BYETTA

[Jude]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Julie

Are you saying that injecting into the stomach causes the nausea/sickness whereas into the thighs does not?

I started on Byetta on Tuesday evening (injecting around waist area) and so far I am feeling pretty rough! Continuous nausea, headache and a general "no life" feeling. I have prepared myself for this as I am hoping it will help shift some of my weight but so far my morning numbers are up again. I had been on Lantus since November and have come off that - half dose Tuesday night, quarter Wednesday & Thursday - in fact am wondering if I should continue the Lantus for a little while - advice please. :?

Jude

 

[Dennis]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Julie,

Interesting observation about the nausea returning when you inject into the stomach. I've never heard heard that mentioned before, and it really shouldn't make any difference where you inject because the Byetta doesn't actually reach the stomach - it is absorbed into the blood stream very quickly from where it reaches your pancreas.

Jude,

They seem to be dropping your Lantus at an alarming rate - far faster than anything I have heard of before. Most people I have heard from who have switched from insulin to Byetta do so gradually so as not to create an artificially high BS level. It is usual to drop from between a third to a half dose of insulin for at least a couple of weeks, but to test regularly and tweak the insulin depending on the test results. Your doctor can't know just how much insulin production your pancreas is capable of so until this can be seen you shouldn't reduce by too much.

 

[Jude]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Thanks Dennis - I have just left you another message on the other Byetta thread - gets a bit confusing!!

I agree with you and I am going to go back up to half what I have been taking for a week or so and in fact do what you have said - that would have been my way of handling it - that was what I did when I cam off the Gliclazide, I did it gradually. :? Jude

 

[Dennis]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Jude,

I think your idea is the most sensible approach. If I were you I would test before each meal and again 2 hours after. The before test will show what your fasting and semi-fasting levels are and set a benchmark to compare the second test against. Then test again 2 hours after eating so that you can see how the combination of Byetta and insulin is acting on what you have eaten. At the 2 hour point your BS should have dropped to close to where it was before your meal.

If it is still quite high then that would indicate that you need a little more insulin. If it is lower than where you started then reduce the insulin by a little.
e.g. Lets say that before your meal your BS is 6.0. If 2 hours after eating it is lower than 6.0 then you will need to reduce the insulin just a little. If it is between 6.0 and 6.5 then that is about perfect. Between 6.5 and 7.0 is just about ok but keep an eye on things. Over 7.0 then you need a little more insulin.

For the first 2 weeks or so your body will be acclimatising itself to the Byetta, so the Byetta won't necessarily be working at full capacity, which is why it is not a good idea to drop the insulin too quickly - just enough so that you don't hypo. As you become more acclimatised to the Byetta so it will be working more effectively on your BS levels and your meter readings will show you how much adjustment you need to make.

 

[Jude]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Dennis

This is all so confusing and I am a very methodical competent person especially when I am dealing with my body that I have to live inside!!

I asked the DN this afternoon if the Byetta would be working properly yet and she said yes!! I came off the phone after talking to her and I just felt so disheartened & depressed. I must say I have been feeling much improved since about 6pm - long may it last.

Those numbers you quote for before & after meals - I should be so lucky!!! Anyway thanks very much for your input - do not know what I would do without it (& others aboard). Jude

 

[humph]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

I have found Byetta to be accumulative too. Mine took over a month to kick in and through a mess up with my private prescription i have been off Byetta for a week, just started back today.

My sugars remained at the levels I was seeing with Byetta for the whole week without.

 

[candy1567]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Dennis

thanks for you reply, i tried injecting in my stomach again just to see if i was having an off day as my sickness settled a few months after starting Byetta.

I injected into my stomach yesterday morning, and bout 30 to 40 mins later felt very sick not felt like this since first starting on Byetta.

done my dinner dose in my leg and although i still felt a bit sick, it wore off quite quickly. This morning done my leg again and was ok again

Have no idea whats goin on, but will stick to my legs in future lol.

 

[vivkaroo]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

hiya dennis on 5mg byetta see specialist 30th april got 10mg in fridge ready lost 6lb in a month feel marvellous i cant believe it keep waiting for something to go wrong !! but wont tempt fate never felt so good my legs are not fatty they are quite slim so cant inject in legs couldnt do the first time i was on it however will say stomache gets bit sore but hey swimming next week i walked to my sons a mile and half away today and wouldnt let him drive me home i walked back and i tell you it is so vigorating with the lovely weather we are having keep this up might get a nice slim fiqure like i used to have do you know dennis if you can take erythromicin antibiotics with byetta i think you can if you take 1 hr before byetta am i right got to go luv xx ps got bread recipe of fergus will send for some xx

 

[cugila]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Viv,
You asked:
Do you know dennis if you can take erythromicin antibiotics with byetta i think you can if you take 1 hr before byetta am i right


Hi Viv,
Not Dennis, but Ken. I am sure he will agree.

Both the manufacturer and the BNF state the following:

Other oral drugs may be taken at least 1 hour before OR 4 hours after exenatide injection, OR taken with a meal when exenatide is not administered, to minimise possible interference with absorption

So you are almost right.

Ken.

 

[vivkaroo]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

cheers ken you are usually right or dennis bye sweetie xx

 

[Dennis]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Viv,

Yes, you can take erithromycin with Byetta. I had to take a course of them a couple of months ago for a chest infection. I found they raised my blood sugar slightly (probably sugar coated!), but otherwise no problems.

 

[akela]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi
I have been on Byetta for 5+ weeks. I Have experienced some of the jitters, and exhausted feeling as well as diarrhea. Not been a major problem as it doesn't happen every day. Using the Byetta 10 pen.
Would loive to hear from others using Byetta.
Sue

 

[cugila]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Sue.
Welcome.

Just fire away on here. We are all ears. Whatever you might need to know or just a chat - no problems. We have our own little corner for all things Byetta.

Dennis Moderator is the main man on here as you will see if you browse the previous posts. I think he has probably been on it the longest and started this thread.

Ken.

 

[vivkaroo]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

hiya dennis been back to see specialist today went on 10 mg 2 days ago bit funny first day but 2nd day no sickness feel good good its amazing cant understand why i was so ill the first time on byetta l but i feel so good so energetic he was so pleased with me i have lost 7and a half pounds in 4 weeks going to gym in morning to start swimming feel really goodsee you dennis hun xx

 

[Dennis]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Viv,

I'm really glad that it's working for you this time after the terrible experience you had before. But don't be surprised if the weight loss just suddenly stops for no reason. It seems to do this from time to time, and then just as mysteriously starts again.

 

[Jude]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Dennis and other Byetta experts

The side effects are settling down now but my numbers are not coming down and neither is my weight. Am I expecting too much too soon do you think? I am still taking 30 units Lantus at night.

Vivkaroo - how much weight have you lost and how much do you need to lose? Congratulations on your loss so far - you sound very bright and full of life (can you give me some?!).

All encouragements gratefully received. Good Night Jude 8)

 

[Dennis]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Jude,

You have only been taking it for just over a week, and fow the first few days were having problems getting the Lantus balance right, so I would give it another week yet. Many people find that on the 5mcg Byetta dose sometimes there can be significant weight loss but very little BS reduction. On the 10mcg pen the BS reduction is greater but the weight loss doesn't seem to increase - it just carries on at the same rate as it did at the lower dose.

 

[akela]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Ken and Dennis
Does anyone know if the diarrhea goes away at all?
Lost 6.6 pounds in first month on Byetta.
Finding that if a eat too much then the diarrhea happens so I think its reeducating the way I eat.
Sue

 

[cugila]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Sue.

Yes. It should stop. However if it doesn't then you should see your GP. May not just be down to Byetta ?
As you have found the Byetta is a very good appetite suppressant as well. If you eat too much you will feel bloated and this will not help any stomach problems you may have. You really do have to reduce your portion sizes to avoid this feeling. I find that if I eat too many Plums it can have a similar effect. I love Plums - just don't have many in one go.

Well done with the weight loss. Keep at it

Ken..

 

[stockcar19]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

I started Byetta on Monday this week,can't beleive how easy the injecting is.No nausea as yet just a couple of bouts of really horrible indigestion but nothing I can't cope with.Had larger dinner at the mother in laws last night and physically could not eat it all - a good side effect.BS slightly lower but its early days yet,although the second day I did go to 3.9 during the afternoon but I guess I am lucky that when I do go low I get a strange tingly feeling around my lower back/kidney area.Had something to eat and got on with my day.
Will let you know how it goes.
Regards
Pete