exenatide

Using exenatide, specifically the long-acting version (Bydureon BCise), might put you at higher risk for certain thyroid cancers. Let your provider know if you or a family member have ever had thyroid cancer. Call your provider right away if you have a lump in your neck, trouble breathing or swallowing, or hoarseness that won't go away.

Exenatide might raise your risk for inflammation of the pancreas (also called pancreatitis), including serious cases that can lead to death. This side effect is rare, but let your provider know right away if you have severe abdominal pain that doesn't go away, especially if it moves to your back, or if you also have vomiting. If you experience pancreatitis while taking exenatide, your provider will probably tell you to stop taking it and will change you to a different medication to treat your diabetes.

Taking exenatide on its own isn't likely to cause low blood sugar, but you could experience this side effect if you're taking it with insulin or sulfonylureas. Some examples of sulfonylureas are glimepiride (Amaryl) and glipizide (Glucotrol). Signs of low blood sugar include headache, drowsiness, weakness, hunger, fast heart beat, dizziness, confusion, anxiety, sweating, blurred vision, and slurred speech. Be sure to check your blood sugar regularly and know how to treat low blood sugar when you recognize the signs (e.g., 15-15 rule). If low blood sugar is a consistent problem, talk to your provider. They might need to adjust the dose of your other diabetes medications while taking exenatide.

Exenatide might affect how well your kidneys work. The risk of kidney problems is higher if you're taking other medications that affect the kidneys like diuretics, ACE inhibitors, or NSAIDs. Let your provider know if you have nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, changes how often you urinate, swelling in legs or ankles, tiredness, or trouble breathing. Typically, people with severe kidney problems shouldn't take exenatide.

Rarely, exenatide can cause severe allergic reactions, such as rash, blistering, trouble breathing, or swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue, or throat. If you experience any symptoms of an allergic reaction, stop using exenatide and get medical help right away.

Sometimes a serious blood problem known as drug-induced thrombocytopenia can occur in people taking exenatide. This happens when you have too few platelets in your blood (a part of the blood that helps with clotting), which can lead to dangerous bleeding. Talk to your provider right away if you notice unusual bleeding, bleeding when you brush your teeth, easy bruising, or pinpoint red spots on your skin. If you experience this problem, you'll probably have to stop taking exenatide.

Since exenatide is injected into the skin, some people can experience reactions at the injection site. Most of the reactions are mild side effects like redness, rash, or itching. But you should contact your provider if you have a nodule (round lump) under the skin, or if you have changes in your skin that could be signs of an infection like warmth, redness, swelling, and pain.