Proper Use

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

Bydureon® BCise® should not be the first medicine you use to treat your condition. It is meant to be used only after you have tried other medicines that have not worked or have caused unwanted side effects.

When you start using this medicine, it is very important that you check your blood sugar often, especially before and after meals and at bedtime. This will help lower the chance of having very low blood sugar.

Carefully follow the special meal plan your doctor gave you. This is the most important part of controlling your diabetes, and is necessary if the medicine is to work properly. Also, exercise regularly and test for sugar in your blood or urine as directed.

Use only the brand of this medicine that your doctor prescribed. Different brands may not work the same way. Bydureon® and Bydureon® BCise®are extended-release forms of Byetta®. If you are changing from Byetta® to Bydureon® or Bydureon® BCise®, you should stop using Byetta®. Do not use these medicines together.

Byetta® comes in a prefilled pen that you will use to inject it. Each pen contains enough medicine for 60 doses.

Bydureon® comes in a single-dose tray containing: 1 vial of exenatide powder, 1 vial connector, 1 prefilled diluent syringe, and 2 needles. Do not substitute needles or any other components in the tray.

Bydureon® BCise® is available as a single-dose autoinjector.

This medicine should come with a Medication Guide and patient instructions or Pen User Manual. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

You will be using exenatide at home. Your doctor will teach you how the injections are to be given. Be sure you understand exactly how the medicine is to be injected.

This medicine is given as a shot under the skin of your stomach, thighs, or upper arm. Use a different body area each time you give yourself a shot. Keep track of where you give each shot to make sure you rotate body areas.

Allow Byetta® to warm to room temperature before you inject it. If the medicine in the pen has changed color, looks cloudy, or if you see particles in it, do not use it.

Use Bydureon® immediately once the powder has been dissolved and transferred to the syringe. Always inject Bydureon® and insulin separately. You may inject these 2 medicines in the same body area but they should not be injected next to each other.

Allow the Bydureon® BCise® autoinjector to warm to room temperature for 15 minutes before using it. Shake it well for 15 seconds to mix it evenly. The mixture should appear white to off-white or cloudy sand does not contain any particles in it.

Use a new needle each time you inject your medicine.

Tell your doctor if you are using birth control pills or an antibiotic. These medicines should be taken at least 1 hour before you use. Byetta®.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

  • For type 2 diabetes:
    • For injection dosage form (extended-release suspension, Bydureon®):
      • Adults—2 milligrams (mg) injected under the skin once every 7 days, at any time of the day, with or without meals.
      • Children—Use is not recommended.
    • For injection dosage form (extended-release suspension, Bydureon® BCise®):
      • Adults—2 milligrams (mg) injected under the skin once every 7 days, at any time of the day, with or without meals.
      • Children—Use is not recommended.
    • For injection dosage form (solution, Byetta®):
      • Adults—At first, 5 micrograms (mcg) injected under the skin 2 times a day at any time within the 60–minute period before the morning and evening meals (or before the 2 main meals of the day, about 6 hours or more apart). Your doctor may adjust your dose after the first month of treatment to 10 mcg 2 times a day.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

For patients using Bydureon® or Bydureon® BCise®: If you miss a dose of this medicine, use it as soon as you remember, as long as your next dose is due at least 3 days later. If you miss a dose and the next dose is due 1 or 2 days later, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not use 2 doses of this medicine less than 3 days apart.

For patients using Byetta®: Do not use this medicine after you eat if you forget to use it before the meal. Wait until 1 hour before your next meal and use the medicine at that time. Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

Storage

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Store in the refrigerator. Do not freeze.

For patients using Bydureon®: Store your medicine in the refrigerator in its original carton, and protect it from light. Do not freeze this medicine, and do not use it if it has been frozen. You may also store this medicine at room temperature for up to 4 weeks.

For patients using the Bydureon® BCise® autoinjector: Store the autoinjector flat in the refrigerator in its original carton, and protect it from light. You may also store this medicine at room temperature for up to 4 weeks. Keep it always clean and away from any spills.

For patients using Byetta®:

  • Store your new, unused medicine pen in the refrigerator in its original carton, and protect it from light. Do not freeze this medicine, and do not use the medicine if it has been frozen. You may store the opened medicine pen in the refrigerator or at room temperature for 30 days. Throw away any unused medicine after 30 days.
  • Remove the needle from the pen before storing Byetta®. This prevents leaking of the remaining medicine and prevents air bubbles from forming in the pen.

Throw away used needles in a hard, closed container where the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.

Portions of this document last updated: March 01, 2024

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