[Half-life calculator · Dulaglutide]

When does dulaglutide peak and reach steady state?

Reviewed · Modeled estimates

Short answer: Dulaglutide has a half-life of about 5 days (Trulicity (dulaglutide) label) and reaches steady state after about 25 days (~3.6 weeks) of regular dosing. Levels peak about 2 days after an injection under the skin. On a weekly schedule the model builds up to about 1.6× a single dose, with a peak-to-trough swing of about 1.89:1.

What do dulaglutide levels look like with weekly dosing?

Estimated Dulaglutide level: 750 mcg weeklyModeled level over 10 weeks with a half-life of 5 days. Steady state after about 3.6 weeks.00.20.40.6wk 0wk 1wk 2wk 3wk 4wk 5wk 6wk 7wk 8wk 9wk 10Est. amount in system (mg)≈ steady state (5 half-lives)750 mcg weekly

The Trulicity label starts at 0.75 mg once weekly. Source: Trulicity (dulaglutide) label. Bioavailability 50% as in the app. Dashed line: 5 half-lives. Change the amount or schedule in the calculator.

When does dulaglutide peak after a dose?

Levels peak about 2 days after an injection under the skin.

How long does dulaglutide take to reach steady state?

With regular dosing at a fixed amount and interval, levels climb toward steady state by the same fraction every half-life, whatever the dose. At a half-life of about 5 days:

Time from the first dose to each share of steady state, dulaglutide (half-life 5 days).
Share of steady stateHalf-livesTime
50%15 days
75%210 days
90%3.316.6 days
97% (Dose Track's steady-state rule)525 days (~3.6 weeks)

How much do dulaglutide levels swing between doses?

The longer the gap between doses compared with the half-life, the bigger the swing from peak to trough and the less the levels build up. These ratios do not depend on the amount.

Steady-state peak:trough and build-up by dosing interval, dulaglutide, in Dose Track's model.
IntervalPeak : troughBuild-up vs one dose
Daily1.02 : 17.73×
Every other day1.08 : 14.13×
Twice weekly1.24 : 12.6×
Weekly1.89 : 11.61×
Every 2 weeks4.78 : 11.17×

Build-up is the accumulation ratio 1 / (1 − e−k·τ), with k = ln 2 / half-life and τ the interval.

How long does dulaglutide stay in your system?

After the last dose, about half is gone every 5 days. After 5 half-lives, about 25 days (~3.6 weeks), roughly 97% has cleared in the model.

Where do these numbers come from?

The FDA Trulicity label gives an elimination half-life of about 5 days and a time to peak of 24 to 72 hours at steady state, with a median of 48 hours.

The curve uses the half-life, time to peak, route and bioavailability built into the Dose Track app for dulaglutide, and the same one-compartment model with first-order absorption. These are modeled estimates from published half-lives, drawn with the same one-compartment model as the Dose Track app. Real levels vary from person to person, and only a lab test measures them. This is not medical advice and not a dosing recommendation; dosing decisions belong with you and your prescriber.

Vial sizes and syringe math are in the Dulaglutide guide.

Frequently asked questions

When does dulaglutide peak after a dose?+
Blood levels peak about 2 days after an injection under the skin, according to Trulicity (dulaglutide) label. Individual timing varies with the injection site, the amount and the person.
How long does dulaglutide take to reach steady state?+
About 25 days (~3.6 weeks) of regular dosing at the same amount and interval, which is 5 half-lives. With a half-life of about 5 days, levels reach about 50% of steady state after 5 days and about 90% after 16.6 days. Changing the dose or interval starts a new climb toward a new steady state.
How much does dulaglutide build up with weekly dosing?+
At steady state on a weekly schedule, the model's level is about 1.61 times what one dose gives, and it swings about 1.89:1 between the peak and the trough before the next dose. Longer gaps between doses mean less build-up and a bigger swing.
How long does dulaglutide stay in your system after the last dose?+
Roughly 5 half-lives, about 25 days (~3.6 weeks), until about 97% has cleared in the model. Half is gone about 5 days after levels start falling. Real clearance varies from person to person, and a drug can still have effects after levels are low.
Is this chart my actual dulaglutide level?+
No. It is a modeled estimate from a published half-life, using the same one-compartment model as the Dose Track app. Real levels vary with body weight, injection site, kidney and liver function and other factors, and only a lab test measures them. It is not medical advice.