Health Centres - Byetta (exenatide)
How does it work?
Byetta injection contains the active ingredient exenatide, which is a type of medicine called an incretin mimetic. It is used to treat people with type 2 or non-insulin dependent diabetes (NIDDM).
Exenatide works by mimicking the actions of a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1. This hormone is normally produced naturally by the body in response to food intake.
GLP-1 has four main actions that help to control blood glucose. Firstly, it stimulates the pancreas to produce insulin in response to increasing levels of glucose in the blood. (Insulin is the main hormone responsible for controlling sugar levels in the blood. It causes cells in the body to remove sugar from the blood.) GLP-1 also reduces the production of glucagon, (Glucagon is a hormone that normally increases glucose production by the liver.)
GLP-1 also reduces the rate at which food passes from the stomach into the intestines, which slows down the absorption of glucose from the gut into the bloodstream. Finally, it acts on the brain to cause a feeling of fullness that reduces further food intake.
By mimicking these actions of GLP-1, exenatide helps to reduce blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
It is used for people with type 2 diabetes whose blood sugar is not controlled by either metformin, or another type of antidiabetic medicine known as a sulphonylurea, for example gliclazide. Exenatide is added to treatment with the oral antidiabetic already being taken.
The injection should be adminstered twice a day before the main meals. It can be injected at any time within the hour before the main morning and evening meal. The injection is administered under the skin (subcutaneously) of the upper arm, abdomen or thigh.
What is it used for?
-
Type 2 diabetes (non-insulin dependent diabetes).
Warning!
- Byetta must not be injected into a vein (intravenously) or a muscle (intramuscularly).
- Each time you inject Byetta make sure you use a different area of skin. This helps to prevent the skin thickening and pitting, which can occur if the injection is repeatedly given in the same site.
- Although it is not necessary for people using Byetta to test their blood glucose levels daily, it may be necessary to carry out blood glucose tests regularly if you are also on other medicines for diabetes, for example gliclazide.
- Hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose) is a very common side effect when this medicine is used in combination with sulphonylurea medicines, such as gliclazide. Symptoms of hypoglycaemia usually occur suddenly and may include cold sweats, cool pale skin, tremor, anxious feeling, unusual tiredness or weakness, confusion, difficulty in concentration, excessive hunger, temporary vision changes, headache, nausea and palpitations. You should talk to your doctor about this and make sure you know what to do if you experience these symptoms.
- Your ability to concentrate or react may be reduced if you have low blood sugar, and this can cause problems driving or operating machinery. You should take precautions to avoid low blood sugar when driving - discuss this with your doctor.
- Cases of inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) have been reported in people taking this medicine. For this reason, you should let your doctor know if you experience unexplained persistant severe abdominal pain while using this medicine, so this can be investigated.
Use with caution in
- Decreased kidney function.
- People over 70 years of age.
Not to be used in
-
Type 1 diabetes.
- People receiving insulin treatment.
- Pregnancy.
- Breastfeeding.
- This medicine is not recommended for people receiving dialysis or who have severe kidney disease.
- This medicine is not recommended for people with any severe disease affecting the stomach or intestines.
- This medicine is not recommended for children and adolescents under 18 years of age because it has not been studied in this age group.
This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.
- The safety of this medicine for use during pregnancy has not been established. It should not be used during pregnancy. Diabetes mellitus is usually controlled using insulin during pregnancy, because this provides a more stable control of blood sugar. If you get pregnant while taking this medicine, or are planning a pregnancy, you should seek medical advice from your doctor.
- It is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk. The manufacturer states that it should not be used by breastfeeding mothers. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
Side effects
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. Just because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine:
- nausea/vomiting
- low blood glucose level (hypoglycaemia)
- diarrhoea
- indigestion
- abdominal pain
- dizziness
- headache
- increased sweating
- reduced appetite
- bloating
- feeling jittery
- feeling weak
- reactions at the injection site
- rash/hives
- constipation
- excess gas in the stomach and intestines (flatulence)
- dehyration
- unusual taste in the mouth
- swollen face, tongue or throat
- inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis).
The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.
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