Side Effects of Soliqua 100/33: What You Need to Know

If you have type 2 diabetes, your doctor might suggest Soliqua 100/33 (insulin glargine and lixisenatide) as a treatment option for you. Knowing the possible side effects of this drug can help you and your doctor decide whether to add it to your treatment plan.

Soliqua 100/33 is a prescription medication that’s used to treat type 2 diabetes in adults. It should be used along with diet and exercise changes to help improve blood sugar levels.

Soliqua 100/33 is available as a solution that you inject under your skin. If this medication works for you, you will likely use it long term.

For more information about Soliqua 100/33, including details about its uses, see this in-depth article.

Like other drugs, Soliqua 100/33 can cause mild or serious side effects (also called adverse effects). Keep reading to learn more.

Some people may experience mild or serious side effects during their Soliqua 100/33 treatment. Examples of a few of Soliqua 100/33’s commonly reported side effects include:

• infections, such as the common cold
• nausea or diarrhea*
• headache*
• low blood sugar, which can be serious*

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

Keep reading to learn about other possible mild and serious side effects of Soliqua 100/33.

Soliqua 100/33 may cause you to experience mild side effects. Examples of these that have been reported with Soliqua 100/33 include:

• infections, such as the common cold
• nausea or diarrhea*
• headache*
• mild low blood sugar*

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary. And some may be easily managed, too. But if you have any symptoms that are ongoing or that bother you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. And don’t stop using Soliqua 100/33 unless your doctor recommends it.

Soliqua 100/33 may cause mild side effects other than the ones listed above. See the Soliqua 100/33 prescribing information for details.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. If you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Soliqua 100/33, visit MedWatch.

Although most of Soliqua 100/33’s side effects are mild, it’s possible to have serious side effects from receiving this medication. Serious side effects that have been reported with Soliqua 100/33 include:

• pancreatitis (swelling of the pancreas)
• low blood potassium level
• kidney problems
• allergic reaction*
• severe low blood sugar*

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

If you develop serious side effects while using Soliqua 100/33, 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.

Get answers to some frequently asked questions about Soliqua 100/33’s side effects.

Can Soliqua 100/33 cause weight loss?

It’s unlikely for Soliqua 100/33 to cause a noticeable change in your body weight. Weight loss was not a side effect reported in studies of people receiving this drug.

Soliqua 100/33 is made up of two medications: lixisenatide and insulin glargine. Insulin glargine is a long-acting insulin. And insulin is known to cause slight weight gain.

If you notice a significant change in your body weight during Soliqua 100/33 treatment, talk with your doctor. In some cases, weight changes may be due to changes in diet and exercise, which are used with Soliqua 100/33 to treat type 2 diabetes.

How can I prevent side effects from Soliqua 100/33?

You may be able to limit the side effects that you have from Soliqua 100/33.

For example, nausea and diarrhea may occur from using this medication. But you can reduce your risk of these side effects by:

• decreasing the amount of alcohol or caffeine that you drink
• drinking lots of water
• eating foods that aren’t spicy or fatty

One serious side effect of Soliqua 100/33 is kidney problems. You can reduce your risk of these problems by staying hydrated. This means trying to reduce your risk of nausea and diarrhea, which can cause dehydration.

You can reduce your risk of low blood sugar by following the Soliqua 100/33 dosage instructions your doctor gives you. But certain factors can increase your risk of this side effect:

• changes in your weight
• changes to your diet or exercise levels
• starting or stopping any of your treatments

As a result, your doctor may need to adjust your dosage of Soliqua 100/33 to make sure it’s still working for you.

For more suggestions about how to prevent Soliqua 100/33’s side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Can Soliqua 100/33 cause heart problems?

It’s possible that Soliqua 100/33 may cause heart problems if you use it with another type of diabetes medication called thiazolidinediones (TZDs). Using the drugs together may increase your risk of fluid retention, which can cause swelling, especially in your arms or legs. This can increase your risk of heart failure or may make current heart conditions worse.

Examples of TZDs include:

• Actos (pioglitazone)
• Avandia (rosiglitazone)

If you’re using a TZD with Soliqua 100/33, be sure to tell your doctor about any heart problems you may have. They may monitor you more often to be sure that your heart condition isn’t getting worse. Or they may recommend a different treatment option for you.

Learn more about some of the side effects that Soliqua 100/33 may cause.

Low blood sugar

Soliqua 100/33 may cause you to have low blood sugar. This is because the medication works to treat type 2 diabetes by reducing blood sugar. But if it lowers your blood sugar too much, you may experience certain symptoms, such as:

• sweating
• dizziness
• fatigue (low energy)
• heart palpitations (feeling like your heart skipped a beat or made extra beats)
• trembling

What might help

If you develop symptoms of low blood sugar, it’s important to treat it right away. Without treatment, low blood sugar can become very serious, and it may lead to confusion, seizures, or coma.

Before you start Soliqua 100/33 treatment, your doctor will explain how to treat low blood sugar. They may recommend that you test your blood sugar levels more often, especially when you first start using Soliqua 100/33.

For low blood sugar, the American Diabetes Association recommends consuming 15 grams of carbohydrates. Then you check your blood sugar again in 15 minutes to see if it has gone back to normal. Examples of things that can contain 15 grams of carbohydrates include:

• glucose tablets
• 4 ounces of regular soda or juice
• 1 tablespoon of honey or sugar
• hard candies

If you have low blood sugar often when using Soliqua 100/33, talk with your doctor. They may recommend decreasing your dosage so that you don’t have this side effect as frequently.

Nausea or diarrhea

You may develop nausea or diarrhea from Soliqua 100/33. In studies, these were both common side effects reported by people receiving this medication.

What might help

Typically, nausea and diarrhea can occur when you first start to use this medication. Over the first 2 weeks of treatment, these side effects should ease.

If you have nausea or diarrhea that is bothersome, talk with your doctor. They may recommend ways to reduce your symptoms, such as:

• decreasing the amount of alcohol or caffeine that you drink
• drinking lots of water
• eating foods that aren’t spicy or fatty

Headache

You may have headaches from Soliqua 100/33. In studies, headaches were a common side effect that people using this drug experienced.

What might help

If you have headaches from Soliqua 100/33, talk with your doctor. They may be able to recommend an over-the-counter pain medication, such as Tylenol (acetaminophen), to ease your headaches. Or they may suggest other treatments.

Allergic reaction

Like most drugs, Soliqua 100/33 can cause an allergic reaction in some people.

Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

• skin rash
• itchiness
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
• swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
• swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. To manage your symptoms, they may suggest an over-the-counter antihistamine that you take by mouth, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine). Or they may recommend a product that you apply to your skin, such as hydrocortisone cream.

If your doctor confirms that you had a mild allergic reaction to Soliqua 100/33, they’ll decide if you should continue using it.

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 that you had a serious allergic reaction to Soliqua 100/33, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Keeping track of side effects

During your Soliqua 100/33 treatment, consider keeping notes about any side effects you’re having. Then, you can share this information with your doctor. This is especially helpful when you first start taking new drugs or using a combination of treatments.

Your side effect notes can include things such as:

• what dosage of the drug you were using when you had the side effect
• how soon after starting that dosage you experienced it
• the specific symptoms of the side effect
• how it affected your daily activities
• any other medications you were also taking
• any other information you feel is important

Keeping notes and sharing them with your doctor will help your doctor learn more about how Soliqua 100/33 affects you. And your doctor can use this information to adjust your treatment plan if needed.

Soliqua 100/33 may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. Talk with your doctor about your health history before you start Soliqua 100/33 treatment. The list below includes factors to consider.

Kidney problems. Soliqua 100/33 can cause kidney problems and may make existing ones worse. It can also cause nausea or diarrhea. These side effects may lead to dehydration, which can also worsen kidney problems. Before you start using this drug, discuss any kidney problems you have with your doctor. They may monitor your kidneys more often or recommend a different treatment option for you.

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Soliqua 100/33 or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe it. Ask your doctor what other medications are better options for you.

History of pancreatitis, gallstones, or alcohol use disorder. If you have a history of pancreatitis, gallstones, or alcohol use disorder, be sure to tell your doctor before starting Soliqua 100/33 treatment. All of these conditions can increase your risk of pancreatitis. Since Soliqua 100/33 may also cause pancreatitis, your risk may be further increased. If you have had any of these conditions, your doctor may recommend more frequent monitoring or a different treatment option for you.

Slowed stomach emptying. Soliqua 100/33 can worsen slowed stomach emptying. Before starting treatment, tell your doctor if you have this condition. They may monitor you more often or recommend a different treatment option for you.

Heart failure. Using Soliqua 100/33 with a thiazolidinedione (TZD) medication can cause or worsen heart failure. If you have heart failure and you use these medications, your doctor may monitor your condition more often. Or they may recommend a medication other than the TZD for you.

Liver problems. If you have a liver condition, tell your doctor before starting Soliqua 100/33 treatment. They may recommend monitoring your liver more often throughout treatment.

Alcohol use and Soliqua 100/33

Your doctor will likely recommend that you avoid alcohol during Soliqua 100/33 treatment. This is because alcohol may change the way that Soliqua 100/33 works to manage your blood sugar levels. If you drink alcohol while using Soliqua 100/33, you may develop high or low blood sugar.

In addition, both Soliqua 100/33 and alcohol can increase your risk of pancreatitis.

Talk with your doctor about how much alcohol, if any, is safe for you to drink during your treatment.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while receiving Soliqua 100/33

It’s not known if Soliqua 100/33 is safe to use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant or breastfeed, talk with your doctor before starting treatment.

You may experience side effects from using Soliqua 100/33. Usually, side effects from this medication are mild. But in rare cases, they may be severe. Before starting treatment, you should discuss the possible side effects of this medication with your doctor. Here are some questions that you may wish to ask them:

• Do I have an increased risk of side effects due to my other medical conditions?
• What should I do if I become pregnant while using this medication?
• How can I prevent side effects from occurring?
• What is the best way for me to treat the side effects of this medication?

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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.