Is Teduglutide safe?
Trial and label safety data
The most common side effects on the label each occurred in 10 percent or more of patients. They are abdominal pain, nausea, upper respiratory infection, abdominal distension, injection-site reactions, vomiting, fluid overload and hypersensitivity. Stoma complications are frequent in patients who have a stoma. In these, the opening of the bowel through the abdominal wall becomes enlarged. 12
Teduglutide stimulates intestinal growth. So the label calls for a colonoscopy before starting and periodically afterward, to look for polyps. The drug is not recommended for people with active gastrointestinal cancer. Intestinal obstruction, gallbladder and pancreatic disease, and fluid overload are also listed warnings. Fluid overload includes heart failure in people with existing heart disease. Patients being weaned off intravenous fluids need monitoring so they do not become dehydrated. 2
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More on Teduglutide
Citations
- Schwartz 2016, Clin Transl Gastroenterol: Long-term teduglutide for intestinal failure with short bowel syndrome (STEPS-2) doi.org
- FDA 2021: Gattex (teduglutide) prescribing information accessdata.fda.gov
Reference information only, not medical advice. Drawn from the Teduglutide article, fact-checked against the cited sources. No dosing anywhere on this site.