title: Potential side effects to GLP-1 agonists: understanding their safety and tolerability.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1Rx) agonists might elicit unwelcome side effects and concerns have recently been raised about their safety.
  
  
  METHODS
  Available evidence about safety, tolerability and potential adverse events relative to GLP-1Rx agonists presently used. We searched the MEDLINE database using the terms: 'GLP-1 receptor agonists', 'Incretin therapy side effects', 'exenatide', ' liraglutide', 'exenatide long-acting release', 'lixisenatide'. Articles were selected on the basis of the study design and importance, in the light of authors' clinical experience and personal judgment. The main safety concern about GLP-1Rx agonists use is the possible association with increased risk of pancreatitis and/or tumors. This concern stems mainly from limited observations in animal models not confirmed in similar studies. Furthermore, clinical studies reporting association between GLP-1Rx agonist use and pancreatitis/cancer are marred by several biases and both clinical trials and post-marketing analyses failed to demonstrate a significant association.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As stated by both FDA and EMA, the safety concerns emerged so far about GLP-1RX agonists should not affect present prescribing habits. Thus, although a strict data monitoring must be encouraged, they should not prevent access to the benefits of an innovative treatment, such as GLP-1Rx agonists use, to a large diabetic population still confronted with unmet needs.
authors.affiliation: G. d'Annunzio University, Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences , Edificio CeSi, Room 271, Via Colle dell'Ara 1, 66100 Chieti , Italy +39 0871 541339 ; +39 0871 541307 ; consoli@unich.it.
authors.forename: Agostino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Consoli
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Formoso
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000077270:Exenatide; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000067757:Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor; D006801:Humans; D000069450:Liraglutide; D010455:Peptides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018027:Receptors, Glucagon / Q000819:agonists*; D014688:Venoms / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000067758:Glucagon-Like Peptide-2 Receptor
chemical_list: D000077270:Exenatide; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1; D000067757:Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor; D000069450:Liraglutide; D010455:Peptides; D018027:Receptors, Glucagon; D014688:Venoms; C000593833:GLP1R protein, human; C479460:lixisenatide; D000067758:Glucagon-Like Peptide-2 Receptor
keywords: GLP-1 receptor agonists; cancer risk; incretin-based therapy; side effects