has been reported in seven patients receiving liraglutide combination therapy in clinical trials (6 with sulfonylureas, 1 with metformin). Comments Liraglutide is a pregnancy category C medication. Byetta® (exenatide) is another FDA approved medication in this drug class. Exenatide is injected twice a day and is excreted renally. Liraglutide is degraded by endogenous peptides, which may be beneficial in patients with renal impairment. Liraglutide is more expensive than exenatide but patients may find the convenience of once daily injection worth the extra cost.
The Georgia Pharmacy Journal
Patient Counseling Advise patients to discontinue liraglutide and to contact their health care provider if persistent severe abdominal pain occurs. Patients should be instructed on the proper use of liraglutide as follows: • Do not share a liraglutide pen with another person, even if the needle is changed. Sharing of the pen between patients increases the risk of transmission of infection. • Liraglutide solution should be inspected prior to each injection, and the solution should be used only if it is clear, colorless, and contains no particles. • Liraglutide can be administered
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once daily at any time and should be injected subcutaneously in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. • Before the initial use, liraglutide should be stored in a refrigerator. After the first use, the pen can be stored for 30 days at room temperature. Advise patients that the most common side effects of liraglutide are headache, nausea, and diarrhea. Nausea is most common when first starting liraglutide but decreases over time in the majority of patients and does not typically require discontinuation of liraglutide.
July 2010