You run a higher chance of developing thyroid malignancies after receiving a dulaglutide injection, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC; a type of thyroid cancer). Although it is unknown if dulaglutide raises the risk of cancers in people, laboratory animals that were administered the drug developed tumours. Inform your doctor if you or anybody in your family has Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MTC) now or previously had it (MEN 2; condition that causes tumours in more than one gland in the body). If so, your physician will likely advise against using dulaglutide injection. Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms: Hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, a lump or swelling in the neck, or shortness of breath.

Keep all of your appointments with your physician and the lab. To monitor your body’s reaction to the dulaglutide injection, your doctor might prescribe specific tests.

When you start receiving treatment with dulaglutide injection and every time your prescription is renewed, your doctor or pharmacist will provide you the manufacturer’s patient information leaflet (Medication Guide). If you have any questions, carefully read the material and contact your doctor or pharmacist. The Medication Guide is also available on the manufacturer’s website or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website.

Discuss the dangers of using dulaglutide injection with your doctor.

In order to control blood sugar levels in adults and children with type 2 diabetes 10 years of age or older, dulaglutide injection is used in conjunction with a diet and exercise programme (condition in which the body does not use insulin normally and therefore cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood). In adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus who either have heart disease or are at risk for developing heart disease, dulaglutide injection is also used to lower the risk of a heart attack, stroke, or death. Dulaglutide injection is not used to treat diabetic ketoacidosis or type 1 diabetes, a condition in which the body does not make insulin and cannot regulate the quantity of sugar in the blood (a serious condition that may develop if high blood sugar is not treated). A group of drugs known as incretin mimetics includes dulaglutide injection. When blood sugar levels are high, it aids the pancreas in releasing the proper quantity of insulin. Insulin aids in the transfer of blood sugar to different bodily tissues where it is used as an energy source. Furthermore, dulaglutide injection slows the passage of food through the stomach.

Those with diabetes and high blood sugar over time may experience serious or fatal complications, such as heart disease, stroke, kidney issues, nerve damage, and vision issues. It may be possible to control your diabetes and enhance your health by using medication(s), making lifestyle changes (such as diet, exercise, and quitting smoking), and routinely checking your blood sugar. This treatment may also lower your risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, nerve damage (resulting in numb, cold legs or feet and diminished sex capacity in both men and women), eye issues, such as changes in eyesight or blindness, or gum disease, which are all symptoms of diabetes. The optimal strategy to manage your diabetes will be discussed with you by your doctor and other healthcare professionals.

Dulaglutide injection is administered subcutaneously (under the skin) in the upper arm, thigh, or stomach. It comes as a solution (liquid) in a prefilled dosage pen. Typically, it is injected once a week, regardless of meals. Use the dulaglutide injection at any time on the same day each week. If it has been three days or more since your last dose of dulaglutide, you may switch the day of the week on which you take it. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. Administer the dulaglutide injection as prescribed. Use it only as directed by your doctor, neither more nor less often.

The injection of dulaglutide manages diabetes but does not cure it. Even if you feel better, keep using the dulaglutide injection. Without consulting your doctor, never discontinue using dulaglutide injection.

Dulaglutide is sold as prefilled dosing pens, each of which has a single dose of the drug. Never mix dulaglutide with any other medications; always provide it in its own prefilled dosage pen.

Read the medication’s manufacturer’s directions for use very carefully. The preparation and administration of a dosage of dulaglutide injection are explained in these directions. If you have any concerns regarding how to inject this drug, be sure to consult your doctor or pharmacist.

When injecting dulaglutide solution, always have a look at it. It should be free of solid particles, clear, and colourless.

Dulaglutide injection sites include the upper arm, thigh, and stomach. Never administer dulaglutide into a muscle or vein. For each dose, switch (rotate) the injection location inside the designated area. Dulaglutide and insulin can both be injected into the same body part, but you shouldn’t administer them simultaneously.

Dosing pens must never be shared or reused. Pens should be disposed of in a container that won’t puncture. For disposal instructions on the puncture-resistant container, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.

Before using dulaglutide,

• If you have an allergy to dulaglutide, any other drugs, or any of the ingredients in dulaglutide injection, let your doctor and pharmacist know right away. For a list of the ingredients, consult the Medication Guide or speak with your pharmacist.
• Inform your doctor and pharmacist about any additional prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products you are now taking or intend to use. Mention any oral or injectable diabetes treatments or insulin. Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects.
• If you have an allergy to dulaglutide, any other drugs, or any of the ingredients in dulaglutide injection, let your doctor and pharmacist know right away. For a list of the ingredients, consult the Medication Guide or speak with your pharmacist.
• Inform your doctor and pharmacist about any additional prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products you are now taking or intend to use. Mention any oral or injectable diabetes treatments or insulin. Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects.
• In the event that you become ill, encounter exceptional stress, a feverish infection, or an injury, consult your doctor for advice. Your blood sugar and potential dosage of dulaglutide may be impacted by these situations.

Make sure to abide by all dietary and exercise advice given to you by your physician or nutritionist.

As soon as you remember to take it, use the missed dose, and then carry on with your weekly plan as usual. To continue with your regular dosing plan, skip the missed dose if it will be fewer than three days before your next scheduled dose. To make up for a missing dose, do not take a second one.

Your blood sugar levels may alter as a result of this drug. You should be aware of the signs of low and high blood sugar as well as what to do if you experience these signs.
Dulaglutide might have negative effects. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Heartburn
• Reduction in appetite
• Feeling worn out

Certain adverse effects can be very harmful. Dulaglutide should be stopped immediately if you have any of the following symptoms or any of those in the IMPORTANT WARNING section. You should also call your doctor or seek emergency medical attention.

• Persistent stomach or back ache that starts in the upper left or middle and sometimes spreads to the back
• Vomiting
• Hives
• Rash
• Itching
• Breathing or swallowing challenges
• Enlargement of the throat, cheeks, lips, or tongue
• Vision alterations
• Rapid heart rate
• Nausea or fainting
• Upper stomach ache, fever, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or faeces that are the colour of clay

Further negative effects of dulaglutide could exist. If you experience any strange issues while taking this drug, call your doctor right away.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).

The original container should be used to store this medication in the refrigerator, away from light. Avoid freezing. Each pre-filled dosage pen may be stored at room temperature for up to 14 days if required. Keep dulaglutide out of children’s reach.

Although many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medications website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Moreover, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Overdose signs could include the following:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Warning signs of hypoglycemia

Do not share your medication with anybody else. Any queries you may have regarding medication refills should be directed to your pharmacist.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.