Exenatide
About
Exenatide belongs to the class of 'anti-diabetic medicines' primarily used to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (non-insulin-dependent diabetes). It is used as an adjunct to diet. Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease that causes high blood sugar levels. It occurs when the insulin (a hormone produced by the beta cells of the pancreas) is resistant to breaking down the glucose to produce energy (insulin resistance) or when the pancreas (an organ behind the stomach) produces little or no insulin at all.
Exenatide contains Exenatide that belongs to the class of 'incretin mimetics'. Exenatide works by increasing insulin release from the pancreas during high blood sugar levels (after meals) and decreasing the amount of sugar the liver makes.
Your doctor will decide the dose and duration based on your medical condition. Some common side effects of Exenatide include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, dizziness, nervousness/feeling jittery, upset stomach, constipation, and injection site reactions like pain/swelling/itching. These side effects are not familiar to everyone and vary individually. If you notice any side effects that are not manageable, please consult your doctor.
Before starting Exenatide, let your doctor know if you have a history of heart, kidney or liver diseases. Do not take or stop this medicine if the doctor did not advise you. It is advised to limit your alcohol intake while using Exenatide to avoid low blood sugar levels further. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should consult their doctor before starting Exenatide. Exenatide may cause hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar levels) and dizziness affecting your driving ability; hence drive or operate machinery only when you feel better. Exenatide is not recommended for children and adolescents under 18 years of age.
Uses of Exenatide
Medicinal Benefits
Exenatide contains 'Exenatide' and is used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is an incretin mimetic that mimics the action of a natural hormone called Incretin (metabolic hormone, which stimulates a decrease in blood glucose levels). It works by increasing insulin release from the pancreas during high blood sugar levels (after meals) and decreases the amount of sugar the liver makes. Exenatide is used as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Exenatide
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Dizziness
- Nervousness/feeling jittery
- Upset stomach
- Constipation
- Injection site reactions like pain/swelling/itching
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Brief your medical history to the doctor if you have any heart, kidney or liver diseases, pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), gall stones, gastroparesis (delayed gastric emptying), hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar levels), low platelet levels, or type 1 diabetes before starting Exenatide. Do not share an injection pen, cartridge, or syringe with another person, even if the needle is changed. It is advised to limit your alcohol intake while using Exenatide to avoid low blood sugar levels further. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should consult their doctor before starting this medication. Exenatide may make you feel dizzy, hence drive and operate machinery only when you feel better. Exenatide is not recommended for children and adolescents under 18 years of age.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Exenatide may interact with blood thinners (warfarin), high blood pressure medicines (propranolol, metoprolol), glaucoma eye drops (timolol), water pills, cholesterol-lowering drugs (lovastatin), and pain medicines. If you take antibiotics or birth control pills, maintain a gap of at least an hour before using Exenatide.
Drug-Food Interaction: Limit alcohol intake since it affects blood sugar levels. Avoid fatty foods and include healthy carbohydrates in your diet.
Drug-Disease Interaction: Tell your doctor before using Exenatide if you have a medical history of allergic reactions to medicines, heart, kidney or liver diseases, low platelet levels, pancreatitis, gastroparesis, gall bladder disease, or hypoglycaemia. Exenatide is contraindicated in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2, diabetic ketoacidosis (diabetes complication where the body produces excess blood acids (ketones)), and personal or family history of thyroid cancer.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionIt is advised to limit alcohol intake since it may worsen the side effects and increase the risk of developing low blood sugar levels.
Pregnancy
cautionIf you are pregnant, inform your doctor before taking Exenatide. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and risks before prescribing this medicine.
Breast Feeding
cautionThere is no sufficient data on how Exenatide affects breastfeeding. If you are a nursing mother, please seek medical advice before receiving Exenatide.
Driving
cautionExenatide may cause hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar levels) and dizziness affecting your driving ability; hence drive or operate machinery only when you feel better.
Liver
cautionIf you have a pre-existing or a history of liver conditions, inform your doctor before receiving this medicine.
Kidney
cautionIf you have kidney problems, inform your doctor before receiving this medicine.
Children
unsafeExenatide is not recommended for children and adolescents under 18 years of age.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Maintain a fibre-rich diet and include healthy carbohydrates from fruits, vegetables and whole grains to maintain blood glucose levels.
- Eat at regular intervals.
- Monitor your weight and exercise regularly to keep your heart healthy.
- Your doctor also guides you on noticing and managing the early symptoms of high/low blood sugar levels.
- Gastrointestinal side effects can be managed with simple modifications in your lifestyle. These include cutting down on sugars and fatty foods and avoiding carbonated drinks and foods that cause gas.
Special Advise
- It is advised to monitor your blood sugar levels regularly.
- Exenatide is not indicated for patients with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.
- Exenatide is not recommended if you have a personal/family history of a certain type of cancer (medullary thyroid carcinoma) or a certain inherited disease (multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 or MEN 2).
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Diabetes mellitus, or adult-onset diabetes, is a metabolic disease that causes high blood sugar levels. It is type 2 diabetes and occurs when the insulin (a hormone produced by the beta cells of the pancreas) is resistant in breaking the glucose to produce energy (insulin resistance), or the pancreas (an organ behind the stomach) produces little or no insulin at all. This disease mostly occurs in people above 40 years but can also occur in childhood based on the risk factors. The treatment includes oral glucose-lowering medicines and insulin shots.
FAQs
Exenatide contains Exenatide which increases the insulin release from the pancreas after meals when your body has high blood glucose levels. Thus, Exenatide helps lower blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Exenatide may cause low blood sugar levels (hypoglycaemia), making you hungry, dizzy, irritable, confused, anxious, or shaky. To immediately treat hypoglycaemia, eating or drinking fast-acting sugar sources like fruit juices, hard candy, raisins, or non-diet soda is advised.
Please consult your doctor. Exenatide is used as an adjunct to diet and exercise in type 2 diabetes. Your doctor may prescribe other anti-diabetic medicine along with Exenatide if necessary based on your condition.
Exenatide may reduce the appetite, the amount of food being consumed, and weight. If you lose weight too quickly (i.e., more than 1.5 kg per week), talk to your doctor about it since this may lead to problems like gallstones.
Available Medicines for
Exenatide
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