Byetta and Blood Sugar

Low or high blood sugar levels are known side effects of Byetta, and can even cause serious or life-threatening complications. Because prevention is the best treatment, people should be aware of the possible symptoms of high and low blood sugar levels while taking Byetta. Low blood sugar can cause symptoms such as shakiness, cold sweats, and blurred vision. Symptoms of high blood sugar can include increased urination, increased thirst, and nausea or vomiting.

 

What Are the Possible Effects of Byetta on Blood Sugar Levels?

One of the possible side effects with Byetta® (exenatide) is its effect on blood sugar levels. In general, Byetta does not cause blood sugar levels to drop too low (hypoglycemia) when used by itself, although using Byetta with other diabetes drug can increase the risk of low blood sugar. It is also possible for blood sugar to go too high (hyperglycemia) in people taking Byetta.
 

Byetta and Low Blood Sugar

When used by itself or in combination with medications such as
 metformin (Glucophage®), pioglitazone (Actos®), or rosiglitazone (Avandia®), Byetta does not increase the risk of low blood sugar by much. However, the risk of low blood sugar is significantly higher when Byetta is used with the following sulfonylurea medications:
o Chlorpropamide (Diabinese®)
o Tolazamide (Tolinase®)
o Tolbutamide (Orinase®)
o Metformin and glipizide (Metaglip®)
o Metformin and glyburide (Glucovance®). 
In clinical studies, up to 35.7 percent of people taking Byetta and a sulfonylurea had low blood sugar (compared to 3.3 percent of people who were taking just the sulfonylurea).
 
Low blood sugar symptoms can vary depending on a number of factors, including how low the blood sugar levels are. Examples of early symptoms of low blood sugar may include:
 
  • Sweating
  • Shakiness
  • Extreme hunger
  • Dizziness
  • Cold sweats
  • Blurry vision.
     
More severe symptoms of low blood sugar can include:
 
  • Changes in behavior, such as irritability
  • Loss of coordination
  • Difficulty speaking
  • Confusion
  • Seizures
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Coma
  • Loss of life.
     
If you develop any possible symptoms of low blood sugar while on Byetta, contact your healthcare provider immediately or seek emergency medical care and stop taking the medicine. If your healthcare provider believes that low blood sugar is causing your symptoms, he or she may recommend that you treat the low blood sugar immediately by eating or drinking something with sugar in it, such as orange juice, hard candy, a tablespoon of honey, or even a tablespoon of granulated sugar.
 
(Byetta and Blood Sugar Continued: Page 2)
Add this article to your Favorites     Email this article     Print
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;