Exenatide and Upset Stomach: What Users Say

• Mer...
• June 3, 2015

For Type 2 Diabetes "Bydureon worked well helping my A1C level, 7.6 to 6.5. Also, sugar levels went from 120-140 fasting to 90-110. After meals, levels went from 180-220 to 140-160. I also lost 19 lbs in three months. After three months, the side effects became too much to handle. Nausea and vomiting were constant. Woke up one night so sick I could not keep anything down. Three hours later, ended up in the ER dehydrated. Have stopped taking Bydureon two weeks ago, but it still is in my system. Still nausea and upset stomach with a sour taste in mouth. Results were great. Just couldn't handle side effects."

• 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."

• Cer...
• July 27, 2015

For Type 2 Diabetes "I was prescribed Metformin 1000 mg twice a day and Glicazide 40 mg four times a day. I took this for four years but constantly had an upset stomach, and my blood sugar readings were always between 10 and 15 mmol/L, and I was gaining weight even though I eat healthy foods. I was then advised to take Actos 30 mg once a day instead of Glicazide. Although this helped initially, my readings were still high, and I was gaining weight. I then saw a diabetic consultant, and he suggested trying Bydureon 2 mg injections once a week. I have been on these for nine weeks now, and my readings are down to 5-6 mmol/L, and I have lost 1st 2 lbs and feel much better. I get occasional nausea. I have to pay for the injections, and they are expensive but well worth the money."

• Anonymous
• June 22, 2009

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have been off and on Byetta for about 2 years. I had issues with vomiting and not being able to tolerate the 10 mg. Finally, I found the answer. My doctor said to take the injection, then wait 1 full hour to eat, and not to eat more than a very, very small portion of food. I have not had any upset stomach doing this. I thought it was because of what I ate, like salad dressing or greasy foods, but it was the amount of food that I ate that was making me sick. I haven't been sick this round of using the medicines, using this method, and feeling very full after just a few bites of food. Try limiting your food intake to relieve stomach upset."

• Anonymous
• April 21, 2012

For Type 2 Diabetes "The first week of Byetta 5 mcg dose, no side effects, 6-pound weight loss but high blood glucose numbers. My endocrinologist suggested I try going up to the 10 mcg dose. Nausea, gas, stomach upset, and constipation. I ended up in bed most afternoons. Numbers are now good, and I've lost another 4 pounds. Too much lifestyle impairment due to side effects, so I went back to the lower dose, still having stomach aches and constipation. I'm giving it time, but so far this has been an uncomfortable experience."

• Anonymous
• April 21, 2012

For Type 2 Diabetes "The first week of Byetta 5 mcg dose, no side effects, 6-pound weight loss but high blood glucose numbers. My endocrinologist suggested I try going up to the 10 mcg dose. Nausea, gas, stomach upset, and constipation. I ended up in bed most afternoons. Numbers are now good, and I've lost another 4 pounds. Too much lifestyle impairment due to side effects, so I went back to the lower dose, still having stomach aches and constipation. I'm giving it time, but so far this has been an uncomfortable experience."

• eve...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 7, 2013

For Type 2 Diabetes "I have been on Bydureon for 3 months now and have found it to be effective at lowering my blood sugar and decreasing my appetite. The side effects, however, have caused me to discontinue using it per my doctor's instructions. I have been experiencing symptoms likened to having a stomach virus, bloated stomach, nausea, and diarrhea, about every third to fourth week of the month. The effects are bad enough that I have had to miss work. I haven't experienced any knots at the injection site, but my goodness, that's a large needle that has to be used!"

• Ron...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 7, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "I got off Metformin as that caused a lactic acidosis reaction for me and went onto Bydureon BCise at the recommendation of my doctor and a diabetes education consultant. I have been on this medication for 9 months and the once-a-week shot is easy to use with only the small bump at the injection site being the only downside I have experienced. Have not had any upset stomach issues. My A1C went from 7.2 to 5.9 with no change in diet."

• 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....."

• cat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 14, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "My second time on Bydureon Bcise. After 3 boxes, 12 weeks, although I had tolerable stomach problems before, these turned into full-blown nausea and diarrhea that has now lasted 4 days. It keeps blood sugar under control with no added medications, but I can't get more than 5 feet from the toilet. It's debilitating at this point. If I take Imodium AD, it does stop diarrhea, but promotes the nausea. Trying to keep from getting dehydrated as all I pass is water in the diarrhea. Trying to get this out of my system. I will not take another injection. Do not know what I will do. This med hits you unexpectedly. Don't know when it will make you sick. This is my second try with this med. Trulicity doesn't work nor anything else for that matter. This med works for blood sugar, but I'm horribly sick."

• Dal...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 24, 2019

For Type 2 Diabetes "When I started taking Bydureon, it was great. I lost 4 kg over 3 months, it made a huge difference. After about 6 months, I started having stomach issues. I was nauseated most days, and I spoke to my diabetic educator about going back on insulin, but they suggested I stay on the Bydureon for another 6 months. Those 6 months were the absolute worst. I now have constant stomach issues, gastroparesis is my main issue. I never had this before I started Bydureon, but my GP or DE are unwilling to take me off it, so I have stopped myself. After 1 month, I feel so much better, nausea is way less. My experience with Bydureon has been overwhelmingly negative."

• lpe...
• July 31, 2017

For Type 2 Diabetes "I took my first dose of Bydureon last night. Today, I am in intense body-wide pain, stomach cramping, diarrhea, headache, and hives everywhere. My face, tongue, and throat swelled. I just want to crawl in a hole and stay there. My doctor switched me to this because regular insulin burns on injection and worsens my neuropathy. I have tried all the pens and tablets on the market, but I react to them all. I can barely hold my head up as I write this."

• Jo ...
• August 23, 2017

For Type 2 Diabetes "If you don't have a gallbladder, suffer any form of stomach/bowel issue, or have an arthritic issue (me Dupuytren's/Ledderhose), then DON'T take this drug. Seriously, it has completely stuffed up my stomach, which is still ongoing 3 weeks after stopping it. I found it also inflamed my Dupuytren's. I also had an autoimmune response to the injections and now have numerous lumps on my stomach. I used it 5 times."

• Cas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 17, 2017

For Type 2 Diabetes "This med worked well for the first 6 weeks. I had lost about 20 lbs and liked that part. The next 4 or 5 shots didn't seem like it did anything. The lumps remained, though. After about a month off the drug, the lumps started to go away and the sulfur burps, stomach cramps, constipation, nausea, and intermittent diarrhea took over. I was sick for about 2 months as the lumps slowly dissolved. It took another 3 months before I felt normal again. I think the med didn't dissolve like it should have. Then it all released at once and made me sick. Also, the needle was HUGE and a pain to get ready. I switched to Trulicity lately and am having good results."

• SgR...
• August 31, 2017

For Type 2 Diabetes "I was prescribed Bydureon about 4 months ago when my insurance stopped paying for Byetta. I had been on Byetta for 13 years, and it was working well for me. I finally stopped taking Bydureon 3 weeks ago. I was sick the entire time. I did not relate it to Bydureon at first. I was aware my blood sugar was 300-400 while taking Bydureon. I then realized it was because I was originally taking Byetta, and Bydureon reacts to the Byetta that is left in the system. My blood sugar never came down much while taking Bydureon. I had a headache constantly, stomach ache, diarrhea, upper respiratory infection, sinus drainage, joint pain, leg pain, feet hurt, and my stomach felt full or stuffed all the time. And my blood sugar remained high."

• 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."