dulaglutide at a glance
Medicine class
GLP-1 receptor agonist
Licensed use
Type 2 diabetes that is not adequately controlled
Form
Clear solution in a single-use pre-filled injection pen
Food
The injection can be given with or without meals
What is dulaglutide used for?
The selected UK product is licensed alongside diet and exercise for people aged 10 years and over with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes.
Used alone when metformin is contraindicated or not tolerated.
Used with other glucose-lowering treatments when additional control is needed.
The selected product is not licensed for weight management.
How does dulaglutide work?
Dulaglutide activates GLP-1 receptors. When glucose is raised, it promotes insulin release, reduces inappropriate glucagon release and lowers glucose production by the liver. It also slows stomach emptying and can reduce appetite.
dulaglutide preparations and strengths
Injection
Route: Parenteral
Strengths: 0.75 mg, 1.5 mg, 3 mg, 4.5 mg
How to take dulaglutide
Use the pre-filled pen exactly as demonstrated by a healthcare professional and follow its instructions.
Inject under the skin of the abdomen, thigh or upper arm; do not inject into a vein or muscle.
Use a different injection point within the chosen area each time.
It can be administered at any time of day, with or without food.
Each pen is for single use. Do not use it if frozen, damaged, cloudy, discoloured or visibly contains particles.
dulaglutide side effects
Common or expected effects
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhoea or abdominal pain
- Reduced appetite
- Indigestion, constipation, wind, bloating, reflux or burping
- Tiredness
- Low blood glucose, particularly with insulin or a sulfonylurea
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe allergic reaction, including facial or throat swelling and breathing difficulty
- Acute pancreatitis: severe, persistent abdominal pain, sometimes spreading to the back
- Bowel obstruction: severe constipation with abdominal pain, bloating or vomiting
- Severe dehydration or worsening kidney function after persistent vomiting or diarrhoea
- Serious hypoglycaemia, especially with insulin or a sulfonylurea
dulaglutide in pregnancy
Dulaglutide is not recommended during pregnancy because human safety information is limited and animal studies found reproductive toxicity. Use effective contraception while receiving it. Contact a healthcare professional promptly if pregnancy occurs or is planned; brief accidental early exposure does not automatically mean harm has occurred.
dulaglutide while breastfeeding
Dulaglutide should not be used while breastfeeding. It is unknown whether it enters human milk, and a risk to the infant cannot be excluded; discuss an alternative with the prescriber.
dulaglutide interactions
Dulaglutide has few demonstrated clinically important pharmacokinetic interactions, but its glucose-lowering effect and delayed stomach emptying can affect other treatment.
Insulin
The combination increases hypoglycaemia risk. Glucose monitoring and a carefully supervised insulin review may be required, without abrupt insulin withdrawal.
Sulfonylureas
The combination increases hypoglycaemia risk, so treatment may need prescriber review.
Oral medicines requiring rapid or predictable absorption
Delayed stomach emptying may alter absorption, particularly when dulaglutide is first introduced. Review medicines with a narrow therapeutic margin or prolonged-release formulation.
Common questions about dulaglutide
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is dulaglutide licensed for weight loss in the UK?
Not in the selected product information. Its licensed indication is insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes; use specifically for weight management would be outside that licence.
Is dulaglutide insulin?
No. It is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that supports glucose-dependent insulin release and does not replace insulin where insulin is required.
Can dulaglutide be used for type 1 diabetes?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.