References

Calculation Skills

Quantities of GLP-1 mimetics

02 March 2020
Calculation Skills
02 March 2020
Volume 2 · Issue 3

Check your answers on page 154

It is important to ensure that appropriate quantities of GLP-1 mimetics are prescribed to avoid financial waste and for patient safety reasons. Six GLP-1 mimetics are licensed for diabetes management (PrescQIPP, 2019).

Calculate the number of devices needed for a one month supply for each GLP1 mimetic (Table 1).


Table 1. Quantities of GLP-1 mimetics
Generic name (and brand name) Dose Strength and volume of device
Exenatide (Byetta) 5 micrograms twice daily before meals, increased if necessary to 10 micrograms twice daily
  • 5 μg/0.02 ml, 1.2 ml pre-filled pen
  • 10 μg/0.02 ml, 2.4 ml pre-filled pen
Exenatide (Byduron) 2 mg once weekly
  • Pre-filled injection containing 2 mg powder and solvent for prolonged release injection
Liraglutide (Victoza) Initially 0.6 mg once a day for at least a week, then increased to 1.2 mg daily for a week, increased if necessary to 1.8 mg daily
  • 6 mg/ml 3 ml pre-filled pen
Lixisenatide (Lyxumia) Initially 10 micrograms once daily for 2 weeks, then 20 micrograms once daily
  • 10 micrograms/0.2 ml, 3 ml pre-filled pen (titration pack)
  • 20 micrograms/0.2 ml 3 ml pre-filled pen
Dulaglutide (Trulicity) 0.75 mg once weekly as monotherapy1.5 mg once weekly in combination
  • 0.75 mg/0.5ml pre-filled pen
  • 1.5 mg/0.5 ml pre-filled pen

QUESTION 1

Calculate the number of pre-filled pens that would be needed for a one month supply of Exenatide (Byetta) at a dose of 5 micrograms and 10 micrograms.

QUESTION 2

How many pre-filled pens would be needed for a one-month supply of Exenatide (Byduron) containing a 2 mg powder and solvent for prolonged release injection?

QUESTION 3

How many pre-filled pens would be needed would be needed for a one month supply of Liraglutide (Victoza) at a dose of 1.2 mg and 1.8 mg?

QUESTION 4

How many pre-filled pens would be needed would be needed for a one month supply of Lixisenatide (Lyxumia) at a dose of 20 micrograms?

QUESTION 5

How many pre-filled pens would be needed would be needed for a one-month supply of Dulaglutide (Trulicity) at a dose of 0.75 mg/0.5 ml and 1.5 mg/0.5 ml?

QUESTION 6

How many pre-filled pens would be needed would be needed for a one-month supply of Semaglutide (ozempic) at a dose of 0.75 mg and 1.5 mg?