This drug has been discontinued

  • Bydureon BCise was discontinued by its manufacturer AstraZeneca on October 28, 2024.
  • This drug is no longer available in the United States.
  • Discontinuation of Bydureon BCise was a business decision by AstraZeneca and not due to concerns about the drug’s safety or effectiveness.

Bydureon BCise was a prescription drug used to treat type 2 diabetes in adults and some children. It came as a suspension (a type of liquid mixture) that was given as an injection under the skin with an autoinjector pen.

The following is archived information about Bydureon BCise side effects.

A generic drug called exenatide that has the same active ingredient as Bydureon BCise is available from a different manufacturer for treatment of type 2 diabetes. (An active ingredient is what makes a medication work.)

The information about side effects of Bydureon BCise in this article also applies to generic exenatide injections unless otherwise stated.

For information about other alternatives to Bydureon BCise, talk with your doctor.

Bydureon BCise’s more common side effects reported in studies of the drug include:

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Tips for managing side effects” section.

Mild side effects that have been reported with Bydureon BCise include:

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Tips for managing side effects” section.

In most cases, these side effects are temporary, and some are easily managed. But if you have any symptoms that are ongoing or bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. And do not stop using Bydureon BCise unless your doctor recommends it.

Bydureon BCise may cause mild side effects other than the ones listed above. See Bydureon BCise’s prescribing information for details.

Bydureon BCise may cause serious side effects. The following list may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Bydureon BCise’s prescribing information.

Serious side effects that have been reported include:

For more information about some of these side effects, see the “Tips for managing side effects” section.

If you develop serious side effects with Bydureon BCise, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medication safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while using Bydureon BCise and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Allergic reaction

For some people, Bydureon BCise can cause an allergic reaction. But this side effect wasn’t reported in the drug’s studies.

In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should keep using Bydureon BCise.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Bydureon BCise, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

There may be things you can do to help make certain side effects of Bydureon BCise more manageable. If you have ongoing, worsening, or bothersome side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can suggest tips for managing them or recommend other available treatment options for your condition.

Injection site reaction

Injection site reactions may occur with Bydureon BCise. These are reactions around the area where Bydureon BCise is injected.

Mild injection site reactions were common in studies of Bydureon BCise and included:

In rare cases, Bydureon BCise may cause severe injection site reactions. Examples include:

  • necrosis (death of tissues or skin)
  • cellulitis (a kind of skin infection)
  • abscess (fluid-filled pocket of infection on the skin)

What might help

To reduce your risk of injection site reactions, inject each dose into a new site of the same region each week. (The region would be your upper arms, thighs, or abdomen. And each injection site should be two finger-widths from the last one.)

If you have any of the reactions listed above while using Bydureon BCise, talk with your doctor. In severe cases, you may need surgery to treat the affected area. Your doctor will then advise you on the best way to treat your condition.

Risk of thyroid cancer

Bydureon BCise has a boxed warning for the risk of thyroid cancer. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Bydureon BCise may increase your risk of thyroid cancer. While this side effect wasn’t reported in human studies, animal studies have shown a risk of this side effect. But animal studies don’t always predict what will happen in humans.

Symptoms of thyroid cancer include:

What might help

Tell your doctor right away if you have any of the symptoms listed above while you’re using Bydureon BCise. They can check to see what’s causing your symptoms.

If you or someone in your family has had thyroid cancer, including medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), tell your doctor. In this case, it’s likely they will not prescribe Bydureon BCise to treat your type 2 diabetes.

Doctors also usually prescribe a different type 2 diabetes treatment if you have a condition called multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)

Low blood sugar, known medically as hypoglycemia, is a possible side effect of Bydureon BCise. In studies, this side effect was more common when Bydureon BCise was used together with certain diabetes drugs. Examples include:

Symptoms of low blood sugar may include:

What might help

Tell your doctor right away if you have symptoms of low blood sugar with Bydureon BCise. They may need to adjust the dosage of other diabetes drugs you’re taking.

If you have symptoms of hypoglycemia with Bydureon BCise, try to increase your blood sugar level. This can be done by eating 15 grams (g) of carbohydrates. Good sources include:

  • 4 ounces (oz) of juice
  • 4 oz of soda (regular, not diet)
  • hard candies
  • glucose tablets

After 15 minutes, check your blood sugar level. If needed, take another 15 g of carbohydrates.

Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about Bydureon Bcise’s side effects.

Will I have side effects if I stop Bydureon BCise treatment?

No, Bydureon BCise isn’t known to cause withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms are side effects that can happen when you stop taking a drug that your body has become dependent on. But these side effects weren’t reported in studies of Bydureon BCise.

Keep in mind that this medication is used to help manage your blood sugar level. So your blood sugar may increase after you stop using the drug.

Before stopping Bydureon BCise, talk with your doctor. They’ll advise when it’s safe to stop using the drug. And they’ll likely want to prescribe another treatment for your condition.

Do I have a higher risk of side effects from Bydureon BCise because of my age?

It’s possible, but it isn’t known for sure.

Side effects of Bydureon BCise in older people are thought to be the same as in younger people. Studies of Bydureon BCise in adults ages 65 years and older didn’t show any differences in side effects for this age group.

But older people may have other health conditions that affect how their bodies respond to Bydureon BCise. (For example, older people may be more likely to have kidney problems.) These health conditions could increase their risk of side effects from this drug.

If you’re concerned about using Bydureon BCise because of your age, talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits. Your doctor can determine if this is an appropriate drug to treat your condition.

Can Bydureon BCise cause eye problems?

It’s not likely. Eye problems weren’t reported as side effects in studies of the drug.

Bydureon BCise isn’t known to make existing eye problems worse. But other medications used to treat type 2 diabetes can worsen certain eye problems. For example, Trulicity (dulaglutide) can worsen diabetic retinopathy in people who already have this condition. (Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes caused by damaged blood vessels in the eye.)

If you’re concerned about your risk of eye problems with Bydureon BCise, talk with your doctor.

Does Bydureon BCise cause hair loss?

Possibly. Hair loss wasn’t seen in studies of Bydureon BCise. But it has been reported in people using this medication since it became available on the market. If you’re concerned about or have experienced hair loss with Bydureon BCise, talk with your doctor.

Consider the following important information before starting Bydureon BCise.

Boxed warning: Thyroid cancer

Bydureon BCise has a boxed warning for the risk of thyroid cancer. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Bydureon BCise may increase your risk of thyroid cancer. This drug should not be used by people with a personal or family history of certain cancers.

To learn more, see the “Tips for managing side effects” section.

Other precautions

Before starting Bydureon BCise treatment, discuss your health history with your doctor. Bydureon BCise may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health.

Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

Alcohol and Bydureon BCise

There aren’t any known safety issues with drinking alcohol while using Bydureon BCise. But it may be best to limit the amount of alcohol you drink during your treatment. Alcohol can increase or decrease your blood sugar level. And this can make it hard for Bydureon BCise to effectively help manage your blood sugar.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how much, if any, is safe for you to drink while using Bydureon BCise.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.