Xultophy 100/3.6 (insulin degludec/liraglutide) is a brand-name prescription medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it to improve blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Xultophy 100/3.6 is a biologic medication. It contains the active drugs insulin degludec and liraglutide. Insulin degludec is a long-acting insulin. Liraglutide belongs to a class of drugs known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. Xultophy 100/3.6 is not available in a biosimilar form.

Xultophy 100/3.6 comes as a solution in a prefilled injection pen. It’s given as a subcutaneous injection.

For information about the dosage of Xultophy 100/3.6, including its strength and how to take the drug, keep reading. For a comprehensive look at Xultophy 100/3.6, see this article.

This article describes typical dosages for Xultophy 100/3.6 provided by the drug’s manufacturer. When taking Xultophy 100/3.6, always follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.

Below is information about the typical dosages for Xultophy 100/3.6. Be sure to always take the dosage of Xultophy 100/3.6 your doctor prescribes for you.

Xultophy 100/3.6 form

Xultophy 100/3.6 comes as a solution in a prefilled injection pen. You’ll use the pen to give yourself doses as subcutaneous injections.

Xultophy 100/3.6 strength

Each Xultophy 100/3.6 pen contains 100 units of insulin degludec and 3.6 milligrams (mg) of liraglutide in each milliliter (mL) of solution. Each pen contains 3 mL. This is the only available strength.

Typical dosages

Usually, your doctor will start you on the recommended dose of Xultophy 100/3.6 that’s right for you. This depends on whether you have been taking a basal insulin or GLP-1 receptor agonist. Your doctor will ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect.

The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Starting dose

The dosing chart below shows the recommended starting dosage of Xultophy 100/3.6:

Xultophy 100/3.6 starting daily dosage
If you have not taken basal insulin or a GLP-1 receptor agonist before10 units/0.36 mg
If you have taken basal insulin or a GLP-1 receptor agonist16 units/0.58 mg

If you have not taken basal insulin or a GLP-1 receptor agonist before, you’ll give yourself the recommended dose of Xultophy 100/3.6 as a subcutaneous injection once per day.

If you already take basal insulin or a GLP-1 receptor agonist, you’ll first stop treatment with the basal insulin or GLP-1 receptor agonist. Then you’ll give yourself the recommended dose of Xultophy 100/3.6 as a subcutaneous injection once per day.

Maximum dose

The maximum dose of Xultophy 100/3.6 is 50 units per day. This means the maximum dose you can take per day is 50 units of insulin degludec and 1.8 mg of liraglutide.

Long-term use

Xultophy 100/3.6 is meant to be used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Xultophy 100/3.6 is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term.

The Xultophy 100/3.6 dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:

  • the severity of the condition you’re using Xultophy 100/3.6 to treat
  • your blood sugar level while taking Xultophy 100/3.6
  • other medications you take
  • your diet
  • your level of physical activity

Other medical conditions you have can also affect your Xultophy 100/3.6 dosage.

Dosage adjustments

Your doctor may adjust your dose of Xultophy 100/3.6 if you:

  • take certain other medications or stop using them
  • have liver or kidney problems or other medical conditions
  • have high or low blood sugar levels after starting Xultophy 100/3.6 treatment

Xultophy 100/3.6 is a solution that comes in a prefilled injection pen. You’ll use the pen to give yourself doses as subcutaneous injections. Your doctor or another healthcare professional can show you the Xultophy 100/3.6 dose steps for self-injection of the medication.

You can refer to the drug manufacturer’s site to find a video showing the steps for giving a Xultophy dose. The video also shows how to prepare your injection pen. Or, you can see the drug’s prescribing information.

Accessible drug labels and containers

If you’re having trouble reading your prescription label, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Some pharmacies offer labels with large print, Braille, or a code you scan with a smartphone to convert text to speech. If your local pharmacy doesn’t have these options, your doctor or pharmacist might be able to recommend a pharmacy that does.

If you miss a dose of Xultophy, take your next dose at the regular time. Don’t take an extra dose or increase the next dose to make up for the missed dose.

If it has been more than 3 days since your last dose of Xultophy, take your recommended starting dose (the dose you had the first time you took Xultophy). If you have questions about what dose to take, talk with your doctor or healthcare professional.

To help make sure that you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or using a timer. You could also download a reminder app on your phone.

It’s important that you don’t use more Xultophy 100/3.6 than your doctor advises.

If you use more Xultophy 100/3.6 than your doctor prescribes, you may develop serious side effects.

Symptoms of an overdose

Overdose symptoms of Xultophy 100/3.6 can include:

If you take more than the recommended amount of Xultophy 100/3.6

Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve taken too much Xultophy 100/3.6. Another option is to call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency room.

The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Xultophy 100/3.6 for you, they will prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes for you.

As with any drug, never change your dosage of Xultophy 100/3.6 without your doctor’s recommendation. If you have questions about the dosage of Xultophy 100/3.6 that’s right for you, talk with your doctor.

Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Xultophy 100/3.6. These additional articles might be helpful to you:

  • More about Xultophy 100/3.6. For information about other aspects of Xultophy 100/3.6, refer to this article.
  • Drug comparison. To find out how Xultophy 100/3.6 compares with Soliqua 100/33, read this article.
  • Details about diabetes. For more information about your condition, see our diabetes hub, as well as our list of diabetes articles.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.