Published May 20, 2022
Trulicity (dulaglutide) is a medicine used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus. The medicine comes in a pen device (autoinjector) and is taken once a week. Each pen contains one weekly dose. The medicine is available in four different strengths and is packaged in a carton that contains four pens of the same strength for a 4-week supply. The carton/pens must be stored in the refrigerator. However, pens can be left at room temperature for 14 days, but after that they should not be used.
A doctor recently increased a man’s weekly dose of Trulicity because he was not responding to therapy. It was later discovered that the man was not storing the carton of Trulicity pens in the refrigerator. Therefore, at least two of the single-dose pens were likely expired when used by the man. The use of expired pens likely contributed to the man not responding to therapy.
While the storage information is listed on the back panel of each Trulicity carton and at the end of the Instructions for Use (in the package insert), this information could be missed. This could happen if the pharmacy label covers the storage information on the carton or if the Instructions for Use are not read.
When picking up prescriptions from the pharmacy, ask to speak with the pharmacist. Find out how to safely store and use the medicine. Ask if there is any other important information you need to know.
