severe stomach pain, chills, constipation, nausea, vomiting, fever, or lightheadedness.
If you develop a skin rash, hives, or any allergic reaction to this medicine, stop using the medicine and check with your doctor as soon as possible. This medicine does not cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). However, low blood sugar can occur when you use dulaglutide with other medicines that can lower blood sugar, such as insulin, metformin, or a sulfonylurea.
Low blood sugar also can occur if you delay or miss a meal or snack, exercise more than usual, drink alcohol, or cannot eat because of nausea or vomiting.
If symptoms of low blood sugar occur, eat glucose tablets or gel, corn syrup, honey, or sugar cubes, or drink fruit juice, non-diet soft drink, or sugar dissolved in water to relieve the symptoms. Also, check your blood for low blood sugar.
Glucagon is used in emergency situations when severe symptoms such as seizures (convulsions) or unconsciousness occur. Have a glucagon kit available, along with a syringe and needle, and know how to use it.
Members of your family also should know how to use it. Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) may occur if you do not take enough or skip a dose of your antidiabetic medicine, overeat or do not follow your meal plan, has a fever or infection, or do not exercise as much as usual.
If symptoms of high blood sugar occur, check your blood sugar level and then call your doctor for instructions.
Make sure you meet with your doctor in using Trulicity to avoid unwanted potential side effects.
Incidence not known:
Some of the side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. They may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Your medical doctor may advise you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.
If any of the following side effects continue or become bothersome, or if you have any questions about them, get in touch with your medical doctor immediately.
More common side effects may present as:
Less common side effects may present as:
Moreover, rare side effects may present in the form of:
Other side effects that are not listed here may also occur in some patients. In the case of any other form of side effects, inform your health care professional. You can also call a doctor for medical advice about the side effects. You can also report the side effects directly to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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