Byetta (exenatide) is an injectable diabetes medicine that helps control blood sugar levels. This medication helps your pancreas produce insulin more efficiently. Byetta is a short-acting form of exenatide.
Byetta is used to treat type 2 diabetes. Other diabetes medicines are sometimes used in combination with Byetta if needed.
This medication guide provides information about the Byetta brand of exenatide. Bydureon is another brand of exenatide that is not covered in this medication guide.
Byetta may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Important information
Do not use Byetta to treat type 1 diabetes, or if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin). You should not use Byetta if you have severe kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis), of if you have a severe stomach disorder that causes slow digestion. You should not use Byetta together with a fast-acting or short-acting insulin, such as insulin aspart (NovoLOG), insulin glulisine (Apidra), insulin lispro (HumaLOG), or regular insulin (HumuLIN R, NovoLIN R, and others). Do not use Byetta together with Bydureon.
You must use Byetta within 60 minutes (1 hour) BEFORE eating a meal. Do not use this medication after eating a meal.
Stop using Byetta and call your doctor at once if you have severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, with nausea, vomiting, and a fast heart rate. These could be symptoms of pancreatitis.
Before using Byetta
Do not use Byetta to treat type 1 diabetes, or if you are in a state of diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin). You should not use Byetta if you have severe kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis), of if you have a severe stomach disorder that causes slow digestion.
To make sure you can safely use Byetta, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
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kidney disease or a history of kidney transplant;
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problems with digestion;
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a history of pancreatitis or gall stones;
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a history of alcoholism; or
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a history of high triglycerides (a type of fat in blood).
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether Byetta will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication. Byetta can make birth control pills less effective. If you take birth control pills, take your pill at least 1 hour before your Byetta injection. It is not known whether exenatide passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use Byetta without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
See also: Pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (in more detail)
How should I use Byetta?
Use Byetta exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results.
Byetta is injected under the skin. You may be shown how to use injections at home. Do not self-inject this medicine if you do not fully understand how to give the injection and properly dispose of used needles and syringes.
Byetta is usually injected twice a day, before the morning and evening meal. You must use Byetta within 60 minutes (1 hour) before eating the meal. Your Byetta doses should be given at least 6 hours apart. Do not use Byetta after eating a meal.
Byetta comes in a prefilled injection pen with a "Pen User Manual" showing instructions for using the pen and injecting the medicine. Follow these directions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
Never share an injection pen with another person. Sharing injection pens can allow disease such as hepatitis or HIV to pass from one person to another.
Your blood sugar will need to be checked often, and you may need other blood tests at your doctor"s office. Visit your doctor regularly.
Know the signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and how to recognize them: headache, hunger, weakness, sweating, tremors, irritability, or trouble concentrating.
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. Be sure your family and close friends know how to help you in an emergency.
Check your blood sugar carefully during a time of stress or illness, if you travel, exercise more than usual, drink alcohol, or skip meals. These things can affect your glucose levels and your dose needs may also change.
Your doctor may want you to stop using Byetta for a short time if you become ill, have a fever or infection, or if you have surgery or a medical emergency. Tell your doctor if you have a prolonged illness that causes diarrhea or vomiting.
Ask your doctor how to adjust your Byetta dose if needed. Do not change your medication dose or schedule without your doctor"s advice. Store unused injection pens in the refrigerator, protected from light. Do not freeze, and throw away any medicine that has become frozen. Do not use the medicine after the expiration date on the label has passed. After your first use of a Byetta injection pen, it may then be stored at room temperature, away from heat and bright light. Do not store the Byetta pen with the needle attached. Use the pen for only 30 days and then throw it away, even if it still has medicine in it.
Use a disposable needle only once. Throw away used needles in a puncture-proof container (ask your pharmacist where you can get one and how to dispose of it). Keep this container out of the reach of children and pets.
If the needle is left on, medicine may leak from the pen or air bubbles may form in the cartridge. Keep your injection 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. Skip the missed dose if you have already eaten a meal, or if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
Overdose can cause 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?
You should not use Byetta together with a fast-acting or short-acting insulin, such as insulin aspart (NovoLOG), insulin glulisine (Apidra), insulin lispro (HumaLOG), or regular insulin (HumuLIN R, NovoLIN R, and others). Do not use Byetta together with Bydureon. Avoid drinking alcohol. It can lower your blood sugar.
If you take any type of antibiotic, take it at least 1 hour before you use Byetta.
Byetta side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Byetta: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using Byetta and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
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swelling, weight gain, feeling short of breath, urinating less than usual or not at all;
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drowsiness, confusion, mood changes, increased thirst, diarrhea;
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dull pain in your middle or lower back;
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severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, vomiting; or
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low blood sugar (headache, hunger, weakness, sweating, confusion, irritability, dizziness, fast heart rate, or feeling jittery).
Less serious Byetta side effects may include:
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
See also: Side effects (in more detail)
What other drugs will affect Byetta?
You may be more likely to have hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) if you use Byetta with oral diabetes medications that can lower blood sugar. Before using Byetta, tell your doctor if you use any of these: chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glimepiride (Amaryl, Avandaryl, Duetact), glipizide (Glucotrol, Metaglip), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glucovance), tolazamide (Tolinase), or tolbutamide (Orinase). Byetta can make it harder for your body to absorb other medications you take by mouth. Tell your doctor if you are taking:
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levothyroxine (Synthroid, Levothroid);
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lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid);
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lovastatin (Mevacor, Altoprev, Advicor);
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pimozide (Orap);
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cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune), sirolimus (Rapamune) or tacrolimus (Prograf);
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theophylline (Elixophyllin, Theo-24, Theochron, Uniphyl);
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birth control pills;
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a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven);
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a diuretic (water pill);
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ergot medicine such as ergotamine (Ergomar, Cafergot) or dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal Nasal Spray);
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pain medication;
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seizure medication such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Equetro, Tegretol), divalproex (Depakote), ethosuximide (Zarontin), phenytoin (Dilantin), or valproic acid (Depakene, Stavzor); or
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heart or blood pressure medication such as digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps), disopyramide (Norpace), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), procainamide (Procan, Pronestyl), or quinidine (Quin-G).
This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with Byetta. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
