What Are the Worst Side Effects of Gemtesa? (+ Other Patient FAQs)
speciality medications
If you’ve been prescribed Gemtesa, or are researching it as a possible treatment for your overactive bladder (OAB), you’ll probably also find yourself Googling a whole world of related questions.
Trust us: You’re not alone.
We hear patients ask those questions, time and again.
“Does Gemtesa cause hair loss?”
“What are the worst side effects of Gemtesa?”
You want to know the answers to these questions, and we get it.
When starting any new medication, it’s normal to feel uncertain, especially when it comes to side effects that could affect your quality of life.
And while Gemtesa (vibegron) is considered safe and well-tolerated for most patients, no medication is entirely free of risk.
If you’ve got questions about Getmesa, we have answers.
We’ll go through the most commonly searched concerns about Gemtesa, including which side effects are most likely, which are rare but worth knowing, and how to talk with your provider if something feels off.
We’ll also address concerns specific to older adults and offer advice on when it might be time to switch medications.
Here’s everything you need to know.
What Is Gemtesa, in the First Place?
Gemtesa (vibegron) is an OAB medication.
It’s prescription-strength, and it’s a med that most people will take once daily. Providers generally prescribe it to help OAB patients reduce frustrating symptoms that may detract from their quality of life – symptoms like frequent urination, intense and sudden urges to go, and any situations that involve urinating.
Gemtesa does this by relaxing the bladder muscle, which helps it flex a bit more (and, therefore, reduces urinary urgency).
It does so by acting as a beta-3 adrenergic agonist, which is a different type of biological mechanism than other, older OAB medications tended to leverage.
Gemtesa is a relatively new medication. It was approved for use treating OAB patients in 2020. Patients tend to choose this newer drug precisely because it uses that newer biological mechanism. This newer way, for most patients, comes with fewer side effects than those associated with older drugs, like dry mouth or cognitive issues.
It’s widely known that Gemtesa is a safe, effective option for treating OAB.
Still, like all medications, Gemtesa can cause side effects – some common, some less so.
That’s precisely why this guide exists: to help you understand what’s normal, what’s rare, and what to watch for.
How Much Does Gemtesa Cost?
Interested in using Gemtesa to treat your OAB?
In the United States, patients who pay full price for Gemtesa might experience something of a sticker shock the first time they see the price.
It’s not uncommon to pay up to $620.00 per month for this OAB treatment.
Fortunately, you have other options.
For example, here, through NorthWestPharmacy.com, you can buy that same month of brand-name Gemtesa for about $105.00 per month – or savings of up to 83%.
What Are the Most Common Side Effects of Gemtesa?
The most common side effects of Gemtesa include:
- Headache
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Dry mouth
- Fatigue
- Nasopharyngitis (which translates to a cold-like congestion, or sore throat
In the vast majority of cases, these side effects are quite mild.
They should also go away as your body gets used to the new medication.
Some people may notice, for example, that they’re fatigued or experience a dry mouth in the initial weeks after they start taking Gemtesa, but those symptoms fade by month two or three.
That said, even though these side effects are (usually!) mild and temporary, if they’re interfering with your daily life, talk to your doctor!
They may be able to help you find a way to stay with the medication, if that’s your goal, by recommending adjustments to your dosing regimen.
What Are the Worst (But Rarest) Side Effects of Gemtesa?
Let’s address the elephant in the room:
What’s the worst that could happen?
While serious side effects with Gemtesa are rare, they can occur.
The key is knowing what to watch for, and when to call your doctor.
Here are some of the less common but potentially more serious issues associated with Gemtesa that you shouldn’t worry about, but should simply know are a possibility:
- Increased blood pressure
- Urinary retention
- Liver enzyme elevation
If you believe you’re experiencing any of these more serious side effects, talk to your doctor at once.
Does Gemtesa Cause Hair Loss?
One of the primary things people search for about Gemtesa and its symptoms surrounds hair loss.
And that makes sense. Your hair is a very personal part of yourself, and you do need to know if a medication you’re taking will affect your hair!
Fortunately, there is no clinical data specifically linking Gemtesa to hair loss.
That said, causation is not correlation. Sometimes, some of the reasons why people may take Gemtesa – or completely unrelated things that tend to happen in similar seasons of life – are associated with hair loss.
For example, hair thinning or excessive shedding may occur for a variety of reasons unrelated to Gemtesa, including:
- Hormonal changes (especially during menopause)
- Thyroid disorders
- Nutrient deficiencies (like iron or vitamin D)
- Stress or illness
- Use of other medications, such as certain antidepressants or blood pressure drugs
If you do start Gemtesa and, afterward, do notice changes in your hair, definitely bring that up with your doctor.
They may be able to help you rule out other causes or recommend a scalp evaluation, blood tests, or changes in treatment if needed.
Does Gemtesa Cause Weight Gain?
People also tend to ask questions about Gemtesa and any associated weight changes.
Much like hair loss, Gemtesa doesn’t seem to be associated with weight gain – at least, not with the type of rigorous evidence required to make that link in clinical studies.
Weight gain isn’t even identified as a reported side effect, as of this writing.
This is in specific contrast to other, older OAB medications that do tend to come with bloating, fluid retention, and metabolic slowdowns.
Of course, as with hair loss, just because weight gain is not specifically linked with Gemtesa does not mean that other changes happening in your life won’t lead to weight changes.
If you start taking Gemtesa and realize that your weight is changing, talk to your doctor. They’ll be able to help you take stock of what’s happening and, if necessary, help you work through any lifestyle or treatment changes necessary to help you reach your health goals.
Does Gemtesa Cause Fatigue?
Fatigue is a known side effect of Gemtesa.
Fortunately, it’s not that common.
Researchers did see it crop up as a reported side effect in Gemtesa’s clinical trials, but it wasn’t reported as frequently as Gemtesa’s other side effects.
The type of tiredness associated with Gemtesa tends to be:
- Mild
- Most noticeable in the first few weeks of treatment
- Temporary (it often improves as your body adjusts to the medication)
Just because this fatigue should be mild, though, doesn’t mean it won’t interfere with your daily life – or be something that you and your doctor shouldn’t take seriously.
Talk to your doctor if this tiredness becomes a burden for you. Your doctor may be able to help you move forward by ruling out other possible sources of fatigue, such as:
- Poor sleep (especially in those whose OAB symptoms disturb their rest)
- Dehydration
- Iron deficiency or low B12 levels
- Coexisting medications (like blood pressure or allergy drugs)
Importantly for this scenario, there is, sometimes, another source of fatigue unique to OAB: Sleep interruptions due to waking up to go to the bathroom.
Often, that particular source of sleep disruption improves only once the medication starts working.
So, if you’re feeling tired during the adjustment period, don’t jump to conclusions too quickly.
It may be a short-term hurdle on the way to longer-term relief.
Does Gemtesa Affect Blood Pressure?
This is a smart question, especially for patients already taking medications for hypertension or heart disease.
Gemtesa does not have a documented or significant impact on blood pressure, for most patients.
However, vibegron, Gemtesa’s active ingredient, does act on beta-3 adrenergic receptors – which can be involved with various blood pressure biological mechanisms.
In other words, while the influence is not direct, the influence could indirectly be there.
Your provider will let you know if there is cause for concern in your unique case. If you are at a heightened risk, perhaps because you:
- Have uncontrolled high blood pressure
- Are taking multiple medications that affect the cardiovascular system, or
- Are a senior with preexisting heart conditions,
Your doctor may recommend that you monitor your blood pressure at home, especially while you’re starting Gemtesa.
A home cuff and a simple symptom journal (noting headaches, dizziness, or heart palpitations) can be helpful in those first few weeks.
Is Gemtesa Safe for Seniors?
Yes! Generally speaking, Gemtesa is considered a safe medication for older adults.
In fact, since it helps people avoid anticholinergic effects often associated with other OAB meds, Gemtesa is considered an appealing option for patients in their golden years.
Anticholinergic effects and medications, like oxybutynin and tolterodine, that block important neurotransmitters, can be quite risky for seniors.
Taking them can, sometimes, lead to:
- Confusion
- Dry mouth and constipation
- Increased fall risk
- Worsening memory or “brain fog”
Gemtesa doesn’t affect the brain. Instead, it just stimulates the bladder, making it relax without interfering with a person’s cognition.
Still, no medication is one-size-fits-all. Even while taking Gemtesa, seniors may experience:
- More intense dry mouth or fatigue
- Sensitivity to even mild medication shifts
- Worsening of unrelated symptoms due to polypharmacy or dehydration
To reduce risks, older adults should:
- Start with the lowest effective dose
- Drink enough water (while balancing bladder urgency)
- Avoid combining Gemtesa with other sedating or anticholinergic drugs
- Report any mental status changes immediately!
What Can I Do If I’m Experiencing Side Effects from Gemtesa?
If you’ve just started to take Gemtesa, it’s a (very!) good idea to be on the lookout for any side effects, big or small.
This can result in a form of observation bias, of course – e.g., you start to note symptoms because you’re looking for them – but that’s okay. Better to be safe than overlook potential risks.
If you do start to notice uncomfortable or new symptoms shortly after you begin the medication, remember not to panic.
Don’t ignore those symptoms, either.
Here are a few steps you can take to help you document and learn from your side effects as efficiently as possible.
1. Track Your Symptoms!
Keep a simple journal that includes:
- When you take your dose
- Any symptoms (time, severity, duration)
- Your hydration levels and fluid intake
- Any other medications or supplements taken
Write anything down, big or small. Having this resource will help you and your provider spot patterns and make evidence-based adjustments.
2. Don’t Just Stop Taking Gemtesa
It might seem counterintuitive, but simply stopping your medication can make the problem worse, not better.
If Gemtesa really doesn’t seem to be serving you and you feel like you need to make a change quickly, ask your provider if:
- A dosage change could help
- Supportive care (like dry mouth lozenges or fatigue management) could ease symptoms
- A switch to another OAB medication (like Myrbetriq or an anticholinergic) might be better suited to your needs
3. Stay Hydrated (Strategically!)
When you’re treating urinary urgency, you might not assume that prioritizing proper hydration could help you feel better.
And it’s true that overdoing it on the water consumption might not help you feel your best.
But taking the time and effort to drink enough water can actually reduce many side effects – especially dry mouth and fatigue.
The trick is timing: sip water throughout the day, and reduce your liquid intake about 2 hours before bedtime to minimize nighttime urgency.
Don’t Let Side Effect Fears Stop You from Getting Relief!
If you’re suffering from OAB and are interested in trying a medication that won’t come with the neurological side effects common in older options, Gemtesa can certainly be worth looking into.
But if you’re one of the many Googling worst-case scenarios or specific symptoms like hair loss or weight gain, you deserve honest, thorough answers.
Here’s what we know:
- Most of Gemtesa’s side effects are mild and short-lived
- Serious side effects are rare, but should be watched for
- Fatigue and dry mouth are the most common complaints
- There’s no current evidence linking Gemtesa to hair loss or weight gain
- Gemtesa is considered a safer OAB option for seniors
And, above all, you’re not overreacting by asking questions.
Advocacy starts with curiosity, and the more you know, the more empowered you’ll feel to take the next best step for your health.
Looking for reliable, accessible information about Gemtesa? Start by checking out our Gemtesa information page, and if you have any further questions, reach out to our friendly customer service representatives.
The entire team at NorthWestPharmacy.com is looking forward to supporting you and your health journey.
