Trulicity

No, Trulicity 1.5mg Pre-Filled Pen is not an insulin. It is a medicine used to lower blood sugar (glucose) levels in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. In type 2 diabetes there is a deficiency of insulin, and the insulin that your body produces does not work as well as it should. Trulicity 1.5mg Pre-Filled Pen acts on the pancreas to increase insulin release, suppress glucagon secretion and decrease glucose production from the liver. It also slows down the emptying of the stomach.

Trulicity 1.5mg Pre-Filled Pen is used in type 2 diabetes mellitus. It improves blood sugar control and slows down the digestion. This brings a feeling of fullness and satiety due to which the food intake by the patient decreases. As a result, the patient eats less which further helps in weight loss.

Trulicity 1.5mg Pre-Filled Pen is injected under the skin (subcutaneously) of your stomach, thigh, or upper arm. It should not be injected into a muscle or vein. You can use the same area of your body each week to take the injection, but make sure that a different injection site is used within that area. Use Trulicity 1.5mg Pre-Filled Pen as advised by your doctor. You can take it with or without food. If you are on insulin as well, do not mix insulin and Trulicity 1.5mg Pre-Filled Pen in the same syringe. It is also recommended to check your blood sugar levels regularly.

Trulicity 1.5mg Pre-Filled Pen should be refrigerated at 2°C - 8°C, but do not freeze it. Store Trulicity 1.5mg Pre-Filled Pen in the original packaging in order to protect from light. Keep the medicine out of the reach of children. Do not use the medicine if you notice that the pen is damaged or the medicine has become cloudy/discolored or has lumps in it.

Apart from the usual side effects of the medicine, Trulicity 1.5mg Pre-Filled Pen has been found to cause Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma, a type of cancer of thyroid gland. Its use may also increase the risk of inflammation of pancreas commonly known as pancreatitis which is a serious and painful condition. Discontinue the medicine and contact your doctor immediately if you suspect any signs or symptoms of thyroid problems (lump in throat, hoarseness and difficulty in speaking) or pancreatitis (stomach ache radiating to the back, upper abdominal pain, fever, nausea and vomiting).

Your doctor may ask you to get your HbA1c tested every 3 months. This test is done to see how well you have managed your blood sugar for the past 2-3 months.

Yes, Trulicity 1.5mg Pre-Filled Pen can be used alone or in combination with other diabetes medicines only if prescribed by your doctor.