BYETTA

[Denis]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi cugila

You got a bit mixed, the man with the answers is Dennis with 2 n's, I'm Denis also a newbie to this forum.

I am also new to Byetta, been on it a month, just changed to the 10mg 2 day's ago, I was told by my consultant and diabetic clinic that because I am on Byetta and Gliclazide that I must inform swansea, so who's right ???????????????????

 

[Dennis]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Ken,

It's a bit confusing now that we have a Dennis and a Denis, but thanks for reminding me that we haven't re-stated the DVLA's current thinking on Byetta for a little while. It is always useful to know exactly what DVLA's current thinking is because they changed their minds about Byetta 3 times in 2008!

The current situation is dated 16 Sept 2008 and is extracted unchanged from the DVLA website:

Treatment with Exenatide (Byetta) or Gliptins

Exenatide has been licensed as a treatment for use in type 2 diabetes, in combination with metformin and or sulphonylureas. Trials published to date show a small but significant risk of hypoglycaemia when exenatide is used in conjunction with a sulphonylurea. It would also appear that when the gliptins (DPP4 inhibitors) are used with sulphonylureas, the hypoglycaemia risk is similarly raised.

The increased risk of hypoglycaemia from exenatide or gliptins when used in combination with sulphonylureas is such that these are felt to be a potentially high risk treatment for drivers holding Group 2 (LGV or PCV) licences and that individual assessment will be required.

Group 2 drivers are required to notify DVLA if they have diabetes treated with tablets. If they are then started on exenatide or a gliptin they are only required to notify DVLA if this is in combination with a sulphonylurea.

The use of exenatide or gliptins currently carries no specific driving restrictions for Group 1 (car or motorcycle) licences.

So to summarise, if you have a Group 1 (car or motorbike) licence and you take Byetta or a gliptin there are no restrictions and you do not need to inform DVLA.
If you have a Group 2 (LGV or PCV) licence then you need to advise DVLA if you take either Byetta or a gliptin together with a sulphonylurea medication. The following is a list of all drugs that are classed as sulphonylureas: Carbutamide, Chlorpropamide, Gliclazide, Tolbutamide, Tolazamide, Glipizide, Glibenclamide, Glyburide, Gliquidone, Glyclopyramide, Glimepiride. The following are the available gliptins: Sitagliptin (Januvia), Vildagliptin (Galvus).

However, it is advisable for all drivers who take Byetta or one of the gliptins to check occasionally on the DVLA website because they do seem very uncertain about these treatments and when they do change their minds they tend not to tell anyone!

 

[cugila]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Dennis, your'e a star !
Thanks for posting all the relevant info from the DVLA which was something I wasn't able to do. To the other Denis my sincere apologies.
Ken

 

[Dennis]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Ken,

No problem and, as I said, thanks for bringing it up. How are you getting on with the Byetta?

PS the phrase "bringing it up" was not intended to have anything to do with Byetta side effects!!!

 

[Denis]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Thank you Dennis for simplifying things,

Hi cugila,
Yes how are you getting on with Byetta, as I said before I have just started on my 10 mg dose so would be interested on any side effects, mind you I don't want to complain about Byetta as it seems to be doing everything it say's on the tin, and hopefully any effects will be short lived.

 

[maxifli]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi
I started on Byetta last thursday, so far so good. has already brought my sugar levels down. had a few hypo's as well so am ajusting my insulin. i have a very sweet tooth and some times eat for tha sake of eating but have found this week that my appitite has fadded drastically. just hopeing that i start to loose weight now. Side affectts.. had a few headaches for the first few days but they pass and ok now. Has anyone else experinaced the weight lose by using it as this along with bring down my sugar levels is important for me as have tried so many diets ?? i am hoping that it really does work ...
Steve

 

[sussex]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi sussex

If I were you I would stick to one of the specialist diabetic ins companies, I always take holiday insurance that way, you normally have to go through a screening process, but at least you know you have told them everything and would be properly covered, also as Byetta is a relativly new drug some ins companies may not understand and assume if your injectin it must be insulin, if you still want to go ahead then I would put no as an answer in the box, as byetta isn't insulin, in fact I know at least 3 taxi drivers on Byetta and it does'nt affect there car insurance, although you do have to notify D V L A if your on Byetta and Gliclazide.

As for your ID and meds, I carry mine on a neckchain from (MEDIC ALERT) it tells the emergency services what illness's you have and an emergency phone number where a hospital or doctor can obtain your list of medication.

Thanks Dennis, your a star. :wink:

 

[Denis]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Steve

Yes it certainly suppresses your appetite, when I started a month ago, the main thing I was concerned about was the injectin, but as your on insulin I suppose your well used to it, apart from the sickly feeling's, feeling full most of the time, and only wanting smaller portions, the weight should fall off hopefully, but yes I am well pleased with it so far.

 

[cheekylange]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi, I am on Byetta (exenatide), started off with 5mg twice daily, after 1 month new pen to 10mg twice daily.
I do take it in combination with metformin, I did have the most terrible 'morning sickness' for the first two month, and was tempted to stop taking it, however now I am super and have lost nearly 10kg in 3 month and my sugars are great!!!
I am grateful to my consultants at St.Mary's London to have put me on Byetta.

 

[sussex]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

I have been on Byetta now for a few months. I feel really well, and have lost about 17 pounds in weight. The first 14 pounds went very quickly due to feeling a bit nauseous, this has now past and my appetite is better.
I still eat smaller portions and very little bread and no desire for potatoes. With the warmer weather approaching I will be able to get more exercise and spend time gardening.
I didn't realise how unwell I felt on Novamix insulin, until I stopped using it and went on to Byetta. Thank heavens for this forum and the advice given, in my case by Dennis.

 

[Dennis]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Thank you Sussex, but I can't claim all the credit - we now have another Denis (his has one N, mine has 2).

Steve,
As some of the others have said, Byetta is renowned for encouraging weight loss. In fact in the States some doctors are prescribing it to non-diabetic patients as purely a weight-loss aid!!

 

[Denis]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Trust the americans, I wonder how much they charge over there for it, we should be thankfull we get it free. 8)

 

[Philip-Rome]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Firstly Hi to everyone, I've been watching you for a while
I decided to sign up to the forum today and hope to play an active part.
Secondly thank you to Dennis and soooo many others for the advice and help that has been shown on this thread, I haven't looked at the rest of the forum yet, but if this thread is anything to go on, its gonna be good

Anyway, as you might notice from the name, Im located in Rome, Italy (Expat), and have noticed some differences in approach and treatment, but will probably cover that more in future posts !!!

I have a meeting with my endocrinologist this week and may get put onto the Byetta 10, (have been on 5 for 2 months), I wanted to ask about the difference in 5 and 10, this might sound silly and be very obvious, but sometimes I need things spelling out, lol.
Will the 10 have a stronger effect, i.e. reduce my BG levels more than the 5 does? or does it last longer? or both, or neither, just what is the difference and therefore why most move up to the 10?

Sorry if this has been asked before, and thanks in advance for any advice.
Philip

 

[maxifli]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi all
Thanks for the info, feeling confident now.
Going from 5 to 10 ! i was lead to belive that this was just a matter of course. i have been told i will go up to 10 in 1 months time from when i started taking the 5 and that the feeling sick and headache's would happen again but only for the first few days. i can only prsume that they sart you off on 5 first as it is a strong drug and you have to become used to it ??
i have already reduced my insulin by 5 units and so far have been fine today with no hypo's so i think its going to work out fine....

 

[Dennis]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

I can only prsume that they sart you off on 5 first as it is a strong drug and you have to become used to it ??

Hi Maxfli,

That's exactly right. The active drug in Byetta is called exenatide and, although this is very similar to the GLP-1 hormone that the human body produces, exenatide is not natural to the human body. So quite naturally, the body reacts to it and can try to reject it, hence the nausea - and in some cases actually being physically sick. After a while the body becomes accustomed to it and stops trying to reject it, and at that point you can move up to the stronger dose. I have seen several cases both here and in the US of doctors thinking they know better than the manufacturers, ignoring the instructions, and starting patients straight on the 10mcg dose. In every case the patient was violently ill and in several cases had to be hospitalised! I'm pleased to say that GPs now seem to be following the instructions.

When you move up to the 10mcg dose you may find that the nausea feeling returns, but this is usually less severe than you get on the 5mcg pen and tends not to last as long.

 

[Dennis]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Trust the americans, I wonder how much they charge over there for it, we should be thankfull we get it free. 8)

Hi Denis,

In the States it costs around $200 per pen, which makes it about 40% more expensive than it is over here - one of the few things where we pay less than the Americans!

 

[Dennis]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Philip in Rome and a very warm welcome to you, although I bet it's a **** site warmer in Rome than it is over here right now. We have snow forecast again for tomorrow! Do you now live permanently in Italy or are you working temporarily over there?


I'm sure you will enjoy all the forums when you have had a chance to browse through them. This thread is fairly quiet and we are generally well behaved - some of them can get quite lively and we get some heated debates from time to time, especially on the subject of diet. It's interesting that you will be prescribed Byetta in Italy as I wasn't sure how widely available it is outside the UK and USA.

As the name suggests, the 10mcg dose is simply double the strength of the 5mcg dose that you are currently on. If you have a look at my note to Maxfli above you will see that you may suffer some side effects when increasing the dose. However, you have had longer to acclimatise to it than many people are allowed, so you may find it an easier transition.

In practical terms, the 5mcg dose seems to trigger quite significant weight loss, which simply continues but not at a noticably greater rate on the stronger dose. My observations of myself and others are that the reduction in blood sugar seems to be greater on the full strength dose. It doesn't last any longer, both the 5 and 10 doses remain active for 4 hours and are fully cleared from your system in 9 hours. There are some who find that both the weight loss and BG reduction are good enough at 5mcg and they simply remain on that dose. I presume your endo thinks that you need the extra boost in BG reduction that the higher dose delivers.

If there's any questions that we might be able to answer please feel free to fire away. Don't worry if a question seems silly - if it's something you don't know then you can bet that several others are wondering the same thing!

 

[Denis]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hey Dennis,
Am I glad I joined this forum, I have learnt more in these past few weeks than I could have, even if I had spent a solid month talking to my consultant.

To us newbies, the thourght of injectin and side effects of this drug can be quite daunting, however to be able to share stories and problems arising from this treatment makes it much easier to get along with it.


Keep it going Dennis, and thanks

 

[candy1567]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi

Dennis is quite right and is our expert on Byetta, i had terrible nausea with the 5 and was even vomitting for a good 3 weeks and just when i thought i was safe to leave the bathroom the uped it to the 10!!

The nausea was just as bad on the 10 if not a little worse but i found that eating within 15 mins of your meal helped now i can leave it for 40 mins or so as well as taking a big swig of diet cola for the wind. Have been on the 10 for 4 weeks now and occasionally feel a bit sick but nothing u cant handle once in a while it depends on what i have eaten, i find that eatin bread, potatoes, rice and pasta makes me feel very uncomfortable full and bloated. And reading around here ppl have stated they feel the cold, hey Dennis i have my own theory for this do you think it could be that now bs are lower you dont feel as hot and loosing weight u dont have your fat to insulate you?

The weightloss is good to i lost 9kg in the first month on the 5 and another 6kg in the month i have been on the 10. Although i cant see where i have lost if from i think i got really slim toes!!!

My bs are good, they could be better their between 5 to 6, yeah i am low carbin but not as carefully as i could am just waiting to go for my Hb test next week.

I would also say that if anyone is thinking of giving Byetta a try then go for it and see if it suits you after all if it doesn't you can always stop takin it

Juliexx

 

[carolynjw]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

I've just found this site as I have been put on byetta this morning. Thanks all for a really useful thread.

Here goes ..... fingers crossed.

:mrgreen: