Emailing: byetta.htm

December 5, 2007

Or click the first letter of a drug name: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Advanced Search

Drugs & Medications

Diseases & Conditions

PharmaceuticalNews & Articles

PillIdentifier

Drug InteractionsChecker

MedicalEncyclopedia

MedicalDictionary

CommunityForums

Welcome Guest|Register or Sign In My Viewing History | My Drug List | My Interactions Lists | Member Offers

close Username:Password:

Forgotten your password?

Consumer Information

Print

Add to list

Comments

Byetta

Generic Name: exenatide (ex EN a tide)

What is Byetta?

Byetta is an injectable diabetes medicine that helps control blood sugar levels. This medication helps your pancreas produce insulin more efficiently.

Byetta is used to treat type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes. Other diabetes medicines are sometimes used in combination with Byetta if needed.

Byetta may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Important information about ByettaByetta should not be used to treat type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes. You must use this medication within 60 minutes (1 hour) before eating a meal. If you miss a dose, use the medication as soon as you remember, but only if you have not yet eaten a meal. If you have already eaten a meal, wait until your next scheduled dose (1 hour before a meal) to use the medicine. Do not use Byetta after eating a meal.

It is important to use Byetta regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

To be sure this medication is helping your condition, you will need to check your blood sugar at home. Your blood will also need to be tested by your doctor on a regular basis. It is important that you not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

Use the Byetta pen for only 30 days and then throw it away, even if it still has medicine in it. Do not use the medicine after the expiration date on the label has passed.

Before using Byetta, tell your doctor if you use any of these oral diabetes medications: acetohexamide (Dymelor), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glimepiride (Amaryl), glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (DiaBeta), tolazamide (Tolinase), tolbutamide (Orinase).

If you are using any type of antibiotic or birth control pills, take these medicines at least 1 hour before using Byetta.

Before taking Byetta

Byetta is not a substitute for insulin in patients whose diabetes requires insulin treatment.Byetta should not be used to treat type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes. Before taking Byetta, tell your doctor if you have:

kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis);

problems with digestion; or

severe stomach disorders (gastroparesis).

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use Byetta, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or if you become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether Byetta passes into breast milk or if it could be harmful to a nursing baby. Do not take Byetta without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. How should I take Byetta?

Use Byetta exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use the medication in larger or smaller amounts, or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor.

Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication. Your dose needs may change if you are ill, if you have a fever or infection, or if you have surgery or a medical emergency. Do not change your dose of Byetta without first talking to your doctor. Use only the diabetes medications prescribed for you.

Byetta is given as an injection under the skin, usually in the upper thigh, stomach area, or upper arm. Your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist will give you specific instructions on how and where to inject this medicine. Do not give yourself an injection if you do not understand these instructions. Call your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist for help with injection instructions.

You must use this medication within 60 minutes (1 hour) before eating a meal. Byetta is usually injected twice a day, before the morning and evening meal. Do not use Byetta after eating a meal.

It is important to use Byetta regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

Byetta comes in a prefilled pen with a "Pen User Manual" showing instructions for using the pen and injecting the medicine. You must do a "New Pen Set-Up" one time only, when starting a new prefilled Byetta Pen. If you do this "New Pen Set-Up" before each injection, you will run out of medicine before 30 days.

Pen needles are not included with this medicine. Ask your doctor, diabetes counselor, or pharmacist which needle size is best for you.

To be sure this medication is helping your condition, you will need to check your blood sugar at home. Your blood will also need to be tested by your doctor on a regular basis. It is important that you not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.Store unused Byetta injection pens in the refrigerator, protected from light. Do not freeze them, and throw away any Byetta pen that has become frozen. After your first use of a pen, it may then be stored at room temperature, away from heat and bright light. Use the Byetta pen for only 30 days and then throw it away, even if it still has medicine in it. Do not use the medicine after the expiration date on the label has passed. Do not store the 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. Keep your Byetta pen, pen needles, and all medicines out of the reach of children.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Use the missed dose as soon as you remember, but only if you have not yet eaten a meal. If you have already eaten a meal, wait until your next scheduled dose (1 hour before a meal) to use the medicine. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Symptoms of an Byetta overdose include severe nausea and vomiting, or signs of low blood sugar (headache, weakness, dizziness, confusion, irritability, hunger, fast heartbeat, sweating, and tremor).

What should I avoid while taking Byetta?Avoid drinking alcohol. It lowers blood sugar and may interfere with your diabetes treatment. Do not use Byetta if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis. Call your doctor for treatment.

Byetta side effectsGet emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Other less serious side effects are more likely to occur, such as:

nausea, vomiting, heartburn, diarrhea;

loss of appetite;

weight loss; or

dizziness, headache, or feeling jittery.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.Know the signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and how to recognize them:

hunger, headache, confusion, irritability;

drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, tremors;

sweating, fast heartbeat;

seizure (convulsions); or

fainting, coma (severe hypoglycemia can be fatal).

Always keep a source of sugar available in case you have symptoms of low blood sugar. Sugar sources include orange juice, glucose gel, candy, or milk. If you have severe hypoglycemia and cannot eat or drink, use an injection of glucagon. Your doctor can give you a prescription for a glucagon emergency injection kit and tell you how to give the injection.

What other drugs will affect Byetta?When Byetta is used with some oral (taken by mouth) diabetes medications, low blood sugar can occur. Your dose of the other medication may need to be changed. Before using Byetta, tell your doctor if you use any of the following oral diabetes medications:

acetohexamide (Dymelor);

chlorpropamide (Diabinese);

glimepiride (Amaryl);

glipizide (Glucotrol);

glyburide (DiaBeta);

tolazamide (Tolinase); or

tolbutamide (Orinase).

The dose of your other diabetes medicine may need to be reduced while you use Byetta.

If you are using any type of antibiotic or birth control pills, take these medicines at least 1 hour before using Byetta.

There may be other drugs that can affect Byetta. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist has more information about Byetta written for health professionals that you may read.

What does my medication look like?

Exenatide is available with a prescription under the brand name Byetta. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. Click here for more information on Byetta from the manufacturer. Copyright 1996-2006 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 3.03. Revision Date: 2/23/07 9:48:49 AM.

Link to this page

Printable Version

Email Page

Add to my drug list

More Byetta resources:

Byetta

Byetta - Includes detailed dosage instructions.

Byetta

Exenatide

Byetta Drug Interactions

User comments:

2 comment(s) about Byetta

Sign In

Emailing: byetta.htm

Recommended Posts

Guest guest

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Join the conversation

Activity