Erly prefilled pen is containing 3 mL of the liraglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist that is delivered through a prefilled injection pen. Besides taking a reduced-calorie diet and doing exercises on a regular basis, you can consider liraglutide as another tool in your weight-control strategy. In Australia, liraglutide medicines like Saxenda can be obtained for chronic weight loss by the right candidates.
What Is Erly Prefilled Pen Used For?
Liraglutide can help adults who are overweight, or those with a major health problem that can be caused, or made worse, by excess weight or who have diabetes, or are on their way towards developing diabetes, and want to manage their weight in an effective way together with lifestyle weight loss approaches.
In Australia, patients taking liraglutide for the sole purpose of weight control need to meet the following criteria at least:
- A BMI of 30 kg/m² or higher, or
- A BMI of 27 kg/m² to less than 30 kg/m² with a weight-related condition such as prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, abnormal blood lipids or obstructive sleep apnoea.
Lifestyle changes such as low-caloric diet and regular physical activity should complement use of liraglutide and not replace lifestyle weight loss measures.
How Does Liraglutide Help With Weight Loss?
Liraglutide is effective, as it binds to GLP-1 receptors located throughout the body that help in controlling both appetite and blood sugar.
In addition to making one feel more satisfied after eating and suppressing the appetite, it also affects the stomach in a way the food is digested more slowly. So, people may get used to limiting their food intake without a hard time as they will probably be less driven to eat a lot of calories.
As a matter of fact, it is not considered to be a stimulant drug or something fat reducing. One of the main mechanisms through which it helps in managing weight is by modifying appetite and food consumption.
How To Use Erly Prefilled Pen
Erly is given as a subcutaneous injection once daily.
It is injected under the skin, usually into the:
- Abdomen
- Thigh
- Upper arm
This medication works regardless of eating or not, whether having it right before or after. It is best that the injection time remains consistent each day, but don’t be worried if you are occasionally forced to move the injection around for that day. Injection sites that are regularly and only the same one should be avoided; instead, different spots should be chosen to the point.
It is the job of a healthcare professional to demonstrate, you the proper way of using the pen device before you yourself start administering it.
Pen and its needles are only the property of the holder and not to be shared by a person with another even though the needle has been changed after being used.
Erly / Liraglutide Dosage for Weight Management
Liraglutide is normally increased gradually to improve tolerance.
The Australian weight-management dosing schedule is:
| Treatment period | Daily dose |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | 0.6 mg |
| Week 2 | 1.2 mg |
| Week 3 | 1.8 mg |
| Week 4 | 2.4 mg |
| Week 5 onward | 3.0 mg |
The recommended maintenance dose for weight management is 3.0 mg once daily. Doses above 3.0 mg daily are not recommended.
However if a dose escalation induces inconvenient gastrointestinal symptoms, healthcare providers can only defer the next escalation or change therapy.
In Australia, if a patient does not achieve at least 5% decrease of their baseline body weight after 8 weeks of administration at a 3.0 mg/day dose, treatment with liraglutide weight management medicine should be stopped.
You shouldn’t vary the dosage yourself. The right timing is based on your medical status, other drugs and your reactions to treatment.
What Happens If You Miss a Dose?
A missed dose of liraglutide is usually not taken when remembering it is over 12 hours that the regular shot-time has occurred.
If a dose was missed and it is within 12 hours of the usual injection time, it can be taken.
One should not take the missed dose and should instead carry on with the next dose at the regular time if the missed dose happened to be more than 12 hours ago. One must not use extra injection or increase the next dose by twofold as a remedy for a missed dose.
Possible Side Effects
The most common side effects of liraglutide are related to the digestive system, particularly when treatment is started or the dose is increased.
Possible side effects include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Abdominal discomfort or pain
- Indigestion
- Reduced appetite
- Headache
- Tiredness
- Dizziness
These effects may become less troublesome as the body adjusts to treatment.
Severe or persistent abdominal pain should be assessed by a healthcare professional, as it can indicate a more serious problem such as pancreatitis.
Persistent vomiting or diarrhoea can also cause dehydration and may affect kidney function.
Precautions Before Using Erly
Tell your doctor before using liraglutide if you have:
- A history of pancreatitis
- Severe gastrointestinal problems or delayed stomach emptying
- Kidney or liver problems
- Gallbladder problems or gallstones
- Diabetes and are using insulin or medicines that increase insulin release
- A history of significant dehydration
- A planned operation or procedure involving general anaesthesia or deep sedation
Liraglutide should not be used during pregnancy for weight management. Speak with your doctor if you are pregnant, planning pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Liraglutide can delay gastric emptying. Australian safety guidance recommends telling your healthcare professionals, including your anaesthetist, if you are taking a GLP-1 medicine before surgery or a procedure involving general anaesthesia or deep sedation.
Erly and Other Medicines
Tell your doctor about everything you are on medicines as well supplements
If liraglutide is combined with insulin or certain diabetes meds like sulfonylureas there is an elevated risk of hypoglycemia. You may need that your doctor changes the dosage of these medicines.
Liraglutide slows gastric emptying and this in turn may affect the absorption of some oral medications.
Therefore, don’t start another medicine (if it is the one that also belongs to GLP-1 class) alongside with liraglutide unless, it is specifically instructed by the healthcare provider
Storage
The Erly pre-filled pen should be stored according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
For Australian-registered liraglutide pre-filled pens, the recommended storage conditions include:
- Store at 2°C to 8°C
- Keep refrigerated
- Protect from light
- Do not freeze
- Keep away from direct heat
Healthdirect lists these storage requirements for the Australian-registered Saxenda liraglutide 6 mg/mL pre-filled pen.
Check the Erly package leaflet for the exact instructions that apply to your particular pen, especially after it has been taken out of the refrigerator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can liraglutide reduce hunger during the day?
Yes. Liraglutide acts on GLP-1 receptors involved in appetite regulation and may reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness. This can make it easier for some people to follow a reduced-calorie eating plan.
How long does one Erly pen contain enough medicine for?
A 3 mL pen containing liraglutide 6 mg/mL contains 18 mg of liraglutide in total. How long it lasts depends on the prescribed daily dose. At the 3 mg daily weight-management dose, the theoretical supply is about 6 days, although the actual usable duration should be determined according to the manufacturer’s pen instructions.
Can I exercise while using liraglutide for weight management?
Yes. Physical activity is an important part of the weight-management programme. Australian guidance specifically describes liraglutide as an adjunct to increased physical activity and a reduced-calorie diet.
Can liraglutide cause constipation even though it is used for weight loss?
Yes. Constipation is a recognised side effect of liraglutide. Drinking adequate fluids and following the dietary advice provided by your healthcare professional may help, but persistent or severe constipation should be discussed with a doctor.
Is liraglutide a permanent weight-loss treatment?
Not necessarily. The need for continued treatment should be reviewed by a healthcare professional. Australian product information also includes a response-based stopping criterion after 12 weeks at the 3 mg/day dose if at least 5% of initial body weight has not been lost.
References
Medical Disclaimer
Erly Prefilled Pen contains prescription medicine and should be used only under the direction of a qualified healthcare professional. The information on this page is for general educational purposes and does not replace medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
