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Uses

What is exenatide used for?

Exenatide (Byetta) is commonly used to help lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. 

Exenatide may also be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

How does exenatide work (mechanism of action)?

Exenatide works to improve blood sugar in 3 different ways. It works to stimulate your pancreas to release more insulin after you eat, prevents your liver from releasing stored sugars, and slows down the movement of food through your body.

How is exenatide supplied (dosage forms)?

Brands and other names

  • Byetta

Dosage forms and strengths

  • 5 mcg solution for injection, prefilled pens
  • 10 mcg solution for injection, prefilled pens

How should I store exenatide?

Before using exenatide injection liquid, store in the refrigerator between 36 F to 46 F (2 C to 8 C). Unused exenatide can be stored until the expiration date.

Once you start using exenatide, it can be stored with the cap on the pen at a temperature between 36 F to 77 F (2 C to 25 C) for up to 30 days. Do not store exenatide with the needle on it. 

Store exenatide in a place that is not exposed to direct light and heat. Do not freeze.

Side Effects

What are the most common side effects of exenatide?

The most common side effects of exenatide are listed below. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you.

  • Nausea/vomiting
  • Low blood sugar (see below)
  • Diarrhea/constipation
  • Feeling jittery or shakiness
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Upset stomach or indigestion
  • Feeling unusually weak or tired

There may be other side effects of exenatide that are not listed here. Contact your healthcare provider if you think you are having a side effect of a medicine. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or by calling 800-FDA-1088. In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.

What are the serious side effects of exenatide?

While less common, the most serious side effects of exenatide are described below, along with what to do if they happen.

Severe Allergic Reactions. Exenatide may cause allergic reactions, which can be serious. Stop using exenatide and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.

  • Breathing problems or wheezing
  • Racing heart
  • Fever or general ill feeling
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
  • Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
  • Itching, skin rash, or pale red bumps on the skin called hives
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
  • Stomach cramps
  • Joint pain

Pancreatitis. Exenatide may cause inflammation of the pancreas, which is called pancreatitis. Stop using exenatide and call your healthcare provider right away if you have symptoms of pancreatitis including vomiting or severe pain in the upper part of your belly that travels to your back.

Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia). Exenatide can cause low blood sugar, especially when used with insulin or other medicines that increase your insulin levels. Hypoglycemia can be serious and may lead to death. Your dose of insulin or other diabetes medicine may need to be lowered to decrease your risk of low blood sugar. Do not use exenatide and call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of hypoglycemia.

  • Headache
  • Crankiness or anxiety
  • Hunger
  • Dizziness or confusion
  • Blurry vision
  • Slurred speech
  • Sweating
  • Feeling jittery or shakiness
  • Fast heartbeat
  • Seizures

Kidney Damage. Kidney damage can happen when using exenatide. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of kidney damage.

  • Reduced need to pee
  • Swelling in your feet, ankles, or legs
  • Weakness or unusual tiredness
  • Difficulty catching your breath or chest pain/pressure
  • Confusion
  • Nausea
  • Seizures

Severe Stomach Problems. Severe stomach problems may happen with exenatide. Call your healthcare provider if you have severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Severely Low Platelet Levels. Exenatide can cause you to have a severely low number of platelets in your blood, also called thrombocytopenia. Platelets help to form blood clots. Having a low level of platelets may increase your risk of bleeding. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following symptoms of low platelet levels.

  • Easy bruising or bleeding
  • Bleeding that does not stop
  • Nosebleeds

Serious Injection-Site Reactions. Exenatide can cause serious injection-site reactions, which sometimes require surgery. These reactions may involve a bump at the injection site, but not always. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms at or near the injection site.

  • Severe pain
  • Swelling
  • Redness
  • Blisters on the skin
  • Open sore
  • Dark scab

Gallbladder Problems. Using exenatide can cause gallbladder problems, including cholecystitis and cholelithiasis (also known as gallstones). Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms.

  • Your skin or the whites of your eyes turning yellowish in color (also called jaundice)
  • Fever
  • Pain in your upper stomach area
  • Stool (poop) that is clay-colored

Antibodies to Exenatide. Some people who use exenatide develop antibodies (proteins in your blood that keep exenatide from working) to exenatide. This means exenatide may not work to lower your blood sugar. If you notice your blood sugar levels are not going down or your blood sugar levels are getting higher when using exenatide, tell your healthcare provider. They may need to change you to a different medicine for your type 2 diabetes.

Warnings & Precautions

Who should not use exenatide?

Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not use exenatide.

  • Exenatide
  • Byetta
  • Bydureon BCise
  • Any other medicine that contains exenatide
  • Any of the ingredients in the specific product dispensed

Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in exenatide.

Exenatide is not used for type 1 diabetes.

Kidney Problems. Exenatide should not be used if your kidneys are not working as well as they should be. If there is a concern about the health of your kidneys, your healthcare provider may do tests to determine if they are working well enough to take this medicine.

Drug-Induced Thrombocytopenia. People who reacted to a medicine containing exenatide by developing extremely low platelet levels in the blood (thrombocytopenia) should not use exenatide. Talk to your healthcare provider about any reactions you have had to medicines in the past.

What should I know about exenatide before using it?

Follow the Instructions for Use that come with your medicine when using exenatide for the first time or when you have not used it in a while. 

Do not use exenatide unless it has been prescribed to you by a healthcare provider. Use it as prescribed.

Do not share exenatide with other people, even if they have the same condition as you and even if the needle has been changed. It may harm them.

Keep exenatide out of the reach of children. Since this medicine may be kept in a refrigerator, take special precautions to keep it away from children who also use the refrigerator.

Exenatide can affect your alertness or coordination by causing dizziness. Do not drive or do other activities that require alertness or coordination until you know how exenatide affects you.

If you have nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, drink plenty of water, so that you do not get dehydrated.

Use a new needle for each injection.

Avoid using the same injection site each time you use exenatide by rotating where you inject it.

Exenatide should not be used after a meal. Use exenatide within an hour before the morning and evening meals. Allow for at least 6 hours between the morning and evening doses.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before using exenatide?

Tell your healthcare provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them determine if exenatide is right for you.

In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.

Stomach problems. Tell your healthcare provider if you have stomach problems, such as slowed stomach emptying (gastroparesis) or problems digesting food. Your healthcare provider may choose another medicine to treat your type 2 diabetes.

Pancreatitis. Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had pancreatitis. Your healthcare provider may choose another medicine to treat your type 2 diabetes.

Kidney Problems. Tell your healthcare provider if you have kidney problems, including a kidney transplant, as this may worsen while using exenatide. 

Other Medicines and Supplements. exenatide may interact with other medicines and supplements. Before taking exenatide, tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section for more details.

Pregnancy. It is not known if or how exenatide could affect pregnancy or harm an unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you are or plan to become pregnant. Your healthcare provider will advise you if you should use exenatide while you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant.

Breastfeeding. It is not known if exenatide passes into breast milk. Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Interactions

Does exenatide interact with foods or drinks?

There are no known interactions between exenatide and foods or drinks.

It is unknown if drinking alcohol will affect exenatide, but alcohol may affect blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. This may interfere with the effect of exenatide. It is best to limit the amount of alcohol you drink.

Does exenatide interact with other medicines (drug interactions)?

Always tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.

In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are taking warfarin (Jantoven), a medicine used for blood clots before using exenatide. You may need more frequent monitoring of your warfarin and this combination may increase your risk for bleeding or bruising.

Make sure that you discuss any medicines you are using for diabetes. Some diabetes medicines may increase your risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

Some medicines may increase your risk of kidney damage (see above in the serious side effects section) with exenatide. Make sure that you discuss if you are taking any of the following.

  • A diuretic, also called a water pill, which is a medicine used to reduce edema (fluid retention) and blood pressure
  • A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and others, which are contained in many prescription and OTC products for pain, swelling, and fever
  • An angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, such as lisinopril, benazepril, and others which are in some prescription products to reduce blood pressure

Exenatide works by slowing down the movement of food through your body. Because of this, exenatide may affect the absorption of some other medicines that you take by mouth. Tell your healthcare provider about all medicines that you take or have recently taken.

This may not be a complete list of medicines that can interact with exenatide. Always check with your healthcare provider.

Does interact with other drugs you are taking?

Enter your medication into the WebMD interaction checker

Overdose/Missed Dose

What should I do if I accidentally use too much exenatide?

If you or someone else has used too much exenatide, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222.

What should I do if I miss a dose of exenatide?

If you miss a dose, skip the missed dose and only take the next dose as scheduled. Do not take double or extra doses.