General Information on Bydureon
Bydureon is a long-acting form of exanatide. This medication belongs to the drug class of incretin mimetics, and it helps control blood sugar levels in the body. You can buy Bydureon for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Bydureon is available in the form of a white or off-white powder contained in a vial. The powder form has a strength Bydureon 2mg. This medicine is also available in the form of a ready-to-inject solvent, which would be colorless or pale yellow to brown in color.
Bydureon is prescribed in combination with other oral anti-diabetic agents when adequate blood sugar control could not be achieved with oral therapy alone. Oral medications combined with Bydureon include the following:
- Metformin
- a Thiazolidinedione
- a Sulphonylurea
- Metformin and a thiazolidinedione
- Metformin and a sulphonylurea
Side effects of Bydureon
The most common side effect of Bydureon is hypoglycemia, especially if you are taking sulphonylurea. Other very common side effects include diarrhea, constipation, nausea and vomiting.
Less common side effects of Bydureon include reduced appetite, dizziness, headache, abdominal cramps or pain, flatulence and fatigue. Rare side effects associated with Bydureon include dehydration, accompanied by diarrhea, vomiting and nausea.
In extremely rare cases, an allergy to Bydureon may occur. Signs of an allergy would include breathing difficulties, swelling and the appearance of hives. You must not buy Bydureon if you have previously suffered from an allergy to it.
Dosage of Bydureon
The dosage and duration of treatment with Bydureon would be determined by your doctor, and you must follow the instructions given by your doctor exactly, even if it differs from the recommended dosage.
Only one dose of Bydureon 2mg is recommended to be administered in a week. If you are switching from the short-acting form of exanatide, like Byetta, to Bydureon, then you may experience an increase in blood sugar levels for a short period of time. This effect subsides after one or two week of Bydureon treatment.
If Bydureon is prescribed along with thiazolidinedione and/or metformin therapy, you may continue your dosage of these medicines after discussing and confirming it with you doctor. However, if Bydureon is prescribed along with sulphonylurea therapy, you have to lower the dose of the latter in order to reduce the risk of suffering from hypoglycemia.
The efficacy of Bydureon can be increased by having the drug administered on the same day of the week, every week. You can still change the day of the dosage if required, but the next dose has to be administered at least a day later. The time of the day when Bydureon is taken makes little difference, so you can have it administered at any time, and on an empty or full stomach.
If you miss your weekly dose of Bydureon, you must have it administered as soon you can. Once you have administered your Bydureon dose, you can continue with your regular dosing schedule. It must be kept in mind, however, that two doses of Bydureon must never be injected on the same day.
Treatment with Bydureon generally does not require any additional self-monitoring. You would be required to self-monitor your blood sugar levels frequently when you are also taking sulphonylurea.
Interactions
Bydureon interacts with some medications, including HMG CoA reductase inhibitors, Warfarin, digoxin, lisinopril, ethinyl estradiol, levonorgestrel, etc. Make your doctor aware of all the medications you are currently taking.
