Byetta

[Saddle bum]

Anyone with experience of Byetta (Exenatide) as a diabetic treatment.

Appears to be working wonders with my sugar levels and reducing weight.

[Saddle bum]

Have now been on Byetta since November last year. I have lost over 30lbs.

Pyoglitazone plus Insulin is notorious for piling on weight, in the form of fluid, so the initial weight loss is water. I no longer take either.

My experience with Byetta, is mostly positive. The rapid weight loss has now subsided and I hope that a steady one pound a week will continue. Blood sugar control is very good.

There is reported evidence of considerable variation on the drug's potency between different batches. My March Byetta pen, did not seem as effective, but the April one I am now using seems to be much more so, with marginally more nausea. I accept the mild nausea and have learned to put up with it.

Users soon learn that once acceptable portions now seem like feasts. I have to force myself to eat lunch, I could quite easily go through to evening dinner without eating.

In my experience, Byetta can also make you drink less fluid, which can lead you to become dehydrated.

In summary, thumbs up all round.

[Saddle bum]

Thanks for digging this up.

Only a couple of days ago, I saw the Diabetes consultant. He said I was a star. I had one of the best results with Byetta that he had seen.

Good sugar levels and a loss of 52lb, 23kg in about 10 months. The weight is till going down resulting from a combination of sensible eating and portion control plus exercise.

Blood pressure medication has had to be halved due to the reduction in body mass. Cholesterol is now 2.2 and the Statins will have to be reduced as well.

Byetta seems to be a life saver, at least for me.

I need to buy a new wardrobe of clothes, anybody fancy chipping in?

[Saddle bum]

Team 17 said:

I hope you don't mind me asking, what was your weight when you first started on the Byetta? And what is it now?

Oct/Nov '09 = 113Kg

Aug '10 = 90Kg

Edit: Target weight = 83Kg

Edited by Saddle bum on Wednesday 11th August 10:46

[Saddle bum]

TedMaul said:

Just finished the workshop and it was far from fun. Was youngest there by 20 years, bloke next to me thinks he is a comedian answering a request for his name with 'Mickey Mouse' I mean, wtf? Bloke opposite in his fifties brought both his parents along.... Another seemed to think Byetta was good as if you go on insulin you are banned from driving.... Several people worried they can no longer eat grapes or bananas. Days like today i regret relocating to South Yorkshire as there are some seriously thick people up here, I mean, seriously thick. And most scared of needles it would seem. Again, I'm sorry, but WTF?

Anyway, looks a bit of a faff, I thought the pen would be simpler but didnt realise you needed to put a new needle on it each time and the 60 min jab before a meal is not as easy as it might be, with my life style. Looking forward to weight loss though!!

Actually feeling extremely depressed about the whole thing. And left rear brake on volvo is sticking too.

Come on, buck up there. It's no big deal.

Any time within the hour before eating will do. The only major problem if you leave it a bit late, is the possibility of acid heartburn.

[Saddle bum]

After a consultation yesterday, my treatment is being changed from Byetta to the once a day material, which I presume is Victoza.

I think Byetta is now being viewed as a first generation medication. It can be aggressive, but with me it has been very successful. I have been prepared to endure the negative side, but the constant acid reflux is becoming a bit wearing.

[Saddle bum]

TedMaul said:

Saddle bum said:

After a consultation yesterday, my treatment is being changed from Byetta to the once a day material, which I presume is Victoza.

I think Byetta is now being viewed as a first generation medication. It can be aggressive, but with me it has been very successful. I have been prepared to endure the negative side, but the constant acid reflux is becoming a bit wearing.

When you say reflux, was it full on vomitarium or rising acid/heartburn type thing.. ?

No vomit. Just acid heartburn. Gaviscon by the bucket.

Forgot to take Gaviscon out last week on a 30 mile bike ride, absolute misery. Having a hiatus hernia is the major cause. Byetta just makes it worse. Looking forward to better days with new treatment.

[Saddle bum]

Mermaid said:

Saddle bum said:

TedMaul said:

Saddle bum said:

After a consultation yesterday, my treatment is being changed from Byetta to the once a day material, which I presume is Victoza.

I think Byetta is now being viewed as a first generation medication. It can be aggressive, but with me it has been very successful. I have been prepared to endure the negative side, but the constant acid reflux is becoming a bit wearing.

When you say reflux, was it full on vomitarium or rising acid/heartburn type thing.. ?

No vomit. Just acid heartburn. Gaviscon by the bucket.

Forgot to take Gaviscon out last week on a 30 mile bike ride, absolute misery. Having a hiatus hernia is the major cause. Byetta just makes it worse. Looking forward to better days with new treatment.

did you eat anything in the 2 hrs before you took Byetta?

Not normally, however nursie says leave it a good hour before eating, which is probably not what I was doing previously.

[Saddle bum]

Resurrection time.

I have just started Victoza, which is a similar but different drug to Byetta. It's a bit milder in its effects than Byetta and the sugar levels are improving. I put on some weight with just Insulin and I need to get rid of it.

Side effects. A lot of acid and I mean a lot. Doc gave me something to calm that down and it seems to have improved thing as lot. The other less pleasant effect is the production of hard stools, to counter which a lot of roughage is required to keep things moving. The digestion seems to have slowed down to a pedestrian rate. It's a lot easier to eat less.

Any comments.