Dulaglutide

Common Dulaglutide side effects include digestion symptoms and irritation at the injection site, such as:

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Stomach pain
• Loss of appetite
• Soreness
• Kidney problems (yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, weakness, swollen feet or ankles)
• Low blood sugar
• Allergic reaction (swelling of the face, head, or throat; trouble breathing; hives; elevated heart rate)
• Trouble swallowing
• Severe stomach pain that spreads to the back

Dulaglutide is delivered as a subcutaneous injection, which is injected under the skin. Dulaglutide should not be injected into a muscle or blood vessel. Dulaglutide is a weekly medication. It would be best to take it on the same day each week to keep a steady supply in your body. However, you can change the day if it’s been more than three days since your last dose. Dulaglutide is available in the following doses:

Most patients start on the lowest dose and then move to higher dosages over time.

Take the missed dose as soon as you can unless it’s less than three days until you should take the following dose. Do not take two doses of Dulaglutide in less than 72 hours. Too much Dulaglutide in your body can cause unpleasant side effects, so don’t take a double dose to make up for missing a previous dose.

No, Dulaglutide is not the same as insulin. Dulaglutide triggers your body to make more insulin. Insulin is a hormone that most people produce in their pancreas. Insulin tells your cells to absorb blood sugar and use or store it. Your body should release insulin when your blood sugar is high to trigger this absorption.

However, people with diabetes have problems with their insulin. Patients with type 2 diabetes may have insulin resistance, where their cells don’t respond to the “typical” amount of insulin. Dulaglutide triggers the pancreas to release more insulin, sending a stronger signal to cells. Depending on your treatment plan, you may take both Dulaglutide and insulin.

Dulaglutide is an injectable medicine that comes in pre-filled, single-use injector pens. The injectors have a button on one end and a wide funnel-shaped cone on the other. The needle is inside the pen, on the funnel-shaped end.

To administer Dulaglutide, the patient removes a protective cap from the cone and presses the cone against the skin. Then, they press the button and hold it down for up to ten seconds. The pen clicks and shows a progress bar to show when the injection is complete. Dulaglutide should be injected into the upper arm, leg, or abdomen. The needle retracts fully into the pen when the infusion is done.

Patients typically administer Dulaglutide at home. You can give yourself the injection or ask a trusted person to help you. Use a different injection site every week to avoid irritation. You can use the same body part but choose a different spot each time.

Dulaglutide injectors come pre-filled, so you never need to fill your injector or see the needle. The pens are single-use only. Do not reuse your pen or share it with another person. Although the needle retracts into the pen after use, you should still dispose of used injectors carefully to avoid sticking yourself or others.

You may see lower blood sugar levels within five weeks of starting Dulaglutide. Most patients see the maximum results after three to six months. Dulaglutide will remain in your body for five weeks after stopping the medication.