As with any medicine, there are possible side effects with pramlintide. However, not everyone who takes pramlintide will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate the medication well. When side effects do occur, in most cases they are minor and either require no treatment or can be easily treated by you or your healthcare provider. Serious side effects are less common.
The most common side effects of pramlintide include:
(Click Side Effects of Pramlintide to learn about specific side effects of pramlintide, including some of the more serious side effects that you should report to your healthcare provider.)
How Does Pramlintide Work?
Pramlintide works by mimicking the actions of amylin in the body. Amylin is a hormone that is made and secreted, along with insulin, by the pancreas. In people without diabetes, the level of amylin (along with insulin) increases in response to higher blood sugar levels after meals. When the pancreas becomes damaged (as a result of type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes), it can no longer produce sufficient amounts of insulin and amylin.
The amylin actions that pramlintide mimics include:
Slowing the emptying of food from the stomach (which slows the increase in blood sugar after meals)
Decreasing the amount of glucose (sugar) that the liver produces
Working in the brain to help people feel fuller sooner, resulting in a decrease in appetite and food intake.
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