Learn how to use Teva’s Liraglutide Injection

Read the “Instructions for Use” that come with Teva’s Liraglutide Injection or refer to the steps or video below. Use Teva’s Liraglutide Injection exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider should show you how to use Teva’s Liraglutide Injection. Do not use your pen without proper training from your healthcare provider. Make sure that you know how to give yourself an injection with the pen before you start your treatment.

Watch this video to learn how to use Teva’s Liraglutide Injection

 

If you prefer to read the directions, follow the steps below or download the Instructions for Use.

About Teva’s Liraglutide Injection Pen

Check your pen to make sure that it contains liraglutide injection, then familiarize yourself with the different parts of your pen and needle.

Liraglutide injection Pen and Needle (example)

Your pen is a prefilled, dial-a-dose, single-patient-use pen. It contains 18 mg of liraglutide, and you can select doses of 0.6 mg, 1.2 mg, 1.8 mg, 2.4 mg and 3 mg. Your pen is compatible with universal fit disposable pen needles up to a length of 8 mm, including NovoFine®*. Compatible needles will state ISO11608-2 on the outer packaging. Your pen is not compatible with NovoTwist®* disposable needles. Pen needles are not included with your liraglutide injection pen.

Caring for your pen

  • Do not drop your pen or knock it against hard surfaces. If you drop it or suspect a problem, attach a new needle and check the liraglutide injection flow before you inject.
  • Do not try to repair your pen or pull it apart.
  • Do not expose your pen to dust, dirt or liquid.
  • Do not wash, soak, or lubricate your pen. If necessary, clean it with mild detergent on a moistened cloth.

Steps for using Teva’s Liraglutide Injection

Step 1: Prepare your pen with a new needle
  • Wash your hands with soap and water.
  • Check the name and colored label of your pen, to make sure that it contains liraglutide injection. This is especially important if you take more than 1 type of medicine.
  • Pull off the pen cap.
  • Check that liraglutide injection in your pen is clear and colorless. Look through the pen window. If liraglutide injection looks cloudy, do not use the pen.  
  • Take a new needle, and tear off the paper tab.
  • Push the needle straight onto the pen. Turn until it is on tight.
  • Pull off the outer needle cap. Do not throw it away.  
  • Pull off the inner needle cap and throw it away. A drop of liraglutide injection may appear at the needle tip. This is normal, but you must still check the liraglutide injection flow, if you use a new pen for the first time.  

 Always use a new needle for each injection. This will prevent contamination, infection, leakage of liraglutide injection, and blocked needles leading to the wrong dose. Never use a bent or damaged needle.

 Do not attach a new needle to your pen until you are ready to take your injection.

Step 2: Check the liraglutide injection flow with each new pen
  • Check the liraglutide injection flow before your first injection with each new pen. If your liraglutide injection pen is already in use, go to Step 3 “Select your dose”.
  • Turn the dose selector until the dose counter shows the flow check symbol.  
  • Hold the pen with the needle pointing up. Press and push in the dose button until the dose counter shows 0. The black arrow indicating 0 must appear in the notch. A drop of liraglutide injection will appear at the needle tip.
  • If no drop appears, repeat the steps above as shown in Figures G and H up to 6 times. If there is still no drop, change the needle and repeat the steps above (as shown in Figures G and H) 1 more time. 
    Do not use the pen if a drop of liraglutide injection still does not appear. Contact Teva at 1-888-838-2872.

  Always make sure that a drop appears at the needle tip before you use a new pen for the first time. This makes sure that liraglutide injection flows. If no drop appears, you will not inject any liraglutide injection, even though the dose counter may move. This may mean that there is a blocked or damaged needle.  

  A small drop may remain at the needle tip, but it will not be injected. Only check the liraglutide injection flow before your first injection with each new pen.

Step 3: Select your dose
  • Turn the dose selector until the dose counter shows your dose (0.6 mg, 1.2 mg, 1.8 mg, 2.4 mg or 3 mg).

Make sure you know the dose of liraglutide injection you should use. If you select the wrong dose, you can turn the dose selector forward or backwards to the correct dose.  

  Always use the dose counter and the black arrow in the notch to see how many mg you select.
You will hear a “click” every time you turn the dose selector and it will extend from the pen body as the dose increases.
Do not set the dose by counting the number of clicks you hear. Do not use the pen scale to set the dose. It does not show exactly how much liraglutide injection is left in your pen.
Only doses of 0.6 mg, 1.2 mg, 1.8 mg, 2.4 mg or 3 mg can be selected with the dose selector. The black arrow indicating the selected dose must appear in the notch to make sure that you get a correct dose.

 The dose selector changes the dose. Only the dose counter and black arrow in the notch will show how many mg you select for each dose. You can select up to 3 mg each dose. When your pen contains less than 3 mg the dose counter stops before 3 mg is shown.

How much liraglutide injection is left?

  • The pen scale shows you about how much liraglutide injection is left in your pen.
  • To see how much liraglutide injection is left, use the dose counter. Turn the dose selector until the dose counter stops. If it shows 3 mg, at least 3 mg are left in your pen. If the dose counter stops before 3 mg, there is not enough liraglutide injection left for a full dose of 3 mg.  

 If you need more liraglutide injection than what is left in your pen.

Only if trained or told by your healthcare provider, you may split your dose between your current pen and a new pen. Use a calculator to plan the doses as instructed by your healthcare provider.

 Be very careful to calculate correctly.

If you are not sure how to split your dose using 2 pens, then select and inject the dose you need with a new pen.

Step 4: Inject your dose
  • Insert the needle into your skin as your healthcare provider has shown you.
  • Make sure you can see the dose counter. Do not cover it with your fingers. This could stop the injection.
  • Press and push down the dose button until the dose counter shows 0. The dose selector will retract into the body of the pen and will stop when the dose counter shows 0. The black arrow indicating 0 must appear in the notch.
  • Keep the needle in your skin after the dose counter has returned to 0 and count slowly to 6.
  • If the needle is removed earlier, you may see a stream of liraglutide injection coming from the needle tip. If this happens, the full dose will not be delivered.
  • Remove the needle from your skin.
    If blood appears at the injection site, press lightly. Do not rub the area.

  Always watch the dose counter to know how many mg you inject. Push the dose button down until the dose counter shows 0.

How to identify a blocked or damaged needle:

  • If 0 does not appear in the dose counter after continuously pressing the dose button, you may have used a blocked or damaged needle.
  • If this happens you have not received any liraglutide injection even though the dose counter has moved from the original dose that you have set.

How to handle a blocked needle:

  • Change the needle (as described in Step 5) and repeat all steps starting with Step 1. Make sure you select the full dose you need.
  • Never touch the dose counter when you inject. This can stop the injection.
  • You may see a drop of liraglutide injection at the needle tip after injecting. This is normal and does not affect your dose.  

Step 5: After your injection
  • Carefully remove the needle from the pen. Do not put the needle caps back on the needle, to avoid needle sticks. 
  • Place the needle in a sharps container right away to reduce the risk of needle sticks.  
  • Put the pen cap on your pen after each use to protect liraglutide injection from light.

What if I don’t have a sharps container? Read below for proper disposal methods.

  • If you do not have a sharps container, follow a 1-handed needle recapping method. Carefully slip the needle into the outer needle cap. Dispose of the needle in a sharps container as soon as possible.  
  • Never try to put the inner needle cap back on the needle. You may stick yourself with the needle.
  • Always remove the needle from your pen. This prevents contamination, infection, leakage of liraglutide injection, and blocked needles leading to the wrong dose. If the needle is blocked, you will not inject any liraglutide injection.
  • Always dispose of the needle after each injection.
  • Do not throw away in the household trash. Put the needle and any empty liraglutide injection pen or any pen used for 30 days still containing liraglutide injection in an FDA-cleared sharps disposal container right away after use.
  • If you do not have an FDA-cleared sharps disposal container, you may use a household container that is:
    • made of a heavy-duty plastic
    • can be closed with a tight-fitting, puncture-resistant lid, without sharps being able to come out upright and stable during use
    • leak-resistant
    • properly labeled to warn of hazardous waste inside the container
  • When your sharps disposal container is almost full, you will need to follow your community guidelines for the right way to dispose of your sharps disposal container. There may be state or local laws about how you should throw away used needles and syringes. For more information about the safe sharps disposal, and for specific information about sharps disposal in the state that you live in, go to the FDA’s website at http://www.fda.gov/safesharpsdisposal.
  • Do not dispose of your used sharps disposal container in your household trash unless your community guidelines permit this. Do not recycle your used sharps disposal container.
  • Safely dispose of liraglutide injection that is out of date or no longer needed.

Important information to remember when using Teva’s Liraglutide Injection:

  • Caregivers must be very careful when handling used needles to prevent needle sticks and cross infection.
  • Never use a syringe to withdraw liraglutide injection from your pen.
  • Always carry an extra pen and new needles with you, in case of loss or damage.
  • Always keep your pen and needles out of reach of others, especially children.
  • Do not share your liraglutide injection pen or needles with anyone else. You may give an infection to them or get an infection from them.
  • Always keep your pen with you. Do not leave it in a car or other place where it can get too hot or too cold.

*NovoFine® and NovoTwist® are registered trademarks of Novo Nordisk A/S.

 
 

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

What is the most important information I should know about liraglutide injection?
Serious side effects may happen in people who take liraglutide injection, including:
Possible thyroid tumors, including cancer. Tell your healthcare provider if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. These may be symptoms of thyroid cancer. In studies with rats and mice, liraglutide injection and medicines that work like liraglutide injection caused thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer. It is not known if liraglutide injection will cause thyroid tumors or a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in people.
Do not use liraglutide injection if you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).

Who should not take liraglutide injection?
Do not receive liraglutide injection if:

  • you or any of your family have ever had a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
  • you have had a serious allergic reaction to liraglutide or any of the ingredients in liraglutide injection. See “What are the possible side effects of liraglutide injection?” for symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.

Before taking liraglutide injection tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

  • have or have had problems with your pancreas
  • have severe problems with your stomach, such as slowed emptying of your stomach (gastroparesis) or problems with digesting food.
  • are scheduled to have surgery or other procedures that use anesthesia or deep sleepiness (deep sedation).
  • have or have had depression or suicidal thoughts, or mental health issues.
  • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if liraglutide passes into your breast milk. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you will use liraglutide injection or breastfeed.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Liraglutide injection may affect the way some medicines work and some other medicines may affect the way liraglutide injection works.

Tell your healthcare provider if you take diabetes medicines, especially insulin and sulfonylurea medicines. Talk with your healthcare provider if you are not sure if you take any of these medicines. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

What are the possible side effects of liraglutide injection?
Liraglutide Injection may cause serious side effects, including:

  • inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). Stop using liraglutide injection and call your healthcare provider right away if you have severe pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that will not go away, with or without vomiting. You may feel the pain from your stomach area (abdomen) to your back
  • increased risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) in adults with type 2 diabetes especially those who also take medicines to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus such as an insulin or a sulfonylureas and in children who are 12 years of age and older without type 2 diabetes mellitus. Low blood sugar in patients with adults with type 2 diabetes and in children without type 2 diabetes mellitus who receive liraglutide injection can be both a serious and common side effect. Talk to your healthcare provider about how to recognize and treat low blood sugar. You should check your blood sugar before you start taking liraglutide injection and while you take liraglutide injection.
  • Signs and symptoms of low blood sugar may include:
    • dizziness or light-headedness
    • sweating
    • confusion or drowsiness
    • headache
    • blurred vision
    • slurred speech
    • shakiness
    • fast heartbeat
    • anxiety, irritability, or mood changes
    • hunger
    • weakness
    • feeling jittery

Talk to your healthcare provider about how to recognize and treat low blood sugar. You should check your blood sugar before you start taking liraglutide injection and while you take liraglutide injection.

  • increased heart rate. Liraglutide injection can increase your heart rate while you are at rest. Your healthcare provider should check your heart rate while you take liraglutide injection. Tell your healthcare provider if you feel your heart racing or pounding in your chest and it lasts for several minutes.
  • dehydration leading to kidney problems. Diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting may cause a loss of fluids (dehydration) which may cause kidney problems. It is important for you to drink fluids to help reduce your chance of dehydration. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea that does not go away
  • severe stomach problems. Stomach problems, sometimes severe, have been reported in people who use liraglutide injection. Tell your healthcare provider if you have stomach problems that are severe or will not go away.
  • serious allergic reactions. Stop using liraglutide injection, and get medical help right away if you have any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction including:
    • swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat
    • problems breathing or swallowing
    • severe rash or itching
    • fainting or feeling dizzy
    • very rapid heartbeat
  • gallbladder problems. Liraglutide injection may cause gallbladder problems including gallstones. Some gallbladder problems need surgery. Call your healthcare provider if you have any of the following symptoms:
    • pain in your upper stomach (abdomen)
    • fever
    • yellowing of your skin or eyes (jaundice)
    • clay-colored stools
  • depression or thoughts of suicide. You should pay attention to any mental changes, especially sudden changes, in your mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any mental changes that are new, worse, or worry you.
  • food or liquid getting into the lungs during surgery or other procedures that use anesthesia or deep sleepiness (deep sedation). Liraglutide injection may increase the chance of food getting into your lungs during surgery or other procedures. Tell all your healthcare providers that you are taking liraglutide injection before you are scheduled to have surgery or other procedures.

The most common side effects of liraglutide injection in adults include:

  • nausea
  • diarrhea
  • constipation
  • vomiting
  • injection site reaction
  • low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
  • headache
  • upset stomach (dyspepsia)
  • tiredness (fatigue)
  • dizziness
  • stomach pain
  • change in enzyme (lipase) levels in your blood

Additional common side effects in children are fever and gastroenteritis.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
These are not all the possible side effects of liraglutide injection. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is Liraglutide Injection?

Liraglutide injection is an injectable prescription medicine used for adults with obesity or overweight (excess weight) who also have weight related medical problems, and children aged 12 to 17 years with a body weight above 132 pounds (60 kg) and obesity to help them lose weight and keep the weight off.

  • Liraglutide injection should be used with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity.
  • Liraglutide injection is not recommended for people who also take liraglutide or other medicines called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists.
  • It is not known if liraglutide injection is safe and effective in children under 12 years of age.
  • It is not known if liraglutide injection is safe and effective in children aged 12 to 17 years with type 2 diabetes.

Please read the Medication Guide in the full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning.