What is exenatide?
Exenatide is an injectable diabetes medicine that helps control blood sugar levels. This
medication helps your pancreas produce insulin more efficiently.
Exenatide is used to treat type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes. Other diabetes medicines
are sometimes used in combination with exenatide if needed.
Exenatide may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking exenatide?
Do not use exenatide to treat type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes, or if you are in a state of
diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin).
If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to
safely use this medication:
-
kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis);
-
problems with digestion; or
-
severe stomach disorders (gastroparesis).
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether exenatide is
harmful to an unborn baby. Before using exenatide, Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or if you
become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether exenatide passes into breast milk or if it could be harmful to a
nursing baby. Do not take exenatide without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take exenatide?
Use exenatide exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use the medication in larger
amounts or use it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your
prescription label.
Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this
medication. Your dose needs may change if you are ill, if you have a fever or infection, or if you have
surgery or a medical emergency. Do not change your dose of exenatide without first talking to your
doctor. Use only the diabetes medications prescribed for you.
Exenatide is given as an injection under the skin, usually in the upper thigh, stomach area, or
upper arm. Your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist will give you specific instructions on how and where to
inject this medicine. Do not self-inject this medicine if you do not fully understand how to give the
injection and properly dispose of used needles and syringes.
Exenatide is usually injected twice a day, before the morning and evening meal. You must use
this medication within 60 minutes (1 hour) before eating the meal. Your exenatide doses should be
given at least 6 hours apart. Do not use exenatide after eating a meal.
It is important to use exenatide regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled
before you run out of medicine completely.
Exenatide comes in a prefilled pen with a "Pen User Manual" showing instructions for using the
pen and injecting the medicine. You must do a "New Pen Set-Up" one time only, when starting a new
prefilled exenatide Pen. If you do this "New Pen Set-Up" before each injection, you will run out of
medicine before 30 days.
Pen needles are not included with this medicine. Ask your doctor, diabetes counselor, or
pharmacist which needle size is best for you.
Never share an injection pen or cartridge with another person. Sharing injection pens or
cartridges can allow disease such as hepatitis or HIV to pass from one person to another.
To be sure this medication is helping your condition, you will need to check your blood sugar at
home. Your blood will also need to be tested by your doctor on a regular basis. Do not miss any
scheduled appointments.
Store unused exenatide injection pens in the refrigerator, protected from light. Do not freeze
them, and throw away any exenatide pen that has become frozen. After your first use of a pen, it may
then be stored at room temperature, away from heat and bright light.
Use the exenatide pen for only 30 days and then throw it away, even if it still has medicine in it.
Do not use the medicine after the expiration date on the label has passed. Do not store the exenatide
pen with the needle attached.
If the needle is left on, medicine may leak from the pen or air bubbles may form in the cartridge.
Keep your exenatide pen, pen needles, and all medicines out of the reach of children.
What happens if I miss a dose of exenatide?
Use the missed dose as soon as you remember, but only if you have not yet eaten a meal. If
you have already eaten a meal, wait until your next scheduled dose (1 hour before a meal) to use the
medicine.
Do not
use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Where can I get more information about exenatide?
Your pharmacist has information about exenatide written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of exenatide?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using exenatide and call your doctor at once if you have severe pain in your upper
stomach spreading to your back, with nausea, vomiting, and a fast heart rate. These could be
symptoms of pancreatitis.
Less serious side effects may include:
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nausea, vomiting, heartburn, diarrhea;
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loss of appetite;
-
weight loss; or
-
dizziness, headache, or feeling jittery.
Know the signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and how to
recognize them:
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hunger, headache, confusion, irritability;
-
drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, tremors;
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sweating, fast heartbeat;
-
seizure (convulsions); or
-
fainting, coma (severe hypoglycemia can be fatal).
Always keep a source of sugar available in case you have symptoms of low
blood sugar. Sugar sources include orange juice, glucose gel, candy, or milk. If you have severe
hypoglycemia and cannot eat or drink, use an injection of glucagon. Your doctor can give you a
prescription for a glucagon emergency injection kit and tell you how to give the injection.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical
advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about exenatide?
Do not use exenatide to treat type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes, or if you are in a state of
diabetic ketoacidosis (call your doctor for treatment with insulin).
Before using exenatide, tell your doctor if you use any of these oral diabetes medications:
acetohexamide (Dymelor), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glimepiride (Amaryl), glipizide (Glucotrol),
glyburide (DiaBeta), tolazamide (Tolinase), tolbutamide (Orinase).
You must use this medication within 60 minutes (1 hour) before eating a meal. If you miss a
dose, use the medication as soon as you remember, but only if you have not yet eaten a meal. If you
have already eaten a meal, wait until your next scheduled dose (1 hour before a meal) to use the
medicine. Your exenatide doses should be spaced at least 6 hours apart. Do not use exenatide after
eating a meal.
Stop using exenatide and call your doctor at once if you have severe pain in your upper
stomach spreading to your back, with nausea, vomiting, and a fast heart rate. These could be
symptoms of pancreatitis.
It is important to use exenatide regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled
before you run out of medicine completely.
Never share an injection pen or cartridge with another person. Sharing injection pens or
cartridges can allow disease such as hepatitis or HIV to pass from one person to another.
To be sure this medication is helping your condition, you will need to check your blood sugar at
home. Your blood will also need to be tested by your doctor on a regular basis. Do not miss any
scheduled appointments.
If you are using any type of antibiotic or birth control pill, take these medicines at least 1 hour
before you use exenatide.
What should I avoid while taking exenatide?
Avoid drinking alcohol. It lowers blood sugar and may interfere with your diabetes
treatment.
If you are using any type of antibiotic or birth control pill, take these medicines at least 1 hour
before you use exenatide.
What other drugs will affect exenatide?
Before using exenatide, tell your doctor if you use any oral (taken by mouth) diabetes
medications. You may need a dose adjustment:
Your doctor will tell you if any of your medication doses need
to be changed.
There may be other drugs that can interact with exenatide. Tell your doctor about all the
prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal
products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling
your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of exenatide?
