How to Take Byetta: 5 Pharmacist-Backed Tips and Pointers

Byetta (exenatide) is a twice-daily injection that helps treat Type 2 diabetes. It’s part of a medication class called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists. 

Byetta has been available since 2005. In fact, it was the first GLP-1 agonist that the FDA approved. Since then, several other GLP-1 agonists have hit the market, including a long-acting version of exenatide called Bydureon BCise.

If you’ve been prescribed Byetta, your healthcare provider and pharmacist likely walked you through the basics. But if you still have some questions, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s review a few pharmacist-backed tips for getting the most out of your medication.

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What is Byetta?

Byetta is an injected medication that helps people with Type 2 diabetes lower their blood glucose (sugar). The typical dosage is 5 mcg to 10 mcg injected twice daily.

Byetta comes in a pen injector, similar to many insulin pens. You’ll need to attach a pen needle to the tip before administering your dose. Your healthcare provider or pharmacist can show you how to do this if you’re unsure.

Differences between Byetta and insulin

Byetta works differently than insulin. It mimics the effects of a gut hormone involved in digestion and blood glucose regulation. These actions stimulate your pancreas to release insulin in response to food intake and block your liver from making glucose. This, in turn, lowers blood glucose levels.

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What’s more, Byetta slows the passage of food out of the stomach. This can make you feel full sooner when you’re eating. Feeling full can help reduce your appetite, which is one of the ways this medication can cause weight loss.

5 tips for using Byetta

These are general tips for using Byetta, based on the manufacturer’s instructions. But your healthcare provider may have specific suggestions for how to administer it. Always check with your provider or pharmacist to make sure you’re using Byetta the right way.

1. When should you take Byetta?

Byetta should be injected twice a day, every day. Your first dose should be given within 1 hour before your morning meal. And your second dose should be given within 1 hour before your evening meal. The meals should be at least 6 hours apart. Don’t inject a dose after a meal.

You should inject the medication under the skin of your thigh, abdomen, or upper arm. Be sure to change the place you inject each time. This can help prevent skin irritation and other complications that happen when you inject into the same spot over and over.

2. Should you take Byetta with food?

As mentioned above, Byetta should be injected just before eating — within 1 hour before both morning and evening meals. This is because Byetta is an immediate-release version of exenatide. Timing it this way helps trigger appropriate insulin release when your blood glucose goes up after eating. 

3. Should you separate Byetta from other medications?

It depends. Byetta can interact with other medications. Many of these interactions can be managed upfront by your healthcare provider or pharmacist. You might need extra monitoring or dosage adjustments, depending on the situation.

Byetta slows down how fast the stomach empties. This may affect how you absorb certain oral medications. Some medications, like birth control pills and antibiotics, will need to be taken at least 1 hour before Byetta. If any oral medications need to be taken with food, take them with a meal or snack when you don’t administer Byetta.

Byetta can also cause low blood glucose (hypoglycemia) when it’s combined with medications that increase insulin in the body. This includes insulin injections, glinides, and sulfonylureas. Your healthcare provider may adjust your doses or ask you to check your blood glucose more often if you take these medications together.

To help avoid and manage interactions, always give your healthcare provider and pharmacist a current medication list. This way, they can help prevent serious interactions in advance.

4. What happens if you miss a dose of Byetta?

If you miss a Byetta dose, skip it and take your next dose at the regularly scheduled time. You shouldn’t try to take an extra dose or a higher amount to make up for it.

Remember, Byetta should be injected within 1 hour before your morning and evening meals. And it shouldn’t be injected after a meal. If you miss your mealtime dose, don’t take it after you’ve eaten.

5. What are the most common Byetta side effects?

Byetta side effects are usually mild and can be handled at home. But if any become bothersome or won’t go away, contact your healthcare provider. You may need a dosage change or further medical care.

The most common Byetta side effects include stomach-related effects like indigestion, nausea, and diarrhea. Nausea is most common, and it tends to improve over time. It may help to eat smaller meals if you’re having indigestion or nausea. Or, your healthcare provider may prescribe a lower dose of Byetta.

Serious side effects can include gallbladder problems (e.g., gallstones) and pancreatitis (inflammation of your pancreas). Symptoms include nausea and vomiting with severe abdominal pain and/or yellowing of the eyes and skin. You should seek medical care right away if these symptoms develop.

Although rare, you could have an allergic reaction from Byetta. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include shortness of breath and/or swelling of your face, tongue, or throat. If you have any of these symptoms, seek immediate medical care.

How does Byetta compare to other GLP-1 agonists?

Byetta is one of several injectable GLP-1 agonist medications for Type 2 diabetes. And although there are similarities in how they work, there are also some key differences.

Byetta vs. Bydureon

The main ingredient in Byetta, exenatide, is available as an extended-release version called Bydureon BCise. Bydureon BCise is injected less often — once weekly instead of twice daily. It can also lower hemoglobin A1C (blood glucose levels over 3 months) better than Byetta.

What’s more, Bydureon BCise is approved for Type 2 diabetes in adults and children ages 10 and older. Byetta is only approved for adults.

Byetta vs. Ozempic

Ozempic (semaglutide) is a GLP-1 agonist that’s injected once weekly. In addition to being injected less frequently than Byetta, Ozempic has proven cardiovascular benefits for people who have diabetes and heart disease. This hasn’t been proven with Byetta.

And while both medications can cause weight loss, this tends to be greater with Ozempic. But Byetta may be less likely to cause digestion-related side effects.

Byetta vs. Victoza

Victoza (liraglutide) is injected once daily. Unlike Byetta, you don’t need to plan your dose around meals. Victoza can be injected at any time of day, but it’s a good idea to pick a consistent time and stick with it. People ages 10 and older can use Victoza.

Similar to Ozempic, Victoza has proven cardiovascular benefits. It has also been shown to lower hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C or A1C) better than Byetta.

Byetta vs. Trulicity

Trulicity (dulaglutide) is a once-weekly injection with proven cardiovascular benefits. Trulicity is also approved for people ages 10 and older. In addition to these differences, Trulicity has been shown to lower A1C better than Byetta.

Tips for how to save money on your Byetta prescription

There are ways to save on Byetta, which is only available as a brand-name medication. GoodRx can help you navigate copay savings cards and patient assistance programs to save money on your prescription.

• Save with copay savings cards. If you’re eligible, you could pay as little as $25 for Byetta with a copay savings card through the manufacturer.

• Save with patient assistance programs. If you’re uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for Byetta’s patient assistance program, which offers the medication free of cost.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP, is a board-certified ambulatory care clinical pharmacist. In his early career, he provided direct patient care in a variety of settings, including hospital and community pharmacies, and in a primary care clinic as a clinical pharmacist.

Edited by:

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD, is the director of pharmacy content for GoodRx. She has over a decade of experience as a pharmacist and has worked in clinical, academic, and administrative roles.

Reviewed by:

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky and is licensed in New York and Massachusetts.

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