Byetta (Exenatide Injection) a Medical Guide To Byetta, Uses & Byetta Side Effects
Byetta (exenatide injection) an injection prescription medication used to improve or control blood sugar in those with type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes. It also helps the pancreas to produce insulin efficiently. It is not used to replace the action of insulin but is sometimes used with other medications. It comes in a convenient pen with controlled dosage for easy application.
Uses:
- Byetta is an exenatide injectable diabetes medicine pen used to control blood sugar levels of a person who suffers from type II diabetes mellitus.
Other uses:
- Other than controlling blood sugar levels, there may be other uses for this medication.
Byetta Side Effects
List of some less serious side effects:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Jittering
- Acidic stomach
More Serious Side Effects:
Severe pain, confusion, abnormal urination, shortness of breath, weight gain, tachycardia and vomiting, changes in blood pressure, low blood sugar, reduce appetite, stomach pain, unexplained tiredness are some of the unusual signs that should be reported immediately to the physician for urgent treatment.
Withdrawals:
Withdrawal symptoms include nausea and vomiting.
Dosage/ How to Take the Medicine:
- The drug is taken one hour prior to eating your meals. If forgotten, never take it after your meal. Make sure to have a six hour interval in between before receiving your next dosage.
What to avoid / Drug Interactions:
The following brand/generic name drugs may cause adverse reactions when taking this medicine:
- Glyburide
- Glimepiride
- Acetohexamide
- Tolbutamide
- Chlorpropamide
- Tolazamide
When taking Byetta, you should not take any drugs that lower your blood sugar levels because it can cause hypoglycemic events. Patients with kidney failure should also take caution when using this drug; same with pregnant and breastfeeding women. Alcohol should not also be taken together with this medication as it can interfere with the treatment. Birth control pills and antibiotics should be taken one hour earlier before having this medication as well.
Byetta is FDA pregnancy category C rated. It is not known whether it will harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor before using this medicine if you're pregnant or plan to become pregnant while taking the drug. It is also not known whether this drug passes into breast milk, so inform your doctor if you're breast feeding before you use this medicine.
Since Byetta is a diabetes medication, you should know what the common signs of hypoglycemia are and equip yourself with any source of sugar like candies and milk to reverse your hypoglycemic reactions. You should also have your blood sugar tested regularly to monitor the effects of the medication. Furthermore, the pen is used for 30 days only. Discard the pen after 30 days because it's already considered expired.