Tresiba side effects

This article describes possible side effects of Tresiba injection. You can explore this overview article to learn more about Tresiba, including the drug’s uses, side effects, and more.

Tresiba is a brand-name medication that comes as an injection. It isn’t available in a generic version. This article describes possible side effects of Tresiba.

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More common side effects of Tresiba

Tresiba injection may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.

Commonly reported side effects of Tresiba injection include:

• injection site reactions
• itching
• low blood sugar levels*
• swelling of the hands or feet
• weight gain*

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of Tresiba in detail” section below.

Mild side effects of Tresiba

Tresiba may cause certain mild side effects. Usually, mild side effects are temporary and can be easily managed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.

Mild side effects of Tresiba injection that occurred in studies include:

• diarrhea
• headache
• high blood sugar levels
• low blood sugar levels*
• injection site reactions
• itching
• skin thickening or lumps at the injection site*
• swelling of the hands or feet
• weight gain*

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of Tresiba in detail” section below.

Tresiba injection may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.

Serious side effects of Tresiba

Tresiba may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from Tresiba injection, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911 or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.

After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Tresiba.

Serious side effects of Tresiba injection that occurred in studies include:

• low potassium levels
• severe low blood sugar levels*

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of Tresiba in detail” section below.

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Allergic reaction

For some people, Tresiba injection can cause an allergic reaction.

In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious. You can learn more about possible symptoms in this article.

Ways to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Tresiba injection, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.

Common questions about side effects of Tresiba

Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of Tresiba injection. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

How do the side effects of Tresiba compare to the side effects of Lantus?

Tresiba and Lantus cause the same types of side effects. These are both insulin drugs that have the same list of side effects. Lantus doesn’t cause any unique side effects compared to Tresiba.

To learn more about Lantus side effects, you can talk to your doctor or pharmacist or explore this article.

Does Tresiba cause hair loss or side effects that affect the eyes ?

No, Tresiba isn’t likely to cause hair loss or side effects that affect the eyes. These side effects weren’t reported in studies of Tresiba. So, they aren’t expected side effects of this drug.

But Tresiba can cause low blood sugar levels, and low blood sugar levels can cause vision problems. This includes blurry vision or double vision. Eye problems can also happen when your blood sugar levels stay too high for too long. This causes damage to the eyes that can affect your vision.

It is also important to note that diabetes can be a cause of hair loss. Tresiba is prescribed for diabetes. Managing your blood sugar levels with Tresiba can help reverse the hair loss.

If you’re having hair loss or problems with your eyes or vision, tell your doctor. They can determine the most likely cause and suggest ways to manage these problems.

Can Tresiba cause pancreatitis or erectile dysfunction?

No, pancreatitis and erectile dysfunction (ED) aren’t expected side effects of Tresiba. These problems weren’t reported by people taking Tresiba in studies.

It’s possible for certain other oral diabetes medications to cause pancreatitis. So, if you take any diabetes medications by mouth, talk with your doctor about the risk of pancreatitis.

There are several possible causes for ED, and diabetes can be one of them. High blood sugar levels can damage the nerves that help with erections. You can’t reverse any damage that’s already happened.

But managing your blood sugar levels with Tresiba can help keep ED from getting worse. Talk with your doctor about ED to find out how best to manage it.

Side effects of Tresiba in detail

Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of Tresiba injection.

Low blood sugar levels

In studies, low blood sugar levels were very common in people using Tresiba injection. This side effect is usually mild, but may be serious in some cases.

Almost all people in studies of Tresiba experienced at least one episode of mild low blood sugar levels. And severe low blood sugar levels were very common. Severe low blood sugar levels mean you aren’t able to manage the episode yourself. Someone else has to help you manage it. When it’s severe, low blood sugar levels can be life threatening.

Symptoms of low blood sugar levels may include:

• blurry vision
• confusion
• dizziness
• fast heart rate
• headache
• hunger
• mood changes
• shakiness
• slurred speech
• sweating

Severe low blood sugar levels can cause seizures, loss of consciousness, and coma.

Certain factors can increase the risk of low blood sugar levels with Tresiba injection. These include:

• changes in what you eat or when you eat
• changes in how much exercise or physical activity you do
• changes in the other diabetes medications you take
• changes in your Tresiba dosage

Ways to manage

Your doctor or other healthcare professional will talk with you about monitoring your blood sugar levels while taking Tresiba. They’ll teach you how to check your levels, when to check them, and how to manage low levels. This may involve using a blood glucose meter or a continuous blood glucose monitor.

If you have concerns about low blood sugar levels, tell your doctor. They’ll likely recommend working with a certified diabetes educator to learn more about managing your blood sugar. This can help you feel more confident about managing episodes of low blood sugar.

Skin thickening or lumps at the injection site

In studies, skin thickening or lumpiness at the injection site was uncommon in people taking Tresiba injection. This side effect is usually mild.

Skin thickening or lumpiness at the injection site is called lipodystrophy. It’s most common in people who use insulin, such as Tresiba, for a long time.

While it’s usually mild, it can affect how your body absorbs Tresiba. Injecting Tresiba into an area that has lipodystrophy can make it so that your body doesn’t absorb the drug. This can cause problems with your blood sugar levels.

Ways to manage

To help prevent lipodystrophy, your doctor or other healthcare professional will show you how to rotate injection sites. This means you’ll pick a new spot of skin within the area you inject Tresiba for each dose. Also, don’t inject Tresiba into skin that is bruised, tender, damaged, or scarred.

If you develop lipodystrophy, don’t inject Tresiba in that area. Talk with your doctor to learn more.

Weight gain

In studies, weight gain was reported in people using Tresiba injection. This side effect is usually mild.

Weight gain from Tresiba is due to its anabolic effect. This means insulin, the active ingredient in Tresiba, helps carry nutrients to aid in building muscle while also preventing muscle tissue from breaking down. So, it’s common to see some weight gain when you start an insulin, such as Tresiba.

Ways to manage

If you have concerns about weight gain after starting Tresiba or during treatment, tell your doctor. They can determine the most likely cause and suggest ways to manage it.

Warnings for Tresiba

Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before using Tresiba injection.

Warnings

It may not be safe for you to use Tresiba injection if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other things may also affect whether Tresiba injection is a safe treatment option for you.

Before using Tresiba injection, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Things to consider include:

• kidney problems
• liver disease
• past problems with low blood sugar levels
• past allergic reaction to Tresiba

Tresiba and pregnancy

In general, Tresiba injection is considered safe to take during pregnancy. That said, check with your doctor about whether they feel it’s safe for you specifically.

Tresiba and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether Tresiba injection should be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before using this medication.

Tresiba and alcohol

Tresiba injection is known to interact with alcohol.

Drinking alcohol while taking Tresiba can cause your blood sugar levels to go too low or too high.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it during your treatment with Tresiba injection.

Disclaimer: Optum Perks 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.