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Global Patient Feedback for Byetta (Exenatide) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
I have had significant weight gain with byetta Have been on it about 6 months. They all tell me you lose weight if anything but not gain. HAH HAH I gained about 22#s in 6 months and I changed none of my activity or eating habits in that time
59 year old male
61 year old Male
Posted: 2009-03-04 08:56:49
Answer/Reply:
I have lost 75# on Byetta, but I also do interval training and toning exercises about 5-7 days/week. Been on Byetta x 2 years. Are you on 10 mcg's or 5? I wait at least 15 min. to eat, but do better if I wait 45 min, no more than an hour or get very nauseated.
46 y.o. female
47 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-12 20:35:33
Answer/Reply:
I have lost 75# on Byetta over past 2 years. No hair lose/thinning. Last A-1c 5.3. Occ. hypoglycemia, but not often. Not on any other meds, but do take chromium picolinate.
46 y.o.female
47 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-12 20:41:17
Answer/Reply:
Thank you for posting. I've been gaining weight while I'm on Byetta as well, although I assumed it was from my increased carb consumption. My new endocrinologist has been pushing carbs on me and warning against too tight control (would you believe!), and I haven't been strong enough to stick to my low-carb guns which used to stand me in good stead. A little too much carb intake for me leads to carb cravings and then mini-binges, and the weight comes back on. It's very frustrating. My regular doctor knows that I need to reduce my consumption of carbs again, but the clinic where she works doesn't premit prescription of Byetta yet, so I'm stuck with an endo at Joslin where they misread the ACCORD study, warn against tight control of BG, and encourage increased intake of carbohydrate. The world's inside out and upside down!
I would prefer to be able to take metformin, but the chronic diarrhea I get from it has a huge impact on my quality of life. I need to be able to go to work and have a life!
57 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-17 15:53:47
Question/Comment:
I have been taking Byetta for almost two years now. It has done a pretty good job of managing my morning and evening bs (especially after meals) but I continue to have higher than normal fasting (usually 140-170) and my bs is ofter around 200 or higher late afternoon. I have talked with my doctor about this and we are exploring options. I am also taking Glucophage 1500 mg and Amaryl 2 mg daily. I think that I may need to return to taking the regular Glucotrol (not extended release) twice a day. Has anyone also encountered this problem? I am not a typical Type II diabetic (not overweight, not sedentary) and my doctor thinks I may be a late on set type I diabetic.
Also, I have experienced thinning of my hair with the Byetta. I have tried to express this to my doctor but she said it is not a side effect. I say it is!
46 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-02 17:56:24
Answer/Reply:
I also had an issue with my fasting BS numbers while taking Byetta. My doctor prescribed Humulin N as a before bedtime injection and it has helped tremendously with very positive results. Morning BS numbers have been between 100 and 120 once the right dose was dialed in. I've been consistent for over 6 months with this mix.
48 year old Male
Posted: 2009-03-07 11:09:44
Answer/Reply:
I have also noticed hair loss and my doctor says it is not a side effect. also my periods have changed, again not a side effect say the doctors. i was completly done with mine and 6 weeks after i started byetta i started again and very very heavy. any one else had this?
49 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-12 11:57:28
Answer/Reply:
I am a 55 yr old female who has been on Byetta for 2 1/2 yrs. My MD thought it would help me loose wt, but it hasn't and also my hair is thinning. I questioned my MD and was told that happens as we get older, (nice pat answer) I am on 10mg am & pm, I have been exercising regularly for the past 5 months and have not lost any wt, actually I have gained about15 lbs. I am totally fed up with all of this new hyped up medication that cost way too much and doesn't work for me. Also as noted above, my periods totally stopped about 3 months after starting on Byetta. (which I don't miss) but I think I need to go back to my metformin, my bg was under better control then than now. my morning fasting is 130-155 and over 200 in the afternoon. I am seriously thinking about changing MD's.. anyone having better luck with any other meds for bg???
57 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-28 18:27:40
Answer/Reply:
been taking byetta 5mcg am & pm as with lantis solostar pen @bedtime. Also amaryl 4mg and metformin 1000mg am and 1000mg pm. By BS reading have been higher over 250 up to 400!! Have been worried sick, the new dr is trying to regulate everything. i want to just stop taking All diabetic meds. i was told "bad Idea!" I think not!!! since these are the HIGHEST readings since I've been a diabetic! I do not believe this combo is good for me, I want to go back to just amaryl and metformin. New meds are not "all that" I say a cure is better than fancy new medications and pens!!
50 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-14 00:42:17
Answer/Reply:
Are you addressing the content of what you're eating as well as taking medication? I know that the first tool in my toolbelt for controlling my BG is to limit my intake of carbohydrate. I've been struggling with this lately because of carb cravings, but I know that in the past when I kept my daily intake under 100 grams and often under 50 grams, my BG was well controlled. One does not really need much carb intake, since about half of the protein we eat is converted to glucose, but very slowly, providing plenty for the brain's functioning. My first endocrinologist was extremely supportive of a low-carb way of eating as the first line of defense against type 2 diabetes's progression.
57 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-17 15:47:45
Answer/Reply:
I am having mixed results with Byetta, but mostly an improvement. Huge problem with hair loss. No doubt about it.
Type II female
61 year old Female
Posted: 2009-03-31 00:15:07
Answer/Reply:
I to am type 2 diabetic,I tried Byetta for alittle while.It seem to help some ,but couldn't remember to take it when i needed to .I just in the past few weeks started back on Glyburide 5mg twice a day.i also am having troble with my levels going up and down
My last doctor told me my levels should be 100 or under.If I got near that level I couldn't think or funkion right.My new doctor is working with me to get me where I need to be.Still at this point me levels are uasuly 159 or higher.I'm also on meds for high blood presure and High cholestrol.I'm not yet to much over weight
but am worried that I might gain and and stress and worry is not good diabetics.
46 year old Male
Posted: 2009-03-31 11:05:56
Question/Comment:
I am a 72 year old woman with Type 1 diabetic and I am on the Insulin pump.( with Novolog) I was on Byetta in 2007 and 2008 and lost 25 lbs. My insurance co. stop paying for it for they said it was not approved to be use with Insulin So I went on Symlin which was approved. After 4 months I did gain some weight back but my A1C went from 7.6 to 6.2 which was great. So my insurance co. decided that my A1C was good and that I no longer need Symlin. So in the last six months I have gain all the weight back that I lostand my A1C is back up to 7.3. So, I changed insurance co. and I back on Byetta again. For at least five months. Hopefully I can lost some weight during this time. I was a little nausea the first week, but doing good now. I have oatmeal with walnuts for breakfast, A large Salad for lunch and a small meal at dinner. try not to eat snacks. If I do it is Atkins chocolate drink, or a 1/2 cup walnuts & almonds. I drink Diet Ice Tea, 1 cup coffee and water. It is impossible to lost weight without Byetta.
73 year old Female
Posted: 2009-01-28 22:55:35
Question/Comment:
I have been taking Byetta for about 2 1/2 years now. Lost weight at first, but then weight loss stopped. Did not feel nauseated at first, only had loss of appetite. However, as time went on, I began having severe gastrointestinal problems (cramping, diarrhea, queasiness), as well as major boutswith edema and general malaise. I have also suffered considerable thinning of my hair. In other words, I feel really rotten most of the time. After reading some of the comments on reactions to Byetta, I started thinking back and realized that the days I felt good were days that I forgot to take the Byetta! I am going off the Byetta for a couple of weeks and will take only the Novolog and Lantus. If the problems begin to clear up, I will call my doctor and let him know I am having problems with the Byetta and would like to go off it. If my problems are genuinely side-effects of the medication, it isn't worth taking it. Even with insurance, the co-pay is expensive ($35 per month), and the risk of more serious side effects (such as pancreatitis) are definitely off-putting..
60 year old Female
Posted: 2009-01-22 21:12:10
Question/Comment:
I have been taking Byetta for 2 years and lost close to 100 pounds only had nausea in the beginning until I learned to adjust my food. But now it is great I'm not having any other problems blood sugars are great just have to watch what you eat which is that way with any meds when you have diabetes. I love having the pen and needles very handy. I got the hair loss too my hair was very thick and is now on the thin side.
48 year old female
50 year old Female
Posted: 2009-01-13 16:34:01
Answer/Reply:
Are you on Insulin or pills? I need to lost at least 50 to 60 lbs. I am 72 and Type1 and on the insulin pump. It has not affected my hair. I have always cut my hair very short. But this winter I said I am not going to cut my hair anymore until I lose 50 lbs., My hair is growing , but I lose 4 to 5 lbs and the next week gain it back. But my nail are bad they break just typing.
73 year old Female
Posted: 2009-01-28 23:04:22
Answer/Reply:
My doctor prescribed 2500mg Biotin daily for nail splitting. It takes about 4-6 months before nails improve significantly.
70 year old Male
Posted: 2009-02-07 09:38:12
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
Byetta is not for Type 1 diabetes as it increases insulin by stimulating the pancreas. Since Type 1 diabetics produce no insulin, Byetta is contraindicated for your condition. Byetta is a 5 or 10 mcg injection twice a day.
Posted: 2009-02-18 22:09:32
Question/Comment:
Byetta worked good for several years then started to not working high blood sugars eventally into 500's went on lantus and novolog now under control but lots of weight gain
70 year old Male
Posted: 2009-01-09 13:17:14
Question/Comment:
Iam now back on Byetta and Lantus. I was taken off both for almost a year after having some very severe problems with hypoglycemia, (bs of 17 & 18). So for almost a year I was being monitored and with rising blood sugars, my endocrinologist and cardiologist conferred and out me back on the medications. Byetta may make you feel nauseated
during the first couple of days, but I changed my diet during that timeand gradually introduced more food and now I
very rarely have problems with it.
59 year old Female
Posted: 2009-01-08 12:34:09
Question/Comment:
I have lost 10 lbs using Byetta, but it is not helping my sugars. I have only had a little nausea in the beginning, but that went away fast. Eat a lot more veggies, I make sure that one of my meals is a salad everyday. I also don't eat processed foods, so try to stay away from that stuff.
38 year old Female
Posted: 2008-12-30 12:25:10
Question/Comment:
I have just started on Byetta. I have found that foods that are hi in fats ( fried, breaded) tend to make for bad nausea. I am now eating a lot more veggies, some carbs and good lean meat.
I also have been doing more snacks, again lower the fat, less nausea.
Today I had a fries for a snack, wish I had not.
46 year old Male
Posted: 2008-12-16 14:45:02
Question/Comment:
I have been Byetta for two years. I have lost 35 lbs. A1C levels are in the 5's. A little nausea at first. My perception about a lot of the nausea is that people who do not alter the quantity of their intake will suffer more. Once I adjusted my eating habits, I was OK. The pen and needles are very handy and I absolutely do not feel the needles. As a side note, I have been taking Zocor for years. About two months ago I woke up and I could barely walk. A neurologist said I had statin induced myopathy. There is no treatment, but to discontinue the statin and minimize use of the affected muscles, so they can heal on their own. I have been off the statin for two months and it is getting a little better. In retrospect, I think multiple symptoms were happening incrementally but not acute enough to really look for a cause. If you are taking Byetta, you likely are taking a statin. I just say review the symptoms and be watchful.
64 year old Male
Posted: 2008-12-12 22:22:36
Question/Comment:
Requesting feedback, please, on the size needle others are using. Even with holding for a full 10-count when injecting, there still seems to be a bit of the med 'escaping' upon removal. (People with tremors should NOT be required to inject!) Pharmacist said longer needle was needed to get below the fat; Dr said shorter was preferred. Currently using 31g x 3/16" per Dr. Thoughts?
57 year old Female
Posted: 2008-12-07 12:35:41
Answer/Reply:
I am using the short needles and they are just about painless. I hold the needle in to the count of 10 and that seems to stop any medication escaping.
65 year old Female
Posted: 2008-12-23 15:59:33
Answer/Reply:
I use the 8mm 5/16 x 31G needles. I don't even feel them. I would go by what the pharmacist says personally. They know a lot more about the drugs than the docs do.
38 year old Female
Posted: 2008-12-30 12:20:34
Answer/Reply:
When I met with the PA about using Byetta, she told me that it is common for a drop ot two to remain on the needle after it is removed from the tissue. She told me not to worry about that. Byetta is a subcutaneous medicatation, it just needs to be injected under the skin and your body will absorb it.
54 year old Female
Posted: 2009-01-05 17:53:29
Answer/Reply:
I ALSO HAVE NOTICED AT TIMES BUT NOT ALWAYS AFTER INJECTING MYSELFSOMETIMES THERE IS A DROPPLET LEFT AT THE HEAD OF THE NEEDLE...THIS IS KIND OF SCARY SINCE I LEAVE THE NEEDLE IN LONGER THAN I REALLY SHOULD HAVE TOO.....LIKE I SAID SOMETIME THIS HAPPENS ...BUT NOT ALWAYS...AND OF COURSE YOU RAELLY DONT KNOW HOW MUCH YOUR NOT OR ARE GETTING...SO YOU CANT GIVE MORE...SO YOU JUST DEAL WITH IT....PAIN...I GET ABDOMENAL DISCOMFORT BUT I DONT KNOW IF THAT IS FROM THIS MEICATION I DONALWAYS HAVE IT YET IT FEELS AS IF IT IS PART OF MY LIFE SYSLE....I DONT THINK YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT COMMENT UNLESS YOU LIVE IT.... I ALSO HAVE LOST WEIGH BUT I WAS ON LYRICKA (GAINED 13 LBS IN 3 WEEKS)PLUS OTHER MEDS
53 year old Female
Posted: 2009-11-04 01:49:39
Question/Comment:
I started byetta 6 months ago, on 5mg and was nauseated the first week or so. I decided to try it because my pills were not working as well as they used to and I thought it would help me lose some weight. The doctor than put me on 10 mg and blood suguars are very good. However the one annoying thing is the heartburn and I am constantly popping antacids all day long. On occasion I do have burning feelings at night in my stomach. I have not lost a pound but have gained 10 pounds since starting it. Since loosing weight was one of my reasons for using it instead of insulin I think I will ask my Doctor to put me on insulin. It is also terribily expensive $240.00 for a months supply and it quickly put into the donut hole. May I ask what kind of insulin people are using?
79 year old Female
Posted: 2008-11-18 13:35:19
Answer/Reply:
No insulin here.
I've been using Metformin with Junuvia, but switched from the Junuvia to the Byetta only a few weeks ago.
Started with the 5mg, have no problems with the needles (can't really feel them), and very little in the say nausea. I do get a feeling like a hunger pang in the pit of my stomach after taking the shot, but it's not bad enough to be concerned. I believe my doctor will be increasing me to 10mg next refill.
I haven't lost weight, but haven't really been dieting as strictly as I should, especially during this holiday season. Now, I'm back on the wagon, and waiting to see what sort of results I might have.
If you're getting any stomach pain or even constant heartburn, you should discuss this with your doctor. Mine told me they take any pain or discomfort (aside from the expected nausea) very seriously. They don't want pancreatitis sneaking up on you, which is an extremely serious problem associated with Byetta. Personally, I think it happens more with those folks who use Byetta, but remain on a high fat diet... The two just don't go together very well.
54 year old Female
Posted: 2009-01-05 18:02:20
Answer/Reply:
Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! I have always watched my diet and my blood sugar A1c usually is 5 or 5.2.
I used Byetta for over two years. Had excellent sugar numbers while on it. First six months couldn't eat ANYTHING- had to force every single morsel down due to nausea. It got better. But periodically had episodes of vomiting which increased as time went along. Eventually started having severe vomiting and uncontrolled diarrhea at least once a week and they started to last for more than a day. I am now off of Byetta.
63 year old Female
Posted: 2009-01-07 16:41:46
Question/Comment:
I was on Byetta for a year and a half. During that time I had abdominal problems of 1 type or another every single day. I was taking 2 prilosecs AND peptobismal every day One day I forgot to dose myself and noticed my tummy felt good for a change I thought it was the foods I had eaten that day, so the next day I had the same meals but I took Byetta. Stomach problems returned instantly. The day after that I took myself off Byetta, called my Dr and went on insulin. Its been 3 months and no more abdominal problems.BTW I did not lose 1 pound during the entire ordeal.
55 year old Female
Posted: 2008-11-14 10:35:02
Question/Comment:
I have been on Byetta since March 2008. I started w/ 5mcg and yes I had diarrhea but I have Irritable Bowel Syndrom anyway so I just delt with it. Went on the 10 mcg dose in April and off the Avandia. So far the diarhhea is bearable and I have lost 45 lbs. I have had no nausea and no pain so I will keep taking the Byetta until my Doctor takes me off of it.
50 year old Female
Posted: 2008-10-01 23:20:57
Answer/Reply:
I have been on Byetta for over 2 years now, and I couldn't be happier. I have lost 75 pounds and my blood sugar average is 109. Before Byetta I was taking Avandaryl and my blood sugar average was 245. I thank God every day for my doctor, and Byetta!! :)
44 year old Female
Posted: 2008-12-11 02:00:43
Question/Comment:
i have been on byetta for over 2 years i have not had any of the side effects everyone says they have my sugar levels run anywhere from 80 to 103. i exercise and watch what i eat. before taking byetta my dr. was thinking of putting me on insulin,now all i take is the 10mg. twice a day i have blood work every 2 months.i am thankful for byetta.i'm a 58 yr.old femle.
60 year old Male
Posted: 2008-10-01 20:20:05
Question/Comment:
I was placed on Byetta and was supprised at how pain free the shots were. I also was so looking forward to this miracle drug that i cried when I finally got the prescription for it. I figured it was well worth being a little nauses, to feel more energy and lose weight. well I started with the 5mg dose twice a day and yes I was nausea. After on it for 2 months I couldn't get away from the feeling of being sick all the time. I quite for a month and felt better and also gained more weight. Then I decided to give it another try.
I had my usual blood tests, and I had a vitamin D difficency, so bad I had to be prescribed Vtamin D. Rating was 8.
I started with the 5 mg again twice a day. No nausea this time so the next month my doctor put me up to 10 mg. twice a day. I had diarreha worse then with the 5 mg. dose. I had nausea more and soon I started getting up in the middle of the night with a burning in my stomach and throwing up. Fine during the day, but throwing up at night.
I stopped the Byetta and all of my symptoms disapperared. No more sickness or throwing up. No abdominal pains and diahriah.
The only thing negative now is my left foot and leg are swelling in the eveing after eating, like it had before I started Byetta.
56 year old Female
Posted: 2008-09-26 21:29:12
Question/Comment:
I was on Byetta for about 2 years. I LOVED IT I would get nauseated at night also but it would go away after about an hour never in the morning My problem was pancreatitis I was put in the hospital for 2 days and taken off the Byetta I tried all kinds of different medications none worked like Byetta for me So he let me go back on it but i had to have my blood tested once a week after 6 days my liver enzymes had already gone from normal to abnormal so now I am on insulin
53 year old Female
Posted: 2008-09-25 23:33:13
Question/Comment:
My Doctor put me on Byetta about 9 months ago right after I sarted taking it I started being very nausea, vomiting. I was in the bathroom all the time. My husband and I would go out to eat and I would take a few bite and start gagging and throw up. I then started having several adominal pains, so severe I would be totally doubled over in pain. I went to my internal medicine doctor and he took lots of blood and the tests showed my gallblabber level was high, my triglycerides was also very high. I took myself off the Byetta and after about a month the pain and sickness went away. To bad I had to spend so much money on the extra test to find this out.
51 year old Female
Posted: 2008-08-28 10:39:18
Answer/Reply:
so I used byetta for a a few months and recently I saw it on a commericail you know the commericials that say stuff like if you had problems like blah blah blah while you were on this medication you may be intilited to a claim well I had like 3 of those sympotoms and now i'm very skepticle about byetta ..... anyone else see this commericial?
20 year old Male
Posted: 2008-09-25 00:45:52
Answer/Reply:
I have seen the commercial and received an e mail stating that Byetta my cause pancreatis and death.
56 year old Female
Posted: 2008-11-12 04:25:40
Question/Comment:
I have been on Byetta for 2 years now. After I stared the 10 mg dose, the nausea and vomiting was bad, I could barely function! I did lose about 28 lbs in 2 months. The doc switched me back to 5 mcg doses about 1 yr ago and now I am starting to get very nauseous at dinnertime. At least i don't vomit every day. I don't get this effect at breakfast. The weight loss ended when I switched to the lower dose.
54 year old Female
Posted: 2008-08-21 21:04:29
Question/Comment:
I was on Byetta and insulin, and I keep hearing not to take insulin with it, but the Dr keeps telling me to keep up with the insulin/Byetta. Who is right? I was SO sick with nausea that they put me back on the 5mcg dose, but my sugars are going wild.
46 year old Female
Posted: 2008-08-11 18:34:07
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
Using Byetta with insulin has not been studied and this combination is not approved by the FDA. Byetta is FDA approved for use with oral medications such as metformin, a sulfonylurea, like glyburide or glipizide, a thiazolidinedione, like rosaglitazone (Avandia) or pioglitazone (Actos) of a combination of metformin and a sulfonylurea, or a combination of metformin and a thiazolidinedione (rosiglitazone or pioglitazone). You may want to follow up with your doctor and have him/her further explain why he is prescribing you the combination of Byetta and insulin.
Posted: 2008-08-13 20:10:45
Question/Comment:
My Dr. put me on this, what a wonder drug.. I have lost close to 50lbs and feel so much better. My A1C looks FAB. I am 42 w/ 3yr old twins and this is so easy, The side effects are well worth the benefits in my book. I have experienced mostly nausea, but not to the point of making me want to quit taking the med.. I will continue to take as long as my insurance will pay for it.
43 year old Female
Posted: 2008-08-06 14:25:40
Answer/Reply:
How much exercise did you do in addition to the Byetta to lose the weight?
58 year old Female
Posted: 2008-11-09 17:50:00
Question/Comment:
I have been on Byetta for a month now and have noticed that I am eating less. If I do eat too much, I feel horrible. I have only be nauseas a few times and so far my blood sugar has gotten lower. If I use it regularly, I have been averaging around 125-140 which is awesome!! I am hoping it will continue to help me.
33 year old Female
Posted: 2008-07-24 21:53:11
Question/Comment:
My best control is with Byetta without the other side effects of other pills. I was on Byetta since it came off trial, then at the end of 2007 went off it because of the study on possible
pancreatitis. My counts went wild, tried several different new medications, had too many lows with one, allergic reaction with another, then more weight gain with another. Finally, after 5 months of playing with meds, listened to my physician that it was a very small percentage that had a problem and went back to Byetta. The weight gain disappeared, the uncomfortablness I felt was gone and sugar counts -- back to normal!
58 year old Female
Posted: 2008-07-16 18:05:21
Question/Comment:
it's too expensive
56 year old Male
Posted: 2008-05-01 13:29:01
Question/Comment:
I was afraid to give myself the injections at first. However after my diabetes counselor showed me how easy it was and how very small the needle is, I became comfortable with the idea and let go of my fear. Some of the side effects are gone and others I have become used to them. I don't eat as much as I used to. My weight loss has been gradual and although I need to lose more, I feel very good right now.
67 year old Female
Posted: 2008-03-10 00:00:00
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
I have tried to take this medication of a regular basis, but my work schedule is so crazy. I really want to lose weight because I want to live a long life. I have found it to be so difficult trying not to eat anything sweet. How would you suggest I go about handling myself.
Posted: 2008-07-27 23:21:15
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