Anyone using Byetta???
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Anyone using Byetta???
| Mon, 08-27-2007 - 9:33pm |
Hi,
I just started using Byetta about a week ago and am experiencing the nausea that was pretty much promised. I was just wondering how long I might expect this to last. Or if anyone had any luck with quelling the nausea? I certainly am not able to eat anywhere near what I am used to eating...actually after about 5 bites, I want to quit. I also just started back on metformin, so I know that is causing some of the stomach upset, as well.
TIA for any information.
Joan

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Joan,
I am on Januvia which is the oral version of Byetta. I didn't have any nausea but then it isn't supposed to have any side effects nor work as well as Byetta. But since I was already taking 4 shots a day I didn't want to add anymore.
My suggestion to you is that you only start one medication at a time. Right now you don't know which one is causing you the most problems. I hope you were started on a low dose of metformin and do make sure that you take it with food in your stomach. The gastric side effects from metformin usually wear off in about 2 weeks. When I say a small dose I mean 250 mgm per day not per dose.
Metformin does not cause hypoglycemia but not being able to eat will so please watch your blood sugar carefully until your system gets used to the drugs. Am I correct to assume that you are still on the lower dose of Byetta? If your gastric upset continues I would suggest that you ask your doctor if you can continue the lower dose longer before you increase to the maintenance dose.
I do hope that you are feeling better real soon and please let us know how you are doing.
Hi Joan,
I take Byetta 5 or as we call it in spit world "little brother" or "orange spit" after the lizard it came from (now they synthesize it :-)
I was terribly nauseated for 3 weeks on little bro. My doc gave me phenergan suppositories and they worked really well while I was adjusting. Also, ginger works well for nausea. I would chew on a ginger chew (from Trader Joes) and get better. In 4 weeks you should ask your doc to check your A1C or if you are monitoring it...your fasting blood sugars for the whole time you have been on it (4 weeks) to get an average. If at that time your numbers are not too low your doctor can move you to Big Bro. If you go to Big Bro you will get nauseated again and need to let your body adjust for 2 weeks. If it lasts longer that 2 weeks you need to contact your doc.
Oh, I forgot...sucking on sugar free hard candy helps.
It is very important to test blood sugars when you feel nauseated on Byetta. You may be bottoming out (low blood sugar). If so, then you need to do what your doc suggests to get it back up. I use a 6 oz juice box from Whole Foods. Works like a charm. Nausea is usually an indicator of low blood sugar on Byetta.
I have tried twice to move from the little bro to big bro and my body has never been able to handle the big bro dose. This is more common than one hears about. It is fine to stay on little bro. Big Bro is not a maintenance dose. It is the dose most people need in order to get their A1C or average fasting blood sugars down to normal. My last A1C was 5.4 and that was on Big Bro so I went back down to little bro to bring my numbers back up. I have been fine for many months (no more nausea or low BS!)and have been on Byetta for one year. My A1C on little bro has generally been about 5.6 or 5.7.
Most people are either on metformin or another oral med along with Byetta. Some are even on insulin. In my experience docs are well equipped to figure out which side effects are coming from which drugs so I would not worry about starting both at the same time. It's just that Byetta was designed to work with metformin or other drugs and that is probably why you were given both. My DH takes Big Bro and Metformin extended release 500 mg a day. He and my doc know exactly the side effects from the metformin! They are very specific!
I no longer need any other diabetic drugs. If you have more questions please feel free to ask me...I usually only lurk here, or e-mail me through my profile. Byetta can be an interesting and challenging journey, but it is sooooooooo worth it.
M
Thank you both so much for the information.
Hi Joan,
Yes, it really is a God send. The nausea is separate from the appetite suppression. The nausea really will go away as long as you get on the right dose for you. Either the 5 or the 10. Not everybody can do the 10 and that is fine because their numbers are so good on the 5 like mine.
Many people make the mistake of thinking that the nausea is what causes the appetite suppression and that is not true. If you are nauseated longer than the 2 week trial period for your body to adapt then the doc needs to be called and you need to monitor your blood sugar when you feel nauseated to make sure it is not going down too low. Sometimes I have had to take it a few times to see how low it is going before I whip out my juice box. Also, it's important to get the nausea under control while you are adjusting so that you are getting enough food in you.
I used to feel really bad when my BS went down to 80. I can now go much lower and still be in the good range of what is considered normal. It takes some time for the body to get used to running on less Glucose. Give it time and you will be fine and probably about 25 pounds thinner--or more!
Yes, they started a clinical trial for byetta in the obese. I know some docs are using it off label for pts with obesity.
Also, the Byetta slows the rate of gastric absorption in the stomach and digestive tract so if you take any oral meds less than one hour before or less than 3 hours after eating they will get absorbed really slowly. So take oral meds one hour before (at least) and 3 to 4 hours after you take the shot. I hope that makes sense. That is why I had to start using nausea suppositories. I was taking Phenergan pills right after I ate and just after I had taken the shot and I got no relief for 3 or 4 hours. That is due to the slowing of the gastric stuff so if you take ginger pills they may not get absorbed fast enough to help you :-)
Post prandial blood sugars are not taken at 2 hours after a meal but 3 or 4 hours after a meal. I had a blood test done one afternoon around 4 pm and my internist was like, why is your BS 140? I said that is my post prandial from lunch (I had eaten lunch around 1 pm)! She was like oh, right, the Byetta, that's a great post prandial!
I have read of people not experiencing the appetite suppression. Many of these people are on insulin and several other diabetes drugs so that may play a part, I'm really not sure. Also, some people have said that Byetta just does not work for everyone. It does seem to work for those of us with the feast or famine gene.
My DH and I get the appetite suppression with all three meals. There is a stabbing sensation near the stomach/chest area (kinda hurts) and that is followed by the fullness feeling. We have to make sure we eat all of our veggies before we get full! We have found that even after we get the full sensation it is possible to eat some fruit. Snacks are no longer needed either. The longer I have been on it the better I feel and the more in control I feel about what I eat. I don't get really crazy cravings except during PMS and even those are more controllable!
Best and keep me posted,
Marcella
Marcella,
Thanks again for the wonderful info.
Hi Joan,
Good that you are not as nauseated as I was! It was yuck! I had trouble getting enough food in me.
Some people eat nothing or nearly nothing for breakfast..ya know like they have a banana and that's it. I would say use it with your highest calorie meals. Some people have a breakfast shake and then a big meal at lunch so they use it at lunch and dinner, KWIM?
I try to make myself eat breakfast and make it a little substantial because I tend to eat too little and I make sure each meal is complete in terms of protein, veggies, whole grains, and fruit. I use the glycemic load and portion control for meals so I am different from many on this board who count carbs and stuff. I take it at breakfast and din din unless for some reason I don't eat breakfast or eat very little. Then I take it at lunch or brunch, LOL, and dinner. The only thing you have to be sure of is that the shots are 6 hours apart :-)
Feel free to keep asking,
I really love Byetta and I hope it works for you. It sounds like you are doing okay.
Best,
marcella
Did you read that Byetta was tested on fewer then 1500 people? There are no long term studies. Also, on the Discovery channel, there was a show about how it is made. It comes from LIZARDS!
Hi,
I have been on Byetta little bro 5 mcgs for a year. My A1C is 5.6 (found out yesterday)! That is considered non-diabetic.
Recently they changed the directions for storing Byetta and it no longer needs refrigeration after it has been opened. So it only has to be kept cold before one uses it for the first time. After it's been opened and used in can remain out of the fridge.
I have found it to be very convenient. I even traveled to Mexico with it.
I love it. I am sorry it did not work out for you.
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