Exenatide (subcutaneous route)
Available brands
Bydureon, BYDUREON BCise, Byetta
About this medication
Exenatide injection is used together with diet and exercise to treat type 2 diabetes. This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription. This product is available in the following dosage forms:
Before using this medication
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered: Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully. Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects ofByetta®in children andBydureon® Bcise®in children younger than 10 years of age. Use ofBydureon®is not recommended in children. Safety and efficacy have not been established. Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of exenatide injection in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have kidney problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving exenatide injection. There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding. Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive. Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines. Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines. Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco. The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
How to use this medication
Bydureon® BCise®should not be the first medicine you use to treat your condition. It is meant to be used only after you have tried other medicines that have not worked or have caused unwanted side effects. When you start using this medicine, it is very important that you check your blood sugar often, especially before and after meals and at bedtime. This will help lower the chance of having very low blood sugar. Carefully follow the special meal plan your doctor gave you. This is the most important part of controlling your diabetes, and is necessary if the medicine is to work properly. Also, exercise regularly and test for sugar in your blood or urine as directed. Use only the brand of this medicine that your doctor prescribed. Different brands may not work the same way.Bydureon®andBydureon® BCise®are extended-release forms ofByetta®. If you are changing fromByetta®toBydureon®orBydureon® BCise®, you should stop usingByetta®.Do not use these medicines together. Byetta®comes in a prefilled pen that you will use to inject it. Each pen contains enough medicine for 60 doses. Bydureon®comes in a single-dose tray containing: 1 vial of exenatide powder, 1 vial connector, 1 prefilled diluent syringe, and 2 needles. Do not substitute needles or any other components in the tray. Bydureon® BCise®is available as a single-dose autoinjector. This medicine should come with a Medication Guide and patient instructions or Pen User Manual. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions. You will be using exenatide at home. Your doctor will teach you how the injections are to be given. Be sure you understand exactly how the medicine is to be injected. This medicine is given as a shot under the skin of your stomach, thighs, or upper arm. Use a different body area each time you give yourself a shot. Keep track of where you give each shot to make sure you rotate body areas. AllowByetta®to warm to room temperature before you inject it. If the medicine in the pen has changed color, looks cloudy, or if you see particles in it, do not use it. UseBydureon®immediately once the powder has been dissolved and transferred to the syringe. Always injectBydureon®and insulin separately. You may inject these 2 medicines in the same body area but they should not be injected next to each other. Allow theBydureon® BCise® autoinjectorto warm to room temperature for 15 minutes before using it. Shake it well for 15 seconds to mix it evenly. The mixture should appear white to off-white or cloudy sand does not contain any particles in it. Use a new needle each time you inject your medicine. Tell your doctor if you are using birth control pills or an antibiotic. These medicines should be taken at least 1 hour before you use.Byetta®. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine. If you miss a dose of this medicine, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses. For patients usingBydureon®orBydureon® BCise®: If you miss a dose of this medicine, use it as soon as you remember, as long as your next dose is due at least 3 days later. If you miss a dose and the next dose is due 1 or 2 days later, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not use 2 doses of this medicine less than 3 days apart. For patients usingByetta®: Do not use this medicine after you eat if you forget to use it before the meal. Wait until 1 hour before your next meal and use the medicine at that time. Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose. Keep out of the reach of children. Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use. Store in the refrigerator. Do not freeze. For patients usingBydureon®: Store your medicine in the refrigerator in its original carton, and protect it from light. Do not freeze this medicine, and do not use it if it has been frozen. You may also store this medicine at room temperature for up to 4 weeks. For patients using theBydureon® BCise® autoinjector: Store the autoinjectorflatin the refrigerator in its original carton, and protect it from light. You may also store this medicine at room temperature for up to 4 weeks. Keep it always clean and away from any spills. For patients usingByetta®: Throw away used needles in a hard, closed container where the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.
Disclaimer: August is a health information platform and its responses don't constitute medical advise. Always consult with a licenced medical professional near you before making any changes.