Soliqua 100/33 (insulin glargine/lixisenatide) is a brand-name injection pen prescribed for type 2 diabetes in adults. As with other drugs, Soliqua 100/33 can cause side effects, such as weight gain and low blood sugar.
Soliqua 100/33 can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. But if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who used Soliqua 100/33 in clinical trials:
- upper respiratory infections, such as the common cold
- runny or stuffy nose
- low blood sugar*
- headache*
- problems with digestion,* such as nausea or diarrhea
* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics.”
Mild side effects can occur with Soliqua 100/33 use. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to the drug’s prescribing information.
Mild side effects that people using Soliqua 33/100 have reported include:
- nausea and vomiting
- upper respiratory infections, such as the common cold
- runny or stuffy nose
- injection site reactions, such as pain, swelling, or bruising
- weight gain
- low blood sugar*
- headache*
- problems with digestion*
These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. But if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while using Soliqua 100/33 and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.
* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics.”
Soliqua 100/33 may cause serious side effects. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to its prescribing information.
If you develop serious side effects while using Soliqua 100/33, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.
Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:
- hypokalemia (low potassium level), which may include symptoms such as:
- muscle weakness, cramping, or twitching
- nausea and vomiting
- fatigue
- increased thirst
- sudden kidney injury, which may include symptoms such as:
- urinating less frequently
- weakness
- pancreatitis,* which may include symptoms such as:
- sudden pain in your upper middle abdomen
- loss of appetite
- nausea and vomiting
- fever
- gallstones and cholecystitis (inflammation in your gallbladder),* which may cause symptoms such as:
- fever
- pain in your upper right abdomen
- severe low blood sugar†
* This side effect did not occur during clinical trials of Soliqua 100/33 but has been reported with lixisenatide (an active ingredient in Soliqua 100/33).
† For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics.”
ALLERGIC REACTIONFor some people, Soliqua 100/33 can cause an allergic reaction. It’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in the drug’s clinical trials. However, allergic reaction has been reported since Soliqua was approved for use.
In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious.
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 Soliqua 100/33, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.
Soliqua 100/33 may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.
Does Soliqua cause weight loss?
It’s not likely that Soliqua 100/33 will cause weight loss. People taking this drug in clinical trials didn’t report this side effect. Keep in mind that the active ingredients in Soliqua 100/33 have links to both weight gain and weight loss.
Soliqua 100/33 contains insulin glargine and lixisenatide. Insulin glargine is a type of long-acting insulin. Weight gain is a common side effect of all types of insulin, including insulin glargine. However, it’s unclear whether weight gain was reported in clinical trials of Soliqua 100/33.
Lixisenatide belongs to a group of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists. GLP-1 agonists are known to cause weight loss. Other GLP-1 agonist examples include semaglutide (Ozempic) and dulaglutide (Trulicity).
With Soliqua 100/33, you may not experience any changes in your weight since one of its active ingredients (insulin glargine) may cause weight gain, and the other (lixisenatide) may cause weight loss.
If you’re concerned about changes in your weight while using Soliqua 100/33, talk with your doctor.
How do the side effects of Soliqua compare with those of other types of insulin?
Some of the side effects from Soliqua 100/33 may be the same as side effects from other types of insulin. For example, low blood sugar is a possible side effect of Soliqua 100/33. And low blood sugar is the most common side effect of all insulin medications. To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effect specifics” section.
Additionally, Soliqua 100/33 may cause weight gain and swelling in the arms or legs. These side effects are common with insulin. Even though they weren’t reported in clinical trials of Soliqua 100/33, they’re still possible.
To learn more about the side effects of Soliqua 100/33 compared to other types of insulin, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
How do side effects of Soliqua vs. Ozempic compare?
Soliqua 100/33 and Ozempic are both prescribed to manage blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. Since both medications contain a GLP-1 agonist, Soliqua 100/33 and Ozempic can cause similar side effects. Soliqua 100/33 also contains insulin glargine, which can cause some side effects that Ozempic is not likely to cause.
The table below details a few shared and different side effects of Soliqua 100/33 compared with those of Ozempic. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’d like to learn more about how these medications compare.
| Side effect | Reported with Soliqua 100/33 | Reported with Ozempic |
|---|---|---|
| nausea and vomiting | ✓ | ✓ |
| indigestion | ✓ | ✓ |
| constipation or diarrhea | ✓ | ✓ |
| low blood potassium | ✓ | — |
| pancreatitis | ✓ | ✓ |
| boxed warning: risk of thyroid cancer | — | ✓ |
Note: A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. It alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous. For more information about Ozempic’s boxed warning, see the drug’s prescribing information.
How do side effects of Soliqua vs. Trulicity compare?
Soliqua 100/33 and Trulicity are both prescribed to manage blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. Trulicity contains dulaglutide and belongs to the GLP-1 agonist drug class. Soliqua 100/33 also contains a GLP-1 agonist (lixisenatide). But Soliqua 100/33 also contains insulin glargine, which is a type of insulin. Based on their active ingredients, Soliqua 100/33 and Trulicity may cause similar side effects and different ones as well.
The table below compares side effects of Soliqua 100/33 versus Trulicity. If you’d like to learn more about how these medications are alike and different, talk with your pharmacist or doctor.
| Side effect | Reported with Soliqua 100/33 | Reported with Trulicity |
|---|---|---|
| nausea and vomiting | ✓ | ✓ |
| constipation or diarrhea | ✓ | ✓ |
| sudden kidney injury | ✓ | ✓ |
| low blood potassium | ✓ | — |
| pancreatitis | ✓ | ✓ |
| boxed warning: risk of thyroid cancer | — | ✓ |
Note: A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. For more information about Trulicity’s boxed warning, see the drug’s prescribing information.
How can I prevent injection site reactions?
To help lower your risk of injection site reactions with Soliqua 100/33, it’s important to rotate injection sites each time you administer the drug. You can inject Soliqua 100/33 into your thigh, abdomen, or upper arm.
Injection site reactions can happen around the area of skin where you inject the drug. Symptoms include:
Soliqua 100/33 may cause lipodystrophy (skin dimpling) or lipohypertrophy (skin thickening) around the injection site.
As with all injectable medications, you may have injection site reactions with Soliqua 100/33. But it’s unclear whether these side effects occurred in the drug’s clinical trials.
If you’re concerned about injection site reactions, talk with your doctor. They can suggest ways to help relieve this side effect.
Learn more about some of the side effects that Soliqua 100/33 may cause.
Low blood sugar
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) may occur with Soliqua 100/33. Both mild and severe hypoglycemia were reported in clinical trials of the drug. But mild episodes were much more common than severe hypoglycemia.
Symptoms of low blood sugar can include:
Risk factors for low blood sugar
Your risk of low blood sugar increases with Soliqua 100/33 if you use it together with other medications that lower blood sugar. The risk is highest if you use Soliqua 100/33 with other insulins, such as insulin aspart (Novolog, others). Taking a sulfonylurea, such as glipizide (Glucotrol XL), in combination with Soliqua 100/33 can also raise the risk.
Other factors that increase your risk for low blood sugar from Soliqua include:
- using a higher Soliqua 100/33 dosage than prescribed
- missing or skipping meals
- changing your level of physical activity
- consuming alcohol, especially without food
- having a liver or kidney condition, such as liver or kidney failure
What you can do
Your doctor will advise you on how often you should check your blood sugar level while using Soliqua 100/33. This can help prevent low blood sugar. Your doctor will also review all the medications you take and other medical conditions you may have.
If you have symptoms of low blood sugar while using Soliqua 100/33, you should drink or eat fast-acting carbohydrates. They can quickly raise your blood sugar level. Examples include:
- piece of candy
- glass of juice
- glucose tablet
- lump of table sugar
A diet soda or a diet or sugar-free candy will not treat hypoglycemia.
It’s important that you do not use Soliqua 100/33 during an episode of low blood sugar. The drug could lower your blood sugar even more and worsen your symptoms.
Talk with your doctor if you have low blood sugar while taking Soliqua 100/33. They can help you understand what’s causing it and suggest ways to avoid another episode.
Headache
Headache may occur during treatment with Soliqua 100/33. This was a common side effect in clinical trials of the drug.
Keep in mind that headache can be a symptom of low blood sugar, which is another side effect of Soliqua 100/33. For details, see “Low blood sugar.”
What you can do
If you have bothersome headaches while using Soliqua 100/33, talk with your doctor. They can recommend ways to relieve this side effect. For example, they may suggest you take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol).
Problems with digestion
Problems with digestion are possible with Soliqua 100/33. These include nausea and diarrhea, which were common in clinical trials of the drug.
Less commonly, other problems with digestion may occur with Soliqua 100/33. These include:
- constipation
- vomiting
- indigestion
- abdominal pain
- flatulence (gas)
- bloating
- loss of appetite
What you can do
Problems with digestion are more likely to occur after you first start using Soliqua 100/33. These side effects generally go away after your body gets used to the drug.
If you have diarrhea or vomiting while using Soliqua 100/33, it’s important to stay hydrated. Drinking fluids such as Pedialyte or Gatorade can keep you hydrated.
Talk with your doctor if you have problems with digestion while using Soliqua 100/33. They may recommend medications to help treat your symptoms.
Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Soliqua 100/33. This drug may not be the right treatment for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. The conditions and factors to consider include:
- kidney condition, such as chronic kidney disease
- liver condition, such as cirrhosis
- gastroparesis or other problems with digestion
- pancreatitis
- gallstones
- allergic reaction to this or a similar drug
- heart failure
- pregnancy
- breastfeeding
- alcohol consumption
Disclaimer: Medical News Today 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.