Xultophy 100/3.6 injection pen (insulin degludec/liraglutide)

Xultophy Prefilled Pen is a prescription injection pen that combines insulin degludec and liraglutide for adults with type 2 diabetes. It is used once daily alongside lifestyle measures, using a multi-dose, dial-a-dose device. This page summarizes practical use, storage, and safety considerations, and it explains access steps for people without insurance with Ships from Canada to US options.

The information below is general and intended to support informed discussions with a healthcare professional. Dosing decisions, monitoring plans, and medication changes should follow the official prescribing information and a prescriber’s direction.

What Xultophy Prefilled Pen Is and How It Works

This medicine is a fixed-ratio combination (often called IDegLira) that pairs a long-acting basal insulin with a GLP-1 receptor agonist (a hormone-mimicking diabetes medicine). Prescription details are confirmed with the prescriber before dispensing. In practice, the combination is designed to support both fasting and after-meal glucose control, but individual response varies.

Insulin degludec is an ultra-long-acting insulin that helps lower blood glucose between meals and overnight. Liraglutide works through the GLP-1 pathway to increase glucose-dependent insulin release and reduce glucagon when glucose is high, and it can slow gastric emptying (stomach emptying), which may affect after-meal glucose. Because the two medicines are delivered together, the pen delivers both components in a set proportion each time the dose is adjusted.

Who It’s For

This therapy is generally prescribed for adults with type 2 diabetes when glucose remains above target despite other treatments. It is not a first-choice option for everyone, and selection depends on factors like prior medicines, A1C goals, hypoglycemia risk, weight considerations, kidney function, and tolerability. For background on the condition and related therapies, browse the Type 2 Diabetes hub.

Common label-level exclusions include use in type 1 diabetes or for diabetic ketoacidosis, since it is not intended for those situations. It is also typically avoided in people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or those with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Hypersensitivity (serious allergy) to any component is a contraindication. A clinician may also weigh caution in patients with a history of pancreatitis, significant gastrointestinal disease, or prior severe hypoglycemia.

Dosage and Usage

This treatment is injected subcutaneously (under the skin) once daily, usually at the same time each day. The injection is typically given in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm, and sites should be rotated to reduce the risk of skin changes such as lipohypertrophy (fatty lumps). A new needle is used for each injection, and pens should not be shared, even if a new needle is placed.

Dose selection and titration are individualized and commonly guided by fasting glucose trends, overall A1C, and side effects. When using the Xultophy Prefilled Pen, the dialed dose corresponds to a fixed proportion of insulin degludec and liraglutide, so dose changes affect both components together. Patients switching from another basal insulin or a GLP-1 medicine may need a structured plan and closer monitoring during the transition. For general context on how injectable options fit into care, see the Ozempic Vs Insulin Guide.

Why it matters: The fixed ratio can simplify treatment, but it also limits independent adjustment of each ingredient.

Strengths and Forms

This product is supplied as a prefilled, multi-dose pen designed for subcutaneous injection. The combination is commonly referred to as Xultophy 100/3.6, meaning insulin degludec 100 units/mL plus liraglutide 3.6 mg/mL in a fixed ratio, and it is typically provided in a 3 mL pen device. Exact pack size and labeling details can vary by jurisdiction and pharmacy supply.

Each Xultophy Prefilled Pen is a disposable pen body used with attachable pen needles (often sold separately). The dose window and dial help reduce measuring errors compared with drawing up insulin from a vial, but technique still matters. Patients and caregivers usually benefit from a first-use demonstration from a pharmacist or diabetes educator, including priming steps, injection angle, and safe disposal. For a broader view of diabetes devices and injectables, the Diabetes Care collection can be browsed as a starting point.

Storage and Travel Basics

Unopened pens are commonly stored in a refrigerator (typically 2°C to 8°C) and should not be frozen. If a pen has been frozen, it is generally not used. Keep the cap on to protect the solution from light, and store supplies away from children and pets. Always follow the product insert for exact handling details, including any in-use time limits and temperature allowances after first use.

For travel, planning helps prevent temperature extremes that can degrade insulin-containing medicines. Consider carrying the pen in an insulated bag, keeping it out of direct sunlight, and avoiding storage in a parked car. If the Xultophy Prefilled Pen is carried in hand luggage, keeping the prescription label available can simplify security checks and pharmacy questions. Used needles should be placed in a sharps container and disposed of according to local guidance.

Quick tip: When traveling, pack extra needles and a backup glucose meter.

Side Effects and Safety

Like other therapies that include insulin and a GLP-1 medicine, side effects can include low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, constipation, headache, and injection-site reactions such as redness or itching. Some effects are more noticeable during dose escalation. Dispensing is coordinated through licensed Canadian partner pharmacies for U.S. residents. Symptoms that suggest hypoglycemia—such as shakiness, sweating, confusion, or unusual fatigue—require prompt attention and an individualized action plan from a clinician.

Serious risks can include pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), severe allergic reactions, kidney problems (sometimes related to dehydration from gastrointestinal symptoms), gallbladder disease, and worsening diabetic eye disease in some contexts of rapid glucose improvement. This class also carries a boxed warning related to thyroid C-cell tumors in animal studies; people with relevant thyroid cancer history are typically advised not to use it. If significant nausea, repeated vomiting, severe abdominal pain, or signs of anaphylaxis occur while using Xultophy Prefilled Pen, patients are generally advised to seek urgent medical evaluation and follow clinician instructions.

Routine safety often includes checking glucose as directed, reviewing other diabetes medicines for additive hypoglycemia risk, and monitoring kidney function when clinically indicated. For additional background on GLP-1 medicines as a class, the Top GLP-1 Drugs overview provides broader context beyond any single product.

Drug Interactions and Cautions

Because this medicine contains insulin, combining it with other glucose-lowering drugs can increase hypoglycemia risk, particularly with sulfonylureas or other insulin products. Liraglutide can slow gastric emptying, which may change how quickly some oral medicines are absorbed; this is most relevant for drugs with a narrow therapeutic window where timing matters. Alcohol can also affect glucose levels and may complicate recognition or management of lows.

Some medicines can mask hypoglycemia warning signs, such as certain beta-blockers, which may make symptom-based detection less reliable. Clinicians may use extra caution in people with reduced kidney function, a history of pancreatitis, or significant gastrointestinal conditions. Patients using basal insulin comparators or transitioning from another regimen may find it helpful to review general insulin safety topics in the Lantus Insulin Overview, while still following the specific instructions for this combination pen.

Compare With Alternatives

Several strategies may be considered when a clinician is choosing between combination therapy and separate agents. A fixed-ratio pen can reduce the number of injections compared with using a basal insulin plus a separate GLP-1 receptor agonist, but it also means the two components cannot be adjusted independently. In contrast, separate injections may allow more flexibility if a patient tolerates one component better than the other, or if the GLP-1 dose needs slower escalation.

Common comparison pathways in practice

One close alternative is another fixed-ratio combination of basal insulin plus a GLP-1 receptor agonist, such as Soliqua Solostar Pens (insulin glargine/lixisenatide), which differs in insulin type and GLP-1 ingredient. Another pathway is basal insulin alone when GLP-1 therapy is not suitable; options may include long-acting products such as Toujeo Doublestar Pen, with prandial (mealtime) insulin added if needed. When evaluating long-acting insulin characteristics, the Levemir Vs Tresiba comparison can help clarify concepts to discuss with a clinician.

Some patients may be considered for other injectable incretin-based therapies (such as dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists) depending on goals and access, but suitability varies and product indications differ by country. For a broader overview of where newer injectables may fit, read Mounjaro Changes Diabetes Care as a general resource, then confirm what is appropriate for an individual plan.

Pricing and Access

Access to this medicine requires a valid prescription, and ongoing refills depend on a prescriber’s authorization and monitoring plan. Cash-pay pathways are available when insurance benefits are not used. For those managing budgeting constraints, it can help to ask the dispensing pharmacy what supplies are needed (for example, compatible pen needles and a sharps container) so there are fewer surprises at pickup time.

BorderFreeHealth helps coordinate US delivery from Canada by routing prescriptions to licensed partner pharmacies and arranging fulfillment once documentation is complete. People seeking Xultophy Prefilled Pen without insurance may use the platform’s self-pay process, and prescribers are contacted when verification is required. If available for a given product and time, Current Promotions may provide additional information to review before completing checkout.

Authoritative Sources

For the most reliable details on indications, warnings, and administration steps, the prescribing information is the primary reference. These sources are especially helpful when reviewing contraindications, boxed warnings, and medication guide language before starting or switching therapy.

The links below provide official or manufacturer labeling content that can support fact-checking and clinician discussions:

• FDA product and labeling overview: Drugs@FDA application overview.
• Manufacturer prescribing information PDF: Novo Nordisk prescribing information.

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This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.