Exenatide and Itching: What Users Say

• Gaz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 8, 2012

For Type 2 Diabetes "I am on my 2nd week of using this medication. I am taking it for insulin resistance and noticed a difference very quickly as far as appetite and hunger. The first day after my first shot, I did not eat as much at each meal and did not feel as ravenously hungry between meals. It's been a week and a half and I've already dropped 6 lbs. The needle is a little big, but the weight loss is worth it. I do have itching around the injection site - about the size of a quarter and feels like a mosquito bite. Hoping this diminishes, but it's the only really bothersome thing I've noticed so far. No nausea (which was terrible with Victoza) and nothing else of note. Hoping this (and the weight loss) continues."

• Fre...
• August 3, 2016

For Type 2 Diabetes "This is my 3rd review. Just had my A1C checked at my 3-month visit. Started this med with an 8.4, in 3 months, it's down to 6.2. This drug has been the only thing that has worked for me in the past 10 years. I've been on so many diabetic meds. Last year, my A1C was 10.2, got it to 8.4 with Farxiga. Since my last weigh-in at the doctor, I actually had lost 10 pounds. Started this med at 184, now I'm 174. Still took 3 months to lose 10 pounds. That's better than a gain, though. My only remaining side effects are knots under the skin at the injection site. They sometimes itch really bad too. Other than that, I've adjusted really well."

• Mo ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 28, 2013

For Type 2 Diabetes "I was on Bydureon for about 2 months. I really noticed the loss of appetite and lost my sweet tooth. My weight came down, and my blood sugar levels dropped from 8.5 to 6.0. I was really happy with the medicine until the known side effects started to show. They were nausea, this happened approx once a week in the fourth week in on taking the medicine, and bloating, indigestion, a lot of passing wind, and acidy burps. Also, I felt a bump and itchy feeling around the injection area whenever I injected. If they can sort out these side effects, then it would be really fantastic for people with Type 2 diabetes. I was really reluctant to stop, but the horrible nausea beat me."

• gra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 6, 2013

For Type 2 Diabetes "Sugars are running 120. Have to be careful though. I have had them drop as low as 73. Have been on Bydureon for 3 months now. Lost a little weight. Appetite is completely gone. Probably wouldn't eat at all unless I didn't have to take other medicine. Have found that the bumps go away better if you shoot in your legs and mix the solution together for about 10 minutes. Still have bumps in stomach from 3 months ago. Hope they will go away over time. Every once in a while, I have a bad reaction at the injection site. Itching and little pain. Usually goes away in 4 days. The price could've been cheaper to start with. Was paying full price. Insurance finally picked up, and I'm now paying $74 a month for it. Also taking metformin 2 times a day, 500 mg each time."

• Lan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 2, 2016

For Type 2 Diabetes "I took my sixth Bydureon injection yesterday. The great news is my morning BG levels have dropped dramatically, to the 100 range (after being in the 200s). Bad, however, I am debilitatingly nauseous 12 to 24 hours after injecting and 4x have thrown up at the 12-hour mark. I am not a fan of the pea-sized lumps at each injection area. The first from 6 weeks ago has not shrunk one iota. The three abdomen injections each itched considerably the first week. I switched to injecting the front of my legs, which do not itch. My vision, especially at computer monitor distance, is horrible, but I think that is due to the drop in my overall blood sugar. I am not sure if I can hang with the nausea and would like more info as to whether it will go away in time."

• Tra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 9, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "On my fourth week of Bydureon BCise, no side effects that I have noticed other than the injection site. All four sites have a hard lump under the skin, and burn and itch (mild irritation, I would say 3 on a scale of 1-10)."

• jlc...
• August 27, 2013

For Type 2 Diabetes "I will be taking my 5th shot tomorrow. I have had no side effects as of yet. I do notice that my loss of appetite for sweets has diminished a lot until it is time for the next injection. I start craving sweets within the last 12 hours before the next shot. I can't say I have lost any weight, as I have also started going to a gym, and with the yoga, walking, and weights, this seems to be what I can contribute my loss to. I still eat, the carbs are no longer a big draw for me. In the past few days, I have been itching a lot, which brought me here to read side effects. I have not noticed any lumps at the injection site. I have injected these in my stomach, alternating sides."

• Ben...
• April 27, 2018

For Type 2 Diabetes "I'm 21 years old and have had type 2 diabetes since the start of 2018... Which is not a nice pill to swallow. I knew I was a little overweight and was working on it - apparently my family's severe history of type 2 made it almost inescapable. Since my diagnosis, I have been on Bydureon... And I couldn't be happier. Yeah, it hurts a little to stab yourself once a week, and the itching and lumps under the skin are uncomfortable, but at least I'm not on thousands more medications! I see a lot of comments about people not liking it because of these small and dealable side effects. Bydureon keeps me alive, keeps me healthy, and it is virtually stress-free."

• Kel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 21, 2018

For Type 2 Diabetes "I’ve been taking this about 3 months. I’ve had some mild side effects, but nothing unmanageable - a bit of itching (I chose to do inner thigh), mild constipation, mild diarrhea. My A1C was 10 - I started checking blood sugar twice daily, and it’s dropped from a high of 230 to an average of 111. I’ll get another A1C next month and hoping it confirms significant improvement. Also on Metformin and Farxiga - have had type 2 about 10 yrs - I let my diet get out of control and my A1C skyrocket. Now on this medication and cut out most bad carbs - it’s made a huge difference, and I feel so much better. I’ve lost about 12 lbs without trying. In terms of cost, got a manufacturer's coupon so it is free — good luck - I’m sticking with it."

• Ksu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 18, 2015

For Type 2 Diabetes "This is a follow-up to my review a few weeks ago. I experienced no side effects at all up until I had injected the fourth time. At that point, I began to have site itching, but I could live with that. The fifth time was two days ago, and I was startled to see that the injection site was angry and red about the size of a silver dollar. I still have itching, but the appearance of the site is alarming. I worry about future injections causing a serious reaction. There are also the lumps and nodules now. Think I'll talk to my doctor tomorrow."

• Nan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 27, 2018

For Type 2 Diabetes "Added Bydureon to my usual metformin dose in June 2017. Had six months of persistent nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and increasing sensation of liver fullness/discomfort. (It looks like I'm one of the group described by the package insert, who develop significant adverse effects.) At the injection sites, developed firm nodules that each took 2-3 months to resolve and became itchier the longer I was on the medication. I lost about 10 lb and had great readouts on A1c, but couldn't bear to take Bydureon beyond December 2017. In my view, not a success therapeutically."

• SBi...
• October 28, 2015

For Type 2 Diabetes "All was fine the first week, a little nausea. Second week was fine as well, but a little redness/itching around the injection site. Third week, the injection site immediately started to turn into a giant hive across my entire abdomen, and I broke out in hives in all other areas of my body. Went to the ER and was taken off medication, but it took over a week for the serious reaction to stop. Developed 1-inch knots at all injection sites, which lasted for a couple of months. I've been off the meds for several months and still break out in hives around my waist and on my bra line. Prior to the first hive outbreak, I had never had allergic reactions to anything."

• Suz...
• May 7, 2016

For Type 2 Diabetes "I found the needle extremely thick and the injection painful, some even bled. After several weeks, I began to get one to two lumps at every injection site. These lumps were red, warm, and extremely itchy. I contacted my physician, who lanced one site on my leg. Needless to say, I am no longer a Bydureon user."

• Min...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 9, 2018

For Type 2 Diabetes "To Brownie... I have taken Bydureon for 3 months and had some symptoms like yours. I also had a dull ache in my upper right abdomen under my ribs. Mine also is not gallbladder, liver, or pancreas. I felt sick, nauseated, had periodic vomiting, no energy, nodules at injection sites, itching, cellulitis, burping, bloating, and in general have to force myself to do things. I stopped taking Bydureon 2 weeks ago and am starting to feel better. I still have the nausea and bloating. When I started, I was told side effects decrease after 2 weeks, but I felt worse the longer I took it. It did decrease my readings, from the 300s to the 150s...still not that great but better. I read it can take up to 10 weeks to be completely out of your system."

• Sfg...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 7, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "I started this medication along with Januvia and have been taking Januvia once a day and Metformin twice a day. I am on my second week. Doing okay, but the injection sites are lumpy, red, painful, and itchy. My endocrinologist says this is normal and takes about six weeks for the lumps to disappear. I am using an ice pack to calm the itchiness and pain. Every now and then, I feel a little nauseous, but I drink ginger tea and I’m okay. Hope this all calms down with time. My BS numbers are good in the normal range."

• JDa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 25, 2018

For Type 2 Diabetes "I started taking this medicine 3 weeks ago. The first week, I had diarrhea and a small lump. The second week, I had diarrhea, and the lump was larger, and I had diarrhea. The third week, the lump was larger, and I had diarrhea. Two days after the injection, I had hives and itching. There was no difference between this drug and Victoza with my blood sugars. The convenience of taking this medication once a week is very good, but not everything is for everybody. My doctor took me off this medication."

• Nic...
• December 7, 2017

For Type 2 Diabetes "Had extreme itching with red spots, swollen lumps all over, including the head. I was feeling very weak and fainted, then was rushed to emergency where they are treating me to bring the allergies down. I've stopped using this drug as it was not a pleasant experience for me. The idea is to let the drug company know feedback as I've never had this experience in my life. I did try to call the Australian number, but no one picked up."

• Pee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 27, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "Bydureon caused severe nausea and severe puking, bumps at the injection site, severe itching. Bad heartburn. I think this is poison, no thank you."

• ece...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 15, 2018

For Type 2 Diabetes "I get huge bumps at the injection site. The itching is almost unbearable."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 5, 2021

For Type 2 Diabetes "Worst thing I have ever taken. Stomach cramps, dizzy, itching, bloated, feels like bowels have stopped working, severely constipated. I will never use this stuff again."