Exenatide and Loss Of Appetite: What Users Say

• Eye...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 31, 2014

For Type 2 Diabetes "I'm in my fifth week taking injections. I've been on 2000mg metformin daily for 4 years but my A1C has been creeping up over the last year (7.3) and my fasting blood sugars (morning) had averaged around 160 and almost never registering below 150 and too often above 170. Over the last 4 weeks, my fasting sugars have steadily dropped. Last week they averaged 116 and this week they are averaging 107. I've experienced sporadic mild nausea and a reduced appetite (not as hungry as often and I fill up much faster). I'm not a fan of the injections but they're tolerable. I've not followed my weight (definitely not gaining) and we won't check my A1C for a couple more weeks."

• Hul...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 17, 2013

For Type 2 Diabetes "I was on Byetta for 5 years and switched to Bydureon. Been on Bydureon for almost 1 1/2 years. I usually have some difficulty eating the first day of my shot. I get a funny taste in my mouth and no appetite. I eat so my sugar does not drop too much. I have maintained my weight to about 125 and feel great. Most people don't think I'm diabetic. Walking every day helps so much. And yes, I do get a lump from the injection. Just make sure you are not injecting into the same area. I alternate each side of my stomach. My endocrinologist had me put my hand over my belly button, and he said I should be injecting on either side. It helped give me a reference since I was doing it too close to the belly button. Also, I shake the medicine for about 4 minutes."

• Hul...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 17, 2013

For Type 2 Diabetes "I was on Byetta for 5 years and switched to Bydureon. Been on Bydureon for almost 1 1/2 years. I usually have some difficulty eating the first day of my shot. I get a funny taste in my mouth and no appetite. I eat so my sugar does not drop too much. I have maintained my weight to about 125 and feel great. Most people don't think I'm diabetic. Walking every day helps so much. And yes, I do get a lump from the injection. Just make sure you are not injecting into the same area. I alternate each side of my stomach. My endocrinologist had me put my hand over my belly button, and he said I should be injecting on either side. It helped give me a reference since I was doing it too close to the belly button. Also, I shake the medicine for about 4 minutes."

• Ari...
• July 21, 2015

For Type 2 Diabetes "My experience has been great. I have lost about 20 pounds in 2 months. Side effects: just mild nausea if I don't eat, loss of appetite. Glucose levels of 107 in the mornings vs. 160. I do have the bumps on the injection sites. I chose my belly, but I think I need to change sites. I am really happy with the results and would not change it for anything else. I was having a really hard time losing weight before, and now it became really easy. My doctor also put me on a lactose-free diet, and it's working wonders for me. No more upset stomach or bloating."

• mr ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 29, 2013

For Type 2 Diabetes "I am back to update my time on Bydureon. It has been going pretty well. My sugars were really going down, I suffered a few lows, 40 to 50s, so the doctor dropped Januvia and Actos. Then my sugars started going up. It's been a rough two weeks, but hopefully they will level out. My appetite has gone down a lot, and it looks like I am finally losing some weight."

• Nor...
• March 29, 2017

For Type 2 Diabetes "I just started Bydureon a few days ago. The needle was intimidating, and while I did not get any lumps (so far) at the injection site on my thigh, I bled a lot and bruised. Within an hour of my injection, I experienced heart palpitations, dizziness, and extreme lethargy. Then, the extreme vomiting started. I vomited every 2 hours for 12 hours straight, it was terrible. The next day, I was just a little nauseous but okay. Now, I experience queasiness and loss of appetite. I am nervous to take my next injection due to the extreme vomiting. I am hoping the results are worth it."

• Den...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 7, 2017

For Type 2 Diabetes "So far, I am very pleased with my results from taking Bydureon for some 4 months. I have lost 8 kgs, and my HbA1c has gone from 8.9 to 7. I have lumps, but they do gradually go after a period of time, I have had some bruising also. My main concern is the nausea, which I still experience spasmodically, and absolute lack of appetite. Certain foods I only have to look at, and it is a real turn-off. But I will put up with all the above, as I have finally lost some weight by eating minute amounts 6 times a day, and my blood sugars are the lowest they have been for approximately 3 years, and it is so rewarding to hear friends say, 'You have lost weight, you look great.'"

• eGG...
• September 6, 2016

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have been injecting once a week for two months. I have suffered disgusting belching, lack of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting. I am fortunate to be working, but I am off sick again because I cannot venture outside of the house because of liquid pouring out of both ends!! When I vomited this morning, a lump of gunk surfaced, which I think was the coagulated Bydureon. I am not willing to take this awful drug again. The side effects do not outweigh benefits."

• Far...
• May 1, 2016

For Type 2 Diabetes "I am a 360-pound male with borderline type 2 diabetes numbers and no high blood pressure. Kidneys and liver in great shape. Doctor helped me with the first dose on a Friday morning, she walked me through the instructions and injected in my belly. The next morning, I was full, no appetite, lethargic, burping rotten eggs, and even got sick (very rare for me). This continued all day, and I had to force myself to eat something that night. It is day 3 - sour stomach milder, so-so sleep, no appetite, less lethargy, but still kind of drained. No bump on my stomach from injection. To be continued....."

• pen...
• February 26, 2014

"I have taken Bydureon for four weeks. My initial injection was done at the doctor's office with a nurse standing by. I had a few moments of nausea, but they were rare and far between. My nausea would only get worse the day before I took the next dose. When I took my third dose, however, I got the worst burning rash that grew to the size of a dollar bill. It still hasn't completely gone away. My doctor suggested changing the site of the injection. Within an hour of the fourth injection (on my thigh), a burning rash appeared. The doctor is switching me to Victoza. Other than the rash, I lost 10 pounds in the first two weeks because of loss of appetite."

• Fre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 12, 2016

For Type 2 Diabetes "UPDATE: So I've been on Bydureon for 6 weeks. I do now get the itchy lumps at the injection site. The nausea I had in the beginning is gone. Blood sugars are much better. No weight loss to report and what little appetite suppression I had in the beginning is also gone. I am 40 lbs overweight and just absolutely struggle to lose 1 pound. I was really hoping this would work for me in losing weight. So far, nothing."

• Mat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 28, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have been on Bydureon on 2 different occasions over the last year. The first time I took it for about 3 months. I quit because I was getting very lightheaded and nauseous, as well as my sugar would drop very low after an injection. After about 6 months, I thought I'd try again. I changed my injection time to after a meal and would skip my metformin at that meal. It seemed to take care of the sugar crash, but still feel awful most of the time. Nausea, loss of appetite, and lethargic. I think I'll just stop again. P.S. It did work. My A1C dropped from high 7's to low 6's. Just miserable with the side effects."

• T27...
• August 26, 2017

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have been on it for 8-9 weeks. The only side effect I have had outside the last two days is loss of appetite, which is wonderful for a binge eater like myself. You not only get full sooner, you almost feel sick. I don't mind, it reminds me I need to keep myself in check. Until the last two days, I have not had the nausea and vomiting others seem to have. I don't know why it decided to start. I vomited two days in a row now. Hope it doesn't continue, I otherwise love it."

• Min...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 28, 2018

For Type 2 Diabetes "My husband has been taking Bydureon for two and a half years. His sugars are down, but he experienced nausea, headaches, and loss of appetite at the beginning. He has lost some weight also without doing any extra exercise. He still has a general feeling of not knowing what he wants to eat - he complains that food has no taste. He used to eat cereal for breakfast, but now sometimes only eats 1 meal a day and makes up for it with noodles, etc. Will his diet ever get back to normal?"

• Big...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 1, 2018

For Type 2 Diabetes "I just took my 8th dose of Bydureon. I experience no real pain during injection, even though the needle is quite large. I used a bag of frozen peas to numb the site prior to injection. Then I keep a Band-Aid on the site to keep the medication from leaking out. I was on Toujeo insulin, 52 units, but as of last week, I have been able to stop taking it. I slowly did this. I do suffer from nausea consistently, low energy, and lethargy. I also have no appetite. As of the last two weeks, my blood glucose numbers have been good. I am taking the good with the bad."

• Ran...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 16, 2018

For Type 2 Diabetes "I just had one dose of Bydureon after 2 weeks of Trulicity and insurance not wanting to pay for it. The needle instructions are simple enough, but I'm in nursing school. I didn't want to inject myself, so my husband did it. The Trulicity pen was much cooler (automated). I have lost 12 pounds in a month. No exercise added. No side effects, really. Decrease in appetite, slightly. I take it along with Metformin. Fasting sugars are always under 200 now. My A1C was 10.9, so I am excited to see the improvements. I feel so much better compared to March."

• Jil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 20, 2020

For Type 2 Diabetes "I took Bydureon BCise for 2 months but have stopped it as I have no appetite! Not interested in eating! If I'm hardly eating anything, why take this every week? Read the side effects last up to 10 weeks! They can keep it! I have lost weight, of course, because I'm hardly eating!"

• Deb...
• May 26, 2022

For Type 2 Diabetes "Started only two days now. I see numbers coming down from 16 to 8 last night, then 11 after fasting, so it's up and down. I feel tired and have no appetite, forcing myself to eat small meals. Let's talk again after a month. Nausea not unbearable. I realize I was feeling nausea before using Byetta anyways, so no real difference there. Feel shaky at times. Holding thumbs it works."