BYETTA

[cugila]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Iain.

Regarding the burning you sometimes feel, can you tell me how you store your pen when in use ?
In particular the sort of temperature it is kept at.

 

[Iain77]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi cugila,

My pen is stored at normal room temperature,Not near any heat sources and not in too cold an area.

Iain

 

[cugila]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Iain.

Thanks for that. You can get a 'burning' sensation if it is too cold, but from what you say it is at normal room temperature, no more than 25 deg C. That should be OK then, I have no idea why this should happen. Maybe you should discuss it with your GP/Nurse next time you see him/her. If anybody else has any info maybe they can 'chip in.'

 

[gppixelworks]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Timing other medication with Byetta ...

I'm aware of not taking antibiotics at the same time as Byetta (I think it's about an hour before Byetta or a couple hours after.). But I'm not clear on other medication.

For example, do Metformin and Glibenclamide need to be taken at a different time from Byetta? Or Inegy (simvastatin and ezetimibe) and Zestoretic (Lisinopril and hydrochlorothiazide)?

Finally, anyone have experience with taking plant sterols (like Benecol or Flora Pro-activ)?

Note: I'd usually ask my medical professional. However they have no prior experience with Byetta, pushed very strongly to get me on insulin and strongly discouraged starting Byetta (which I pick-up from the chemist tomorrow).

 

[cugila]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

This is the information regarding certain drugs and if safe to take with Byetta.

The effect of BYETTA to slow gastric emptying may reduce the extent and rate of absorption of orally administered medicinal products. Patients receiving medicinal products of either a narrow therapeutic ratio or medicinal products that require careful clinical monitoring should be followed closely. These medicinal products should be taken in a standardised way in relation to BYETTA injection. If such medicinal products are to be administered with food, patients should be advised to, if possible, take them with a meal when BYETTA is not administered.

For oral medicinal products that are particularly dependent on threshold concentrations for efficacy, such as antibiotics, patients should be advised to take those medicinal products at least 1 hour before BYETTA injection.

BYETTA is not expected to have any clinically relevant effects on the pharmacokinetics of metformin or sulphonylureas. Hence, no restriction in timing of intake of these medicinal products in relation to BYETTA injection are needed.

Gastro-resistant formulations containing substances sensitive for degradation in the stomach, such as proton pump inhibitors, should be taken at least 1 hour before or more than 4 hours after BYETTA injection.

If in doubt about any medication talk to your Pharmacist in the first instance. They usually know a lot more about drugs than any GP or Consultant's. That is their 'bread and butter,'
Am I allowed to say that....

 

[thedame]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Iain.

Thanks for that. You can get a 'burning' sensation if it is too cold, but from what you say it is at normal room temperature, no more than 25 deg C. That should be OK then, I have no idea why this should happen. Maybe you should discuss it with your GP/Nurse next time you see him/her. If anybody else has any info maybe they can 'chip in.'

I keep my pen in a cool tiled room with no heating - not freezing cold but when I kept it in the lounge it was getting too warm with the advent of the heating going on and tiny bubbles appeared. So pen is quite cold to touch but I only experience a slight burning when I inject in certain places: my preferred area is on the front of my thighs but if I veer to edges -say too high up of too low down from the central pad of fat (and believe me there is a lot of that!) I can feel the needle going in and get that burn for a nano second. I think this is due to hitting a less fatty spot but will get some clarification when I see my nurse on Friday for a check up.

It doesn't worry me at all - just that normally I don't even feel the prick!

 

[RWJ]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hiya

On my fifth day of the 10 pen and I do keep having a bit of an upset tummy. Don't know if this is related but I seemed fine on the 5. As in upset tummy I mean having diarrhea. I am eating small amounts and feel very full after eating especially with the evening meal. I keep feeling the wind rolling around and then suddenly I have to go.

Sorry its not a nice subject but just wondered if anyone has suffered the same.

I'm not really feeling sick though I did on a couple of occasions. Last night I had to lay down as it felt like I had eaten a huge roast dinner!

As long as the weight continues to drop and the upset tummy clears up.

Any reply would be welcome.

Thanks.

 

[cugila]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi RWJ.

It is not uncommon for this to happen. Byetta is a powerful drug and you have just doubled your dose. It may take a little while to settle down and for your body to get used to the higher doseage.

One thing I remember was that I soon learned that my portion sizes had to be WAY smaller than before, because Byetta will make you feel 'bloated' after a large meal, hence your discomfort I think.

I wouldn't advise anybody to continue eating 'normal' meals, I tend to eat about a third of what I used to eat at meal times. I use a side plate as it then looks a lot, but it isn't. Psychology !! :wink:
The appetite suppressant side of Byetta will tell you when you are over full by just that feeling you had.

Hope it improves, it is worth going through a little 'pain.' It is very effective.

 

[RWJ]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Thanks Cugila

I have cut my portions down an awful lot and maybe last night was too spicy - I made spagetti and only had about 6 spoonfuls. Will now drop to an even smaller plate.

Tonight have just had some fish with baked beans. Feel well satisfied.

I will persevere as like you say the results are much more worth it.

Thanks again.

 

[gppixelworks]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

I've started on Byetta 5mcg with the first injection being before dinner last night.

With two injections done, I've felt fine so far. (Fingers crossed!) I had to "sell" the doctor on Byetta (he had no experience with it). He strongly discouraged going on Byetta and strongly recommended starting on insulin.

The doctor used inaccurate and part-accurate information about Byetta attempting to get me to agree with his recommendation of insulin. I suspect others may run up against this sort of behaviour as well. So I've decided to put up a public profile of my home testing, HbA1c results and net carb for main meals. Hopefully this will give those interested in getting information that may be useful in getting on Byetta. Of course, this depends on how my body responds to Byetta.

Here's the basics on myself starting Byetta:

• BMI: 29.5

• Metformin: 1,000mg 2x daily

• Glibenclamide: 5mg 2x daily (this was 5mg 3x daily but I decided to drop it back when starting Byetta; the doctor never mentioned the possible hypos with this medication and Byetta.)

• Byetta started the evening of 07 Dec 09 (the standard 5mcg)

Past HbA1c's and home testing results are all online at the following URL so you may view the before and after results which will hopefully be positive.

viewtopic.php?f=23&t=11071&p=110933#p110933

(Edit. Blog address moved to ' Sticky Thread ' at above link.)

Will also update here as I go along.

Hope this is of some assistance ...

 

[cavanagh1]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Rw3

Have had exactly the same symptons as you and have now been on bietta for 2 weeks not able to eat big meals and the upset stomach but my glucose levels are way down and I lost 5lbs last week So realy chuffed hope I can get into my dress on christmas day now 2 weeks ago I had no chance Really worth putting up with a bit of discomfort when you have such good results
All the best

 

[RWJ]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Cavanagh1

So good to hear somebody has the same symptoms as me. It seems a little better today so hopefully maybe nearly over the worst. I am definitely not going to give up on this, I have waited far too long to lose weight, its all I want, as well as my BS coming down obviously.

Keep me posted on how you are doin, would be interested to hear.

All the best.

RWJ

 

[-Gordon-]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Iain

Yes, I got this when I started with Byetta about three months ago.

I put up with it for aw while but it just got worse, and I got big red raised blotches (hives?) at the injection sites (midriff). Th blotches were itching and burning. I reported this to the nurse at the first visit and she said the reaction was caused by the injection being too close to the surface of the skin. She changed my needles from 5mm to 8mm and the problem went away.

Byetta is actually in a solution of Acetic Acid which is what causes the burning.
I still get occasion 'burns' but I'm guessing it just depends on how close you are to a nerve, in the same way yo feel the prick occassionally, but most of the time you dont. The blotches and itches have pretty much gone away.

Hope this helps
Gordon

Hello,

What i want to ask is
Has anyone experienced burning when injecting Byetta?
I dont get the burning all the time and it only lasts for seconds but is very uncomfortable.

Iain

 

[-Gordon-]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi I'm new here, and been reading a lot of the posts.

I'm having a few issues with Byetta which are, I'm pleased to say, not the classic side effects and I wondered if anyone has similar experiences or can offer advice. I go back to the clinic tomorrow morning and I fear I may be taken off Byetta unless I can explain the reasons. (The doctor I saw last time seemed to be less informed than most of you !)

Its a long story but hopefully it might help others even if nobody can help me.

My weight has been increasing ever since I started getting treatment for diabetes about seven or eight years ago.

Going into summer I was tipping 21.5 stones.
Cycling 5-10 miles 3 times a week brought this down to 21 st when I was recommended for Byetta.
I came off Avandia and was only taking Metformin (2g Slow release) for a month prior to starting Byetta. In this month I managed to maintain my fasting sugar (home measurement) at about 7.5, and I also came down to 20st 7lbs. Since I came off Avadia, my general health seems to have improved no end. Concentration and headache problems vanished, bloating stopped, weight came down, and generally a happier demeanour.

Due to non diabetes injury, and then weather, I wasnt able to keep up the cycling when I went on to Byetta, but my sugars dropped to 6-7 and then 5-6. My appetite decreased markedly, and my weight down slowly to 21st 2lbs but then stopped. I was having skin reactions to the Byetta (see previous post) at this time.
The longer needles stopped this, but around the same time (2nd 10 mcg pen), the Byetta seemed to stop working, and over the last two months has gone into reverse. My appetite has returned with a vengence, the skin hive disappeared, and my morning sugars have steadily risen from 5-6 to 7-8 then 9-10 and now 10-11. I sit at a computer all day, but have managed to get PM sugars down to about 7.5-8.0. My last HBA1C,(when fasting sugar =9) was 7.2. Prior to Byetta there was consistently only a 0.5 difference between fasting and HBA1C.

I've had problems with the injections
1. Air bubbles forming in syringe (stored in its box, in a drawer in our bathroom, generally not a hot place. The bubbles are pretty difficult/impossible to purge and eventually aggregate to the diameter of the syringe.
2. Irregular syringe action - often seen to squirt when priming - this leads me to wonder if the previous delivery actually injected anything ?
3. A drop on the end of syringe after removing it from the skin
4. Syringe jamming about 1mm from the end of injection - squirts when freed
5. Large droplet of byetta appearing at injection site when syring is removed. I've even made a second injection when I've seen this happen, and I still dont go normal let alone Hypo.
I've had some or all of these problems with all three 10 mg pens
Does anyone else have these problems or symptoms ?
As I say I'm back at the clinic tomorrow. When I reported it last time they said it was probably just a bad syring syringe, and gave me another. They were happy that Id lost 12 lbs, but I'd lost most of that without Byetta, and now its all back on.

Any thoughts?

 

[thedame]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Gordon

So sorry to hear of the problems you are having with Byetta. I did have a problem with lots of tiny bubbles which disappeared once I stored the pen in our cool downstairs loo - you probably read this in my posts - I doubt this is the main cause of the problem but it might be worth finding a cooler place for yours if the bathroom is heated at time - even if it isn't, there will be temperature fluctuations from showers etc! A bit of a long shot but our loo is cool due it being on a cold side of the house and usually there is no heating in it.

Things which come to mind to discuss with your nurse might be looking into you injection site and methods. As a very large lady, I don't find using my stomach easy - it is hard to see what I am doing and awkward to pinch with one hand and inject with the other. So I usually use the front of my thigh which I can get to and see better from a sitting position. I try to make sure the jab is into a fleshy but smooth part so the pen doesn't sink into any creases - as there can be a small droplet left on the needle if this happens. I depress the plunger and count to 10 in thousands, which equates to seconds: one, two, three, four, five is too quick if you follow my meaning - a lot longer than on the packet but my nurse suggested more rather than less.

As you have had problems over several pens, I can only think that it is the needle sizes or technique which is the problem? Let us know how you get on and best of luck-keep at it and it will hopefully work out.

 

[gppixelworks]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Just started on Byetta 5mcg this last Monday evening. From reading this forum i knew it is important to cut back on meal portions -- which I've done. Also eating more slowly being aware of feeling full and then ... to stop eating regardless of what may be left on my plate.

Yesterday morning was the first time in about 2 years I had a morning Bg that was less than the usual 9.9 - 11.9. I was surprised to see it at 7.7. Other Bg levels during the day had dropped significatlly. In fact 7.7 was the highest Bg al day.

Seem to recall from somewhere (likely this forum) about the possibility of tummy problems when Metformin and Byetta are taken at the same time, so I'd made it a point to take all oral medication 1 hour prior to injecting Byetta. Except for dinner last night ...

I wanted to eat with my family but was busy and didn't take oral medication 1 hour before Byetta. At 1835 had Byetta and oral meds (including 1,000mg Metformin). Ate dinner at about 1915 (200g baked beans and about 5 oven chips).

After dinner Bg was 3.4. Considered a small bit of coco, fruit or part of a glucose tablet but decided against it as my Bg the last 2 years always rises after gong to bed.

About 5 mins after going to bed at 2230, I decided to have part of an apple. I felt OK, just a bit full and tired. Took a couple bites then set it down. Then, with little warning I coughed (normally) then coughed and started to throw-up. (sorry) Don't know how to explain it, but it didn't feel the same as being sick from, say, the flu.

I felt hot, had cold sweats and laid down on the kitchen floor to cool off. I was exhausted and just wanted to nap for a bit. Wife came down with a test kit and Bg was 4.2. She said it looked partly like undigested lunch which was at 1500.

Woke up again just before midnight to use the toilet -- no nausea -- and had a repeat of being sick. Same symptoms. Bg was 8.3. (Waking up this morning it was 11.3.

The doctor -- who is a GP but not my regular doctor -- at my surgery that sees diabetics was strongly against me going on Byetta and very strongly suggested starting insulin instead. I don't suspect he'll be too supportive.

A bit hesitant to inject this morning without some feedback. Normally I'd talk to my GP straight away but feels as if I'm in doctor limbo between my regular doctor and the other doctor (which I've seen only once) that plays an endocrinology on TV. Will contact the diabetic clinic in the area and hope to get useful feedback from a DSN or endocrinologist. But would like to hear from those with actual experience with Byetta as well.

Cheers!

 

[cugila]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi gpp.

Byetta and Metformin do not have any interactions. Metformin is designed and expected to be taken with or after food, most usually take it that way without a problem. If you take Metformin an hour before the food as you have, that is not necessary. Clinical trials showed that it's efficacy is not affected when taken as directed. It is other oral drugs which MAY be affected, hence the instruction to take them 1 hr before or 4 hrs after, or at a meal where Byetta is not taken.

Here is an extract from the Emea documents.
For oral medicinal products that are particularly dependent on threshold concentrations for efficacy, such as antibiotics, patients should be advised to take those medicinal products at least 1 hour before BYETTA injection.

BYETTA is not expected to have any clinically relevant effects on the pharmacokinetics of metformin or sulphonylureas. Hence, no restriction in timing of intake of these medicinal products in relation to BYETTA injection are needed.

Now, it may be that your unfortunate experience last night could be solely down to the Metformin.....on the other hand I think it is more likely to be the Byetta. You have only recently started on the low dose. This is still a powerful drug and it will take you a little while to get used to it. I can recall when I very first started it I had a few similar episodes, they went after a time. I could be happily sitting there then suddenly as you say, throw up. After a few weeks this effect went, then I went on the 10ug pen and for a little while I had a similar effect. Mostly if I started to eat between my meals. I soon learned to just eat at the normal times and it all went away.

As for your Gp not being happy about Byetta....not surprising really Byetta costs around £80 per month as opposed to the cheap Insulin's. It's all down to cost !! My GP, who is also a friend told me frankly if it hadn't been prescribed by my Endo at the Hospital there would have been no way I would have got it due to the Practice budget...... :roll:

So, you can either tell the reluctant GP you are having problems or like I did just soldier on knowing that a little pain will lead to big gains. However, as always if you are really concerned about this - then see your GP and discuss.

 

[gppixelworks]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Cugila,

Many thanks for your time and information. It was helpful. I was surprised by both the minimal warning and the actual event which felt more as if it was a CO2 fire extinguisher going off! :roll: My wife was also quite concerned.

I was looking for a possible pattern that was triggering the side effect (vomiting in this case). Of course, it's likely there's no pattern and it's just the way things go.

Connected with our local diabetic clinic at hospital and spoke with a Diabetic Specialist Nurse. I could tell from talking with her that she, clearly, was up to date and knowledgeable about diabetes in general and Byetta specifically. The last time I'd interacted with a medical professional with this level of knowledge/training was about 6 years ago when I had regularly attended a specialist diabetic clinic )that was coupled with a research facility) and had a regular endocrinologist (this was outside the UK).

Talking with the DSN and practice nurses at my regular surgery was a matter of night and day. Such a dramatic difference.

She answered all my questions and concerns without rushing. In the mere 5 minutes spend on the phone taking, she provided me with the information to have the confidence to press on. Of course it was, for the most part, repeating much of what you wrote.

She said that the vomiting (if one gets it at all) generally stops within a week or so as if someone turned off a light switch. That if I continued to have problems in this area after two weeks to contact my GP or their clinic.

The graph of my Bg this week clearly shows when I was on Byetta. The lowered number were, at least initially, significant. I didn't inject yesterday but spent the day reviewing and focusing on the goal of Bg in as close to a normal range as possible. It may seem an odd decision to continue injecting when there is a possibility of being sick, but the rewards afterwards outweigh it.

Thanks for for all the support and experiences posted here.

 

[Heather Eyles]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi

Just finished my first month on Byetta 5 pen, starting on the 10 pen in the morning. Had a couple of weeks bad nausea but been ok for the last 2 weeks, but expecting it back when I start the 10 pen.

Blood sugars coming down great, mainly in the 6's and 7's and very rarely above 8.5 so I'm very happy . Not sure this is all down to the byetta as I have also started "low carbing" and couldn't believe the difference!

Probably a daft question , but how do I dispose of my old byetta pen? Should I put it in my sharps box or in household waste or take it back to the chemist?

Thanks to all for the advice on here, its been invaluable. Keep up the good work

Cheers

Heather x

 

[cugila]

Re: Anyone use Byetta?

Hi Heather.
Well done on the improvements so far. In relation to your used pen, stick them in your Sharps Box for incineration. NEVER put it in household waste.