Uses
What is Bydureon BCise used for?
Bydureon BCise (exenatide) is commonly used to help lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
Bydureon BCise may also be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.
How does Bydureon BCise work (mechanism of action)?
Bydureon BCise works to improve blood sugar in 3 different ways. It works to stimulate your pancreas to release more insulin after you eat, prevents your liver from releasing stored sugars, and slows down the movement of food through your body.
How is Bydureon BCise supplied (dosage forms)?
Bydureon BCise is available in the following dosage forms that are injected under the skin.
- 2 mg injectable suspension, single-dose autoinjector
How should I store Bydureon BCise?
Bydureon BCise injection liquid should be stored lying flat in its original packaging, in the refrigerator, between 36 F to 46 F (2 C to 8 C). Unused Bydureon BCise can be stored until the expiration date.
If needed, Bydureon BCise injection liquid can be stored at room temperature up to 86 F (30 C) for up to 4 weeks (28 days).
Store in a place that is not exposed to direct light and heat. Do not freeze.
Side Effects
What are the most common side effects of Bydureon BCise?
The most common side effects of Bydureon BCise are listed below. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you.
- Bump at the injection site
- Nausea
There may be other side effects of Bydureon BCise that are not listed here. Contact your healthcare provider if you think you are having a side effect of a medicine. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or by calling 800-FDA-1088. In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.
What are the serious side effects of Bydureon BCise?
While less common, the most serious side effects of Bydureon BCise are described below, along with what to do if they happen.
Severe Allergic Reactions. Bydureon BCise may cause allergic reactions, which can be serious. Stop using Bydureon BCise and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.
- Breathing problems or wheezing
- Racing heart
- Fever or general ill feeling
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
- Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
- Itching, skin rash, or pale red bumps on the skin called hives
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
- Stomach cramps
- Joint pain
Thyroid Tumors. Bydureon BCise may cause you to develop thyroid tumors. Some of these tumors could be cancerous. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you notice any of the following symptoms of a thyroid tumor.
- Swelling or a lump in your neck
- Hoarseness
- Trouble swallowing
- Trouble breathing
Pancreatitis. Bydureon BCise may cause inflammation of the pancreas, which is called pancreatitis. Stop using Bydureon BCise and call your healthcare provider right away if you have symptoms of pancreatitis including vomiting or severe pain in the upper part of your belly that travels to your back.
Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia). Bydureon BCise can cause low blood sugar, especially when used with insulin or other medicines that increase your insulin levels. Hypoglycemia can be serious and may lead to death. Your dose of insulin or other diabetes medicine may need to be lowered to decrease your risk of low blood sugar. Do not use Bydureon BCise and call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of hypoglycemia.
- Headache
- Crankiness or anxiety
- Hunger
- Dizziness or confusion
- Blurry vision
- Slurred speech
- Sweating
- Feeling jittery or shakiness
- Fast heartbeat
- Seizures
Kidney Damage. Kidney damage can happen when using Bydureon BCise. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of kidney damage.
- Reduced need to pee
- Swelling in your feet, ankles, or legs
- Weakness or unusual tiredness
- Difficulty catching your breath or chest pain/pressure
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Seizures
Severe Stomach Problems. Severe stomach problems may happen with Bydureon BCise. Call your healthcare provider if you have severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Severely Low Platelet Levels. Bydureon BCise can cause you to have a severely low number of platelets in your blood, also called thrombocytopenia. Platelets help to form blood clots. Having a low level of platelets may increase your risk of bleeding. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following symptoms of low platelet levels.
- Easy bruising or bleeding
- Bleeding that does not stop
- Nosebleeds
Serious Injection-Site Reactions. Bydureon BCise can cause serious injection-site reactions, which sometimes require surgery. These reactions may involve a bump at the injection site, but not always. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms at or near the injection site.
- Severe pain
- Swelling
- Redness
- Blisters on the skin
- Open sore
- Dark scab
Gallbladder Problems. Using Bydureon BCise can cause gallbladder problems, including cholecystitis and cholelithiasis (also known as gallstones). Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms.
- Your skin or the whites of your eyes turning yellowish in color (also called jaundice)
- Fever
- Pain in your upper stomach area
- Stool (poop) that is clay-colored
Antibodies to Exenatide. Some people who use Bydureon BCise develop antibodies (proteins in your blood that keep Bydureon BCise from working) to exenatide (the active ingredient in Bydureon BCise). This means Bydureon BCise may not work to lower your blood sugar. If you notice your blood sugar levels are not going down or your blood sugar levels are getting higher when using Bydureon BCise, tell your healthcare provider. They may need to change you to a different medicine for your type 2 diabetes.
Warnings & Precautions
Who should not use Bydureon BCise?
Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not use Bydureon BCise.
- Exenatide
- Bydureon BCise
- Byetta
- Any other medicine that contains exenatide
- Any of the ingredients in the specific product dispensed
Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in Bydureon BCise.
Bydureon BCise is not used for type 1 diabetes.
Thyroid Cancer or Endocrine Condition. Bydureon BCise should not be used if you or someone in your family has had medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or if you have a condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Talk to your healthcare provider about your current and past health conditions and your family medical history.
Drug-Induced Thrombocytopenia. People who reacted to a medicine containing exenatide by developing extremely low platelet levels in the blood (thrombocytopenia) should not use Bydureon BCise. Talk to your healthcare provider about any reactions you have had to medicines in the past.
Kidney Problems. Bydureon BCise should not be used if your kidneys are not working as well as they should be. If there is a concern about the health of your kidneys, your healthcare provider may do tests to determine if they are working well enough to take this medicine.
What should I know about Bydureon BCise before using it?
Review the Instructions for Use that come with your medicine when using Bydureon BCise for the first time or when you have not used it in a while.
Do not use Bydureon BCise unless it has been prescribed to you by a healthcare provider. Use it as prescribed.
Do not share Bydureon BCise with other people, even if they have the same condition as you. It may harm them.
Keep Bydureon BCise out of the reach of children. Since this medicine may be kept in a refrigerator, take special precautions to keep it away from children who also use the refrigerator.
People who are 65 and older can be at greater risk for some side effects from Bydureon BCise. Talk to your healthcare provider about your risks if you are in this age group.
If you have nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, drink plenty of water, so that you do not get dehydrated.
Use Bydureon BCise once each week on the same day, at any time of day.
Avoid using the same injection site each time you use Bydureon BCise by rotating where you inject it.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before using Bydureon BCise?
Tell your healthcare provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them determine if Bydureon BCise is right for you.
In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.
Stomach problems. Tell your healthcare provider if you have stomach problems, such as slowed stomach emptying (gastroparesis) or problems digesting food. Your healthcare provider may choose another medicine to treat your type 2 diabetes.
Pancreatitis. Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had pancreatitis. Your healthcare provider may choose another medicine to treat your type 2 diabetes.
Other Medicines and Supplements. Bydureon BCise may interact with other medicines and supplements. Before taking Bydureon BCise, tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section for more details.
Kidney Problems. Tell your healthcare provider if you have kidney problems, including chronic kidney failure, as this may worsen while using Bydureon BCise.
Pregnancy. It is not known if or how Bydureon BCise could affect pregnancy or harm an unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you are or plan to become pregnant. Your healthcare provider will advise you if you should use Bydureon BCise while you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant.
Breastfeeding. It is not known if Bydureon BCise passes into breast milk. Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
How can I get more information about Bydureon BCise?
For more information about Bydureon BCise, you can visit the manufacturer’s website at https://www.bydureon.com/bydureon-bcise.html or call them at 844-MY-BCISE (844-692-2473).
Interactions
Does Bydureon BCise interact with foods or drinks?
There are no known interactions between Bydureon BCise and foods or drinks.
It is unknown if drinking alcohol will affect Bydureon BCise, but alcohol may affect blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. This may interfere with the effect of Bydureon BCise. It is best to limit the amount of alcohol you drink.
Does Bydureon BCise interact with other medicines (drug interactions)?
Always tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.
In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are taking warfarin (Jantoven), a medicine used for blood clots before using Bydureon BCise. You may need more frequent monitoring of your warfarin and this combination may increase your risk for bleeding or bruising.
Make sure that you discuss any medicines you are using for diabetes. Some diabetes medicines may increase your risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
Some medicines may increase your risk of kidney damage (see above in the serious side effects section) with Bydureon BCise. Make sure that you discuss if you are taking any of the following.
- A diuretic, also called a water pill, which is a medicine used to reduce edema (fluid retention) and blood pressure
- A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and others, which are contained in many prescription and OTC products for pain, swelling, and fever
- An angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, such as lisinopril, benazepril, and others which are in some prescription products to reduce blood pressure
Bydureon BCise works by slowing down the movement of food through your body. Because of this, Bydureon BCise may affect the absorption of some other medicines that you take by mouth. Tell your healthcare provider about all medicines that you take or have recently taken.
This may not be a complete list of medicines that can interact with Bydureon BCise. Always check with your healthcare provider.
Overdose/Missed Dose
What should I do if I accidentally use too much Bydureon BCise?
If you or someone else has used too much Bydureon BCise, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222.
What should I do if I miss a dose of Bydureon BCise?
If you miss a dose of Bydureon BCise, use it as soon as possible, as long as there are at least 3 days (72 hours) before your next dose is due. Moving forward, use Bydureon BCise every 7 days. Do not use Bydureon BCise with less than 72 hours between doses. If there are less than 72 hours before your next dose is due, skip your missed dose and take your next dose on your regularly scheduled day.
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