Pasireotide

Is Pasireotide safe?

Trial data: 73% had high blood sugar events

High blood sugar is the dominant problem. In the Cushing's trial, 73 percent of patients had an adverse event linked to it. Many needed new diabetes treatment. Blood sugar rises within days of starting. Otherwise the side effects resemble other somatostatin drugs. They include diarrhea, nausea, belly pain and gallstones. The heart rate can slow, and the QT interval can change. Liver enzymes can rise. The label calls for glucose monitoring before and during treatment. It also calls for periodic gallbladder ultrasound and ECG. ¹²

Cortisol can fall below normal, especially when pasireotide is combined with other cortisol-lowering drugs. So doctors need to watch for signs of adrenal insufficiency, such as weakness and dizziness. ²

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Reference information only, not medical advice. Drawn from the Pasireotide article, fact-checked against the cited sources. No dosing anywhere on this site.