Can You Take a GLP-1 If You Have PCOS?
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications aren’t FDA-approved to treat polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). But GLP-1s may help with some PCOS symptoms.
exenatide
Used for Diabetes Type 2, Management with Incretin-based Therapies
Used for Diabetes Type 2, Management with Incretin-based Therapies
Exenatide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist used along with diet and exercise to help improve blood sugar levels in adults with Type 2 diabetes. It's injected under the skin twice a day before meals, with doses given at least 6 hours apart. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Although the brand names Byetta and Bydureon BCise have been discontinued, a generic version of Byetta is still available.
What is Exenatide?
What is Exenatide used for?
- Type 2 diabetes in adults, along with diet and exercise
How Exenatide works
Exenatide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist. It acts like GLP-1, a natural hormone your body makes after you eat.
It helps your body release more insulin when your blood sugar is high, lowers the amount of sugar your liver releases, and slows how quickly food leaves your stomach. Together, these effects work to lower your blood sugar levels.
When does Exenatide start working?Time passed since treatment started:
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Byetta |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | GLP-1 agonist |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | Lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
More on Exenatide essentials
Side effects of Exenatide
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Nausea (up to 44%)
- Vomiting (up to 18%)
- Diarrhea (up to 18%)
- Headache (up to 14%)
- Constipation (Up to 10%)
Note: Side effects can vary depending on whether exenatide is taken alone or with other diabetes medications.
Less Common Side Effects
- Indigestion
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Feeling jittery
- Excessive sweating
- Low blood sugar
- Tiredness
- Injection-site reactions
- Smaller appetite
Exenatide serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis): stomach or back pain that won't go away, vomiting
- Low blood sugar: dizziness or lightheadedness, sweating, confusion or drowsiness, headache, blurred vision, slurred speech, shakiness, fast heartbeat, anxiety or irritability, hunger, weakness, feeling jittery
- Kidney problems: changes in urination, swollen feet or ankles, tiredness, nausea
- Severe stomach problems: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bloating
- Serious bleeding problems: unusual bleeding, bleeding when you brush your teeth, easy bruising, pinpoint red spots on the skin
- Serious allergic reaction: rash, hives, trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, itching, fainting or feeling dizzy, fast heartbeat
- Gallbladder problems: pain in the upper stomach, fever, yellowing of the whites of the eyes, clay-colored stool
When do Exenatide possible side effects begin and end?
Time passed since treatment started:
H
D
W
M
Diarrhea
Nausea
Vomiting
Injection site reactions
More on Exenatide side effects
Get your GoodRx coupon
$940.93
GoodRx discount
$454.42
Pros and cons of Exenatide
Pros
- Helps lower blood sugar after meals
- Low risk of low blood sugar when used alone
- Might help some people with weight loss
Cons
- Must be injected twice a day
- Commonly causes nausea and vomiting
- Must be used within 60 minutes before meals
Pharmacist tips for Exenatide
- Exenatide works best if you follow a healthy diet and exercise regularly.
- Inject exenatide within the 60 minutes before your morning and evening meals, with at least 6 hours between doses. Don't inject it after you've eaten because it won't work as well.
- If you miss a dose of exenatide, skip it and take your next dose at the usual time. Don't take an extra dose to make up for a missed one.
- Exenatide can cause stomach side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Call your care team if these side effects are severe or don’t go away.
- Exenatide can rarely cause pancreatitis. Stop using it and get medical help right away if you have severe stomach pain that spreads to your back, with or without vomiting.
- Your risk of low blood sugar is higher if you take exenatide with other diabetes medications, such as insulin. Your prescriber might need to adjust the doses of your other diabetes medications.
- If you use both insulin and exenatide, don't mix them in the same syringe. You can inject them into the same body area, but not right next to each other.
- There aren't any foods you must avoid while using exenatide, but high-fat meals can make nausea worse. Eating smaller meals may help lower stomach upset.
- Pregnancy: Tell your prescriber if you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant. It's not known whether exenatide is safe during pregnancy.
- Storage: Keep unopened exenatide pens in the refrigerator. After first use, you can keep the pen at room temperature for 30 days, then throw it away, even if there's medication left.
- Your care team should show you how to inject before your first dose. You can also follow the Instructions for Use.
- Always use a new needle each time you inject. Never share your pen or needles with anyone else.
- Inject under the skin of your stomach, thigh, or upper arm. And rotate injection sites to prevent skin irritation.
- After your injection, throw away used needles in a sharps container or another heavy-duty plastic container with a secure lid.
More on Exenatide tips
Risks and warnings for Exenatide
Exenatide can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
Exenatide might raise your risk for pancreatitis, which is inflammation of the pancreas. Although this side effect is rare, get medical help right away if you have severe stomach pain that doesn't go away, especially if it spreads to your back, with or without vomiting.
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) when taken with certain diabetes medications
- Risk factors: Taking medications that raise your insulin levels
Exenatide can cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), especially if you use it with insulin or a sulfonylurea diabetes medication. Your prescriber might lower the dose of your other diabetes medication to help reduce this risk. Tell your prescriber right away if you have symptoms of low blood sugar, such as shakiness, sweating, dizziness, fast heartbeat, hunger, confusion, or blurred vision.
Kidney problems
- Risk factors: Severe kidney problems
Exenatide can rarely cause kidney problems, especially if severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea leads to dehydration. Drink plenty of fluids while taking this medication, and contact your care team if you can't keep fluids down or have severe diarrhea or vomiting.
Severe stomach problems
- Risk factors: History of gastroparesis
Exenatide can cause stomach-related side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In some cases, these side effects can be serious. Exenatide isn't recommended if you have gastroparesis, a condition that slows how quickly your stomach empties. Contact your care team if your stomach symptoms are severe or don't go away.
Serious allergic reactions
- Risk factors: Serious allergic reaction to another GLP-1 agonist
Exenatide can rarely cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis and swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using the medication and get medical help right away if you have trouble breathing, swelling, hives, or severe dizziness.
Severe bleeding
Exenatide can rarely cause drug-induced thrombocytopenia, a condition where your platelet count becomes too low. Because platelets help your blood clot, this can lead to serious bleeding. Contact your care team right away if you notice unusual bleeding, bleeding when you brush your teeth, easy bruising, or tiny red or purple spots on your skin. If this happens, you'll likely need to stop taking the medication.
Gallbladder problems
Some people taking exenatide might experience gallbladder problems. This can include gallstones or inflammation of the gallbladder, which can require surgery. Contact your prescriber right away if you have severe pain in the upper right side of your stomach, fever, nausea, vomiting, or yellowing of your skin or eyes.
Lung problems during anesthesia or deep sedation
- Risk factors: Undergoing surgery or a procedure requiring anesthesia or deep sedation
Exenatide slows how quickly food leaves your stomach. In rare cases, food can remain in the stomach during surgery, even after fasting, which can increase the risk of food entering the lungs during anesthesia or deep sedation. Tell your surgeon or anesthesiologist that you're taking exenatide before any planned procedure. They will let you know if you need to stop the medication beforehand.
Exenatide dosage
The average cost for 1 pen of 5mcg of Exenatide is $454.42 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 51.71% off the average retail price of $940.93.
How much does Exenatide cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Exenatide contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Exenatide will not be safe for you to take.
- History of drug-induced immune-mediated thrombocytopenia from exenatide
What are alternatives to Exenatide?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Exenatide. Compare a few possible alternatives below.
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