Brand names: Byetta™
- Drug Forms:
- Exenatide Injection (below)
- Exenatide Solution for injection
Exenatide Injection
What is Exenatide Injection?
What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
• severe kidney disease or if you are on dialysis
• severe problems with your stomach (gastroparesis, ileus, blockage) or food digestion, or stomach diseases such as colitis, Crohn's disease or other inflammatory bowel diseases
• an unusual reaction to Exenatide, medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding
How should this medicine be used?
Exenatide comes in a pre-filled pen that you use to inject the medication. Read the accompanying pen user manual to find instructions for using the Byetta™ pre-filled pen to inject the medication. You must do a 'New Pen Set-Up' (see user manual) ONE TIME ONLY, when using a NEW Byetta™ pre-filled pen for the first time. If you do this 'New Pen Set-Up' each time before each injection, you will run out of medicine before 30 days. Pen needles are not included and must be purchased separately. Ask your healthcare provider which needle length and gauge is best for you. Ask your health care provider how to use the pen if you are not sure.
Exenatide is injected, twice a day, at any time within the 60 minutes (1 hour) BEFORE your morning and evening meals. Do not inject exenatide after your meal. Exenatide cannot be used instead of insulin; it is not a substitute for insulin.
Do not share your exenatide (Byetta™) medication pen or needles with anyone.
Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.
What drug(s) may interact with Exenatide?
• antibiotics (drugs used for infections) or birth control pills. Exenatide slows stomach emptying and can affect medicines that need to pass through the stomach quickly. Ask your healthcare provider if the time at which you take any of your oral medicines (for example, birth control pills, antibiotics) should be changed.
• digoxin (Lanoxin®)
• lovastatin (Mevacor®)
• sulfonylureas (examples include: glyburide, glipizide, DiaBeta®, Glucotrol®, Amaryl®) or other medications for diabetes. When exenatide is used with a medicine that contains a sulfonylurea, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can occur.
Many medications may cause changes (increase or decrease) in blood sugar, these include:
• alcohol containing beverages
• angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors), often used for high blood pressure or heart problems (examples include captopril, enalapril, lisinopril)
• antiretroviral protease inhibitors (examples include indinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir)
• aspirin and aspirin-like drugs
• beta-blockers, often used for high blood pressure or heart problems (examples include atenolol, metoprolol, propranolol)
• certain medicines used for mental depression, emotional, or psychotic disturbances
• chromium
• cisapride
• clonidine
• cyclosporine
• diazoxide
• epinephrine
• female hormones, such as estrogens, progestins, or contraceptive pills
• glucagon
• growth hormone (somatropin)
• guanethidine
• lithium
• metoclopramide
• male hormones or anabolic steroids
• medications to suppress appetite or for weight loss
• medicines for allergies, asthma, cold, or cough
• pentamidine
• pentoxifylline
• phenytoin
• propoxyphene
• quinolone antibiotics, medicines used for infections (examples include ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, norfloxacin)
• some herbal dietary supplements
• steroid medicines such as prednisone or cortisone
• sulfonamides, medicines for infection ( examples include Azulfidine®, Bactrim®, Gantrisin® Septra®)
• tacrolimus
• thyroid hormones
• water pills (diuretics)
Some medications can hide the warning symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). You may need to monitor your blood sugar more closely if you are taking one of these medications. These include:
• beta-blockers, often used for high blood pressure or heart problems (examples include atenolol, metoprolol, propranolol)
• clonidine
• guanethidine
• reserpine
Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.
What should I watch for while taking Exenatide?
Visit your health care prescriber and/or diabetes educator for regular checks on your progress. Diabetes cannot be cured. Careful, daily control of blood sugar can postpone or prevent many of the long-term complications of diabetes.
Dangerously high or low blood sugar can occur when meals and your medications are not spaced properly. Checking and recording your blood glucose and urine ketone levels regularly is important. Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference between low and high blood sugar (see side effects). Use a glucometer (blood glucose or sugar measuring device), whenever possible, before you treat high or low blood sugar.
Always carry a quick-source of sugar with you in case you have symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Examples include hard sugar candy or glucose tablets.
Wear a Medic Alert bracelet or necklace and/or carry an identification card with your name and address, condition, medication, and prescriber's name and address.
Many nonprescription cough and cold products contain sugar or alcohol. These can affect diabetes control or can alter the results of tests used to monitor blood sugar. Avoid alcohol. Avoid products that contain alcohol or sugar. If you are not sure if a product contains alcohol or sugar, ask your health care provider.
What side effects may I notice from receiving Exenatide?
• severe skin rash and itching (hives)
• difficulty breathing
• symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar or glucose) which may include: anxiety or nervousness, confusion, difficulty concentrating, hunger, pale skin, nausea, fatigue, sweating, headache, palpitations, numbness of the mouth, tingling in the fingers, tremors, muscle weakness, blurred vision, cold sensations, uncontrolled yawning, irritability, rapid heartbeat, shallow breathing, and loss of consciousness. You should learn to recognize your own symptoms of hypoglycemia. Your symptoms may be different than others. If you are uncertain about your symptoms of hypoglycemia, check your blood sugar often to help you learn to recognize the symptoms. Hypoglycemia may cause you to not be aware of your actions or surroundings if it is severe, so you should let others know what to do if you cannot help yourself in a severe reaction. Your health care prescriber or diabetes educator will teach you how to treat hypoglycemia. Always carry a quick source of sugar such as candies or glucose tablets with you.
• symptoms of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) which may include: dizziness, dry mouth, flushed dry-skin, fruit-like breath odor, loss of appetite, nausea, stomach ache, unusual thirst, frequent passing of urine.
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your health care prescriber diabetes educator if they continue or are bothersome):
• heartburn
• increase or decrease in fatty tissue under the skin, through overuse of a particular injection site
• itching, burning, swelling, or rash at the injection site
• temporary diarrhea (loose stools)
• mild dizziness, weakness or headaches (although these could be signs of low blood sugar)
• mild nausea (may occur when you first start exenatide but usually decreases over time; this could also be a sign of high blood sugar)
• reduced appetite or a slight weight loss
Where can I keep my medicine?
Store unopened exenatide pens (Byetta™ pre-filled pens) in a refrigerator between 2—8 degrees C (36—46 degrees F). Do not freeze or use if the medication has been frozen. Once you start using your pen, it can be kept in the refrigerator or at room temperature, as long as the temperature is less than 25 degrees C (77 degrees F).
Use your exenatide (Byetta™) pen for only 30 days. Throw away your used pen after 30 days even if some medicine remains in the pen.
Do not store your exenatide (Byetta™) pen with the needle attached. If the needle is left on, medicine may leak from the pen or air bubbles may form in the cartridge.
Protect from light and excessive heat. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date or after the specified time for room temperature storage has passed.
Last updated: 5/3/2005 12:06:00 PM
Important Disclaimer: The drug information provided here is for educational purposes only. It is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the diagnosis, treatment and advice of a medical professional. This drug information does not cover all possible uses, precautions, side effects and interactions. It should not be construed to indicate that this or any drug is safe for you. Consult your medical professional for guidance before using any prescription or over the counter drugs.
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