Exenatide

Description

Exenatide is used along with diet and exercise to control blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This medicine is normally used in patients who have not achieved adequate control of blood sugar levels with other oral therapies. It is not used to treat type 1 diabetes mellitus. It should also not be used in place of insulin.

Side effects

Major & minor side effects for Exenatide

  • Nausea or Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Dizziness and lightheadedness
  • Heartburn
  • Headache
  • Unusual tiredness or weakness
  • Excessive sweating
  • Stomach pain in the upper left or middle part
  • Severe skin rash and hives
  • Difficulty in breathing
  • Difficulty in swallowing
  • Injection site redness, bruising, or sores
  • Swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet
  • Change in the frquency of urination
  • Decreased appetite
  • Drowsiness

Uses of Exenatide

What is it prescribed for?

  • Type II Diabetes Mellitus
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Concerns

Commonly asked questions

  • Onset of action
    The peak effect of this medicine can be observed within 2.1 hours of administration of the dose.
  • Duration of effect
    The amount of time for which this medicine remains effective in the body is not clinically established.
  • Safe with alcohol?
    Avoid or limit the uptake of alcohol while receiving this medicine due to the increased risk of altered blood glucose levels. Special precaution is advised if your diabetes is not well controlled or if you are suffering from high triglycerides levels, neuropathy (nerve damage), or pancreatitis.
  • Is it habit forming?
    No habit-forming tendencies were reported.
  • Usage in pregnancy?
    This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless absolutely necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before using/receiving this medicine.
  • Usage while breast-feeding?
    This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless absolutely necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving/using this medicine. Your doctor may advise you to discontinue the drug or to discontinue breastfeeding based on your clinical condition.

Allergy

This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with a known allergy to exenatide or any other inactive ingredients present along with it.

Thyroid Carcinoma

This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with a family or personal history of medullary thyroid carcinoma due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient’s condition.

Severe renal impairment

This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance < 30 mL/min) due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient’s condition.
Warnings for special population

Pregnancy

This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless absolutely necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before using/receiving this medicine.

Breast-feeding

This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless absolutely necessary. All the risks and benefits should be discussed with the doctor before receiving/using this medicine. Your doctor may advise you to discontinue the drug or to discontinue breastfeeding based on your clinical condition.
General warnings

Other medicines

Exenatide may interact with many other medicines and may cause severe adverse effects. Hence, it is advised that you inform the doctor about all your current medicines including any herbs and supplements before beginning treatment with this medicine.

Concomitant use of Insulin

This medicine is not a substitute for insulin. Concomitant dosing of insulin should be evaluated, especially with the long-acting variants. Risk of severe fall in blood sugar levels should be considered during dosing. Use with short or rapid-acting insulin variants is not recommended.

Gastro-intestinal disease

This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with severe gastrointestinal diseases including gastroparesis due to the increased risk of serious adverse effects. An alternative treatment option may be necessary in some cases based on the clinical condition.

Type I diabetes

This medicine is not recommended for use in patients suffering from type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Weight loss

Use of this medicine has been associated with a mild to moderate weight loss. However, it should never be used for this purpose.

Pancreatitis

This medicine should be used with caution in patients with pre-existing pancreatitis since it may worsen the patient's condition. Use should be discontinued immediately if symptoms of pancreatitis worsen.

Thyroid C-cell tumors

Use of the extended-release form of this medicine may cause a specific cancer of the thyroid glands. It is advised to routinely monitor the serum calcitonin levels while this medicine is being administered. It should not be used in patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma and in patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2).

Kidney disease

This medicine should be used with caution and monitoring in patients with impairment of normal kidney function. Appropriate clinical monitoring is advised for such patients. Dose adjustments may be necessary based on the patient's clinical condition. Use should be discontinued if worsening of kidney function impairment is clinically confirmed.

Missed Dose

Administer the missed dose as soon as you remember. If you remember the missed dose after you have consumed your meal or if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not double your dose to make up for the missed one.

Overdose

Seek emergency medical treatment or contact the doctor in case of an overdose.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol

Description

N/A

Instructions

Avoid or limit the uptake of alcohol while receiving this medicine due to the increased risk of altered blood glucose levels. Special precaution is advised if your diabetes is not well controlled or if you are suffering from high triglycerides levels, neuropathy (nerve damage), or pancreatitis.
Interaction with Medicine

Chlorothiazide

Insulin

Formoterol

Epinephrine

Ciprofloxacin

Repaglinide

Acetazolamide

Valsartan

Bexarotene

Glimepiride

Betamethasone

Gatifloxacin

Clarithromycin

Dopamine

Diclofenac

Disease interactions

Kidney Disease

This medicine should be used with caution in patients with mild to moderate kidney diseases due to the increased risk of severe adverse effects. Regular monitoring of kidney function tests is necessary while receiving this medicine. Appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required in some cases based on the clinical condition. This medicine is not recommended for use in patients suffering from severe renal impairment.

Pancreatitis

This medicine should be used with caution and monitoring in patients with pre-existing pancreatitis. Treatment with this medicine should be discontinued immediately if symptoms worsen. An alternative treatment option may be necessary in such cases based on the clinical condition.

Thyroid Carcinoma

This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma and in patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2) due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient’s condition. An alternative treatment option should be considered in such cases based on the clinical condition.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Administer this medicine exactly as prescribed by the doctor. Follow all the usage related instructions mentioned in the leaflet or the package insert. This medicine should be injected within 60 minutes before the morning and evening meals. There should be a minimum time gap of 6 hours between the two meals. Do not share the injection or the prefilled syringe. Do not stop the use of this medicine without consulting your doctor.
Miscelleneous

To be taken before food

To be taken as instructed by doctor

May cause sleepiness

How it works
This medicine works by stimulating the pancreas to secrete insulin when the blood sugar level in the body is high.
Legal Status

Approved

Approved

Approved

Approved

Classification

Category

Incretin mimetics

Schedule

Schedule H

[Internet]. Tga.gov.au. 2018 [cited 14 September 2018]. Available from:

https://www.tga.gov.au/sites/default/files/auspar-exenatide-130603-pi.pdf

Bond A. Exenatide (Byetta) as a novel treatment option for type 2 diabetes mellitus [Internet]. PubMed Central (PMC). 2018 [cited 14 September 2018]. Available from:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1484540/

DailyMed - Exenatide injection [Internet]. Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2018 [cited 14 September 2018]. Available from:

https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=53d03c03-ebf7-418d-88a8-533eabd2ee4f

Exenatide [Internet]. Pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2018 [cited 14 September 2018]. Available from:

https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Byetta

[Internet]. Byettahcp.com. 2018 [cited 14 September 2018]. Available from:

https://www.byettahcp.com/science-of-byetta.html

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Information on this page was last updated on 28 Jan 2019

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We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.