What is Dulaglutide?
Dulaglutide can be used with proper diet and exercise for improving blood sugar in adults with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is also used to reduce the risk of serious heart problems like heart attack or stroke in adults who have type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Dulaglutide uses
Dulaglutide medication is used to lessen the risk of cardiovascular events like heart attack or stroke. It also helps in reducing the risk that is at high risk for heart/ blood vessel disease. Controlling high blood sugar can help in preventing kidney damage, blindness, nerve problems, loss of limbs and sexual function problems. Dulaglutide is similar to the natural hormone in the body. This works by causing insulin release in response to high blood sugar and by decreasing the amount of sugar the liver makes. But if you need insulin treatment Dulaglutide will not work as a substitute for Insulin.
Dulaglutide Side Effects
Some of the common side effects of Dulaglutide are:
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Heartburn
- Decreased Appetite
- Feeling tired
Some of the serious side effects of Dulaglutide are:
- Pain in the upper left or middle left of the stomach
- Vomiting
- Hives
- Rash
- Itching
- Breathlessness
- Swelling of lips, tongue, face and throat
- Irregular heartbeat
If you have any of these serious symptoms immediately contact your doctor for further assistance. In any case, due to Dulaglutide if you get any kind of reactions in your body try avoiding it.
A doctor advised you to take the medicines by seeing your problems and the benefits of this medicine are greater than the side effects. Majority of the people who use this medicine don’t show any side effects. Get medical help immediately if you get any serious Dulaglutide side effects.
Precautions
Before taking Dulaglutide talk to your doctor if you are allergic to any medicines. If you are taking any prescription or non prescribed medicines, vitamins, any nutritional supplements and herbal products tell your doctor.
Talk to your doctor if you ever had the following diseases:
- Pancreatitis
- Diabetics Retinopathy
- Gastroparesis
- Digestion Problems
- Kidney Disease
- Liver Disease
How to take Dulaglutide?
Dulaglutide comes in the form of liquid (solution) in a prefilled dosing pen to inject under the skin in the stomach, thigh or upper arm. Inject Dulaglutide on the same day each week at any time of the day. Follow the direction on the prescription label or talk to your doctor before taking Dulaglutide. Use Dulaglutide injection as directed by the physician.
Dulaglutide helps to control diabetes but doesn’t cure it. Continue using Dulaglutide even if you feel well. Dulaglutide is available in prefilled dosing pens which contain enough medication for one dose. Inject Dulaglutide in its own prefilled pen. Avoid mixing it with other medications
The doctor will show you where to inject the Dulaglutide. Use a different place in your body for injecting Dulaglutide, don’t insert it in the same place for two times in a row.
Dosage Forms
Available in a single dose form:
- 0.75 mg/ 0.5 ml
- 1.5 mg/ 0.5 ml
- 3 mg/ 0.5 ml
- 4.5 mg/ 0.5 ml
- The starting dose of Dulaglutide is 0.75 mg injected under the skins weekly.
- The dose can be increased to a maximum dose of 1.5 mg once weekly for additional blood glucose control.
Missed Dose
Missing one or two-dose of Dulaglutide won’t show any effect on your body. The skipped dose causes no problem. But with some medication, it won’t work if you don’t take the dosage on time. If you miss a dose some sudden chemical change may affect your body. In some cases, your doctor would advise you to take the prescribed medicine as soon as possible if you have missed the dose.
Overdose
Overdose of a drug can be accidental. If you have taken more than the prescribed Dulaglutide tablets there is a chance of getting a harmful effect on your body’s functions. Overdose of a medicine can lead to some medical emergency.
Warnings for serious health conditions
Pregnant women
Dulaglutide may cause fetal harm. You can use it, if it shows any potential benefit and justifies the risk to the fetus. If diabetes is not controlled at the right time then the maternal risk can increase.
Breastfeeding
There is no such data on the effects of drugs on the breastfed infant or its effects on milk production.
Storage
Direct contact with heat, air and light may damage your medicines. The exposure of medicine may cause some harmful effects. The medicine must be kept in a safe place and out of children’s reach.
Mainly the drug should be kept at room temperature between 68ºF and 77ºF (20ºC and 25ºC).
Before taking Dulaglutide consult your Doctor. In case if you face any problems or get any side effects after taking Dulaglutide rush immediately to your nearby hospital or consult your doctor for better treatment. Carry your medications always in your bag while travelling to avoid any immediate emergencies. Follow your prescription and follow your Doctor advice whenever you take Dulaglutide.
Dulaglutide vs Liraglutide
Dulaglutide |
Liraglutide |
|---|---|
| Dulaglutide can be used with proper diet and exercise for improving blood sugar in adults with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. | Liraglutide is an injectable medication. It can be used with diet and exercise to lower blood glucose level. |
| Dulaglutide medication is used to lessen the risk of cardiovascular events like a heart attack or stroke. It also helps in reducing the risk that is at high risk for heart/ blood vessel disease. | Liraglutide is used for reducing the risk of heart problems such as heart attack and stroke. |
Some serious side effects of Dulaglutide are:
|
Side effects of Liraglutide are:
|
