Next Dose of Trulicity After 3 mg
After a 3 mg dose of Trulicity (dulaglutide), the next dose should be 4.5 mg administered once weekly. This is based on the standard dose escalation protocol for Trulicity.
Dulaglutide Dosing Protocol
Trulicity (dulaglutide) follows a specific dose escalation schedule for optimal glycemic control while minimizing gastrointestinal side effects:
- Initial dose: 0.75 mg once weekly
- If additional glycemic control is needed: increase to 1.5 mg once weekly
- Further dose escalation: 3 mg once weekly
- Maximum dose: 4.5 mg once weekly
Dose Titration Considerations
- Each dose increase should occur after an adequate trial period (typically 4 weeks) on the previous dose
- Dose escalation should be based on glycemic response and tolerability
- The 4.5 mg dose provides additional glycemic control for patients who haven't achieved target blood glucose levels on the 3 mg dose
Administration Guidelines
- Administer subcutaneously once weekly at any time of day
- Can be given without regard to meals
- Inject in abdomen, thigh, or upper arm
- Rotate injection sites with each dose
Renal Considerations
Unlike some other medications, dulaglutide does not require dose adjustment for patients with renal impairment 1. This is an advantage over some other antidiabetic medications that require dose adjustments based on kidney function.
Side Effect Management
The most common adverse effects are gastrointestinal:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
These side effects are typically most pronounced during dose escalation and tend to diminish over time. If severe gastrointestinal side effects occur after increasing to 4.5 mg, consider returning to the 3 mg dose.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Monitor blood glucose regularly after dose increases
- Watch for signs of pancreatitis (severe abdominal pain, sometimes radiating to the back) 2
- Monitor for hypoglycemia, especially if used in combination with insulin or insulin secretagogues
Special Considerations
- If a dose is missed, administer as soon as possible if there are at least 3 days (72 hours) until the next scheduled dose
- If less than 3 days remain before the next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and administer the next dose on the regularly scheduled day
- Dulaglutide should not be used with other GLP-1 receptor agonists
Dulaglutide has demonstrated effectiveness as both monotherapy and in combination with other antidiabetic medications, with consistent improvements in glycemic control and potential weight reduction benefits 3.