Adlyxin Injection: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Adlyxin Injection (lixisenatide) is an injectable prescription medicine used along with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes. It is not for people with type 1 diabetes. It belongs to the Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Agonists class of antidiabetic medicines and is given once daily before the first meal of the day.

What is Adlyxin Injection

Adlyxin is an injectable prescription medicine used along with diet and exercise to improve blood sugar (glucose) control in adults with type 2 diabetes. It is not for people with type 1 diabetes.

Adlyxin Injection uses

• Type 2 diabetes
• Improving blood sugar control
• Supporting glucose management with diet and exercise
• Additional glucose control alongside other diabetes medicines
• Managing high blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes

Benefits of Adlyxin Injection

• Helps lower blood sugar
• Improves glucose control
• Supports diabetes management
• May reduce appetite
• May help with weight reduction

How Adlyxin Injection works

Adlyxin copies a natural body hormone called GLP-1. It tells the pancreas to make more insulin when needed, slows down food digestion to prevent blood sugar spikes after meals, lowers the amount of a hormone that raises blood sugar, and helps you feel full sooner.

Adlyxin Injection dosage

Use Adlyxin one time each day within 60 minutes (1 hour) before the first meal of the day, at the same time each day. If you miss a dose, take it within 1 hour before your next meal.

Inject under the skin of your abdomen, thigh, or upper arm; do not inject into a muscle or vein. Rotate (change) your injection sites with each dose; do not use the same spot every time. You must activate each new pen before using it for the first time. Check the label on the pen each time to make sure you are using the correct medicine. Do not change your dose unless your healthcare provider tells you to. Do not re-use or share your needles or pen with other people.

If taking antibiotics or acetaminophen, take them at least 1 hour before using this medicine, and with a meal or snack if needed; do not take them at the same time as this medicine. If taking oral birth control pills, take them at least 1 hour before your injection or at least 11 hours after your injection.

Available forms and strengths

• Injection

Side effects of Adlyxin Injection

Common

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Headache
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Indigestion
• Constipation
• Abdominal distention
• Abdominal pain
• Injection site reactions (pain, itching, redness)
• Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)

Serious

• Hives
• Difficulty breathing
• Swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Itching
• Severe rash
• Rapid heartbeats
• Trouble swallowing
• Severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back
• Little or no urination
• Painful or difficult urination
• Swelling in your feet or ankles
• Tiredness
• Shortness of breath
• Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)
• Signs of pancreatitis (severe stomach pain that will not go away, with or without vomiting)
• Gallbladder problems (pain in upper stomach, yellowing of skin or eyes, fever, clay-colored stools)
• Kidney problems from dehydration

Warnings and precautions

• This medicine may cause inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), which can be severe and may lead to death. Never share your pen with another person, even if the needle has been changed, because this can spread serious infections.
•  Your risk of low blood sugar is higher if you use this medicine with a sulfonylurea or insulin, and your dose of those medicines may need to be lowered.
• This medicine may increase the chance of food or liquid getting into your lungs during surgery or procedures using general anesthesia or deep sedation. Tell all your healthcare providers you are taking it before any planned surgery. It has not been studied in people with a history of pancreatitis or in those with slow stomach emptying (gastroparesis), and is not recommended for people with slow stomach emptying.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if this medicine will harm your unborn baby.
• It is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk. Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby while using it.
• Tell your healthcare provider if you have or have had kidney problems. Fluid loss from diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting may make kidney problems worse.
• Tell your healthcare provider if you have a history of alcoholism, as this may make you more likely to get pancreatitis.

Storage

• Store your new, unused pen in the refrigerator at 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C)
• After activation, store the pen at room temperature no higher than 86°F (30°C)
• Do not freeze the pen and do not use it if it has been frozen
• Protect the pen from light
• Replace the pen cap after each use to protect the container window from light
• After activation, use the pen for up to 14 days, then throw it away even if some medicine is left
• Do not use past the expiration date printed on the label of the carton and pen
• Do not store the pen with the needle attached, as this might cause contamination or air bubbles that could affect your dose
• Keep the pen, pen needles, and all medicines out of the reach of children
• Put the used pen in a sharps disposal container right away after use; do not throw it away in household trash unless your community guidelines permit this

When to see a doctor

• Stop using this medicine and call your healthcare provider right away if you have severe stomach pain that will not go away, with or without vomiting, which may spread from your stomach to your back. This could be a sign of pancreatitis.
• Get medical help right away if you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, fainting or feeling dizzy, very rapid heartbeat, problems breathing or swallowing, or severe rash or itching.
• Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea that does not go away, as this may lead to dehydration and kidney problems.
• Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get symptoms of gallbladder problems, including pain in the upper stomach, yellowing of skin or eyes, fever, or clay-colored stools.

Alternatives

• Ozempic
• Bydureon
• Byetta