Details

Exenatide is an injectable diabetes medicine that helps control blood sugar levels. This medication helps your pancreas produce insulin more efficiently. Bydureon is an extended-release form of exenatide. Bydureon is used to treat type 2 diabetes. Other diabetes medicines are sometimes used in combination with Bydureon if needed. To make sure exenatide is safe for you tell your doctor if you have kidney disease or a history of kidney transplant problems with digestion a history of pancreatitis or gall stones a history of alcoholism or a history of high triglycerides (a type of fat in blood).

Typical Uses

Exenatide is used with a proper diet and exercise program to control high blood sugar. It is used by people with type 2 diabetes. Controlling high blood sugar helps prevent kidney damage, blindness, nerve problems, loss of limbs, and sexual function problems. Proper control of diabetes may also lessen your risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Side Effects

Stop using exenatide and inform your doctor immediately if you have pain, itching, warmth, swelling, skin sores, blisters, skin changes, or a hard lump where the injection was given swelling in your neck or throat (enlarged thyroid), hoarse voice, trouble swallowing or breathing swelling, weight gain, feeling short of breath, little or no urinating drowsiness, confusion, mood changes, increased thirst, diarrhoea dull pain in your middle or lower back severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, vomiting or low blood sugar (headache, hunger, weakness, sweating, confusion, irritability, dizziness, fast heart rate, or feeling jittery).

Drug Interactions

• Exenatide+bexarotene- Using bexarotene together with exenatide may increase the risk of pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.

• Exenatide+gatifloxacin- Gatifloxacin can affect blood glucose levels and should not be used in patients with diabetes. Both hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose) and, less frequently, hyperglycemia (high blood glucose) have been reported. Severe cases of hypoglycaemia during treatment with gatifloxacin have resulted in coma and even death.

Mechanism of action

Exenatide is an anti-diabetic drug that is similar to a natural hormone in your body (incretin). It works by increasing insulin release (especially after a meal) and decreasing the amount of sugar your liver makes. It also slows down food digestion in your stomach, decreases the amount of sugar absorbed from food, and may help decrease your appetite.

Pregnancy Category : C