Bydureon Side Effects

Bydureon (extended-release exenatide) is designed as an incretin mimetic, which helps improve blood glucose level control. It mimics the action of glucagon-like peptide 1 to achieve this result. Glucagon-like peptide-1 is a hormone with profound effects in stimulating the secretion of glucose-dependent insulin and regulation of blood sugar.

Like other medicine-based treatments for type 2 diabetes, Bydureon has various side effects. Here’s everything you should know about its side effects.

Common Side Effects of Bydureon

As you start using Bydureon to treat diabetes mellitus, you may experience nausea. Other common symptoms associated with the drug include vomiting, headache, constipation, and diarrhea.

It is also common for patients to feel itchiness at the injection site or have indigestion issues. A small bump or nodule may even develop at the injection site.

Serious Side Effects of Bydureon

You may have swelling in the throat or neck or trouble breathing or swallowing, or a hoarse voice if your body reacts adversely to Bydureon. Other severe side effects of the drug include weight gain, less frequent urination, dull pain in the lower or middle back, and increased thirst. The drug is also known to cause mood changes, confusion, and drowsiness as adverse side effects.

Having severe pain that spreads to the back can be a severe side effect of Bydureon. The same applies to low blood sugar, which is coupled with symptoms such as dizziness, hunger, weakness, fast heart rate, and headache.

When to Call Your Health Care Provider

It is highly advisable to seek medical attention if you experience any of the symptoms discussed above. You should also do the same if you experience the following symptoms:

• Pounding or fast heartbeats, sudden dizziness, shortness of breath, and fluttering in the chest

• Seeing halos around lights, eye swelling or pain, tunnel vision or blurred vision

• Feeling like you may pass out, uneven or fast heartbeats, tremors, confusion, sweating, high fever, or stiff/rigid muscles.

• Low sodium levels in the body accompanied by unsteadiness, coordination loss, vomiting, severe weakness, slurred speech, confusion, and severe headache.

• Fatal bleeding brought by low platelet levels

• Swelling on the throat, tongue, lips, or face and signs of an allergic reaction

Your healthcare provider may caution you against using this drug if you have severe ongoing vomiting and nausea. They may also advise you not to use Bydureon if you notice unusual bleeding, red or purple spots, or easy bruising under the skin. Other reasons to discontinue the drug may include gallbladder or pancreas problems, kidney problems (such as less frequent urination), and low blood sugar.