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User Manual 5
User Manual 10

How Do I Take BYETTA?

BYETTA is an injectable medicine that's easy to fit into your lifestyle. The pen comes in premeasured doses, which means you don’t have to measure your dose or adjust it based on the size of your meal or how physically active you are. Your healthcare provider will start you off with a dose of 5 micrograms (mcg) twice a day for at least 30 days, but may decide to increase your dose to 10 mcg in the future.

For helpful information about making BYETTA part of your routine, and other tips and resources for managing your type 2 diabetes, join the free support program, BYETTA By Your Sidesm.

To experience the full benefits of BYETTA, be sure to follow these dosing guidelines:

  • Take BYETTA before your two main meals of the day, at least 6 hours apart
  • Always take BYETTA within the 60 minutes before eating
  • Take the full dose no matter what size meal you're planning
  • If you ate a meal and forgot to take BYETTA, skip that dose

Getting started with your BYETTA Pen

  • BYETTA comes in a prefilled injection pen which uses a very small needle.
  • Pen needles are not included with your BYETTA Pen and may require a prescription.
  • The BYETTA Pen is suitable for use with 29 (thin), 30, or 31 (thinner) gauge disposable pen needles. Ask your healthcare provider which needle gauge and length is best for you.
  • You must use a new needle for each injection. Do not reuse needles.
  • BYETTA should be injected under the skin (subcutaneous injection) of your upper leg (thigh), stomach area (abdomen), or upper arm as instructed by your healthcare provider.

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Indication

BYETTA is an injectable prescription medicine that may improve blood sugar (glucose) control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus, when used with a diet and exercise program.

BYETTA is not insulin and should not be taken instead of insulin. BYETTA is not recommended to be taken with insulin. BYETTA is not for people with type 1 diabetes or people with diabetic ketoacidosis.

Important Safety Information for BYETTA® (exenatide) injection

  • Serious side effects can happen in people who take BYETTA, including inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) which may be severe and lead to death. Before taking BYETTA, tell your healthcare provider if you have had pancreatitis, stones in your gallbladder (gallstones), a history of alcoholism, or high blood triglyceride levels. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have pain in your stomach area (abdomen) that is severe, and will not go away. The pain may happen with or without vomiting and may be felt going from your abdomen through to your back.
  • Your risk for getting low blood sugar is higher if you take BYETTA with another medicine that can cause low blood sugar, such as a sulfonylurea. The dose of your sulfonylurea medicine may need to be lowered while you use BYETTA.
  • BYETTA should not be used in people who have severe kidney problems and should be used with caution in people who have had a kidney transplant. BYETTA may cause new or worse problems with kidney function, including kidney failure.
  • Before you use BYETTA, tell your healthcare provider if you have severe problems with your stomach, such as delayed emptying of your stomach (gastroparesis) or problems with digesting food.
  • Do not use BYETTA if you have had an allergic reaction to exenatide or any of the other ingredients in BYETTA. Severe allergic reactions can happen with BYETTA. Stop taking BYETTA and get medical help right away.
  • Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if BYETTA will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your healthcare provider first if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
  • The most common side effects with BYETTA include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, feeling jittery, and acid stomach. Nausea most commonly happens when first starting BYETTA, but may become less over time.

These are not all the side effects with BYETTA. Talk to your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Please see the BYETTA Prescribing Information and Medication Guide.