Bydureon (Exenatide)

Exenatide General Information

Bydureon (Exenatide) is indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control. It usually happens in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This medication helps to manage your blood sugar by:

  • Preventing your liver from making too much sugar when it is not needed
  • Slowing down how quickly the stomach digests food to send sugar into the blood more slowly
  • Releasing insulin only when needed

How does Bydureon (Exenatide) work?

Bydureon (Exenatide) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist. It improves glucose-dependent insulin secretion by the pancreatic beta-cell. It also slows gastric emptying and destroys improperly elevated glucagon secretion. The amino acid structure of Exenatide partly overlaps that of human GLP-1. Exenatide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that has been shown to bind and activate the human GLP-1 receptor in vitro. This leads to an increase in both glucose-dependent synthesis of insulin and in vivo secretion of insulin from pancreatic beta cells. It is by mechanisms involving cyclic AMP and other intracellular signaling paths. Exenatide promotes insulin release from pancreatic beta-cells in the presence of elevated glucose concentrations. 

Why use Bydureon (Exenatide)?

Bydureon (Exenatide) is in a class of medications known as incretin mimetics. It stimulates the pancreas to release insulin when blood sugar levels are high. This is an injectable medication and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since 2012.

How to use Bydureon (Exenatide)?

Bydureon (Exenatide) must be injected right after you mix it. Inject the medication under the skin, subcutaneously. Inject it exactly the way your doctor instructed you to. You can inject in your thigh, stomach area, or at the back of your upper arms. After injecting, make sure you hold the needle in your skin for 10 seconds to get the full dose. Each week you can use the same general area of your body. Do not inject at the exact same place. 

What are the side-effects of Bydureon (Exenatide)?

  • Vomiting
  • Headache
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Constipation
  • Indigestion
  • A small bump and itching at the injection site

Serious side effects:

  • Trouble swallowing or breathing
  • Weight gain, swelling, increased thirst
  • Confusion, drowsiness, mood changes
  • Severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back

Warnings and Precautions

  • Let your doctor know if you have any allergies, medical history, or current medications.
  • Consult your doctor first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding women.
  • Before taking this, tell your doctor if you’ve consumed large amounts of alcohol or suffered from alcoholism.