Exenatide
( Brand name: Byetta )

How It Works

Exenatide (brand name: Byetta) is a type 2 diabetes medicine to be taken along with diabetes pills. It is a protein that is injected underneath the skin, like insulin. It is chemically similar to the hormone glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1). This hormone cause the body to release more insulin. It may also decrease appetite.

Pros

After 30 weeks, people were were also taking metformin or a sulfonylurea lost between 3.5 and 6.2 lbs.

It causes food to pass through the stomach more slowly. This is probably why there is a decreased appetite.

Cons

Because it slows stomach emptying, Byetta may interfere with the absorption of other medicines.

Other side effects include: low blood sugar, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite and some others. It should not be used by people with type 1 diabetes, sever kidney disease, or those who have had diabetic ketoacidosis.

There are also reports of pancreatitis associated with this medicine.

Return to Home Page or Weight Loss Drugs.

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It is important you discuss any weight loss or exercise plan with your doctor. Only you and your physician can decide what is best for you. Some people have certain conditions that prevent them from doing all exercises, and goal body weights may be different for different people. You need to discuss all these things with your physician before starting any weight loss or exercise program. In addition, the dosage of any medicine may be different if it is used for weight loss and not its FDA approved indication. You should also discuss this with your doctor.

This article was written by John Vickery, MD.

References
Treatment Guidelines from the Medical Letter 2008;6:23-28
Lexi Comp database accessed on 5/25/08